USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Ronald P Reitz

Gus F Plangetis

Armando L Santiago

Vincent V Manley

Charles H Singer, Jr

The present invention, as variously practiced, implements electrorheological fluid (ERF) as a bearing lubricant. Various modes of an inventive rolling element bearing apparatus provide for electrification of inventive electrode components, viz: (first mode) two annular disk electrodes, opposite each other and perpendicular to the two raceway surfaces; or, (second mode) electrically conductive inner and outer races, having an electrically conductive spacer therebetween; or, (third mode) plural electrodes, radially embedded in a race. An ERF lubricative coating remains on one or both raceway surfaces in accordance with Winslow effect principle (first and second modes) or edge effect principle (third mode). An inventive journal bearing apparatus provides for electrification of electrodes that are axially-longitudinally embedded in a journal bearing member, resulting in establishment of edge effect electric flux lines between adjacent electrode pairs, an ERF lubricative coating thereby remaining on the journal bearing member's inward facing surface, contiguous to the shaft.

Bearing apparatus featuring electrorheological fluid lubrication

In one general aspect, a shaftless external propulsion system as described herein provides a sleeve configured to be externally mounted over a hull of a marine vehicle. In addition, the shaftless propulsion system provides a rotor and a first stator mounted on the sleeve. The rotor includes a rotor hub that cooperates with a rotor bearing to enable the rotor to rotate about the sleeve, the rotor further comprising rotor blades attached to the rotor hub. The rotor and the first stator are disposed between a collar located at a first end of the sleeve and a collar hub located at an opposite end of the sleeve.

Marine shaftless external propulsor

Bearing apparatus having electrorheological fluid lubricant

A dual energy dependent electroviscous fluid which becomes electroviscous upon the application of both electric potential and a second form of energy such as light or pressure. Dual energy dependent fluids support a dipole sufficient for the fluids to become significantly electroviscous only upon exposure of the aggregate to the second form of energy simultaneous with the electric potential.

Dual energy dependent fluids

The invention features utilization of a single electrical power supply for ntermittently electrifying one or more regions of an electrosettable compositional entity during the cure of that entity, thereby controllably altering one or more physical characteristics of each electrified region. A constant voltage-and-current power output is applied to each region; the amount of electric power which is applied to a region during an electrification period varies in accordance with the time duration of that period. The practitioner time-schedules the inventive intermittence in terms of duration, number, frequency and sequence of the regional electrification periods.

Intermittent programming of electrosettable compositions

A process for fabrication of composite articles using electroset materials. Conductive substrates are formed defining the shape of the product to be formed. Electroset material is placed between the substrates and the substrates energized by high voltage. Fluid between the conductive portions of the substrates is under the Winslow effect whereas fluid between nonconductive portions of the substrate is not so affected. The fluid between conductive portions is retained by the Winslow effect and cured.

Electroset composite articles and process

The present invention comprises improved electroset materials and processes. Electroset materials with electrically programmable electric and mechanical properties comprise electrically polarizable particles immersed within the suspended within castable dielectric fluids. The polarizable particles may comprise ions or, alternatively, electrically conductive or semiconductive particles.

Programmable electroset processes

An improved electroviscous fluid formulated with discrete fluids of diverse densities, characterized in that settling of aggregate in functional apparatus is diminished. Aggregate particles having a density between the density of two fluids migrate to the boundary layer of the fluids when the fluids are at rest. By appropriately selecting the volume of the fluids in functional apparatus, the electroviscous fluid aggregate is placed in position for more immediate response when the apparatus is activated by electrical energy.

Stratified carrier electroviscous fluids and apparatus

A process for subjecting an electroset material to an evacuated environment rior to electrosetting results in a material with anisotropic density programmability. Articles can be fabricated with an anisotropic void distribution therein.

Process for forming articles with anisotropic properties

Electrorheological solids are compositions which undergo phase change from olid phase to fluid or gel phase when activated by electric field. Objects comprising electrorheological solid compositions can be electrically repaired by electrically inducing solid to fluid phase change. Furthermore, while in fluid phase, the object shape can be altered to render a new object.

Process of shaping an electrorheological solid

A phase changing composition for making articles that can be influenced as o shape and cure time by the application of an electric field. Also disclosed are apparatus and processes for using the material. The composition is characterized in that under the influence of an electrostatic field, the cure time of the composition is significantly shorter.

Process for shaping articles from electrosetting compositions

The present invention comprises electrorheological fluids and processes. lying an electric field to an electrorheological fluid composition electrically controls chemical reactions therein. The chemical reactions may comprise those wherein the acidity of the composition is changed. Other chemical reactions may comprise those wherein the phase of the composition is changed.

Electrorheological fluid chemical processing

A sound absorbing muffler constuction is provided. The muffler includes a s conduit having an unobstructed gas flow path and a plurality of perforations passing through its walls along a portion thereof. A sound attenuator body encases the perforated portion of the gas conduit such that a sound absorbing space is formed between the outer wall of the gas conduit and the inner wall of the sound attenuator body. A plurality of parabolically shaped baffles are located in the sound absorbing space. Each baffle is radically disposed and axially extended along the direction of the gas flow. The baffles direction the propagation of acoustic energy entering the sound absorbing space such that the energy traverses a substantially longer path than if no baffles were present. Thus, the acoustic energy is subject to a greater amount of possible attenuation within the sound absorbing space.

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Hyattsville, MD, United States of America

Ronald P Reitz