University of Texas System

Other

Jim L Upshaw

Raymond C Zowarka

William F Weldon

Michael C Lewis

Kent R Davey

Dennis Roger Peterson

Siddharth B Pratap

John H Gully

John Patrick Kajs

Hsing-Pang Liu

Charles Penney

Richard J Hayes

Robert L Sledge

Mike L Spann

Stephen Manifold

Damon A Weeks

Bryan Bunkowski

John Uglum

Jonathan J Hahne

David Prater

Ray Zowarka

Aspects described herein relate to an electromagnetic seismic vibrator (EMSV) architecture that provide wide frequency range operation, ground force application with high fidelity, and low environmental impact. The EMSV architecture can include a base member that can support a force coil and mitigate electrical heating due, at least in part, to spurious currents. The EMSV architecture can include means for restricting movement of a reaction member included in the EMSV architecture relative to the base member. Such means can permit mitigation of damage of the EMSV architecture in scenarios in which control of the EMSV architecture may fail.

Electromagnetic seismic vibrator architecture

An electromagnetic system having a reaction mass with a field winding embedded therein, a base plate having an inner annular surface and an outer annular surface, and an armature winding coupled to at least a portion of the inner annular surface and at least a portion of the outer annular surface of an upper end portion of the base plate. In operation, directing an electric current in at least one of the field winding and the armature winding causes at least one of the base plate and the reaction mass to move relative to each other. The electromagnetic system can be used for seismic exploration and vibroseis applications, among other uses.

Electromagnetic seismology vibrator systems and methods

An apparatus and method are provided for controlling the switching characteristics of an explosively actuated switch. The switch comprises a conductor that is only partially severed by explosive forces. A bridge region, the conductive portion of the conductor remaining after the explosion, is then severed by thermal breakdown. Variations in the bridge region enable a user to vary the switching characteristics of the switch.

Explosively actuated thermal opening switch

Orthopedic sling support for a leg (or foot) is provided that utilizes a pair of conventional crutches and an adjustable crutch sling assembly. The leg support is preferably comprised of a top cover to which a leg sling is attached by flexible straps, all of which is preferably constructed of light-weight, durable, and washable fabric. The top cover is intended to fit snugly over the shoulder rests of the pair of crutches, and is shaped in such a way as to allow creation of an A-frame structure from which the sling is suspended by connecting straps. The connecting straps are preferably adjustable to allow positioning the leg sling at a desired height for supporting the user's leg.

Crutch sling leg support apparatus and method

A railgun operates at high pressure (up to 350 MPa) without structural damage and is readily disassembled for inspection, maintenance and component testing. A rail assembly is pressed into a hoop-wound epoxy fiberglass containment tube and clamped within a steel compression frame. The geometry of the rail assembly permits rail movement without insulator intrusion and achieves bore sealing during rail movement at maximum pressure. The rail assembly also has replaceable insulator inserts which are isolated from rail re-bound shock. Fused quartz insulator inserts provide the best results. A flash tube is provided at the gun muzzle to suppress precursor discharge and commutate precursor current back to the armature. To realize increased velocity without sacrificing in-bore projectile stability, a cut-corner projectile is used having a L/D ratio as small as 0.65 which reduces the mass by about 11%.

High performance electromagnetic railgun launcher

Earphone set

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Jim L Upshaw