Abstract: An electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve and a heater. The heater may be a strip heater applied to or a coil wrapped around an external surface of the proportional control valve. The system may further include a latching isolation valve. A secondary fluid control branch can be included, and the fluid control branches can be in parallel. The electronic pressure regulation system can be included in an all-electric satellite. Another electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve, the proportional control valve including two independently-controlled coils for magnetostrictive actuation.

Abstract: A solenoid operated valve includes a valve block defining a valve lumen, a poppet slidably disposed within the valve lumen, a solenoid including a core defining a core lumen aligned with the valve lumen, and an armature assembly. The armature assembly includes an armature disc, an armature guide having a hollow cylindrical body defining an armature guide passage, and an armature stud disposed within the armature guide passage. The armature stud is in communication with the poppet so that axial movement of one is translated into axial movement of the other. The valve further includes a coil cover enclosing the solenoid, and a guard disposed to prevent contact between the armature assembly and an adjacent component of the valve. A method of assembling a solenoid operated valve includes placing a shim between the armature disc and the core, and pressurizing and energizing the valve.

Abstract: An electronically-controlled pressure regulator includes an inlet through which a gas or liquid is introduced at an inlet pressure, an outlet through which the gas or liquid exits at an outlet pressure, and a valve disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the valve defining a passage including a throat and having a pintle with an enlarged shoulder, the valve movable between a closed configuration in which the enlarged shoulder seals the throat to prevent the gas or liquid from passing from the inlet to the outlet through the valve, and an open configuration in which the gas or liquid can pass from the inlet to the outlet through the valve. In a valve flow path, the enlarged shoulder is disposed between the inlet and the throat. All of the gas or liquid that enters through the inlet can exit through the outlet.

Abstract: A solenoid operated valve includes a valve block defining a valve lumen, a poppet slidably disposed within the valve lumen, a solenoid including a core defining a core lumen aligned with the valve lumen, and an armature assembly. The armature assembly includes an armature disc, an armature guide having a hollow cylindrical body defining an armature guide passage, and an armature stud disposed within the armature guide passage. The armature stud is in communication with the poppet so that axial movement of one is translated into axial movement of the other. The valve further includes a coil cover enclosing the solenoid, and a guard disposed to prevent contact between the armature assembly and an adjacent component of the valve. A method of assembling a solenoid operated valve includes placing a shim between the armature disc and the core, and pressurizing and energizing the valve.

Abstract: An electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve and a heater. The heater may be a strip heater applied to or a coil wrapped around an external surface of the proportional control valve. The system may further include a latching isolation valve. A secondary fluid control branch can be included, and the fluid control branches can be in parallel. The electronic pressure regulation system can be included in an all-electric satellite. Another electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve, the proportional control valve including two independently-controlled coils for magnetostrictive actuation.

Abstract: An electronically-controlled pressure regulator includes an inlet through which a gas or liquid is introduced at an inlet pressure, an outlet through which the gas or liquid exits at an outlet pressure, and a valve disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the valve defining a passage including a throat and having a pintle with an enlarged shoulder, the valve movable between a closed configuration in which the enlarged shoulder seals the throat to prevent the gas or liquid from passing from the inlet to the outlet through the valve, and an open configuration in which the gas or liquid can pass from the inlet to the outlet through the valve. In a valve flow path, the enlarged shoulder is disposed between the inlet and the throat. All of the gas or liquid that enters through the inlet can exit through the outlet.

Abstract: A solenoid operated valve includes a valve block defining a valve lumen, a poppet slidably disposed within the valve lumen, a solenoid including a core defining a core lumen aligned with the valve lumen, and an armature assembly. The armature assembly includes an armature disc, an armature guide having a hollow cylindrical body defining an armature guide passage, and an armature stud disposed within the armature guide passage. The armature stud is in communication with the poppet so that axial movement of one is translated into axial movement of the other. The valve further includes a coil cover enclosing the solenoid, and a guard disposed to prevent contact between the armature assembly and an adjacent component of the valve. A method of assembling a solenoid operated valve includes placing a shim between the armature disc and the core, and pressurizing and energizing the valve.

Abstract: A solenoid operated valve includes a valve block defining a valve lumen, a poppet slidably disposed within the valve lumen, a solenoid including a core defining a core lumen aligned with the valve lumen, and an armature assembly. The armature assembly includes an armature disc, an armature guide having a hollow cylindrical body defining an armature guide passage, and an armature stud disposed within the armature guide passage. The armature stud is in communication with the poppet so that axial movement of one is translated into axial movement of the other. The valve further includes a coil cover enclosing the solenoid, and a guard disposed to prevent contact between the armature assembly and an adjacent component of the valve. A method of assembling a solenoid operated valve includes placing a shim between the armature disc and the core, and pressurizing and energizing the valve.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system is disclosed in which the system comprises a fire extinguisher having an opening, and a valve assembly covering the opening. The valve assembly includes a valve movable from a first position in which the valve seals the opening of the fire extinguisher to a second position in which the valve exposes the opening to allow expulsion of fire suppression material(s) from the fire extinguisher. A release mechanism, which may be in the form of a solenoid or a manual release mechanism, is provided for moving the valve to its open position. Methods of using the aforementioned fire extinguisher to suppress a fire are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system is disclosed in which the system comprises a fire extinguisher having an opening, and a valve assembly covering the opening. The valve assembly includes a valve movable from a first position in which the valve seals the opening of the fire extinguisher to a second position in which the valve exposes the opening to allow expulsion of fire suppression material(s) from the fire extinguisher. A release mechanism, which may be in the form of a solenoid or a manual release mechanism, is provided for moving the valve to its open position. Methods of using the aforementioned fire extinguisher to suppress a fire are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system is disclosed in which the system comprises a fire extinguisher having an opening, and a valve assembly covering the opening. The valve assembly includes a valve movable from a first position in which the valve seals the opening of the fire extinguisher to a second position in which the valve exposes the opening to allow expulsion of fire suppression material(s) from the fire extinguisher. A release mechanism, which may be in the form of a solenoid or a manual release mechanism, is provided for moving the valve to its open position. Methods of using the aforementioned fire extinguisher to suppress a fire are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system is disclosed in which the system comprises a fire extinguisher having an opening, and a valve assembly covering the opening. The valve assembly includes a valve movable from a first position in which the valve seals the opening of the fire extinguisher to a second position in which the valve exposes the opening to allow expulsion of fire suppression material(s) from the fire extinguisher. A release mechanism, which may be in the form of a solenoid or a manual release mechanism, is provided for moving the valve to its open position. Methods of using the aforementioned fire extinguisher to suppress a fire are also disclosed.

Abstract: An infrared camera provided with a rotating lens. The exterior of the camera is also provided with a touch screen display as well as a switch device such as a 5-way switch, controlling many of the functions of the infrared camera. The rotation of the lens would allow an operator to view different objects while maintaining a single position, allowing the operator to view the material projected on the display very easily. A trigger would be used to capture a particular infrared image and to save this image as well as to transmit it, at a later time, to a personal computer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for improving measurement accuracy of infrared imaging radiometers utilizing a small pitch infrared detector array. The detector offset is changed so that the detector output, when observing a particular object temperature, is maintained at a desired level over a range of ambient temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for improving measurement accuracy of infrared imaging radiometers utilizing a small infrared detector array, for example 160×120 pixels. The detector offset is changed so that the detector output, when observing a particular object, is constant over a range of ambient temperatures resulting in a constant dynamic range. A radiometric deconvolution is used in order to correct for measurement inaccuracies due to an object's small size.