Engineering topics

Collins, E. R., Jr.

Publications and source records attributed to Collins, E. R., Jr..

16 records

NASA NTRS1986

Active hold-down for heat treating

The object of the disclosure is to provide a vacuum hold-down for holding thin sheets to a support surface, which permits the thin sheet to change dimensions as it is held down. The hold-down includes numerous holes in the support surface, through which a vacuum is applied from a vacuum source. The holes are arranged in zones. The vacuum is repeatedly interrupted at only one or a few zones, while it continues to be applied to other zones, to allow the workpiece to creep along that interrupted zone. The vacuum to different zones is interrupted at different times, as by a slowly turning valve number, to allow each zone of the workpiece to creep. A positive pressure may be applied from a pressured air source to a zone when the vacuum is interrupted there, to help lift the corresponding workpiece zone off the surface to aid in creeping. The workpiece may undergo dimensional changes because of heating, cooling, drying, or other procedure.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Shuttle car loading system

A system is described for loading newly mined material such as coal, into a shuttle car, at a location near the mine face where there is only a limited height available for a loading system. The system includes a storage bin having several telescoping bin sections and a shuttle car having a bottom wall that can move under the bin. With the bin in an extended position and filled with coal the bin sections can be telescoped to allow the coal to drop out of the bin sections and into the shuttle car, to quickly load the car. The bin sections can then be extended, so they can be slowly filled with more while waiting another shuttle car.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Pressure-Letdown Plates for Coal Gasifiers

Variation of pseudoporous plates used with coal gasifiers in pressure letdown stage of processing minimize clogging. Rotating plates containing variable gap annuli continually change flow path to enable erosionless reduction of gas pressure. Particles that otherwise clog porous plugs pass through gaps.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Coal-Face Fracture With A Two-Phase Liquid

In new method for mining coal without explosive, two-phase liquid such as CO2 and water, injected at high pressure into deeper ends of holes drilled in coal face. Liquid permeates coal seam through existing microfractures; as liquid seeps back toward face, pressure eventually drops below critical value at which dissolved gas flashvaporizes, breaking up coal.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Flexible Liquid-Transport Tube

Flexible tube with zipper type arrangements of U-shaped side ribs and top plates allows liquids both transported and removed.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Automatic Coal-Mining System

Coal cutting and removal done with minimal hazard to people. Automatic coal mine cutting, transport and roof-support movement all done by automatic machinery. Exposure of people to hazardous conditions reduced to inspection tours, maintenance, repair, and possibly entry mining.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Pillar-Trimming System

Trimming and reinforcing of coal pillars allows more coal recovery. Conceptual coal-pillar trimming machine use two counterrotating cutting drums to take corners off roof support pillars in coal mines.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Reciprocating Saw for Silicon Wafers

Concept increases productivity and wafer quality. Cutting wafers from silicon ingots produces smooth wafers at high rates with reduced blade wear. Involves straight reciprocating saw blade and slight rotation of ingot between cutting strokes. Many parallel blades combined to cut many wafers simultaneously from ingot.

Morrison, A. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Automated Coal-Mine Shuttle Car

Cable-guided car increases efficiency in underground coal mines. Unmanned vehicle contains storage batteries in side panels for driving traction motors located in wheels. Batteries recharged during inactive periods or slid out as unit and replaced by fresh battery bank. Onboard generator charges batteries as car operates.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Shuttle-Car System for Continuous Mining

Buffer storage catches coal production between loadings. Telescoping reservoir filled continuously. With tailgate down, shuttle car slides into place along sides and bottom of reservoir. Reservoir retracts along inside of car and out through tailgate, leaving coal behind in car. System not restricted to coal mining and may prove economical for hauling other solid materials.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Mechanical Coal-Face Fracturer

Radial points on proposed drill bit take advantage of natural fracture planes of coal. Radial fracture points retracted during drilling and impacted by piston to fracture coal once drilling halts. Group of bits attached to array of pneumatic drivers to fracture large areas of coal face.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Sidewall penetrator for oil wells

Penetrator bores horizontal holes in well casing to increase trapped oil drainage. Several penetrators operated by common drive are inserted into well at once. Shaft, made from spiraling cable, rotates and thrusts simultaneously through rigid curvilinear guide tube forcing bit through casing into strata. Device pierces more deeply than armor-piercing bullets and shaped explosive charges.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1980

An adjustable solar concentrator

Fixed cylindrical converging lenses followed by movable parabolic mirror focus solar energy on conventional linear collector. System is low cost and accomodates daily and seasonal movements of the sun. Mirrors may be moved using simple, low-power electrical motors.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Drilling side holes from a borehole

Machine takes long horizontal stratum samples from confines of 21 cm bore hole. Stacked interlocking half cylindrical shells mate to form rigid thrust tube. Drive shaft and core storage device is flexible and retractable. Entire machine fits in 10 meter length of steel tube. Machine could drill drainage or ventilation holes in coal mines, or provide important information for geological, oil, and geothermal surveys.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Automated parking garage system model

A one-twenty-fifth scale model of the key components of an automated parking garage system is described. The design of the model required transferring a vehicle from an entry level, vertically (+Z, -Z), to a storage location at any one of four storage positions (+X, -X, +Y, +Y, -Y) on the storage levels. There are three primary subsystems: (1) a screw jack to provide the vertical motion of the elevator, (2) a cam-driven track-switching device to provide X to Y motion, and (3) a transfer cart to provide horizontal travel and a small amount to vertical motion for transfer to the storage location. Motive power is provided by dc permanent magnet gear motors, one each for the elevator and track switching device and two for the transfer cart drive system (one driving the cart horizontally and the other providing the vertical transfer). The control system, through the use of a microprocessor, provides complete automation through a feedback system which utilizes sensing devices.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Energy absorbing system for mechanical impacts

System is described based on use of arrangement of crushable hollow spheres bonded together in layers of progressively different diameter, with largest diameter spheres positioned to receive impact forces initially. System is particularly useful for delivery of payloads by air-drop techniques.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗