Rca Inc.

Damon Corporation

Thomas Edward Nolan, Jr

Richard Eric Hanson

A construction for transmitting rotational energy from a motor to a centrifuge rotor utilizes a flexible shaft having a long, thin central portion that terminates in larger diameter end portions or connectors. The lower connector is secured to the motor armature shaft and the upper connector is secured to a rotor adapter that replaceably mounts the rotor. The shaft is structured and positioned to achieve a self-balancing of the rotor for rotational speeds including at least the second critical speed by flexing in its central portion. In a preferred form, a spindle or inner sleeve secures the lower connector to the armature and extends upwardly to a point just below the upper connector. The spindle surrounds the flexible shaft with a first annular clearance sufficient to permit flexure of the shaft for the self-balancing during normal operation. An outer sleeve formed integrally with the rotor adapter surrounds the spindle with a second annular clearance and extends downwardly to a point just above the lower connector. The second annular clearance together with the overlapping lengths of the sleeve and the spindle limit the maximum lateral deflection of the rotor to prevent a permanent deformation of the shaft.

Flexible shaft construction for a high inertia centrifuge

Apparatus for and method of determining the brake torque and horsepower of an internal combustion engine without connecting an external load. Means are provided to operate the engine at full throttle and with all but one out of n of successive ignitions inhibited, the value n being selected so that the engine operates with just enough power to equal the frictional load of the engine and maintain an equilibrium speed at the upper end of the engine speed range. The engine is then operated momentarily with full ignition, and then with no ignition, during which a determination is made of the rate at which the engine decelerates through the equilibrium speed. The deceleration rate is multiplied by the known inertia of the engine to determine the friction torque of the engine at the equilibrium speed. The friction torque is multiplied by n - 1 to predict the brake torque of the engine at the equilibrium speed when operated normally with external load. Horsepower is determined by multiplying torque and speed.

Engine brake horsepower test without external load

Satisfactory or unsatisfactory engine compression is diagnosed by comparing the amplitude of the starter motor current, when cranking an engine having its ignition inhibited, with a reference value. The reference value is adjusted in accordance with the intake manifold absolute pressure, as determined from measurements during the test of ambient pressure and intake manifold vacuum.

Determining engine compression from starter motor current

Means for and method of testing the power of an internal combustion engine. A tachometer means coupled to the engine generates one electrical pulse per engine cycle of the engine. While the engine is full-throttle accelerated, a computer means measures the time periods between successive pulses, each time period constituting the reciprocal of the average engine speed during the particular engine cycle. One-half of the time period corresponding with a low speed and one-half of the time period corresponding with a high speed are added to the intermediate time periods to determine an acceleration time period which is a measure of engine power. The acceleration rate is determined by subtracting the reciprocal of the time period corresponding with the low speed from the reciprocal of the time period corresponding with the high speed to determine the speed change, and dividing the speed change by the acceleration time period. Brake torque is determined by multiplying the acceleration rate by the known inertia of the engine. The engine is then shut off and the deceleration rate is determined and is multiplied by the known inertia of the engine to determine the friction torque of the engine. The brake torque is added to the friction torque to determine the indicated (total) torque of the engine.

Growing community of inventors

Medfield, MA, United States of America

Thomas Edward Nolan, Jr