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At least 307 records · Page 17

Gas leak-detection system

Data monitoring of gas leakage in satellites and spacecraft is facilitated by adding gaseous radioisotopes to cold compressed gas and mounting a detector in the thrust nozzle.

Roselli-Lorenzini, F. G.↗

A sonic transducer to detect fluid leaks

Ultrasonic detector utilizes set of contact transducers and bandpass filters to detect and analyze sonic energy produced by flow or leakage. Detector covers wide frequency range and is operable at cryogenic temperatures and in vacuum.

Cimerman, I.↗

Directional molecular flow analysis and leak detection with a rotatable gas analyzer in a large space simulation chamber

A system was developed and applied at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center for measuring and analyzing directional molecular flows in a large thermal vacuum chamber in order to verify molecular environment and identify characteristic and abnormal test article and chamber conditions. The system is described, and some results obtained in over 1200 hours of operation are given.

Ehlers, H. K. F.↗

Semipermanent sealing of leaks in high vacuum systems

Silicone-rubber adhesive is applied externally to seal hair-line cracks in sections of high vacuum system while system is partially evacuated. No pretreatment of surface is required since adhesive will be drawn into crack while diffusion or ion pump is off.

Christian, J. D.↗

Zero-leak valve

Zero-leakage valve has fluid-sealing diaphragm support and flat sievelike sealing surface. Diaphragm-support valve is easy to fabricate and requires minimum maintenance. Potential applications include isolation valve for waste systems and remote air-actuated valve. Device is also useful in controlling flow of liquid fluorine and corrosive fluids at high pressures.

Macglashan, W. F., Jr.↗

Leak Tester for Cryogenic Flowlines

Gas chromatography measures leakage into cavity surrounding joint under test. System surrounds joint being tested with sealed cavity. Presence of leakage gas in cavity monitored by gas chromatograph. Leakage rate found by multiplying relative leakage gas concentration by mass flow rate of purge as into cavity.

Mortensen, G. D.↗

Method of repairing hidden leaks in tubes

A method of repairing a tubular assembly in which access to a defect in the tube is limited includes the steps of cutting an opening in the tube on the side opposite the defect so as to expose the defect from the inside of the tube. A tubular insert is inserted into the tube to cover the defect and is secured in place by means of brazing or welding. The remaining space between the opening and insert is closed by means of close-out patches which are welded or brazed to both the insert and the tube. The result is a permanent repair having great structural integrity.

Duesberg, J. D.↗

Double-O-Ring Plug For Leak Tests

Pressure plug features redundant O-ring bore seals and axial port opening laterally into space between O-rings to enable testing of seals. Axial passage in plug connected through radial passage to space between O-rings. Opening used to test O-rings, then sealed with smaller O-ring compressed by machine screw. Useful to seal test or cleanout holes normally kept closed in hydraulic actuators, pumps, and other pressurized systems.

Greene, James H.↗

Leak Stopper For Metal-To-Metal Tube Fittings

Plastic-coated steel device is conformal and strong. Washerlike seal stops leakage at Dynatube(TM) joints between metal tubes. Made to resist corrosion, seal aligns itself in joint for maximum effectiveness.

Trevathan, Joseph R.↗

Low-Heat-Leak Electrical Leads For Cryogenic Systems

Electrical leads offering high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity developed for use in connecting electronic devices inside cryogenic systems to power supplies, signal-processing circuits, and other circuitry located in nearby warmer surroundings. Strip of superconductive leads on ceramic substrate, similar to ribbon cable, connects infrared detectors at temperature of liquid helium with warmer circuitry. Electrical leads bridging thermal gradient at boundary of cryogenic system designed both to minimize conduction of heat from surroundings through leads into system and to minimize resistive heating caused by electrical currents flowing in leads.

Wise, Stephanie A.↗

Optical-Fiber Leak Detector

Proposed optical-fiber sensor detects small changes in pressure in elastomeric O-ring or similar pressure seal, which may indicate deterioration of seal and interpreted as indications of incipient failure. According to concept, length of optical fiber embedded in seal. Light-emitting diode illuminates one end of fiber; photodetector measures intensity of light emerging from other end. Pressure-induced changes in seal bend fiber slightly, altering microbending-induced loss of light from fiber and alter intensity of light at photodetector. Change in intensity approximately proportional to change in pressure.

Workman, Gary L.↗

STS-55 pad abort: Engine 2011 oxidizer preburner augmented spark igniter check valve leak

The STS-55 initial launch attempt of Columbia (OV102) was terminated on KSC launch pad A March 22, 1993 at 9:51 AM E.S.T. due to violation of an ME-3 (Engine 2011) Launch Commit Criteria (LCC) limit exceedance. The event description and timeline are summarized. Propellant loading was initiated on 22 March, 1993 at 1:15 AM EST. All SSME chill parameters and launch commit criteria (LCC) were nominal. At engine start plus 1.44 seconds, a Failure Identification (FID) was posted against Engine 2011 for exceeding the 50 psia Oxidizer Preburner (OPB) purge pressure redline. The engine was shut down at 1.50 seconds followed by Engines 2034 and 2030. All shut down sequences were nominal and the mission was safely aborted. The OPB purge pressure redline violation and the abort profile/overlay for all three engines are depicted. SSME Avionics hardware and software performed nominally during the incident. A review of vehicle data table (VDT) data and controller software logic revealed no failure indications other than the single FID 013-414, OPB purge pressure redline exceeded. Software logic was executed according to requirements and there was no anomalous controller software operation. Immediately following the abort, a Rocketdyne/NASA failure investigation team was assembled. The team successfully isolated the failure cause to the oxidizer preburner augmented spark igniter purge check valve not being fully closed due to contamination. The source of the contaminant was traced to a cut segment from a rubber O-ring which was used in a fine clean tool during valve production prior to 1992. The valve was apparently contaminated during its fabrication in 1985. The valve had performed acceptably on four previous flights of the engine, and SSME flight history shows 780 combined check valve flights without failure. The failure of an Engine 3 (SSME No. 2011) check valve to close was sensed by onboard engine instruments even though all other engine operations were normal. This resulted in an engine shutdown and safe sequential shutdown of all three engines prior to ignition of the solid boosters.

Source record↗

Leak detection utilizing analog binaural (VLSI) techniques

A detection method and system utilizing silicon models of the traveling wave structure of the human cochlea to spatially and temporally locate a specific sound source in the presence of high noise pandemonium. The detection system combines two-dimensional stereausis representations, which are output by at least three VLSI binaural hearing chips, to generate a three-dimensional stereausis representation including both binaural and spectral information which is then used to locate the sound source.

Hartley, Frank T.↗