Engineering topics

Gray, David L.

Publications and source records attributed to Gray, David L..

8 records

NASA NTRS1995

High-Density Digital Data Storage System

High-density digital data storage system designed for cost-effective storage of large amounts of information acquired during experiments. System accepts up to 20 channels of 16-bit digital data with overall transfer rates of 500 kilobytes per second. Data recorded on 8-millimeter magnetic tape in cartridges, each capable of holding up to five gigabytes of data. Each cartridge mounted on one of two tape drives. Operator chooses to use either or both of drives. One drive used for primary storage of data while other can be used to make a duplicate record of data. Alternatively, other drive serves as backup data-storage drive when primary one fails.

Wright, Kenneth D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Stand-alone digital data storage control system including user control interface

A storage control system includes an apparatus and method for user control of a storage interface to operate a storage medium to store data obtained by a real-time data acquisition system. Digital data received in serial format from the data acquisition system is first converted to a parallel format and then provided to the storage interface. The operation of the storage interface is controlled in accordance with instructions based on user control input from a user. Also, a user status output is displayed in accordance with storage data obtained from the storage interface. By allowing the user to control and monitor the operation of the storage interface, a stand-alone, user-controllable data storage system is provided for storing the digital data obtained by a real-time data acquisition system.

Wright, Kenneth D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Active thermal isolation for temperature responsive sensors

A temperature responsive sensor is located in the airflow over the specified surface of a body and is maintained at a constant temperature. An active thermal isolator is located between this temperature responsive sensor and the specified surface of the body. The temperature of this isolator is controlled to reduce conductive heat flow from the temperature responsive sensor to the body. This temperature control includes: (1) operating the isolator at the same temperature as the constant temperature of the sensor and (2) establishing a fixed boundary temperature which is either less than or equal to or slightly greater than the sensor constant temperature.

Martinson, Scott D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Active thermal isolation for temperature responsive sensors

The detection of flow transition between laminar and turbulent flow and of shear stress or skin friction of airfoils is important in basic research for validation of airfoil theory and design. These values are conventionally measured using hot film nickel sensors deposited on a polyimide substrate. The substrate electrically insulates the sensor and underlying airfoil but is prevented from thermally isolating the sensor by thickness constraints necessary to avoid flow contamination. Proposed heating of the model surface is difficult to control, requires significant energy expenditures, and may alter the basic flow state of the airfoil. A temperature responsive sensor is located in the airflow over the specified surface of a body and is maintained at a constant temperature. An active thermal isolator is located between this temperature responsive sensor and the specific surface of the body. The total thickness of the isolator and sensor avoid any contamination of the flow. The temperature of this isolator is controlled to reduce conductive heat flow from the temperature responsive sensor to the body. This temperature control includes (1) operating the isolator at the same temperature as the constant temperature of the sensor; and (2) establishing a fixed boundary temperature which is either less than or equal to, or slightly greater than the sensor constant temperature. The present invention accordingly thermally isolates a temperature responsive sensor in an energy efficient, controllable manner while avoiding any contamination of the flow.

Martinson, Scott D.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Improved Circuit For Hot-Film Anemometer

Circuit suitable for automation or computer control of setup and operation. Hot-film or hot-wire anemometer circuit features individual current drives for two arms of wheatstone bridge, plus other features that provide improved calibration and automated or computer-controlled operation.

Gray, David L.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Active Thermal Isolation For Hot-Film Anemometers

Local heating compensates for conduction of heat from sensors into modules. Two hot-film sensors stacked on wind-tunnel model. Outer sensor detects changes in boundary-layer flow. Inner sensor provides active thermal isolation between outer sensor and model. Thermal boundary condition controlled at response time of detection hot-film sensor, significantly less than response time of internally heated model. Requires less power to maintain outer hot-film sensor at given temperature, enabling system to respond over greater dynamic range before power limits of instrument reached. Stacked sensors bonded to surface of most wind-tunnel models, even to curved surfaces, and removed after completion of experiments.

Martinson, Scott D.↗

NASA NTRS1991

High Density Digital Data Storage System

The High Density Digital Data Storage System was designed to provide a cost effective means for storing real-time data from the field-deployable digital acoustic measurement system. However, the high density data storage system is a standalone system that could provide a storage solution for many other real time data acquisition applications. The storage system has inputs for up to 20 channels of 16-bit digital data. The high density tape recorders presently being used in the storage system are capable of storing over 5 gigabytes of data at overall transfer rates of 500 kilobytes per second. However, through the use of data compression techniques the system storage capacity and transfer rate can be doubled. Two tape recorders have been incorporated into the storage system to produce a backup tape of data in real-time. An analog output is provided for each data channel as a means of monitoring the data as it is being recorded.

Wright, Kenneth D., II↗

NASA NTRS1991

A field-deployable digital acoustic measurement system

A field deployable digital acoustic measurement system was developed to support acoustic research programs at the Langley Research Center. The system digitizes the acoustic inputs at the microphone, which can be located up to 1000 feet from the van which houses the acquisition, storage, and analysis equipment. Digitized data from up to 12 microphones is recorded on high density 8mm tape and is analyzed post-test by a microcomputer system. Synchronous and nonsynchronous sampling is available with maximum sample rates of 12,500 and 40,000 samples per second respectively. The high density tape storage system is capable of storing 5 gigabytes of data at transfer rates up to 1 megabyte per second. System overall dynamic range exceeds 83 dB.

Gray, David L.↗