Abstract: An aircraft pressurized air system and method is disclosed. The system includes a compressor that receives and compresses outside air, and an air cycle machine that receives compressed air from the compressor and directs conditioned air to an aircraft pressurized zone. The system also includes a contaminant sensor disposed along an air flow path between the compressor and the aircraft pressurized zone, comprising an optical guide, a metal organic framework on an exterior surface of the optical guide in operative fluid communication with air from the air flow path, a light source in communication with the optical guide at a first end of the optical guide, and a light detector in communication with the optical guide at a second end of the optical guide.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method that provides active damping at the input of a motor drive system without the need for the hardware used in conventional and RC damping circuits. According to the disclosure a virtual damping network is realised at the input of the motor drive system based on modification of field-oriented control, FOC. More specifically, a control algorithm creates a virtual damping impedance at the motor drive input by applying a damping algorithm to both q and d components of the motor current.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a heat exchanger system for a servovalve, comprising a base comprising a supply port in fluid communication with a return port, a first passage for fluid connection to a source of cooling fluid, and a second passage in fluid communication with the return port. The system further comprises one or more pipes located over a surface of the base, the one or more pipes fluidly connected between the first passage and the second passage, such that in use cooling fluid may flow from the first passage to the second passage via the network of pipes.

Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates defining a set of hot fluid passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates and a set of cold fluid passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates. A hot fluid inlet and outlet are located at a first face of the heat exchanger. A barrier is located between adjacent plates defining the hot fluid passages. The barrier extends between the adjacent plates and extends from the first face of the heat exchanger at a location between the hot fluid inlet and the hot fluid outlet in a direction perpendicular to the first face, and defines a first pass of hot fluid passages on a first side of the barrier and a second pass of hot fluid passages on a second side of the barrier.

Abstract: A servovalve includes: a fluid transfer valve assembly comprising a supply port and a control port; a moveable valve spool arranged to regulate flow of fluid from the supply port to the control port in response to a control signal; and a drive assembly configured to axially move the valve spool relative to the fluid transfer assembly in response to the control signal to regulate the fluid flow. The drive assembly comprises a piezoelectric actuator configured to vary the flow of fluid to respective ends of the valve spool in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A superconducting magnetic energy storage system (SMES). The SMES includes a toroidally wound super conducting magnet having a toroidal magnetic core with a charging winding and a discharging winding. The charging winding and discharging winding are wound on the toroidal magnetic core. The SMES also includes a DC power source, the DC power source operable to provide DC current to the charging winding of the toroidally wound superconducting magnet, and a modulator operably connected to the DC power source and the charging winding, the modulator operable to modulate at least a portion of the DC current applied to the charging winding of the superconducting magnet. The energy is stored in a magnetic field of the superconducting magnet by applying a current to the charging winding of the superconducting magnet, and energy is withdrawn from the magnetic field by a current flowing in the discharging winding.

Abstract: A flapper for use in a servovalve is described, the flapper comprising a first material and a second material, the first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion and wherein the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion are different to each other. An armature/flapper assembly is also described, which comprises this flapper as well as a plate and a torsion bridge. A method of compensating for alteration of the null of a servovalve due to temperature changes in a servovalve is also described.

Abstract: A new method of forming a torsion spring for use in a servovalve is described. The method comprises individually forming the different components of the torsion spring and then connecting the individual components together using a brazing process. The torsion spring created by this method is also described.

Abstract: A power transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and a plurality of gear ratios selectably engagable with the input shaft and the output shaft to transfer rotational energy from the input shaft to the output shaft to drive the output shaft at a selected output shaft speed. A plurality of clutches, each clutch is located at a clutch lay shaft of a plurality of clutch lay shafts and is configured to control selective engagement of only one gear ratio of the plurality of gear ratios.

Abstract: An actuator assembly includes a housing, a piston rod, and a lost motion device. The housing defines a housing bore that extends along a first axis from a first housing end towards a second housing end. The piston rod is at least partially disposed within the housing bore. The piston rod defines a piston bore that extends from a first piston end towards a second piston end along the first axis. The lost motion device is at least partially disposed within the housing bore and extends into the piston bore. The lost motion device and the piston rod are arranged to move relative to the housing along the first axis.

Abstract: A check valve comprises a valve housing defining an opening and a plurality of flapper elements each having a proximal end and a distal end. The flapper elements are pivotally mounted to the valve housing at their proximal ends for pivotal movement between a closed position, in which they block the flow of fluid through the opening and an open position in which they permit the flow of fluid through the opening. Each flapper element is generally triangular or trapezoidal in shape such that the flapper elements together create a generally conical or frustoconical surface when the valve is in the closed position. A resilient band extending around a circumference of the conical or frustoconical surface defined by the plurality of flapper elements in the closed position for biasing the flapper elements towards the closed position.

Abstract: A method of forming a seal plate for sealing between two components of an assembly includes forming a plate element from a first material, the plate element including at least one seal groove receptive of a seal element and forming a seal element from a second material different from the first material by one or more additive manufacturing processes, the second material an elastomeric material of a selected durometer. The seal element is affixed to the plate element at the seal groove. A seal plate includes a plate element having one or more seal grooves receptive of a seal element, the plate element formed from a first material. A seal element is installed into the seal groove, the seal element formed from a second material different from the first material by one or more additive manufacturing processes, the second material an elastomeric material of a selected durometer.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes an inlet providing a first medium; an inlet providing a second medium; a compressing device including a compressor and a turbine; a motor operating on an input power that is less than or equal to 0.5 kilowatts per pound per minute of the first medium compressed; and at least one heat exchanger located downstream of the compressor. The compressing device is in communication with the inlet providing the first medium. The turbine is downstream of the compressor. An outlet of the at least one heat exchanger is in fluid communication with an inlet of the compressor and an inlet of the turbine.

Abstract: A bearing carrier is provided. The bearing carrier including: a bearing body of a first material having a shaft-receiving aperture and a bridge land with a finger cut to channel fluid pressurized by intermeshing of gears rotatably supported by the bearing carrier into an outlet defined by a housing enveloping the bearing carrier, wherein the bearing body includes a bearing face configured to be in a facing spaced relationship with the gears, wherein the bearing face includes a second material integral with the first material, wherein at least one of the first material and the second material define a portion of the bearing face of the bearing body extending about the shaft-receiving aperture, the portion of the bearing face excluding the bridgeland.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for rotatably coupling two shafts comprises a first shaft extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and having a radially extending flange at said second end; a second shaft extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and having a radially extending hollow receiving member at said first end, the flange being positioned within the hollow receiving member, The hollow receiving member comprises an inner cylindrical surface comprising at least one longitudinally extending member groove and the flange comprises an outer cylindrical surface comprising at least one longitudinally extending flange groove, The coupling assembly also includes a barrel-shaped roller bearing provided to extend longitudinally within and in contact with both said flange groove and said receiving member groove and the flange groove and/or said member groove has a longitudinal concave barrel shape for receiving and contacting said barrel shaped roller bearing.

Abstract: An aircraft power system includes a front-end power converter and a back-end power converter. The front-end power converter is configured to generate a first direct current (DC) supply voltage or a second DC supply voltage based on a voltage level of an alternating current (AC) supply voltage output from an AC voltage source. The backend power converter sub-system is configured to convert the first DC supply voltage or the second DC supply voltage into a backend supply voltage. An active power distribution system is configured to select different electrical paths between the front-end converter and the backend converter subsystem in response to detecting output of the first DC supply voltage and the second DC supply voltage.

Abstract: An extra-vehicular activity water system (EVAWS) is provided and includes a body defining an interior, a quick disconnect assembly fluidly communicative with the interior and with at least one of an external reservoir and a plumbing system of an extra-vehicular mobility unit (EMU), a piston and a pressure feedback feature. The piston includes a piston head configured to engage with the body to adjust a volume of the interior and a handle by which the piston head is movable to draw fluid through the quick disconnect assembly and into the interior from the external reservoir and to force fluid through the quick disconnect assembly and into the plumbing system from the interior. The pressure feedback feature maintains fluid forced into the plumbing system at pressures above and below minimum and maximum pressures, respectively.

Abstract: A method of forming an integral drain for a heat exchanger is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of passage walls to define a plurality of passages with an additive manufacturing process, each of the passage walls having a non-linear portion. The method also includes integrally forming a drain wall with at least one of the passage walls with the additive manufacturing process to define a drain for each of the plurality of passages, the drain wall located proximate the non-linear portion of each of the plurality of passage walls.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a core having a plurality of first layers for receiving a first fluid and at least one header arranged in fluid communication with the plurality of first layers. The at least one header is integrally formed ith the core via an additive manufacturing process. The header has a first microstructure and the core has a second, different microstructure.

Abstract: A system and method that comprises an air cycle machine, a flow of bleed air, at least one heat exchanger, and an inlet configured to supply the flow of the bleed air is provided. The bleed air flows from a source to mix with recirculated air in accordance with a high pressure mode or a recirculation chilling mode. The system and method also can also utilize the recirculated air flowing from the chamber to drive or maintain the air cycle machine in accordance with the above modes.