The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Douglas A Litteken

William R Doggett

Thomas C Jones

Bryan C Yount

William M Langford

Molly M Selig

Alberto Makino

Clarence E Stanfield

Earl T Hall

Timothy S Roach

Winfred S Kenner

Richard Keith Bird

Judith J Watson

Khadijah I Shariff

David F Moore

Danny J Lovaglio

Laura A Leybold

James E Phelps

Arlon B Sullivan

Jerry E Warren

Fred M Whitehead

Vincenzo M Le Boffe

Jared S Daum

Lana P Hicks-Olson

Samuel James

An inflatable pressure structure includes an airtight flexible membrane having collapsed and inflated configurations. The inflatable pressure structure includes an elongated pressure-assisted seal that is configured to selectively seal an opening in the airtight flexible membrane. The pressure-assisted seal includes first and second seal components that sealingly engage one another and prevent escape of gas from inside the airtight flexible membrane. The airtight flexible membrane, when inflated, generates a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal tending to pull the first and second seal components apart. Pressurized gas inside the airtight flexible membrane causes the first and second seal components to more securely engage one another whereby a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal does not disengage the first and second seal components.

Pressure-assisted linear seal

A tension-measurement device configured to determine a tension in a line includes a body. The body includes a first portion, a second portion extending from the first portion of the body, and a third portion extending from the first portion of the body. The line is configured to extend at least partially through the second and third portions of the body. A first sensor is coupled to the body and is configured to measure a strain on the body when a first portion of the line is placed under tension. The tension in the first portion of the line is configured to be determined based at least partially upon the strain.

Non-invasive tension-measurement devices and methods

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Douglas A Litteken