Abstract: Apparatus for detecting fluid level in a container, comprises a housing adapted to be disposed in the container; a float with an associated magnetic element, the float position corresponding to fluid level in the container; a magnetostrictive sensor disposed inside the housing; and a stick gauge disposed inside the housing; the magnetostrictive sensor and the stick gauge each being operable to determine the float position.

Abstract: A gauging apparatus for fluid containers such as fuel tanks includes a capacitance disposed in the container that changes value based on the volume of fluid in the container; a first antenna disposed below an outer surface of the container and coupled to the capacitance; a second antenna magnetically coupled with the first antenna across a coreless gap; and a gauging circuit coupled to the second antenna and comprising an oscillator for applying an excitation signal at a number of different frequencies to the second antenna, and a signal processing circuit that detects current in the second antenna caused by the excitation signal and by current in the first antenna related to the capacitance value.

Abstract: An acousto-optic damage detector and locator uses acoustic energy propagated through a structure to modulate light transmitted through an optical fiber whereby the character of acoustic signals detected by the fiber varies according to the physical condition of the portion of the structure through which the pulses propagate to determine the existence, location and extent of faults within the structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for igniting fuel in a combustor includes an injector having an electrostatic fuel atomization nozzle and an igniter. The injector produces an initial combustion process that ignites the main fuel supply from a fuel nozzle. Alternatively, a main fuel nozzle is provided which includes a plurality of electrostatic fuel nozzles disposed about a centrally located igniter. In one embodiment, the igniter is a laser igniter.

Abstract: Apparatus for igniting fuel in a combustor includes an injector having an electrostatic fuel atomization nozzle and an igniter. The injector produces an initial combustion process that ignites the main fuel supply from a fuel nozzle. Alternatively, a main fuel nozzle is provided which includes a plurality of electrostatic fuel nozzles disposed about a centrally located igniter. In one embodiment, the igniter is a laser igniter.

Abstract: Sensing device for a sensor embeddable in a structure comprising: an insulative substrate, a circuit pattern disposed on the substrate for interconnecting a plurality of electronic components, the circuit pattern comprising an inductive coil, the circuit pattern including pads for disposing components on the substrate and coupling the device to the sensor.

Abstract: Diagnostics apparatus for detecting operation of an exciter circuit connected to an igniter, includes means for detecting current discharged from the exciter circuit through the igniter, means for detecting current discharged from the exciter circuit other that through the igniter, and means for producing a single output that indicates the type of discharge from the exciter circuit.

Abstract: A rotary transformer for aircraft deicing apparatus, the transformer including a primary winding adjacent a laminated primary core, and a secondary winding adjacent a laminated secondary core; at least one of the cores being rotatable with respect to the other core.

Abstract: A liquid sensing apparatus for a fuel tank comprises a first optical sensor for producing an output having a first state that corresponds to the first optical sensor being exposed to air and a second state that corresponds to the first optical sensor being exposed to fuel; a second optical sensor for producing an output having a first state that corresponds to the second optical sensor being exposed to air or water, and a second state that corresponds to the second optical sensor being exposed to fuel; and a circuit for detecting the first and second optical sensor output states. The sensor circuits can be accessed using a two wire only interface, and thermal stability can be achieved with the electronic circuit as shown.

Abstract: A liquid gauging system for a liquid container, the system comprising sensor means for producing a first electromagnetic signal that corresponds to liquid quantity in the container, and remote interrogation means for receiving the first electromagnetic signal and producing a system output that corresponds to the liquid quantity; the sensor means being energized by a second electromagnetic signal transmitted by the remote interrogation means.

Abstract: An oscillatory discharge exciter includes an input connectable to a power supply; an output connectable to an igniter; at least two energy storage elements for producing an oscillatory discharge of energy during an exciter discharge period; a unidirectional gated switch and a rectifier coupled in reverse parallel with each other such that the switch and rectifier control, during respective alternating half cycles, oscillatory discharge energy at the exciter output; and a circuit for gating the switch in response to voltage transitions across the switch. The gating circuit can also be used as a snubber circuit to add gate drive to slow devices, as well as to trigger a series of switching devices with the application of only a single external trigger signal to one of the devices. In an alternative embodiment, the gating circuit is replaced with a circuit for maintaining holding current through the switch to prevent the switch from recovering to a blocking condition.

Abstract: This invention relates to an article comprising a potted electrical component in a structure, wherein the electrical component is potted in a polyimide composition. The invention also relates to a method of potting electrical components comprising the steps of (1) adding a polyimide precursor to a structure including an electrical component, (2) curing the polyimide precursor to form a polyimide composition encapsulating the electrical component.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a significant departure from known shielded enclosure designs by providing an enclosure for electronic modules, comprising walls made of composite material including conductive fibers for shielding the enclosure interior from electromagnetic radiation, and means for securely mounting at least one module inside the enclosure with a fastener means, the mounting means comprising composite material. The present invention further contemplates methods for making shielded enclosures and card guides for such enclosures that represent a significant improvement over known enclosure designs. This invention contemplates composite cold walls and composite fins. These composite fins and cold walls may be used alone or together in structures and enclosures which are useful in conducting heat.

Abstract: Apparatus for igniting fuel in a combustor includes an injector having an electrostatic fuel atomization nozzle and an igniter. The injector produces an initial combustion process that ignites the main fuel supply from a fuel nozzle. Alternatively, a main fuel nozzle is provided which includes a plurality of electrostatic fuel nozzles disposed about a centrally located igniter. In one embodiment, the igniter is a laser igniter.

Abstract: A smart structure comprising a rotatable shaft, and a sensor integrated with the shaft, a resonant detector circuit integrated with the structure for detecting a sensor output, and an external exciter circuit; the detector circuit having first coil means and the exciter circuit having second coil means magnetically coupled to the first coil means when aligned across a gap; and control means exterior the shaft for producing an output that corresponds to the sensor output compensated for the gap.

Abstract: Axial alignment detection apparatus for a shaft rotatable about an axis includes alignment indicating means rotatable by the shaft and comprising a plurality of detectable elements; and detector means for detecting the elements and alignment of the shaft as a function of the elements; the elements comprising at least one reference element and at least one alignment dependent element, wherein the reference and alignment elements have a detectable alignment dependent relationship to each other.

Abstract: An ignition system for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of igniters, an energy storage capacitance, a charging circuit for charging the capacitance, a plurality of gated switches, with at least one switch connected between each igniter and the capacitance, and control means for discharging respective amounts of energy from the capacitance to each respective igniter at respective spark rates.

Abstract: In combination, a gas turbine engine ignition system exciter, an igniter, a conductor that connects the exciter to the igniter to form a discharge circuit, and a current pulse detector for detecting current pulses in the circuit, the detector comprising a wire disposed in close proximity to a current carrying element in the circuit so that a sense current is induced in the wire across a coreless gap; the detector further comprising a signal conditioning circuit for converting the sense current to an output that indicates occurrence of a spark discharge.

Abstract: Axial alignment detection apparatus for a shaft rotatable about an axis includes alignment indicating means rotatable by the shaft and comprising a plurality of detectable elements; and detector means for detecting the elements and alignment of the shaft as a function of the elements; the elements comprising at least one reference element and at least one alignment dependent element, wherein the reference and alignment elements have a detectable alignment dependent relationship to each other.

Abstract: A temperature sensor for detecting temperature of a heating element of an igniter such as a glow plug includes optic means disposable near the igniter for receiving at least a portion of electromagnetic energy emitted by the heating element and coupling the received electromagnetic energy to a circuit means for producing an output related to the temperature of the igniter in relation to a characteristic of the received electromagnetic energy. In one embodiment, the optic means comprises optic fibers that receive electromagnetic energy emitted by the heating element and couple that energy to a photosensitive detector.