Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Other

Christopher J Horan

William J Stasi

Aldo Arena

John Rathke

Martin C Stettler

Edward M Peterson

Brian Robinson

Elvin Charles Burger

Theodore A Sorenson

Harry A Lamont

The invention is a process for determining the charge level of a vapor cycle environmental control system, having a condenser, evaporator, and an expansion valve, comprising the steps of providing a neural network having four input neurons, two hidden neurons and one output neurons; determining the number of degrees below the saturation temperature of the liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser and providing this measurement to the first input neuron; sensing the condenser sink temperature and providing the measurement to the second input neuron; sensing either the refrigerant outlet temperature from the condenser or the evaporator exhaust air temperature and providing the measurement to the third input neuron, sensing the evaporator inlet temperature and providing the measurement to the fourth input neuron; and using the trained neural network to monitor the charge level in the system.

Process for refrigerant charge level detection using a neural net having one output neuron

The invention is a process for determining the charge level of a vapor cycle environmental control system, having a condenser, evaporator, and an expansion valve, comprising the steps of providing a neural network having four input neurons, two hidden neurons and three output neurons; determining the number of degrees below the saturation temperature of the liquid refrigerant: exiting the condenser and providing this measurement to the first input neuron; sensing the condenser sink temperature and providing the measurement to the second input neuron; sensing either the refrigerant outlet temperature from the condenser or the evaporator exhaust air temperature and providing the measurement to the third input neuron, sensing the evaporator inlet temperature and providing the measurement to the fourth input neuron; and using the trained neural network to monitor the charge level in the system.

Process for refrigerant charge level detection using a neural net

A process is provided for electromagnetically forming an elongated tubular workpiece by applying an electromagnetic force provided by an energized workcoil to the workpiece radially of its longitudinal axis and by simultaneously applying an axial compressive force to the workpiece. The axial compressive force may be applied to the workpiece from a time before applying the radial electromagnetic force. A forming member including a surface having a desired contour is provided adjacent the workpiece and the workpiece is caused by the electromagnetic force to conformingly engage the surface of the forming member and thereby assume the contoured shape of the forming member. The forming member may be a forming die which surrounds the workpiece or a forming mandrel may be positioned within the workpiece. In another embodiment, both a forming die and a forming mandrel may be employed for performing the forming operation at longitudinally spaced regions of the workpiece. The axial compressive force may be applied to the workpiece at one or both ends by positioning in engagement with an end of the workpiece one surface of a plate member of electrically conductive material, the plate member lying in a plane transverse of the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, and positioning adjacent to but electrically isolated from a second surface of the plate member a flat electrically conductive coil, then energizing the coil to create a force directed against the plate member to thereby compress the workpiece between its ends.

Electromagnetically forming a tubular workpiece

A fluidic stiffness enhancing circuit for use with a fluid driven piston type actuator includes a fluid conduit arrangement that interconnects two variable volume chambers of the actuator upon occurrence of a loss of system pressure to at least one of the chambers. The fluid conduit arrangement incorporates an inertance device for controlling the rate of flow of fluid therethrough so as to control the pressures in the two chambers in response to external forces applied to the actuator piston and thereby the stiffness of the actuator.

Actuator stiffness enhancing system

A compensation device receives an inlet fluid flow and adjusts the pressure at an outlet so as to maintain a constant Reynolds number throughout the operating temperature range of the fluid. This is accomplished by a metering valve device in the nature of a fluted pin which becomes displaced in response to fluid temperature variations. This displacement varies the exposed cross-sectional area of a fluted end of the pin as it becomes seated to a greater or lesser extent in response to temperature variations. This results in corresponding changes in pressure between the inlet and outlet of the device while maintaining a constant Reynolds number. An additional embodiment includes an unfluted pin which becomes seated in a fluted bore located in a removable knurled knob. This allows one to insert various knurled knobs with fluted bores which have geometric configurations particularly adapted for particular fluids. Such a modular approach avoids the necessity of dismantling the device.

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Huntington, NY, United States of America

Christopher J Horan