Abstract: An assembly comprises a resistor plate for a rotating rectifier assembly (RRA). A shaft bore is defined through the resistor plate for passage of a shaft of an electrical machine, and the resistor plate defines a main annular body around the shaft bore. A first protrusion extends radially outward from the main annular body, so that a first pin bore extends through the first protrusion. At least one contact band is seated in a the pin bore of the resistor plate for mounting a direct current (DC) pin to the resistor plate.

Abstract: A battery thermal management system for an air vehicle includes a liquid heat exchange circuit, an air heat exchange circuit in selective fluid communication with ram air, a liquid-air heat exchanger positioned on the liquid heat exchange circuit and the air heat exchange circuit to exchange heat therebetween. The system includes at least one battery in thermal communication with the liquid heat exchange circuit. The at least one battery is configured to charge and/or discharge to heat the at least one battery above a pre-determined minimum battery temperature. A method for controlling a thermal management system for an air vehicle includes determining if at least one battery is within a thermal range of operation for heating. The method includes charging and/or discharging the at least one battery to heat the at least one battery if the at least one battery is within the thermal range of operation for heating.

Abstract: A compressing device for use in an environmental control system includes at least one turbine configured to provide energy by expanding one or more mediums. The one or more mediums provided at an outlet of the at least one turbine form a heat sink within the environmental control system. A compressor is configured to receive energy from the one or more mediums expanded across the at least one turbine. During a first mode of the compressing device, energy derived from a first medium and a second medium of the one or more mediums is used to compress a second medium at the compressor. During a second mode of the compressing device, energy derived from the first medium, the second medium, and a third medium of the one or more mediums is used to compress the second medium at the compressor.

Abstract: An air separation module includes a canister having an inlet end and an outlet end arranged along a canister axis, a separator supported within the canister and arranged to separate a compressed air flow received at the air separation module into an oxygen-depleted air flow fraction and an oxygen-enriched air flow fraction, and an inlet cap. The inlet cap is seated about the inlet end of the canister, contains therein a portion of the separator, and has an oxygen-enriched air outlet port fluidly separated from the outlet end of the canister by the separator for diverting the oxygen-enriched air flow fraction to the external environment. Nitrogen generation systems and methods of making air separation modules are also described.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a body defining a flow channel, and a pin extending across the flow channel, the pin including an at least partially non-cylindrical shape. The pin can be a double helix pin including two spiral branches defining a double helix shape. The two branches can include a uniform winding radius. The two branches include a non-uniform winding radius. The non-uniform winding radius can include a base radius and a midpoint radius, wherein the midpoint radius is smaller than the base radius. The two branches can be joined together by one or more cross-members.

Abstract: A battery cell system includes a battery cell defined by an outer housing. One or more sensors are positioned within the outer housing of the battery cell. Each of the one or more sensors configured and adapted to be operatively connected to a battery management system (BMS) to provide data thereto. A method for detecting an mitigating failure modes in a battery cell includes reading a battery cell characteristic with a sensor positioned within an outer housing of the battery cell. The method includes sending the battery cell characteristic to a BMS. The method includes determining whether the battery cell characteristic meets a criteria with the BMS. The method includes signaling a failure mode if the battery cell characteristic does not meet the criteria.

Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery cells abutting one another to form a battery cell stack. An optical communication link is connected to each of the plurality of battery cells. A battery management system (BMS) connected to the optical communication link configured and adapted to receive information from the optical communication link. A method of controlling heat transfer in a battery system includes monitoring at least one characteristic of at least one battery cell of a plurality of battery cells with at least one sensor, and sending information from the at least one sensor to a battery management system (BMS) with an optical communication link. The optical communication link is connected to each of the plurality of battery cells. The method includes selectively varying a fluid circulation rate in the battery system with the BMS depending on the at least one characteristic.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes a generator controller configured to receive input from an AC power source, an exciter, and a generator, and output one or more signals to an exciter to control generation of generator output. The system also includes a rectifier controller configured to receive input from the generator controller, the exciter, and a rectifier, and output one or more control signals to the generator controller and the rectifier to control active rectification of the generator output.

Abstract: A rotor includes a base member including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a central opening passing through the first side and the second side. The second side includes an outer circumferential edge having a first dimension and the central opening having an inner circumferential edge having a second dimension. A plurality of blades extend outwardly from the first side. The plurality of blades extend about the central opening. A fuse element is formed in the second side and extends along one of a radial direction and a circumferential direction. The fuse element has a length that is less than the first dimension.

Abstract: An exciter comprises a stator armature defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart winding slots separated by respective stator teeth. first exciter winding with multiple phases, a second exciter winding with multiple phases. The individual windings of the first and second exciter windings are seated in the winding slots. For each phase of each of the first and second exciter windings there are two leads configured to connect to a generator control unit (GCU).

Abstract: In an embodiment, an article comprises a plurality of structural units, wherein each structural unit comprises a first portion; a second portion; wherein the second portion contacts the first portion; and a third portion; wherein the third portion is in communication with the first portion and the second portion and is more compressible than the first portion and the second portion; wherein the first portion comprises a first shape memory alloy having a first preset state and wherein the second portion comprises a second shape memory alloy that has a second preset state; wherein the second preset state is different from the first preset state.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package includes a multilayer substrate including atop layer, a bottom layer and an intermediate layer between the top layer and the bottom layer. The package also includes one or more semiconductor dies embedded in the intermediate layer and conductive connector means to provide a conductive connection from the one or more dies. The conductive connector means extend through the top layer to provide connection means for one or more devices mounted on or adjacent the top layer.

Abstract: A closure assembly including a retaining cover, a first catch plate sitting partially within the retaining cover, a second catch plate sitting partially within the retaining cover opposite the first catch plate and spaced apart from the first catch plate, and a closure pressing against the first catch plate and pressing against the second catch plate.

Abstract: A glove for human work in extreme environments includes a body formed to substantially surround a human hand, at least one sensor provided in connection with the body, positioned to detect an extent of movement of a respective joint of the human hand, a controller provided in connection with the glove, adapted and configured to translate a signal generated by the sensor into a control signal, and to transmit the control signal to a receiver housed within a spacesuit informatics system.

Abstract: A circuit mounting assembly can include a circuit board, a chassis, a sheet of thermally conductive dielectric material, and one or more fasteners configured to compress the sheet between the circuit board and the chassis to provide vibration isolation and electrical isolation between the chassis and the circuit board, and to provide thermal conduction between the chassis and the circuit board.

Abstract: A switch control system includes a first voltage source configured to output a first source voltage on a first voltage line. The system includes a first gate driver, a second gate driver, a third gate driver, and a fourth gate driver. Each of the gate drivers includes shoot through protection (STP) configured to prevent a first switch and a second switch of the system from ever both being closed at once thereby preventing shoot voltages from a DC bus to ground through the first and second switches.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a part, comprising: forming the part via an additive manufacturing process, wherein the additive manufacturing process comprises layering, melting, and solidifying a metal alloy based on a three dimensional numerical model, wherein the formed part comprises a microstructure, wherein the microstructure comprises an average columnar grain length; and heat treating the formed part, wherein heat treating comprises heating to between 750° C. and 1200° C. for a time between 0.5 hours and 10 hours and then cooling the formed part below 750° C., wherein after heat treating, the formed part has an average columnar grain length of about 400 micrometers to about 1000 micrometers, as measured using electron backscattered diffraction.

Abstract: An electronic assembly includes a first printed wiring board (PWB) on a first side of the electronic assembly, and a first stiffener secured to the first PWB. The electronic assembly also includes a second PWB on a second side of the electronic assembly, opposite the first side, a second stiffener secured to the second PWB, and a center stiffener seated in the second stiffener and between the first stiffener and the second stiffener. The center stiffener has a first side facing the first stiffener, a second side that is opposite the first side and facing the second stiffener, a first end, and a second end, opposite the first end. Electronic devices are secured to the center stiffener. The center stiffener dissipates heat from the electronic devices, and the electronic devices include power dies.

Abstract: An environmental control system of a vehicle includes a first compression device including a compressor, a first turbine, and a power turbine operably coupled by a shaft. The first turbine is configured to receive a first medium, the compressor is configured to receive a second medium, and the power turbine is configured to receive a third medium. A second compression device, separate from the first compression device, includes a second turbine. The environmental control system is operable in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the second medium is provided to the compressor and the second turbine sequentially. In the second mode, the second medium bypasses the second turbine. In in both the first mode and the second mode, only the second medium is provided to an outlet of the environmental control system.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a first sleeve defining a piston bore therein. A second sleeve defines a piston bore therein. The piston bore of the first sleeve and the piston bore of the second sleeve are axially aligned. A piston is slidingly engaged in the piston bores of the first and second sleeves. A seal carrier with a plurality of pieces is axially between the first sleeve and the second sleeve. The plurality of pieces of the multi-piece seal carrier are circumferentially spaced apart from one another.