Abstract: A system and a method of isolating a fault in an electric motor system having a motor drive electronics (MDE) component that is configured to drive an electric motor with a plurality of phases, the MDE executing a method of isolating the fault that includes applying an excitation to a first phase and a second phase of the electric motor in a first direction and sensing a phase current value for each phase phases of the electric motor. The method also includes providing an excitation, for the first and second phase in an opposite direction of the first direction and measuring a phase current value for each phase. The applying, sensing, providing and measuring is repeated for every possible combination of phases of the electric motor. Finally, the method includes isolating the fault within the electric motor system based on the sensed and measured current values.

Abstract: A system and a method of isolating a fault in an electric motor system having a motor drive electronics (MDE) component that is configured to drive an electric motor with a plurality of phases, the MDE executing a method of isolating the fault that includes applying an excitation to a first phase and a second phase of the electric motor in a first direction and sensing a phase current value for each phase phases of the electric motor. The method also includes providing an excitation, for the first and second phase in an opposite direction of the first direction and measuring a phase current value for each phase. The applying, sensing, providing and measuring is repeated for every possible combination of phases of the electric motor. Finally, the method includes isolating the fault within the electric motor system based on the sensed and measured current values.

Abstract: A gutter liquid separator is shown for separating liquid from non-liquid debris and for removing debris from a rain water gutter system secured to a roof of a structure. In a particular embodiment, the gutter liquid separator includes two main components; a debris discharge outlet and a liquid separator. The debris discharge outlet includes a flow surface, an inner and an outer wall extending up from the flow surface so that upstream edges of the flow surface, inner and outer walls are secured to a U-shaped gutter of the system. The debris discharge outlet also includes a debris drop-off edge that defines a drop-off plane passing through downstream edges of the flow surface, inner and outer walls.

Abstract: A submergible vehicle capable of untethered, fixed depth operation is provided with a rigid walled buoyancy chamber (40) adapted for accommodation of varying volumes of water and buoyancy gas. The chamber is provided with a valving system to adjust the volumes of gas and water within the chamber and therefore control the operating depth of the vehicle. Gas is provided by a high pressure source (10) thereof, the gas also serving to positively pressurize a hull (15) of the vehicle to accommodate the compressive loading thereof by water exteriorly of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air cycle air conditioning system (10) is provided with regenerative heat exchangers (80, 110) upstream and downstream of an expansion turbine (90). A closed-loop liquid circulatory system serially connects the two regenerative heat exchangers for regeneration without the bulk associated with air-to-air heat exchange. The liquid circulatory system may also provide heat transport to a remote sink heat exchanger (150) and from a remote load (20) as well as heat exchange within the sink heat exchanger and load for enhanced compactness and efficiency.

Abstract: An air cycle air conditioning system (10) for rgulating the temperature and pressure of diverse loads includes open and closed loop sections (12) and (16). A first load (14) requiring heating or cooling with constantly supplied fresh air is provided with chilled air from first turbine (75) and warm air from first bypass valve (50). A second load (20) which can be heated or cooled with a supply of recirculating air is provided with chilled air from second turbine (130) and warm air from a second bypass valve (170). Air is supplied to the second turbine from a compressor driven by the first turbine whereby the first turbine maintains the temperature of both loads either by the direct supply of air thereto or by driving another turbo-compressor system.

Abstract: A high efficiency air cycle air conditioning system (10), driven and charged by a gas turbine engine (15), operates in a closed-loop, Brayton cycle. The system includes a main (bootstrap) compressor (75) discharging to a sink heat exchanger (85) which in turn discharges to a regenerative heat exchanger (110). Air is ducted from the regenerative heat exchanger to an expansion turbine (120) where the air is chilled and then ducted to load (20). Air exhausted from the load is again ducted through the regenerative heat exchanger where the load exhaust air precools turbine inlet air. The capacity (operating pressures) of, and input power to the system are controlled by modulation of charge air provided to the system from the gas turbine engine and if desired, may be further controlled by selective bleeding of air from the system, selective bypassing of the system turbine with refrigerant, or modulation of shaft input power to the main compressor.

Abstract: In a compressed air supply system utilizing a shaft-driven compressor (10,16), the flow capacity of the compressor is changed by varying the compressor outlet stator geometry (16) by an actuator (18) which controls the outlet stator geometry to provide an optimum match between the compressor flow capacity and the requirements of the load. The result is a compressed air supply system which satisfies wide variations in demanded flow by the load, while supplying air at maximum pressure with minimum input shaft horsepower.

Abstract: An air cycle refrigeration system having an enhanced flow capacity range includes an expansive turbine fed through a primary inlet nozzle by discharge air from the system's compressor and through a secondary inlet nozzle by system supply air. Flows through the turbine inlet nozzles are controlled such that maximum flow through the primary inlet nozzle is achieved before flow through the secondary nozzle is instituted.

Abstract: In an air conditioning system for a load, air is used as the refrigerant, and identical components including a turbocompressor and a regenerative heat exchanger are used for both cooling in the refrigeration mode and heating in the heat pump mode. A plurality of valves are arranged so that in the refrigeration mode the refrigerant air operates in a closed dry air loop to avoid problems associated with moisture. In the heat pump mode the valves are arranged to cause the refrigerant air to operate open loop by using ambient air as the input to the cycle, and avoiding icing problems by rejecting the refrigerant air, together with any ice present, back into the ambient. Operation closed loop in the refrigeration mode and open loop in the heat pump mode results in maximum cycle efficiency with minimum difficulty caused by moisture entrained in the refrigerant air.

Abstract: A turbosupercharging system for internal combustion engines, both otto cycle and diesel cycle, simultaneously varies the geometry of both the compressor discharge diffuser housing and the turbine inlet nozzle housing in a fixed relationship. The geometry variation is preferably accomplished by a single actuator which is positioned for optimum turbomachine geometry by a control responsive to selected engine parameters such as engine output torque demand and/or internal combustion engine volume flow. The variable geometry turbosupercharger effectively changes the size of the machine for varying engine operating conditions resulting in increased efficiency over the entire engine operating range.

Abstract: An air cycle heat pump uses a regenerative heat exchanger to provide warm air to heat a load, while at the same time providing fresh air to the load. The stale air returned from the load is utilized as the refrigerant air in an electrically driven regenerative air cycle heat pump, and no additional heat exchangers are required, thereby significantly reducing the electric power needed for heating the load. A turbine-driven compressor is used to raise the stale load air in pressure and temperature and, after giving up some of its heat to the fresh ambient air used to heat the load, the compressed refrigerant air performs useful work in the expansion turbine before being returned to ambient.

Abstract: In a fluid pumping system in which a fluid is pumped from a fluid supply to a load, two continuously driven fixed displacement pumps are operated in parallel to provide the pumping action. The two pumps are arranged with a common inlet, and with a common outlet, the flow delivered to the load from one of the two pumps passing through a check valve upstream of the common outlet. The fluid flow is regulated to provide a constant pressure by sequentially bypassing fluid around each pump through separate pump bypass ducts. This sequential fluid bypassing or pump unloading is effected by a single control responsive to the flow requirements of the load necessary to maintain that constant pressure. The pump whose delivered flow outlet contains the check valve is the pump whose flow is bypassed initially when less than full pumping capacity is desired. During maximum flow demand operation, both pumps are delivering against full delivery pressure.

Abstract: In a compressed air powered refrigeration system for aircraft containing a refrigeration turbine and associated heat exchangers for supplying cool air to the aircraft cabin, air is recirculated from the cabin by a recirculation means and combined with the turbine discharge air to simultaneously melt ice present in the turbine discharge and provide cooling to the recirculated air. The lack of ice in the turbine discharge allows the use of an ice-free regenerative heat exchanger, in heat exchange relation with the mixture of the turbine discharge air and recirculated cabin air, to condense moisture from the air entering the turbine. The use of heat from the cabin air to melt ice coupled with maximum utilization of the recirculation means supplying the recirculating cabin air enables the turbine to provide air at a temperature below freezing and results in improved cycle efficiency as well as maximum possible ventilation rate to the load.

Abstract: In a compressed air supply system utilizing a shaft-driven compressor (10,16), the flow capacity of the compressor is changed by varying the compressor outlet stator geometry (16) by an actuator (18) which controls the outlet stator geometry to provide an optimum match between the compressor flow capacity and the requirements of the load. The result is a compressed air supply system which satisfies wide variations in demanded flow by the load, while supplying air at maximum pressure with minimum input shaft horsepower.

Abstract: In a compressed air powered refrigeration system for aircraft containing a refrigeration turbine and associated heat exchangers for supplying cool air to the aircraft cabin, air is recirculated from the cabin by a recirculation means and combined with the turbine discharge air to simultaneously melt ice present in the turbine discharge and provide cooling to the recirculated air. The lack of ice in the turbine discharge allows the use of an ice-free regenerative heat exchanger, in heat exchange relation with the mixture of the turbine discharge air and recirculated cabin air, to condense moisture from the air entering the turbine. The use of heat from the cabin air to melt ice coupled with maximum utilization of the recirculation means supplying the recirculating cabin air enables the turbine to provide air at a temperature below freezing and results in improved cycle efficiency as well as maximum possible ventilation rate to the load.