USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

David J Goldstein

Scott M Hoover

Steven S Kim

Joseph P Teter

Philip W Hesse

Michael R Shapiro

Thang D Nguyen

Robert S Sery

Dana E Spencer

Peter Hall

William C Pless

Leland E Starr, Jr

Richard E Jones

A facade panel conditioning system for installation on a new or existing building is disclosed. The system includes modular panels, a structural anchor, hydronic piping, and ductwork. The panels attach to each other around the exterior of the building forming an insulated shell. The anchor attaches the panels to the building structure forming an air cavity between each individual panel and the exterior. The hydronic piping transfers heat to the air cavity and individual units of the building. The ductwork delivers ventilated air and exhaust air to the air cavity and individual units. The hydronic piping of a panel connects to the hydronic piping of an adjacent panel forming a hydronic piping system that distributes heat or cool throughout the shell. The air duct of a panel connects to the air duct of an adjacent panel forming an air duct ventilation system that distributes air throughout the shell.

Facade panel conditioning system

A tiltmeter-integrated two element optical relative alignment monitor provides relative alignment and contact sensing and can provide precise information regarding the nature of physical contact experienced by objects being monitored. A computer monitor can display the information in real time, in an intuitive manner. This system can provide all the information with good resolution in a low-cost, easily installable package for a wide variety of research, high energy physics applications, and industrial uses. A projector unit is mounted on one component containing a diffuse light source, a coded mask, and a lens. The projector is aligned with a camera to receive the focused image. Shifts in the image of the mask indicate relative motion between the camera and the projector unit. A tiltmeter is affixed to either the camera or projector, to distinguish between image shifts due to translational movement and image shifts due to rotation or tilting.

Device and method for multifunction relative alignment and sensing

A method for producing a non-welded shape memory alloy ring, such as Nitinol, includes a wire segment. The alloy ring may be used in a venting mechanism for rocket motors or as a coupling device, such as for fitting piping.

Non-welded shape memory alloy rings produced from roll flattened wire

A closure system including a rigid structural part has an edge surface along which sealage is established in response to deformation of a superelastic sheet metal element positioned thereon, such sheet metal element being endowed with a shape memory characteristic by formation as a Nitinol alloy to meet high sealage standards and other environmental requirements.

Superelastic sealing closures

Axial sections of a casing assembly such as that of a rocket are maintained interconnected by latching prongs on which thermally responsive Nitinol rings are positioned. Operational control over the latching prongs is achieved by selection of material properties and dimensions of the Nitinol rings during manufacture thereof.

Manufacture of Nitinol rings for thermally responsive control of casing latch

A control tab on a submarine or the like is angularly displaced by a remote control actuator system featuring a pair of shape-memory cables consist of a superelastic actuating cable connected to the control tab and a force generating thermoelastic cable anchored to the submarine frame. A force transmitting lever interconnects the cables and is selectively locked by a releasable locking mechanism in a position holding the actuating cable fully stretched with the control tab displaced a maximum amount from its neutral position by the displacing force generated in the thermoelastic cable in response to heating thereof by electric current conducted therethrough.

Shape memory actuator system

A coil spring made of a shape memory alloy is seated within the container a portable dispenser in a contracted condition under compressive stress maintained by the physical constraint of a pressure plate engaging a collapsible enclosure internally lining the dispenser container to isolate therein material to be dispensed. The pseudoelastic properties of the shape memory alloy are selected to exclusively regulate the storage and delivery pressures in order to accommodate different materials to be dispensed and control discharge thereof by the dispenser.

Regulated dispensing system

A shape-memory alloy material is liquefied by heating for casting into sts that are coated with an adherent material and collected into a preshaped porous mass so as to assume a preshaped configuration and be restored thereto under selected temperature conditions. When installed into a composite structure, the preshaped porous mass endows the composite structure with the shape-memory properties of the strips.

Method of making composite structure having a porous shape-memory

An elongated rod made of a shape memory alloy composition having selected eudoelastic properties, is deformed into a dimensionally compact coil for packaged storage under stress maintained by physical constraint. Upon selective removal of the constraint allowing shape recovery, a substantial increase in axial length of the rod occurs in order to improve its performance in various installations, including long rod penetrating projectiles.

Long rod extension system utilizing shape memory alloy

A non-magnetic, wear resistant composite of from 10 to 45 volume percent of titanium carbide or tungsten carbide particles bonded in a matrix of a nickel-titanium alloy wherein nickel comprises from 53 to 62 weight percent of the alloy with the remainder being essentially titanium.

Method of bonding metal carbides in non-magnetic alloy matrix

A generator having a tubular gear made of shape memory alloy in sheet form loatingly supported for rotation about an axis fixedly spaced from the rotational axis of a roller gear. The tubular gear is sequentially deformed by exposure to a geothermal heat source and meshing engagement with the roller gear. Such sequential deformation of the tubular gear is controlled by temperature differential to induce and sustain rotation of the gears in response to which the heat energy is converted into electrical energy.

Geothermal energy conversion system

An endless drive belt made of shape memory material is entrained about spd pulleys, one of which projects into a thermal heating region within which the drive belt undergoes contraction to form corrugations therein through which variable spaced contact is established with said one of the pulleys to induce rotation thereof and movement of the belt. The belt expands as it moves out of the thermal heating region causing the corrugations to flatten out as the belt approaches the other pulley.

Heat engine with corrugated shape memory drive belt

A tubular gear made of shape memory alloy in sheet form, having longitudi corrugations and being floatingly supported for rotation about an axis fixedly spaced from the rotational axis of a roller gear in meshing engagement with the corrugations. The tubular gear is sequentially deformed by exposure to radiated heat causing the shape memory alloy to expand circumferentially. Said meshing engagement with roller gear and such deformation of the tubular gear within differential temperature regions established by restricted exposure to the radiated heat; induces and sustains rotation of the tubular gear to convert the heat energy into mechanical energy.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

David J Goldstein