Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Zebus, P. P..
High-temperature seals on Space Shuttle Orbiter elevons will be improved by a new flexible seal design that increases the number of leak barriers, allows for thermal expansion and cuts weight by more than two-thirds. Improved seal may be useful in applications where it is necessary to seal gaps between moving surfaces.
Grinding tool installed on conventional milling machine cuts precise cavities in foam blocks. Method is well suited for prototype or midsize production runs and can be adapted to computer control for mass production. Method saves time and materials compared to bonding or hot wire techniques.
Guard makes lighter contact on materials being sawed. Cuts are better controlled, and damages to fragile foam-type materials are reduced. Overhead support makes it possible to perform slot and step cuts, and thick materials are pushed under guard with less force. Guard is transparent plastic enclosure held by side-attached overhead support arm.
Array of vacuum cups on spindles holds parts for safe machining and other processings. Variable-contour part resting on fixture is held firmly enough for machining, coating, or other mechanical treatment.
A variable contour securing system has a retaining structure for a member whose surface contains a variable contour. The retaining mechanism includes a spaced array of adjustable spindles mounted on a housing. Each spindle has a base member support cup at one end. A vacuum source is applied to the cups for seating the member adjacent to the cups. A locking mechanism sets the spindles in a predetermined position once the member has been secured to the spindle support cups.
An adjustable securing base had a surface radius of curvature which was adjusted to support an adjacent part on the base surface. The securing base comprised of a flexible thin plate with an adjustment mechanism connected on opposite edges of the base for adjusting the plate curvature. An opening in the plate was coupled to a vacuum device for securing the part adjacent to the plate surface.