Distribution and metering system for soil samples
Electromechanical assembly with movable hopper, commanded to put soil samples into inlet sorts of sampling valves, distributes metered volumes of soil samples into test cells.
Debenham, C. H.↗
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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.
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Trigonometric vehicle guidance assembly which aligns the three perpendicular axes of two three-axes systems Patent
Electrical and electromechanical trigonometric computation assembly and space vehicle guidance system for aligning perpendicular axes of two sets of three-axes coordinate references
Lee, C. E.↗
Positioning and handling in weightless environment
Electromechanical devices to transfer, position, and retrieve space manufacturing equipment
Berge, L. A.↗
Pressure sensitive transducers Patent
Miniature electromechanical junction transducer operating on piezojunction effect and utilizing epoxy for stress coupling component
Garfein, A.↗
Current switch has built-in time delay: A concept
Switch concept provides simple means of achieving electromechanical time delay function. Unit consists of reed-type circuit breaker enclosed by copper tubing with electromagnetic coil wound around tubing and entire assembly mounted on insulating platform. Characteristics are affected only by geometry of system so device is expected to be very stable.
Jesch, C. D.↗
Improved measurement of depth perception
Electromechanical system for Howard-Dolman device was developed. System is used for human depth perception measurements without tactual stimuli.
Fitch, R. C.↗
Meeting the challenge of a 50000-hour-life-time requirement
Space mission requirements for the 70's have established a 50,000-hour-lifetime challenge for the mechanisms designer. This challenge may be met by two approaches: (1) development of new materials for wear-prone elements, and (2) design innovation of new electromechanical devices that do not include mechanical wear-prone components. Present state-of-the-art materials require restricted operation regarding load, speed, and power for gears, bearings, and brush-slipring components. These restrictions are discussed, and methods of improvement are suggested. The design-innovations approach is discussed and is illustrated by the design of an experimental magnetically suspended motor.
Vest, C. E.↗
The Mariner Mars 1971 gimbal actuator
The actuator that will point the gimbaled engine, thus performing the autopilot actuation function for the Mariner Mars 1971 spacecraft, is described. The gimbaled engine has two axes of freedom, providing two-axis control to the spacecraft. Motion for the two axes is provided by identical and interchangeable actuators-gearless electromechanical linear servomechanisms. Each actuator is designed to have a long service life in the space environment and to be able to function at speeds ranging from hours per cycle to cycles per second.
Perkins, G. S.↗
Saturn component failure rate and failure rate modifiers
Failure mode frequency ratios, environmental adjustment factors, and failure rates for mechanical and electromechanical component families are presented. The failure rates and failure rate modifiers resulted from a series of studies whose purpose was to provide design, tests, reliability, and systems engineers with accurate, up-to-date failure rate information. The results of the studies were achieved through an extensive engineering analysis of the Saturn Program test data and Unsatisfactory Condition Reports (UCR's) and the application of mathematical techniques developed for the studies.
Source record↗
Electro-mechanical sine/cosine generator
An electromechanical device for generating both sine and cosine functions is described. A motor rotates a cylinder about an axis parallel to and a slight distance from the central axis of the cylinder. Two noncontacting displacement sensing devices are placed ninety degrees apart, equal distances from the axis of rotation of the cylinder and short distances above the surface of cylinder. Each of these sensing devices produces an electrical signal proportional to the distance that it is away from the cylinder. Consequently, as the cylinder is rotated the outputs from the two sensing devices are the sine and cosine functions.
Flagge, B.↗
Long-life, space-maintainable nuclear stage regulators and shutoff valves
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.
Source record↗
Pulse performance analysis for small hypergolic-propellant rocket engines
Small rocket engine tests were conducted for the purpose of obtaining pulse performance data to aid in preliminary design and evaluation of attitude control systems. Both monopropellant and hypergolic bipropellant engines of thrust levels from 1 to 100 lbs were tested. The performance data for the hypergolic propellant rockets are compared with theoretical performance calculated from idealized chamber filling and evacuation characteristics. Electromechanical delays in valve response and heat transfer characteristics were found to cause substantial deviation between theoretical and test performance. The theoretical analysis is modified to obtain a semi-empirical model for hypergolic propellant rockets which is demonstrated to be reasonably accurate for two different engine configurations over a considerable range of duty cycles.
Smith, G. W.↗
Analysis and design of a capsule landing system and surface vehicle control system for Mars exporation
The problems related to the design and control of a mobile planetary vehicle to implement a systematic plan for the exploration of Mars were investigated. Problem areas receiving attention include: vehicle configuration, control, dynamics, systems and propulsion; systems analysis; navigation, terrain modeling and path selection; and chemical analysis of specimens. The following specific tasks were studied: vehicle model design, mathematical modeling of dynamic vehicle, experimental vehicle dynamics, obstacle negotiation, electromechanical controls, collapsibility and deployment, construction of a wheel tester, wheel analysis, payload design, system design optimization, effect of design assumptions, accessory optimal design, on-board computer subsystem, laser range measurement, discrete obstacle detection, obstacle detection systems, terrain modeling, path selection system simulation and evaluation, gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer system concepts, chromatograph model evaluation and improvement and transport parameter evaluation.
Frederick, D. K.↗
A thin film, high sensitivity, two terminal, semiconductor strain sensor.
A two terminal semiconductor strain sensor which makes use of an evaporated piezoelectric layer to modulate the forward current-voltage characteristics of a thin film diode is described. The physical mechanisms are discussed and compared to other types of semiconductor sensors. Application to the electromechanical design of ultraminiature pressure transducers is discussed.
Mallon, J. R.↗
Application of robots in space.
Robots are defined as electromechanical systems (with local computers) receiving inputs from sensors, and in turn, controlling motors and effectors to do tasks requiring some measure of intelligence and permitting the whole system to interact with the real world. Robot systems for space applications are categorized into three general groups consisting of roving exploration robots, spacecraft robots, and planet development robots. The functions of systems in each category are defined in terms of intended applications, and requirements for operating and decision making are outlined. Further developments which must be achieved in robot technology are summarized.
Johnsen, E. G.↗
Cardiovascular responses to glucagon - Physiologic measurement by external recordings.
Assessment by noninvasive polygraphic techniques of the cardiovascular responses of normal subjects to intravenous injections of glucagon and glucagon diluent. A blinding procedure which eliminated observer bias was used during the reading of tracings. Analysis of group results showed that glucagon provoked uniformly significant changes, including increase in heart rate, blood pressure, pressure-rate product, and ejection time index, and decrease in prejection period, mechanical and electromechanical systole, left ventricular ejection time, and the ratio PEP/LVET. The principal results correlated well with those of previous studies of the hemodynamic effects of glucagon.
Byrne, M. J.↗
Development of STOLAND, a versatile navigation, guidance and control system.
STOLAND has been developed to perform navigation, guidance, control, and flight management experiments in advanced V/STOL aircraft. An integrated digital concept using modern avionics components was selected as the simplest approach to maximizing versatility and growth potential. Unique flexibility has been obtained by use of a single, general-purpose digital computer for all navigation, guidance, control, and displays computation. Modularity of the software insures easy change of experiments. The general-purpose computer is integrated with flexible pilot controls and with both electromechanical and CRT displays for maximum cockpit versatility. A complex hierarchy of control modes with safety monitors and interlocks has been provided.
Hansen, Q. M.↗
High-power microstrip switch
Switch, which uses only two p-i-n diodes on microstrip substrate, has been developed for application in spacecraft radio systems. Switch features improved power drain, weight, volume, magnetic cleanliness, and reliability, over currently-used circulator and electromechanical switches.
Choi, S. D.↗