Abstract: An apparatus for energizing the coil of, and detecting the resultant armature actuation in, a solenoid of the type having a movable armature reciprocable along an axis between first and second positions, a spring bias normally biasing the armature toward the first position, and an actuating coil for inducing a force on the armature tending to move the armature from the first position toward the second position in response to current flow in the actuating coil. A voltage is first provided to the solenoid coil and thereafter, a resulting current flow is differentiated and a zero crossing comparator is utilized to determine when the differentiated current is zero and, therefor, the time at which the sensed current flow reaches a maximum (dv/dt=0). The time at which the armature began to move in response to the resulting coil current may be inferred and the voltage to the solenoid coil interrupted a Predetermined time after the time at which the armature began to move.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 13, 1992
Date of Patent:
December 14, 1993
Assignee:
Allied-Signal Inc.
Inventors:
Eric D. Alden, Mark D. Thompson, Ivan L. Harneck
Abstract: A gas turbine engine compressor module subassembly construction and associated assembly method and tooling includes a threaded inner bore on the first stage compressor adapted to receive a tubular tool that slips axially between the compressor bores and the engine central shaft. Securement of the accessible tooling to the module's stationary structure permits assembly and handling of the module independently of the engine shaft.
Abstract: This invention relates to a clutch mechanism for selective power transmission between starter means and an engine. More particularly, the invention discloses a dual clutch mechanism for use in selectively coupling a turbine driven starter assembly with a gas turbine engine to affect engine start up and disengage thereafter. The invention provides a clutch mechanism, comprised of two clutches in series, which can deliver positive torque transmission from a starter to an engine at any speed within an operating range and disengages at any speed greater than the operating range.
Abstract: An apparatus to be employed within a precision distance measuring system for estimating pulse time-of-arrival. The apparatus facilitates the use of an Adaptive Fixed Threshold method for such estimation. The invention compensates for pulse time detection errors induced by variations in incident pulse amplitude and shape by adjusting the estimated time-of-arrival. This adjustment is performed as a function of the measured pulse slope between two low-amplitude threshold levels through the use of a predetermined reference table of error adjustment times.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 1, 1991
Date of Patent:
November 30, 1993
Assignee:
Allied-Signal Inc.
Inventors:
Robert J. Kelly, Michael G. Biggs, Howard H. Ireland, Gary A. Drutch, Janice A. Winter
Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling the heat generated by a gas turbine engine mounted in a compartment is provided. The apparatus comprises a novel eductor that incorporates a mixer nozzle to entrain sufficient air flow through the compartment to provide all the necessary cooling. The engine's oil cooler is mounted to the eductor so that the entrained air flow passes through it and cools the engine's oil. The novel eductor also has means for receiving a flow of high velocity air from the engine and injecting this air downstream of the mixer nozzle to enhance the entraining of the cooling flow.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 13, 1992
Date of Patent:
November 30, 1993
Assignee:
Allied-Signal Inc.
Inventors:
Yogendra Y. Sheoran, Marc Schmittenberg, Craig A. Lyon, Charles M. Royalty, Kurt T. Kenzler, Thomas W. Davis
Abstract: This invention relates to a Lewis base catalyzed phase transfer coating process for coating a substrate with an acid substituted polyaniline.
Abstract: SiCxOy where x is greater than zero and up to about 2.0 and y is greater than zero and up to about 2.2 is produced from a cyclosiloxane polymer precursor by pyrolysis in the presence of oxygen by heating at a rate exceeding about 5.degree. C/min.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 2, 1992
Date of Patent:
November 30, 1993
Assignee:
Allied-Signal Inc.
Inventors:
Roger Y. Leung, John G. Sikonia, Stephen T. Gonczy
Abstract: An anti-skid control circuit for a wheeled vehicle and a method of processor computation confirmation within such an anti-skid control circuit includes the confirmation of proper processor operation only at a certain one of the computation values. Rotation of a vehicle wheel Provides a pulse train the repetition rate of which is indicative of the vehicle speed. A sequence of program steps is repetitively executed in a microprocessor (17) over a fixed time interval with the microprocessor (17) repeating that same predetermined sequence of program steps during each successive said fixed time interval. A second pulse train is provided having one pulse for each repetition of the sequence of program steps.
Abstract: A transmitter for transmitting cab signal and track signal currents to a pair of rails includes the circuitry for mitigating runby currents which are not fully shunted by the rail vehicle. High runby currents at the leaving end of a block are reduced by sensing the presence of a railway vehicle in the leaving end of the block. In response to sensing the rail vehicle the cab signal voltage is reduced to a lower level. The lower level and the position at which the railway vehicle is sensed are adjusted so as to permit a lead vehicle to receive at least a minimum cab signal value throughout its journey while assuring that following trains receive less than the minimum cab value required to activate the vehicle based receiver. The train is sensed by the voltage drop across the rails as the train approaches. A relay is used to respond to the presence of the train by applying a lower cab signal to the rails.
Abstract: A thermosetting resin designated a "APT" resin is produced by a two-step procedure in which a substituted aromatic compound, preferably diphenyl ether is reacted with formaldehyde to produce an oligomeric backbone, followed by further reaction with a phenol to provide pendant phenolic groups. Finally, the resulting polymer is cyanated with a cyanogen halide.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 30, 1991
Date of Patent:
November 23, 1993
Assignee:
Allied-Signal Inc.
Inventors:
George D. Green, William B. Bedwell, Raymond J. Swedo
Abstract: A railway vehicle cab signalling system providing electrical signals to operate an aspect display unit or the like located on-board a railway vehicle based upon the track circuit signals typically used to operate wayside indicators. A sensor detects the track circuit current as it passes through at least one wheel and axle set on the vehicle. A processor receives an output signal from the sensor and produces a signal to operate the aspect display unit.
Abstract: A simpler, multiple element chip detector having two parallel, electrical conductors shrouding a plurality of discrete magnets which are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the chip detector is provided. The poles of each magnet abut opposite conductors defining a chip gap. A plurality of electrical isolators are mounted about the conductors and positioned between each of the magnets to define a chip element therebetween. The number of chip elements can be varied by adding or subtracting a magnet and isolator. The conductors are mounted in a housing to receive an electrical potential. Thus, regardless of the number of chip elements no additional circuitry is required. In an alternative embodiment the discrete magnets are replaced with a single magnet. In this embodiment the number of chip elements can be increased or decreased by only adding or removing an isolator.
Abstract: A brake booster having an initial output force produced a reaction force acting on a face of a second diameter of a plunger to produce a primary force which opposes an input force, an intermediate output force produced by the reaction force acting on a disc to produce a secondary force which is combined with the primary force to oppose the input force and an optimum output force which is produced from the differences between the input force and primary and second forces to effect a brake application.
Abstract: A relay valve for a fluid pressure braking system includes a relay piston and a load piston which is responsive to the pressure at the inlet port of the relay valve to exert a biasing force on the relay piston loading the latter against the inlet/exhaust valve. The biasing force is opposed by fluid pressure at the inlet port acting across the effective area of the inlet/exhaust valve. The biasing force is greater than the spring force holding the inlet/exhaust valve closed, so that the valve responds immediately to pressure signals transmitted through the control port of the relay valve.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 28, 1992
Date of Patent:
November 16, 1993
Assignee:
Allied-Signal Inc.
Inventors:
Duane R. Johnson, Robert J. Herbst, James E. Fent, James G. Pugh, Paul O. Szentkiralyi
Abstract: A brake rotor for use with a caliper in a brake system is made from a composition having from 20-80 percent by volume of silicon carbide and from 80-20 percent by volume of an iron alloy consisting of: 0.4 to 4.0 percent by weight of total carbon; 1.8 to 18.0 percent by weight of Si; 1.0 to 10.0 percent by weight of X where X is selected from a group consisting of Cr, Mo, Mn, Ni, P and S; and the balance of iron alloy being Fe, the composition having a theoretical thermal conductivity at room temperature of 0.19 to 0.41 cal/cm*sec*deg C.
Abstract: Azeotrope-like compositions comprising 1-H-perfluorohexane and trifluoroethanol or n-propanol and optionally nitromethane are stable and have utility as degreasing agents and as solvents in a variety of industrial cleaning applications including cold cleaning and defluxing of printed circuit boards and dry cleaning.
Abstract: This invention is related to a woven fibrous article which exhibits relatively low reductions in energy-to-break and tenacity on repeated impacts.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 5, 1991
Date of Patent:
November 9, 1993
Assignee:
Allied-Signal Inc.
Inventors:
Dusan C. Prevorsek, Young D. Kwon, Hong B. Chin
Abstract: An IC controller for a brushless motor includes commutation logic and an inverter on a single chip. The chip can also include an isolated power supply.
Abstract: An improved fiber reinforced glass composite includes a carbon-coated refractory fiber in a matrix of a black glass ceramic having the empirical formula SiCxOy where x ranges from about 0.5 to about 2.0, preferably 0.9 to 1.6 and y ranges from about 0.5 to 3.0, preferably 0.7 to 1.8. Preferably the black glass ceramic is derived from cyclosiloxane monomers containing a vinyl group attached to silicon and/or a hydride-silicon group.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 1990
Date of Patent:
November 2, 1993
Assignee:
Allied-Signal Inc.
Inventors:
Rober Y. Leung, Gerald T. Stranford, Stephen T. Gonczy
Abstract: A compressed air system includes an air dryer which includes a desiccant for drying compressed air passed through the desiccant before the compressed air is received in a storage reservoir. A humidity sensor is installed in the system downstream of the desiccant for measuring the relatively humidity of the air after it passes through the air dryer. A control module is programmed such that if the humidity level increases above 80%, a timer is started. If a time period of several hours elapses without the humidity level decreasing below 50%, a depleted desiccant and/or a system malfunction is indicated, and an appropriate warning device is actuated.