The Boeing Company

Other

William E Rumberger

Charles R Gross

Wayne S Steffier

Austin L Hallman

Apparatus is disclosed for detecting the presence of the type of debris in a fluid system. The apparatus detects the presence of debris, measures the accumulation and identifies the specific types of the debris. A plurality of sensors, connected in a bridge detecting circuit, are assembled in the apparatus in the fluid flow, each of said sensors are tuned to a specific preselected frequency which is characteristic of one material type of the debris. A variable frequency power supply is connected to the detecting bridge for exciting the bridge. Switching means are provided external to the detecting apparatus for selecting one of said sensors as the detecting leg of the bridge. When the sensor has been selected, the bridge is excited at the resonant frequency of the selected sensor for identifying a specific material type of the debris.

Resonant inductive debris detector

A debris detecting apparatus is provided which collects debris from a fluid system in a screen member and measures the accumulation of debris by measuring the change of inductance in a coil surrounding a portion of the screen member. A bridge detection means is used which includes the inductive coil as one leg of the bridge. A second sensor in the fluid connected as a second leg of the bridge provides temperature compensation for the bridge. The bridge is excited with a high frequency voltage at or near the resonant frequency of the sensing coil.

Resonant inductive debris detecting apparatus

An aircraft wing pivot structure is described which provides a flexible ring attached to the aircraft wing at flexible wing attachment points by spherical bearings. The ring is attached to the fuselage of the aircraft by pins fixed to the fuselage and fittings partially enclosing sliding shoes formed at the bottom edge of the ring to allow rotation of the wing. The wing is locked in the flight position by retractable pins connected to the primary fuselage attachment fittings. The ring is a unitary stainless structure which accepts wing strains induced by flight loads by flexing at the wing attachment points. The use of a flexible ring eliminates truss-like members mounted on spherical bearings used in conventional designs. The elimination of a substantial number of components by the use of a flexible ring substantially reduces the weight of the aircraft and improves the reliability.

Wing pivot structure

A composite tube structure is disclosed in which the end of the composite tube is either flared out at the end or is tapered in at the end and the flared or tapered portion is accurately formed to its final dimension so as to require no machining to size. An end assembly is applied to the end of the tube which has inner and outer portions fitting precisely into the inner and outer surfaces of the end of the tube. The inner and outer end pieces are drawn axially together to secure the tube in the end assembly between the inner and outer portions under a predetermined radial stress. The tube is secured to the end assembly without the use of pins or other fasteners which require severing the fiber strands of the tube.

Composite tube structure

A method and tool for fabricating composite shafts with at least one flared end. The tool includes a specially adapted end fitting for each flared end which define the angle and direction of flaring The end fitting includes structure for conforming/compacting the composite material at the flared ends either during and/or after the composite build-up is completed and during cure the conforming/ compacting insures that the external surfaces of the flared ends achieve dimentional control and a machined like quality without the necessity of machining.

Cone control method for fabricating composite shafts

A method and tool for fabricating composite shafts with at least one flared end. The tool includes a specially adapted end fitting for each flared end which define the angle and direction of flaring. The end fitting includes structure for conforming/compacting the composite material at the flared ends either during and/or after the composite build-up is completed and during cure. The conforming/compacting insures that the external surfaces of the flared ends achieve dimentional control and a machined like quality without the necessity of machining.

Cone control tool for manufacturing composite shafts

A helicopter anti-torque control system which relies on engine exhaust. Included is a force generating apparatus and a force directing apparatus. The force generating apparatus is at least partly driven by engine exhaust. The force directing apparatus takes outside air delivered to it by the force generating apparatus and directs it from the helicopter as a right-side or left-side force.

Helicopter anti-torque control system utilizing exhaust gas

A fluid control apparatus for proportionally directing fluid from a single conduct to multiple exhaust ports around the periphery of the duct. A controller is provided which is rotatably supported in the duct by an axial shaft. The shaft supports a radial barrier vane extending along its length and a helical vane forming a single 360.degree. helical wall surrounding the shaft. Rotation of the controller exhaust to shaft axis directs the fluid to the appropriate exhaust ports according to its angular position.

Fluid control apparatus

A twist canister for conducting conduits between two members rotatable with respect to each other through a predetermined angle about an axis. The conduits are pre-flexed an angular amount equal to one half of the predetermined angle when the members are at the extreme of the rotational angle with respect to each other. The conduits are flexed only one half of the predetermined angle during rotation of the members through the total predetermined angle. The conduits are placed generally in a plane parallel to the axis to minimize the space required for the canister.

Twist canister for rotating joint

An inductive coil shaped screen traps debris in a fluid and senses the accumulation of the debris. The shaped screen coil comprises non-conductive wires parallel to one another and at least one conductive wire coil perpendicular and woven with the non-conductive wires. The conductive wire is a coil of an inductor. As debris accumulates within the coil, inductance immediately changes and indicates the accumulation of debris in the screen. Another coil connects with the first coil in a bridge circuit to compensate for changes in temperature of the fluid.

Debris collecting and measuring device with induction coil screen

A catheter router assembly is disclosed for clearing salt blockages in a previously inserted catheter. A length of flexible, stainless steel cable is provided and a silver solder tip applied at the proximal end of the cable. The silver solder tip is then machined to form a suitable cutting edge for cutting or drilling through the body salts which clog the catheter. A pin vise is secured along the length of the flexible power cable to facilitate insertion of the cable into the catheter and to provide hand rotative power to the cutting tip sufficient to cut through the blocking salts and to clear the catheter for further use. The pin vise may be readily moved along the length of the power cable as necessary to define sufficient free, unsupported forward portions of the cable to reach and clear the blockage throughout the entire length of the catheter.

Catheter router and method of use

A method and tool for fabricating composite shafts with at least one flared end. The tool includes a specially adapted end fitting for each flared end which define the angle and direction of flaring. The end fitting includes structure for conforming/compacting the composite material at the flared ends either during and/or after the composite build-up is completed and during cure. The conforming/compacting insures that the external surfaces of the flared ends achieve dimensional control and a machined like quality without the necessity of machining.

A coupling for connecting shafts for rotation. The coupling can include as few as two major parts, including a reaction ring and an adjustable clamping structure. The shaft or shafts to be coupled are provided with outwardly flared ends, each defining an inner and outer surface, and the noted major parts with corresponding flared portions. Both the inner and outer surface of each outwardly flared end is subject to a pressure force exerted by the major parts to effect a pressure clamping of the flared ends, and thereby a connection. Also, at least one of the two major parts and the shafts at their flared ends include compatible alignment and torque transmitting structure. Rather than two major parts, either shaft can be modified to include, as an integral part thereof, one of the major parts.

Coupling for connecting two shafts

A method of coupling two shafts for rotation is proposed. The end of at least one shaft being constructed to include a hollow outwardly flared end portion, which includes an inner and an outer surface, at least one of these surfaces including alignment and torque transmitting structure. A two-piece coupling is constructed with at least one piece including alignment and torque transmitting structure compatible with the alignment and torque transmitting structure of the flared end portion. The coupling is engaged with the flared end portions and adjusted to generate a pressure at the engaged surfaces and produce engagement of the compatible alignment and torque transmitting structures substantially preventing relative movement between the engaged surfaces thereby aligning the coupling and the shaft or shafts and permitting torque transmission.

Method of connecting two shafts with a coupling

A debris detection system for detecting debris in a fluid flow in which both a primary and a secondary fluid flow from a fluid reservoir are maintained. The fluid reservoir is situated downstream of the system being served and receives the debris from the system being served. Within the reservoir the primary fluid flow is shielded from all but the colloidal debris received. All non-colloidal as well as colloidal debris is diverted to the secondary fluid flow where the amount and rate of debris accumulation is detected.

Growing community of inventors

Newtown Square, PA, United States of America

William E Rumberger