Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Litton Systems, Inc.

Robert Charles Schwarz

John M Papazian

Edwin Gerard Haas

Edward V Sullivan

Martin Kesselman

Jerrell Anthony Nardiello

John Melnichuk

Guy Thomas Varty

Robert Winter

Alexander N Peck

Gary E Kuhn

Jeffrey Scott Darling

A die and a stationary member of resilient gas permeable composition are adapted to receive between them a three-dimensional honeycomb core article. The die includes an array of elongated mutually parallel translating pins, each terminating at a tip end and arranged in a matrix for longitudinal movement between retracted and extended positions. The stationary member includes a receiving surface facing and laterally coextensive with the tip ends of the translating pins. The tip ends are engageable with first end surface of the article, the receiveing surface of the stationary member being engageable with a second end surface of the article. The die includes a housing movably mounting the translating pins, drive output shafts drivingly connected with each associated translating pin, a transmission for independent driving controllable interconnection of each translating pin, and a selectively energizable controller interconnecting each transmission to thereby achieve selective rotation of at least one translating pin. Each translating pin may be hollow and have planar sides which prevents its rotation by the restraining action of adjacent translating pins. A controller individually moves the translating pins in a coordinated manner into engagement with the first end surface to thereby impart a desired contour while simultaneously urging the second end surface of the honeycomb core article into engagement with the receiveing surface of the stationary member producing a contour substantially similar to the first end surface. Temperature controlled circuitous gas flow may be provided through the translating pins, article and stationary member.

Single-die modularized, reconfigurable honeycomb core forming tool

A capacitive strain gage assembly ( ) for measuring strain in a component ( ) includes a housing ( ) attachable to the component ( ) at a first location ( ). The strain gage assembly ( ) includes a first target sensor ( ) and second target sensor ( ) disposed in the housing ( ). The strain gage assembly ( ) also includes a sensor member ( ) attachable to the component ( ) at a second location ( ) in movable relation to the housing ( ). The sensor member ( ) includes a sensor element ( ) operable to transmit capacitive signals to the first and second target sensors ( ). The sensor element ( ) is disposed between the first and second target sensors ( ). The strain gage assembly ( ) may also be constructed using generally buckle resistant flexible materials for nonplanar strain measurement applications.

Capacitive strain gage and method

An electrical connection between a vibratory rotation sensor and a hermetic header which makes use of a local interference fit to provide a high degree of mechanical isolation between the sensor and the header. The electrical connection includes an electrical pin extending from the header which is connected to the sensor through a coil spring. The pin includes an enlarged portion having a maximal dimension greater than an inner diameter of the coil spring to provide an interference fit between the coil spring and the pin. The degree of interference is variable controlled by selecting the dimensions of the enlarged portion of the pin and the coil spring. The degree of mechanical isolation between the header and sensor can also be chosen by selecting the location of the enlarged portion along a length of the pin. This provides a reliable electrical connection which maintains a high degree of mechanical isolation.

Electrical connection to a coil spring through a local interference fit for connection to a vibratory rotation sensor and method of forming the same

A system for forming sheet metal ( ) is disclosed. The system comprises a support plate ( ) that is coupled to a base ( ) and has at least one side plate ( ) adjacent thereto. A clamping mechanism ( ) fixes the side plate ( ) to the support plate ( ) so sheet metal ( ) can be formed.

System and method for forming sheet metal using a reconfigurable tool

A strain gage assembly,includes a mounting substrate,having an adhesive surface,and a gage surface,. The adhesive surface,of the mounting substrate,includes an adhesive layer,disposed thereon operable to affix the mounting substrate,to a component. The adhesive layer,is further operable to allow ready detachment of the mounting substrate,from the component. The gage surface,of the mounting substrate,includes a strain gage,disposed thereon. The mounting substrate,may be formed from a material operable to reduce a strain level received by the strain gage

Apparatus and method for rapid strain measurement

Tooling apparatus for three-dimensionally forming a honeycomb core article includes a die having an array of elongated mutually parallel translating pins, each having a pin tube terminating at a tip end and arranged in a matrix for longitudinal movement between retracted and extended positions. The tip ends of the array of translating pins are engageable with an end surface of the honeycomb core article when in the extended position. Each tip end includes a pin tip assembly including an elongated pin tip member having an outwardly projecting bearing surface of shape conformable material on which is mounted a protective thrust pad, an opposed bottom surface, and an outer peripheral surface extending between the bearing surface and the bottom surface. A cup-shaped retainer having a base and an upstanding wall with an outer peripheral surface is provided for mounting engagement with the tip end of each pin tube and has an internal recess with a base surface and an internal peripheral surface. The pin tip member is mounted on the retainer, the outer peripheral surface of the pin tip member engaged with the internal peripheral surface of the retainer and the bottom surface of the pin tip member engaged with the base surface.

Pin tip assembly in tooling apparatus for forming honeycomb cores

Tooling apparatus comprises opposing first and second dies adapted to receive a three-dimensional honeycomb core article therebetween and including opposedly aligned arrays of elongated mutually parallel translating pins, each terminating at a tip end and arranged in a matrix for longitudinal movement between a retracted position and an extended position engageable with the article. A controller individually moves each of the translating pins in a coordinated manner between the retracted and extended positions and into engagement with the article to form it to a predetermined contour. Each die includes a housing on which the translating pins are movably mounted, a plurality of drive output shafts each drivingly connected with an associated translating pin, and a transmission disposed in the base for independent driving controllable interconnection of each translating pin with a rotational drive source, and a controller interconnecting each transmission for selective energization thereof to thereby achieve selective rotation of at least one of the translating pins. The translating pins may have planar sides which prevent their rotation by the restraining action of adjacent translating pins. Each of the translating pins may define an internal cavity extending between bottom and tip ends, each being perforated and the apparatus may include a pump for delivering temperature controlled gas to each hollow pin tube for flow through the perforations in the bottom end, through the internal cavity, and out through the perforations in the tip end for delivery to cells of the article.

Modularized reconfigurable heated forming tool

The invention resides in a method of forming an adjustable holding fixture comprising the steps of providing a frame, providing a plurality of elongated beam modules each containing a plurality of translating members which are arranged at uniformed spacing between one another on each beam module and connecting said plurality of elongated beam modules with one another on said frame to combine the effect of each module into a single fixture.

Method of forming a modularized adjustable holding fixture

The invention resides in a module used in conjunction with other such modules in an apparatus for rapidly producing an article having a three-dimensional design comprising a base, a plurality of pins mounted on said base and said plurality of pins movable relative thereto, a plurality of drive motors corresponding in number to the number of said plurality of pins and means interconnecting each of said plurality of pins with said base, each said means being connected independently between said base and a corresponding one of said pins. A control means interconnects each of said drive means and a controller with one another to effect selective energization of said drive means.

Individual motor pin module

The invention resides in a module used in conjunction with other such modules in an apparatus for rapidly producing an article having a three-dimensional design comprising a base, a plurality of translating members mounted on the base and the plurality of translating members movable relative thereto, the base is an interconnectable block of parallel drivetrain elements having a single input shaft and a series of parallel output shafts at right angles to the input shaft whose power flow to the output shafts is connected/disconnected electrically via electromagnetic clutches.

Modularized parallel drivetrain

A vibratory rotation sensor comprising a resonator, a resonator housing and a method for controlling and reading out signals from the sensor is packaged in groups of three, along with a single control and read-out electronics circuit which is either time division multiplexed, frequency multiplexed or a combination of both for the three sensors. This multiple sensor package is compact, lightweight, rugged and well suited for use as an inertial measurement instrument in several subterranean environments such as in mining, tunneling, and oil and gas drilling applications.

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Huntington, NY, United States of America

Robert Charles Schwarz