SEARCH · Search NASA
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Two types of polyimide seals are developed for hydraulic actuator rod in low pressure second stage of two-stage configuration. Each seal melts test objectives of twenty million cycles of operation at 534 K. Analytical and experimental study results are discussed. Potential applications are given.
High temperature cycling tests of high performance adhesives for aerospace applications
Thallium and xenon filled thyratron was developed that operates at tube envelope temperatures up to 750 C. This tube performs at peak voltage ratings of 2000 V forward and reverse and at an average current rating of 15 A for up to 11,000 hours.
Solid lubricant film consisting of polyimide varnish as binder and graphite fluoride as lubricant is described. Comparative wear tests with other solid lubricants were conducted and results are shown in graph form. Test equipment used in conducting wear tests is reported.
Extensive analytical studies and testing have been conducted on bearings and sliprings in vacuum at temperatures from 30 to 130 F. Thirty-six bearings lubricated with two types of oil were tested in vacuum of less than 10 to the minus 8th power torr at speeds from 55 to 180 rpm. Temperatures, load, speed, and oil viscosity were varied to evaluate the effects on life and wear. All bearings performed successfully during a 7-month test, and the potential merits of the two oils were compared. Over 25 different, dry-lubricated brush/slipring material combinations have been tested, with variations of brush and ring design and surface speed. Test results indicate the probability of 10 years or more of slipring and brush lifetime with properly designed brushes for 1-in.-diameter ring rotating at 60 rpm.
The six most promising valve, regulator, and remote coupling concepts, representing the more radical designs from twenty concepts generated, were investigated. Of the three valves, one has no moving parts because shutoff sealing is accomplished by an electromagnetic field which ionized the flowing fluid. Another valve uses liquid metal to obtain sealing. In the third valve, high sealing forces are generated by heating and expanding trapped hydrogen. The pressure regulator is an electronically controlled, electromechanically operated, single state valve. Its complexity is in electronic circuitry, and the design results in less weight, increased reliability and performance flexibility, and multipurpose application. The two remote couplings feature the minimization of weight and mechanical complexity. One concept uses a low melting temperature metal alloy which is injected into the joint cavity; upon solidification, the alloy provides a seal and a structural joint. The second concept is based on the differential thermal expansion of the coupling mating parts. At thermal equilibrium there is a predetermined interference between the parts, and sealing is achieved by interference loading.
A program was initiated to develop improved types of terminal seals for aerospace Ni-Cd batteries. The approach used has not involved attempts, such as employed elsewhere, to improve the ceramic-to-metal seal that is now extensively employed for this application. Rather the approach has been directed toward the development and evaluation of new types of seals. Of prime interest in this initial investigation has been the Ziegler type of compression seal and in particular the injection molded version developed by the Bell Telephone Laboratories (BTL). A number of these units were designed, fabricated, and evaluated on an accelerated life test under a simulated battery environment. Results have shown that there are no major problems involved in scaling up the BTL small-size (5-amp) seal to a larger size (up to 50-amp) seal suitable for most JPL flight batteries. Five out of five such seals successfully completed over 10 months of continuous thermal cycling without developing any leaks greater than 1.8 x to 10 to the minus 9th power atm-cc-He/s.
A review is presented of the mechanism of interaction of electromagnetic radiation in various spectral ranges, with various semiconductor device defects. Previous work conducted in this area was analyzed as to its pertinence to the current problem. The task was studied of implementing electromagnetic screening methods in the wavelength region determined to be most effective. Both scanning and flooding type stimulation techniques are discussed. While the scanning technique offers a considerably higher yield of useful information, a preliminary investigation utilizing the flooding approach is first recommended because of the ease of implementation, lower cost and ability to provide go-no-go information in semiconductor screening.
Target structure permits all deuterons, except the one-in-a-million that interacts with tritium atom to produce a neutron, to pass completely through target structure and be returned to vacuum system. Since tritium atoms are not displaced as in conventional targets, tritium population will remain unchanged while under deuteron bombardment.
To meet the life and reliability requirements of five to ten year space missions, a new solar array drive mechanism for 3-axis stabilized vehicles has been developed and is undergoing life testing. The drive employs a redundant lubrication system to increase its reliability. An overrunning clutch mechanism is used to permit block redundant application of two or more drives to a common array drive shaft. Two prototype actuator and clutch assemblies, in continuous vacuum life test under load at 10 to the minus 8th power torr for more than sixteen months, have each accumulated more than 34,000 output revolutions without anomaly, the equivalent of more than seven years of operation in a 1000 km orbit or nearly ninety-five years at synchronous altitude.
Brushless dc motors are finding increasing application in space. Likewise, with the advent of the light emitting diode, noncontacting encoders are gradually replacing sliding contact types. The direct drive concept has proved its merit and is now the preferred approach for tape recorders and low to moderate torque instrument drives. The final step in this evolution is the magnetic bearing, which now appears feasible for several applications. Where it can be applied in a totally noncontacting system, life and reliability will be a function of the electronic controls, where redundancy, derating, and quality assurance approaches virtually assure the desired lifetime and failure rate.
A production version of the inorganic separator was evaluated for improving the life of the nickel-zinc system. Nickel-zinc cells (7-10 Ah capacities) of different electrode separator configurations were constructed and tested. The nickel-zinc cells using the inorganic separator encasing the zinc electrode, the nickel electrode, or both electrodes had shorter lives than cells using Visking and cellophane separation. Cells with the inorganic separation all fell below 70% of their theoretical capacity within 30 cycles, but the cells constructed with organic separation required 80 cycles. Failure of the cells using the ceramic separator was irreversible capacity degradation due to zinc loss through cracks developed in the inorganic separator. Zinc loss through the separator was minimized with the use of combinations of the inorganic separator with Visking and cellophane. Cells using the combined separation operated 130 duty cycles before degrading to 70% of their theoretical capacity.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The utility of X-rays as a stimulus for screening high reliability semiconductor microcircuits was studied. The theory of the interaction of X-rays with semiconductor materials and devices was considered. Experimental measurements of photovoltages, photocurrents, and effects on specified parameters were made on discrete devices and on microcircuits. The test specimens included discrete devices with certain types of identified flaws and symptoms of flaws, and microcircuits exhibiting deviant electrical behavior. With a necessarily limited sample of test specimens, no useful correlation could be found between the X-ray-induced electrical response and the known or suspected presence of flaws.
Valve concept evaluation, final candidate selection, design, manufacture, and demonstration testing of a pneumatically actuated 10-inch hybrid poppet butterfly shutoff valve are presented. Conclusions and recommendations regarding those valve characteristics and features which would serve to guide in the formulation of future valve procurements are discussed. The pertinent design goals were temperature range of plus 200 to minus 423 F, valve inlet pressure 35 psia, actuation pressure 750 psia, main seal leakage 3 x 0.00001 sccs at 35 psia valve inlet pressure, and a storage and operating life of 10 years. The valve was designed to be compatible with RP-1, propane, LH2, LO2, He, and N2.
A Mariner Jupiter/Saturn mission has been planned for 1977. System reliability questions are discussed, taking into account the actual and design lifetime, causes of mission termination, in-flight failures and their consequences for the mission, and the use of redundancy to avoid failures. The design process employed optimizes the use of proven subsystem and system designs and then makes the necessary improvements to increase the lifetime as required.
Eccentric mounting of ball on stem reduces wear on valve seal.