Abstract: A brushless AC/DC starter generator for use with aircraft engines, the starter generator capable of both providing motive force to start the engine, and generate AC and DC power for aircraft systems. The apparatus includes a main generator, an exciter generator, and a permanent magnet generator.

Abstract: The invention comprises a retarder system for use with road vehicles. The retarder system discloses an improved vehicular retarder which incorporates the use of a PMG Gear ratio which permits use of a permanent magnet generator on a secondary shaft that is coupled by the gear ratio to a drive train.

Abstract: A particle detection system exhibits an increased ability to detect the presence of submicron diameter particles and to distinguish between noise and pulse output signals generated by small diameter particles on which a light beam is incident. This increased ability results from the incorporation of a light reflector, a pair of detector elements that detect correlated portions of the light beam that have been scattered in multiple directions, and a coincidence circuit that determines whether each detector element in the pair concurrently generates a pulse output signal exceeding a predetermined threshold. Sample particles are counted only when both detector elements concurrently detect scattered light components.

Abstract: A deicer for an air gap between the rotor and stator of a rotating machine having a rotor and stator combination includes a heating assembly preferably disposed in the stator adjacent the air gap to heat the air in the air gap. Heating assembly includes an electrically powered resistive heating element wound through armature slots of the stator. The disclosed device and method have principal applications in emergency-type devices like Ram Air Turbines (RAT) and other power conversion devices such as Hydraulic Motor Generators (HMG) and Electric Motor Pumps (EMP).

Abstract: The invention comprises a retarder system for use with road vehicles. The retarder system discloses two improvements. The first is a system incorporating a self-excited electromagnetic and hydraulic retarder combination. The second is a retarder system incorporating the use of a PMG Gear ratio which permits use of a permanent magnet generator on a secondary shaft which is coupled by the gear ratio to a drive train.

Abstract: The invention comprises a retarder system for use with road vehicles. The retarder system can combine an electromagnetic retarder with up to four functions: 1) a brushless DC alternator; 2) a brushless DC starter; 3) an active damper that replaces the vehicle's flywheel and smooths out residual torque pulsations; and, 4) a transmission-synchronizing inertia brake; and, 5) a transient engine booster to offset the lag associated with turbo-charged engines. The device may be integrated within the engine or within the transmission, preferably using the vehicle heat exchanger for its cooling system.

Abstract: A condensation nucleus counter (CNC) device implemented with a multi-directional fluid flow system is configured in a compact, conical geometry. A saturation region includes an inlet that delivers into an annular pool a sample stream of air containing small-diameter particles. The stream of air flows out and expands radially from the inlet and mixes with a working vapor to become saturated in the saturation region. The saturated fluid mixture then flows to a condensation region defined by spaced-apart inner and outer radially converging walls having a conical geometry, thereby forming an annular flow volume of decreasing cross sectional area in the direction of fluid flow to the outlet of the CNC device. The working vapor condenses on the small-diameter particles to enlarge their sizes with less tendency to condense on the inner walls of the condensation region.

Abstract: A regulated permanent magnet generator incorporating a “tapered” or conical design for improved voltage regulation. The tapered faces of the rotor and stator are axially displaced from one another as the demand for voltage changes. In addition, this design allows for the stator and rotor to be used as a braking mechanism when placed into frictional contact with one another such as to prevent windmilling. This design offers better space efficiency when used with certain engine applications.

Abstract: A direct drive roller motor for use in a belt drive system includes a brushless DC motor that has an external rotor that functions as a direct drive roller. The motor has stator coils mounted on a stator shaft that is physically and thermally coupled at both ends thereof to a support structure which provides in addition to support, a function of dissipating thermal energy generated by the i2R losses of the stator coils and the magnetic core losses of the stator.

Abstract: A preferred OPTICAL BLACK™ ionic anodize process of the present invention applies a porous anodic oxide coating to a component part in a standard sulfuric acid anodizing bath (with or without organic additives). A modified alternating electric current is then applied to the porous oxide coating to remove excess anodizing electrolyte and to allow the coloring solution access to the pores. The oxide coating is electrolytically colored in a low pH acid bath containing a tin salt, sulfuric acid, and organic additives. Alternating current carries additional tin salt to the base of the pores where the tin salt is reduced to metallic tin or tin oxide. Others metals or metallic salts could be employed. Component parts treated by the OPTICAL BLACK™ ionic anodize process can be advantageously employed in optical systems, such as particle detectors, to reduce or eliminate stray light.

Abstract: An optical scattering particle counter uses optical scattering and heterodyne detection techniques to overcome the lower limit on particle size detection stemming from background light scattering by the fluid carrier in which a particle is immersed. The particle counter uses a heterodyne technique to exploit a basic physical difference between target particle scattered light and the background light. For gas-borne particulate monitoring, the carrier gas molecules have a pronounced temperature-induced Maxwell-Boltzmann translational velocity distribution and an associated Doppler broadened spectral scattering characteristic that are dissimilar to those of the target particle. The Doppler broadened background Rayleigh light is orders of magnitude spectrally wider than that scattered by a particle in a particle detector view volume. This difference in bandwidth allows the local oscillator light to "tune in" the target particle light in a beat frequency signal and "tune out" the background radiation.

Abstract: A particle counter (10) passes a sample stream of a carrier gas or fluid containing particles (72) through an elongated, flattened nozzle (16) and into a view volume (18) formed by an intersection of the sample stream and a laser beam (13). Particles entrained in the sample stream scatter light rays while passing through the view volume. The scattered light is collected by an optical system (26) and focused on to a detector (40). The magnitude of signal coming from the detector is indicative of the particle size. To correct for variances in particle velocity and light beam intensity across the view volume, flow aperturing is used. Flow aperture modeling (Eqs. 1-7) provides a format for designing the nozzle such that the lateral velocity profile matches the laser beam lateral intensity profile, thereby providing uniform detection sensitivity to laser light scattered from monodisperse particles distributed laterally across the view volume.

Abstract: A permanent magnet generator is described. The generator includes a shaft which defines a longitudinal axis. A rotatable magnetic field assembly is mounted on the shaft and adapted for rotation about the shaft. The magnetic field assembly includes a plurality of axially magnetized magnets which are retained in a cavity about the shaft for generating an axial magnetic flux. A plurality of vanes are mounted on the magnetic field assembly housing for rotating the magnetic field assembly about the shaft when a fluid flows past the vanes. A stationary armature assembly is also located around the shaft in a position axially spaced from the magnetic field assembly. The armature assembly generates AC power when the magnetic field assembly is rotated. The stationary armature assembly includes an armature housing. An axial bore is formed through the armature housing for receiving the shaft. The armature housing defines a cavity about the axial bore in which a plurality of laminated bars are retained.

Abstract: In a particle detector, a stream carrying particles to be measured is passed through a laser beam. A pair of optical collection systems are arranged perpendicular to the laser beam, opposing each other. The optical collection system reflects light signals indicative of particles sensed in the sensing region to a pair of detector arrays. Each detector array has a plurality of detectors to detect the particle signals, as well as other noise. One detector from each array monitors the same sensing region. The signals from the detectors are processed through a noise cancellation circuit. The noise cancellation circuit first amplifies each detector signal through a photo-amp. Then, the signals of the detectors in one detector array are paired up with corresponding signals of detectors, spaced at least two detectors away, in the other detector array. The paired-up signals pass through differential amplifiers, which essentially cancel the light fluctuation noise.

Abstract: A hybrid stepper motor having optimized torque per unit volume or "torque density" comprises a stator having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and a rotor rotatably position within the stator inner diameter and being drivably coupled to a shaft. The rotor is of the permanent magnet type having at least one permanent magnet positioned on the shaft, and includes two rotor segments coupled on either end of the permanent magnet. The rotor segments each have a length which is calculated to optimize the torque density of the motor. The calculated optimization of the rotor segment length is accomplished as a function of the stator inner diameter to stator outer diameter ratio. The optimization of the rotor segment lengths allows for a range of values for a given stator inner diameter to outer diameter ratio as defined by a maximum length and a minimum length equation.

Abstract: A method for extinguishing fires in aircraft cargo spaces includes two pressure chambers separated by an annular boss which houses a restricting orifice and a check valve assembly. A lower chamber acts as a high rate discharge fire extinguisher and the upper chamber acts as a metering fire extinguisher. Upon receipt of an activation command from the cockpit, all the agent contained in the high rate discharge chamber is emptied within seconds. At the same time, the pressurized agent contained in the upper chamber pushes the check valve to a closed position and allows the agent in the metering chamber to flow through the orifice of the restrictor at a predetermined rate. With the properly sized orifice, the agent in the upper chamber will be emptied at a rate that lasts for the needed duration of the aircraft fire protection system.

Abstract: A dimmable electronic ballast for a gas discharge lamp utilizing a modified self-resonant split inductor configuration. The voltage supplied to the lamp load is controlled by varying the duty cycle of the output stage which, in turn, feeds back a driving signal to the boost converter to synchronize the DC voltage with the needs of the load. The circuit also performs power factor and THD control. The ballast circuit controls the start-up of the lamp by proving a warming current to the filaments and then boosts the voltage to strike the lamps. If the lamps are at end-of-life wherein the filaments are intact but vapor and coatings are diminished, the ballast will apply bursts of higher voltage until the lamp strikes. Additionally, if the filaments are open, the circuit stops operation.

Abstract: A pump establishes gas flow in a particle counter. A pair of shafts having lobes is mounted in a first housing and serves to establish a gas flow path through a second housing which defines a view volume where particles are counted by light scattering or obscuration of a beam intersecting the light flow path. The lobes of the first housing do not contact each other or the walls of the housing, thereby limiting particles to those suspended in the gas flow.

Abstract: An electrical motor and the process for forming that motor utilizes injection molding techniques to unitize the stator assembly. The stator assembly includes a stator lamination stack and preferably a metal front end cap which is secured to the lamination stack after the lamination stack is insulated and wound. The windings are terminated at a plurality of conductive pins fusion welded to the terminating ends of the windings. The stator assembly with front end cap in place is positioned in an injection molding die. Pressure is applied to the die, and molten plastic is injected under pressure to fill voids in the stator assembly, and also to form a plastic mass which will serve as the rear end cap. The rear end cap is also molded with a connector portion which fixes the conductive pins in place as a part of the connector. A bore formed in the stator assembly provides mounting surfaces for bearings on a rotor assembly.