Abstract: A carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption membrane or bed is operative to separate metabolic CO2 from an exhaust stream from a breathable atmosphere which is discharged from a closed habitable environment. The habitable environment is in a low ambient pressure surrounding. A portion of the scrubbed exhaust gas stream is diverted from the habitable environment and passed through a desorption chamber. The desorption chamber is open to the low ambient pressure surrounding to maintain a pressure which is slightly greater than the pressure in the ambient surrounding so that the desorption chamber gas stream will exit the system into the ambient surroundings. When the diverted exhaust gas enters the low pressure desorption pressure chamber its CO2 partial pressure content is reduced. The reduced CO2 partial pressure content of the gas stream in the desorption chamber enables the desorption chamber gas stream to remove CO2 from the adsorption membrane or bed.

Abstract: Water vapor is removed from a mixture of air, metabolic carbon dioxide (CO2), and water vapor prior to removing the CO2 from the mixture. The water vapor-containing mixture is passed through a membrane module which is operative to separate the water vapor from the air and CO2 mixture. The water vapor in the entering mixture will pass in one direction through the membrane in the module from an entry side of the membrane to an exit side of the membrane. The membrane divides the module into two chambers, one of which receives the water vapor-containing mixture, and the other of which receives CO2-free air from a CO2 adsorbant station. The water vapor-containing mixture is removed from a closed habitable environment such as a space station, a space suit, a submarine, or the like, and is moved through the membrane module where the water vapor is removed from the gas stream.

Abstract: Difficulties in starting a turbine engine, particularly ones having a small volume combustor (83) with a low dome height, may be avoided by a method including the steps of a) forming the turbine engine compressor (48) of a low density, high temperature resistant ceramic material, b) directing pyrotechnic gases at a temperature of at least about 3,000.degree. F. against the blades (48) of the compressor, c) continuing the step of directing until the turbine rotor (44) is rotating at at least about 60 percent of rated speed and d) combusting fuel in the combustor (83) of the turbine engine to maintain the rotor (44) rotating at at least about 60 percent of rated speed.

Abstract: In order to restrict flow between the motor and pump of canned motor pump, a seal arrangement is provided for use with a canned motor pump which has a motor disposed within a motor housing and an axially extending output shaft for rotating an auxiliary impeller to circulate fluid from an external supply to cool and lubricate the motor. A pump housing is abutted with the motor housing and surrounds a main impeller which is seated on the motor shaft. A seal assembly is provided to minimize the leakage between the pump housing and the motor housing and includes a pair of axially spaced bushing seals which surround the motor output shaft and define an annular reference cavity between the seals. A passageway connects the pump outlet and the reference cavity to permit the motor fluid to reference pump discharge pressure without subjecting the impeller to increased axial thrust.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a compressor that recirculates bleed air by way of a fluid distributing unit which is adapted to redirect and uniformly distribute the air bled through passages in a compressor shroud section across a cross-sectional area of a compressor's inlet region to provide uniform distribution of the bleed air into the compressor's impellar to thereby increase efficiency of the compressor.

Abstract: In order to provide a simple, low-cost fuel injection system, particularly for a dual zoned annular combustor (10), a single fuel manifold (42) is utilized having first and second manifold portions (42a and 42b) each with a respective plurality of openings (44a and 44b) through which fuel may flow into first and second fuel injection zones (34 and 36). The annular combustor (10) typically includes a combustor housing (12) comprising an axially extending sleeve (14) disposed about a longitudinally extending axis (16) and an annular liner (18) defining a combustion chamber (26) and being spaced from the housing (12) and the sleeve (14) to form a compressed air flow path (28) therebetween.

Abstract: In order to control engine operation by exhaust gas measurement, while avoiding operating conditions that exceed the safe maximum temperature limit, a gas turbine engine (10) includes a thermocouple temperature probe (28). The gas turbine engine (10) has a rotary compressor (12), a turbine wheel (14) coupled to the compressor (12) for driven movement thereof, and an annular nozzle (16) proximate the turbine wheel (14) for directing gases of combustion at the turbine wheel (14). It also includes an annular combustor (18) defining an annular combustion space (20) disposed about the turbine wheel (14) and in fluid communication with both the compressor (12) and the nozzle (16). The combustor (18) receives fuel from a source and air from the compressor (12) and it combusts fuel and air in the combustion space (20) to generate the gases of combustion.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of restoring compressor rotor blade/compressor shroud clearance brought on by cold air induced shroud contraction by delivering warmed bleed air through a geodesic array of compressor/turbine support struts which counteracts the cold air induced shroud contraction.

Abstract: An identification module and identification determination circuitry are provided for the purpose of identifying an apparatus and electrically determining the identification number of that identified apparatus. The identification module comprises a plurality of resistive identification circuits which, in turn, each comprise a plurality of resistive elements selected to have resistive magnitudes that relate to each other by powers, or orders, of two. The identification determination circuit of the present invention places each of the resistive identification circuits in series with a resistor of known magnitude between two connection points to provide a voltage potential and a resulting current flowing through the resistive identification circuit. The invention also provides a means by which the input voltage can be determined and used to adjust the determined magnitude of the resistive identification circuit.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a jam tolerant ballscrew actuator. The ballscrew actuator is driven through a differential via plural power paths therein. A first of these differential power paths is drivingly coupled to a reciprocating dual ballscrew assembly by way of a rotatable ballnut. A second of the differential power paths is coupled to the dual ballscrew assembly via a rotatable hub having a splined opening therethrough. A reciprocating sleeve having a splined portion engages the sleeve shaft to reciprocate therethrough and be rotated by the rotatable hub. The sleeve shaft additionally includes a rotatable sleeve ballnut portion that drivingly cooperates with the dual ballscrew assembly. The reciprocating rotatable sleeve provides the ballscrew actuator output. The rotatable ballnut and the rotatable sleeve ballnut have equal but opposite leads which provide an axial motion summing characteristic for the dual ballscrew assembly.

Abstract: A misalignment compensating fastener insert for adjusting the location of a fastener to compensate for misalignment in attachment holes of articles to be assembled. The misalignment compensating fastener insert includes a truncated cone shaped outer body member having an eccentric tapered inner bore and a truncated cone shaped inner body member having an eccentric inner bore. The truncated cone shaped inner body member is rotatably positioned within the tapered inner bore of the truncated cone shaped outer body member which is rotatably positioned in a tapered attachment hole of a first article to be assembled. A second article to be assembled includes a cylindrical attachment hole corresponding to the tapered attachment hole. Adjusting the eccentricity of the inner bore of the truncated cone shaped inner body member relative to the truncated cone shaped outer body member compensates for misalignments between the attachment holes.

Abstract: A system for converting variable frequency multiple phase current into multiple phase current of constant frequency with a neutral having a multiple phase inverter with a neutral (N) is disclosed. A first input (34) is connected to the multiple phase inverter for receiving pulses of a positive polarity. A second input (36) is connected to the multiple phase inverter for receiving pulses of a negative polarity. A variable frequency multiple phase source (12, 14 and 16) of alternating current applies current to a multiple phase transformer (80, 142 and 180). Current from the transformer is applied to a full-wave rectifier (96) which has a first group of diodes (112) which applies the positive pulses to the input (34). A second group of diodes (116) applies the negative pulses to the input (36). The ripple frequency f.sub.

Abstract: A Darlington-type amplifier (10) having an input field effect transistor and an output bipolar transistor (T.sub.2) is disclosed with improved turn-off time. Turnoff is enhanced by short-circuiting the gate-to-source or drain capacitance of the input field effect transistor (T.sub.1) and after turnoff is complete of the input field effect transistor prior to turn off of the output bipolar transistor (T.sub.2) coupling the base of the output bipolar transistor to a reference potential to discharge minority carriers therein to complete turnoff.

Abstract: A dual hydraulic motor system where motor wobblers are mechanically linked and the motor outputs are torque summed, is controlled by a three position dual valve assembly. Each valve assembly is controlled by pilot pistons that are mechanically linked to provide three functions, one being normal operation, a second where one motor must be shut-off and its load on the system is minimized and the third where both motors are shut-off and significant drag is then provided. These functions are implemented by a separate spool in each valve which has three independent stable positions.

Abstract: A thermally powered electrical generating system for use in a space vehicle is disclosed. The rate of storage in a thermal energy storage medium is controlled by varying the rate of generation and dissipation of electrical energy in a thermally powered electrical generating system which is powered from heat stored in the thermal energy storage medium without exceeding a maximum quantity of heat. A control system (10) varies the rate at which electrical energy is generated by the electrical generating system and the rate at which electrical energy is consumed by a variable parasitic electrical load to cause storage of an amount of thermal energy in the thermal energy storage system at the end of a period of insolation which is sufficient to satisfy the scheduled demand for electrical power to be generated during the next period of eclipse. The control system is based upon Kalman filter theory.

Abstract: An aircraft flight control surface actuator that prevents against overtravel is provided with a lock which includes a pin (76) that is urged by spring (b 74) toward the wall (68) that is part of control gear (56) which travels along the axis of a threaded shaft (42) in response to rotation of main shaft (16). An aperture (70) in the wall (68) is aligned with pin (76) only at a neutral position of the flight control surface (12). Lever (80) depresses pin (76) against the force of spring (74) only so long as hydraulic system pressure for the actuator is supplied to cylinder (84).

Abstract: An inverter for producing a one or three phase output with neutral is disclosed. An LC resonant circuit is selectively switched by an inverter to produce one or three phases having a fundamental frequency equal to the frequency of each switching circuit within the phases of the inverter. The outputs are filtered to remove higher harmonics to pass the filtered output to the load. Energy is fed back into the resonant circuit by short circuiting the switching circuits at the time that the ouput voltage across a switching circuit is zero to minimize switching losses.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering a fluid by directing a flow of the fluid against a filter such that only a portion of the fluid passes through the filter and the remainder passes over the filter to clean it thereby preventing the filter from becoming clogged. The apparatus can be used in a rotary fluid management device of a dynamic isotope power system for filtering fluid therein which is to be used for lubricating bearings of the device for a period of many years with no maintenance.

Abstract: An ullage compensator is disclosed for a stored chemical energy power propulsion system. With the invention, at least one movable wall (16) is provided within a reactor having a chamber (10) which is movable between a first position at which the chamber has a maximum reaction volume to a second position at which the reaction chamber has a minimum volume. A force is applied to the movable wall by a bellows to cause the wall to project into the chamber in response to the force when a reaction is occurring within the chamber. The invention eliminates damage to the interior surface of the chamber and the inlet port(s) for introducing an oxidant into the chamber which sustains the reaction caused by direct contact with a gaseous oxidant which causes the reaction.

Abstract: A three phase inverter (40) is disclosed for use with loads (100) which are unbalanced. A transformer (80) having primary windings (82), (84) and (86) which are respectively connected to phase outputs (52, 54 and 56) has a secondary having individual windings (88, 90 and 92) connected in a delta configuration which minimizes the flow of unbalanced current in the unbalanced load. A second embodiment utilizes a transformer in an interconnected configuration. A neutral connecting the conductive switches to the load is unnecessary with the invention.