Westinghouse Electric Corporation

David Marschik

Thomas Kupiszewski

Donald T Hackworth

Jiing-Liang Wu

James R Logan

Edward J Shestak

Jeffrey T Dederer

George T Mallick, Jr

Daniel W Deis

Carl J Heyne

James A Hendrickson

William R Wolfe

David W Scherbarth

Linwood M Rowe, Jr

Thomas C Montgomery

Henry Riemersma

Henry R Schwenk

An acoustic projector wherein a unitary acoustic resonator produces active sonar signals in more than one frequency band. The double-slotted resonator is coupled to a transducer which is capable of exciting the resonator in two, distinct, volumetric modes of vibration using two asymmetric, generally arcuate vibrating members. Transduction techniques can include variable reluctance or piezoceramic transduction. Internal cavity pressure release may be achieved by bladders, compliant tubes, and the like.

Apparatus for transmitting two frequency signals with an acoustic

A variable reluctance acoustic projector includes a piston structure that provides rigid retention and precise alignment of electromagnetic cores within the projector housing. The piston structure provides a pair of metallic piston blocks having cavities in which the electromagnetic cores are mounted. The piston blocks rigidly retain the electromagnetic cores within the cavities by compressive loading, improving the structural reliability of the device. In addition, the piston blocks enable precise alignment and orientation of the pole faces of opposing electromagnetic cores parallel to one another. Flexure ribs formed in the piston blocks increase the compliance of the blocks to substantially confine motion of the piston blocks to translation along a single axis of actuation during excitation of the electromagnetic cores.

Variable reluctance acoustic projector

A structural support for cryogenic apparatus used in a vacuum vessel includes a plurality of spaced parallel plate members having honeycomb structures interposed therebetween and joined to the plate members. The honeycomb structure provides for a plurality of cells which are the same pressure existing within the vacuum vessel by reason of apertures being provided in the plate members or cell structures. The apertures are arranged so that they are offset from plate-to-plate or cell-to-cell in order that there be no direct optical path from the top of the support structure to the bottom or from side-to-side.

Load transfer device for cryogenic application

A superconducting magnetic energy (SMES) system having an axially sectioned multilayered solenoid coil immersed in a liquid helium bath contained in annular helium vessel includes as an interface between each section of the inner and outer layers of the coil and the helium vessel a finger plate assembly comprising a plurality of electrically nonconductive finger plates clamped at one end with spacers between adjacent finger plates to hanger plates welded to the helium vessel walls. The other ends of the finger plates are interleafed with the turns of the coil and clamped together with the coil turns by clamping assemblies which clamp the turns in adjacent layers of the coil. Loading bars between the layers transmit the radial loads generated by the magnetic and thermal forces acting on the coil to the finger plates. The radial loads pass through the finger plates to the helium vessel side walls and then through radial struts outside the helium vessel to the walls of a trench in which the SMES system is installed. Axial loads on the coil produced by the Lorentz force and differential thermal expansion and contraction of the coil relative to the helium vessel are absorbed in bending of the finger plates.

Superconducting magnetic energy storage system with low friction coil

An underwater acoustic projector including a Class IV flextension shell, preferably in the form of an ellipsoid, is connected to and driven by two substantially identical electromagnets having mutually opposing pole faces and having a common spatially uniform air gap which is centered between the pole faces. The coils of the two electromagnets are connected in series and when excited by a controlled current, generate a mutually attractive variable reluctance force which causes the pole faces to be attracted toward one another. The shell secured to the electromagnets elastically flexes along one of two mutually perpendicular axes resulting in a volumetric displacement of the outer surface of the shell.

Variable reluctance actuated flextension transducer

A quench detector for a superconducting coil is provided which utilizes an optical coupling and a rotary encoder. The presence of a resistive voltage in the superconducting coil created by a quench will cause a rotatable readout coil to move. Movement of the readout coil will be detected by light passing through or reflected by an optical encoder, which will interrupt or transmit light passing from one or more light sources towards one or more light sensors. Preferred embodiments utilize optic fibers for the light sources and sensors, which are unaffected by the high magnetic fields or hostile environment of the superconductor coil.

Sensor for detecting a quench in a superconductor using an optical

A self contained, self charging automatic hydraulic activation mechanism (AHAM) for a superconducting energy magnetic storage (SMES) system is disclosed. The AHAM is operatively coupled to arc activated switches disposed across a superconducting coil to automatically close the switches upon a coolant dump. The arc activated switches are also self actuating and close in response to arcing across the switch contacts or across spark gaps provided on the switches.

Safety apparatus for superconducting magnetic energy stored system

An inductor with high inductance to resistance ratio capable of handling megamp currents. Sixteen coil assemblies are radially arranged into four quadrants of four coil assemblies each and jumpers are utilized to connect the quadrants in different configurations for different inductance values. Each coil assembly is made up of a plurality of nested essentially D-shaped copper conductors collectively nested within an aluminum structural support plate in which eddy currents are minimized by a interruption in the plate. The individual conductors of each coil assembly are transposed throughout a quadrant for balanced current flow. Coil bus bars as well as an input and output bus bar are connected to predetermined ones of the coil assemblies with the input and output bus bars being connected to system input and output leads. The unit is operated at cryogenic temperatures by immersion in a liquid nitrogen filled cryostat.

High energy toroidal inductor

A connect/disconnect switch which is partially immersed in a cryogenic coolant includes colinearly arranged electrically conducting hollow cylinders separated by an electrically insulating as well as thermally insulating support member. An electrically conducting plug member is moveable within the cylinders with the cylinders being electrically connected to bus bars. During current flow operation, an electrical path is established between the hollow cylinders by means of the moveable plug whereas when a disconnect is desired, the moveable plug is removed from contacts with at least one of the cylinders thereby breaking the electrical as well as thermal path.

High current mechanical connect/disconnect switch

A face connected instrument transformer is disclosed having a plurality of transformation ratios comprised of two primary windings and a single secondary winding. Each primary winding is electrically connected to a pair of terminals disposed adjacent to opposite faces of the transformer housing for engaging contacts within a molded case circuit breaker housing. The transformation ratio of the instrument transformer is changed by removing the instrument transformer from the circuit breaker housing and inserting the opposite face.

Face connected instrument transformer

An electrical switch for switching direct current in an inductively driven electromagnetic projectile launching system is provided with a rotor having a generally cylindrical conductive element with a first portion that includes a continuously conductive external surface. A second portion of the conductive element includes a pair of insulating members fixed at angularly spaced locations such that sections of the conductive elements and the insulating members alternate along the generally cylindrical surface of the elememt. One pair of angularly spaced retractable brush members extend radially inward toward and axially along the conductive surface of the first portion of the conductive element to make sliding electrical contact with the conductive element during the inductor charging phase of a launch sequence. A second pair of angularly spaced retractable brush members extend radially toward the segmented portion of the rotor conductive element and serve to commutate current from the switch to a pair of generally parallel projectile launching rails. A switch housing encircles the rotor and supports conductors which are used to electrically connect one brush of each pair to the launcher circuit. The other brushes are electrically shorted. Means is provided for moving the brush members into and out of contact with the rotor conductive element to achieve the desired switching function.

Rotary switch for inductively driven rail gun systems

A circuit interrupter with shock resistant mechanism characterized by a circuit breaker/contactor device in combination with an electromagnetic actuator which comprises a pair of opposed and facing solenoids having aligned armatures for actuating a linkage to open and close contacts of the circuit breaker contactor, and the linkage having a coupler link for movement between co-linear alignment with the armatures when the contacts are closed and for non-linearity when the contacts are open.

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Murrysville, PA, United States of America

David Marschik