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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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At least 73 records · Page 4

Auto-Gopher: A Wire-Line Rotary-Hammer Ultrasonic Drill

Developing technologies that would enable NASA to sample rock, soil, and ice by coring, drilling or abrading at a significant depth is of great importance for a large number of in-situ exploration missions as well as for earth applications. Proven techniques to sample Mars subsurface will be critical for future NASA astrobiology missions that will search for records of past and present life on the planet, as well as, the search for water and other resources. A deep corer, called Auto-Gopher, is currently being developed as a joint effort of the JPL's NDEAA laboratory and Honeybee Robotics Corp. The Auto-Gopher is a wire-line rotary-hammer drill that combines rock breaking by hammering using an ultrasonic actuator and cuttings removal by rotating a fluted bit. The hammering mechanism is based on the Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corer (USDC) that has been developed as an adaptable tool for many of drilling and coring applications. The USDC uses an intermediate free-flying mass to transform the high frequency vibrations of the horn tip into a sonic hammering of a drill bit. The USDC concept was used in a previous task to develop an Ultrasonic/Sonic Ice Gopher. The lessons learned from testing the ice gopher were implemented into the design of the Auto-Gopher by inducing a rotary motion onto the fluted coring bit. A wire-line version of such a system would allow penetration of significant depth without a large increase in mass. A laboratory version of the corer was developed in the NDEAA lab to determine the design and drive parameters of the integrated system. The design configuration lab version of the design and fabrication and preliminary testing results are presented in this paper

life dectection↗

Deep Drilling and Sampling via the Wireline Auto-Gopher Driven by Piezoelectric Percussive Actuator and EM Rotary Motor

The ability to penetrate subsurfaces and perform sample acquisition at depths of meters is critical for future NASA in-situ exploration missions to bodies in the solar system, including Mars and Europa. A corer/sampler was developed with the goal of acquiring pristine samples by reaching depths on Mars beyond the oxidized and sterilized zone. To developed rotary-hammering coring drill, called Auto-Gopher, employs a piezoelectric actuated percussive mechanism for breaking formations and an electric motor rotates the bit to remove the powdered cuttings. This sampler is a wireline mechanism that is incorporated with an inchworm mechanism allowing thru cyclic coring and core removal to reach great depths. The penetration rate is being optimized by simultaneously activating the percussive and rotary motions of the Auto-Gopher. The percussive mechanism is based on the Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corer (USDC) mechanism that is driven by piezoelectric stack and that was demonstrated to require low axial preload. The Auto-Gopher has been produced taking into account the a lessons learned from the development of the Ultrasonic/Sonic Gopher that was designed as a percussive ice drill and was demonstrated in Antarctica in 2005 to reach about 2 meters deep. A field demonstration of the Auto-Gopher is currently being planned with objective of reaching as deep as 3 to 5 meters in tufa subsurface.

Auto-Gopher↗

Auto-Gopher: A Wireline Deep Sampler Driven by Piezoelectric Percussive Actuator and EM Rotary Motor

The ability to penetrate subsurfaces and perform sample acquisition at depth of meters may be critical for future NASA in-situ exploration missions to bodies in the solar system, including Mars and Europa. A corer/sampler was developed with the goal of enabling acquisition of samples from depths of several meters where if used on Mars would be beyond the oxidized and sterilized zone. For this purpose, we developed a rotary-hammering coring drill, called Auto-Gopher, which employs a piezoelectric actuated percussive mechanism for breaking formations and an electric motor that rotates the bit to remove the powdered cuttings. This sampler is a wireline mechanism that can be fed into and retrieved from the drilled hole using a winch and a cable. It includes an inchworm anchoring mechanism allowing the drill advancement and weight on bit control without twisting the reeling and power cables. The penetration rate is being optimized by simultaneously activating the percussive and rotary motions of the Auto-Gopher. The percussive mechanism is based on the Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corer (USDC) mechanism that is driven by piezoelectric stack and that was demonstrated to require low axial preload. The design and fabrication of this device were presented in previous publications. This paper presents the results of laboratory and field tests and lessons learned from this development.

piezoactuation↗

The Auto-Gopher: A Wireline Rotary-Percussive Deep Sampler

Accessing regions on planetary bodies that potentially preserved biosignatures or are presently habitable is vital to meeting NASA solar system "Search for Life" exploration objectives. To address these objectives, a wireline deep rotary-percussive corer called Auto-Gopher was developed. The percussive action provides effective material fracturing and the rotation provides effective cuttings removal. To increase the drill's penetration rate, the percussive and rotary motions are operated simultaneously. Initially, the corer was designed as a percussive mechanism for sampling ice and was demonstrated in 2005 in Antarctica reaching about 2 m deep. The lessons learned suggested the need to use a combination of rotation and hammering to maximize the penetration rate. This lesson was implemented into the Auto-Gopher-I deep drill which was demonstrated to reach 3-meter deep in gypsum. The average drilling power that was used has been in the range of 100-150 Watt, while the penetration rate was approximately 2.4 m/hr. Recently, a task has started with the goal to develop Auto-Gopher-II that is equipped to execute all the necessary functions in a single drilling unit. These functions also include core breaking, retention and ejection in addition drilling. In this manuscript, the Auto-Gopher-II, its predecessors and their capability are described and discussed.

drilling↗

Ball transfer mechanism with polycrystalline diamond bearing support

A ball transfer mechanism for a harmonic drive and linear piston motor is disclosed. The ball transfer mechanism includes a spherical ball and a cylindrical seat portion. The seat portion defines a hemispherical shaped recess with a contour for receiving the ball. The ball transfer mechanism is in an exterior wall of a housing for converting rotary motion to linear motion, driving a linear piston motor. The harmonic drive drives a rotor of the linear piston motor. The harmonic drive includes a hollow cylindrical coupler portion engaging a rotor portion for transferring torque to the rotor portion. Transfer mechanisms disposed along a housing wall of the linear piston motor engage the coupler portion. The coupler portion includes harmonic cam grooves for receiving spherical balls in the ball transfer mechanism that drives rotational motion in the rotor in response to axially linear movement of the piston assembly.

Raymond, David W.↗

Ball transfer mechanism with polycrystalline diamond bearing support

A ball transfer mechanism for a harmonic drive and linear piston motor is disclosed. The ball transfer mechanism includes a spherical ball and a cylindrical seat portion. The seat portion defines a hemispherical shaped recess with a contour for receiving the ball. The ball transfer mechanism is in an exterior wall of a housing for converting rotary motion to linear motion, driving a linear piston motor. The harmonic drive drives a rotor of the linear piston motor. The harmonic drive includes a hollow cylindrical coupler portion engaging a rotor portion for transferring torque to the rotor portion. Transfer mechanisms disposed along a housing wall of the linear piston motor engage the coupler portion. The coupler portion includes harmonic cam grooves for receiving spherical balls in the ball transfer mechanism that drives rotational motion in the rotor in response to axially linear movement of the piston assembly.

Raymond, David W.↗

Dual motion valve with single motion input

A dual motion valve includes two dual motion valve assemblies with a rotary input which allows the benefits of applying both rotary and axial motion to a rotary sealing element with a plurality of ports. The motion of the rotary sealing element during actuation provides axial engagement of the rotary sealing element with a stationary valve plate which also has ports. Fluid passages are created through the valve when the ports of the rotary sealing element are aligned with the ports of the stationary valve plate. Alignment is achieved through rotation of the rotary sealing element with respect to the stationary valve plate. The fluid passages provide direct paths which minimize fluid turbulence created in the fluid as it passes through the valve.

Belew, Robert↗

Powerful Electromechanical Linear Actuator

Powerful electromechanical linear actuator designed to replace hydraulic actuator. Cleaner, simpler, and needs less maintenance. Features rotary-to-linear-motion converter with antibacklash gearing and position feedback via shaft-angle resolvers, which measure rotary motion.

Cowan, John R.↗

A new look at arbitrary motion unsteady aerodynamics and its application to rotary-wing aeroelasticity

Research on arbitrary motion unsteady aerodynamics, emphasizing applications to rotary wing aeroelastic problems, is reviewed. Generalization of Greenberg's theory and its application to hingeless rotor aeroelastic stability; a technique for formulating finite state approximations to unsteady aerodynamic theories, suitable for fixed and rotary-wing applications, and its application to generalize Loewy's theory; comparison of fixed wing and rotary wing indicial response functions; influence of arbitrary motion aerodynamics, as represented by dynamic inflow on a helicopter in ground resonance; and comparison of dynamic inflow with arbitrary motion unsteady airfoil aerodynamics are covered.

Friedmann, P. P.↗

Lagrangian circulation study near Cape Henry, Virginia

A study of the circulation near Cape Henry, Virginia, was made using surface and seabed drifters and radar tracked surface buoys coupled to subsurface drag plates. Drifter releases were conducted on a line normal to the beach just south of Cape Henry. Surface drifter recoveries were few; wind effects were strongly noted. Seabed drifter recoveries all exhibited onshore motion into Chesapeake Bay. Strong winds also affected seabed recoveries, tending to move them farther before recovery. Buoy trajectories in the vicinity of Cape Henry appeared to be of an irrotational nature, showing a clockwise rotary tide motion. Nearest the cape, the buoy motion elongated to almost parallel depth contours around the cape. Buoy motion under the action of strong winds showed that currents to at least the depth of the drag plates substantially are altered from those of low wind conditions near the Bay mouth. Only partial evidence could be found to support the presence of a clockwise nontidal eddy at Virginia Beach, south of Cape Henry.

Johnson, R. E.↗

Computational Optimization of a Rotary Valved Pulse Combustor Concept

A resonant pulse combustor valve concept is introduced that utilizes two slotted, coaxial counterrotating discs for mechanical actuation at the combustor inlet. The intended test article for prototype demonstration is a small, 22 in. long, propane fueled laboratory combustor, flowing approximately 0.006 lbm/s of air. The objective is to develop an externally actuated (i.e., active) valve that yields better performance and longer life than the traditional internally actuated (i.e., passive), reed-type valve found on most pulse combustors. The rotary valve motion is optimized using an axisymmetric, two-dimensional computational fluid dynamic simulation with a domain that includes the valve as a moveable interior wall. Parameters such as slew rate, dwell period in the open position, and total closed period are varied using fuel specific impulse as the figure of merit. Variations in fuel injector location and air fuel ratio are also examined. Additionally, the performance impact of leakage from the rotary valve is quantified since leakage is endemic to the design. The optimized simulation results indicate that the rotary valve concept can deliver the desired performance attributes using disc rotational speeds and stresses that are well within the realm of modern materials. A preliminary mechanical valve design is included in the report.

pressure gain combustion↗

Computational Optimization of a Rotary Valved Pulse Combustor Concept

A resonant pulse combustor valve concept is introduced that utilizes two slotted, coaxial counterrotating discs for mechanical actuation at the combustor inlet. The intended test article for prototype demonstration is a small, 22 in. long, propane fueled laboratory combustor, flowing approximately 0.006 lbm/s of air. The objective is to develop an externally actuated (i.e., active) valve that yields better performance and longer life than the traditional internally actuated (i.e., passive), reed-type valve found on most pulse combustors. The rotary valve motion is optimized using an axisymmetric, two-dimensional computational fluid dynamic simulation with a domain that includes the valve as a moveable interior wall. Parameters such as slew rate, dwell period in the open position, and total closed period are varied using fuel specific impulse as the figure of merit. Variations in fuel injector location and air fuel ratio are also examined. Additionally, the performance impact of leakage from the rotary valve is quantified since leakage is endemic to the design. The optimized simulation results indicate that the rotary valve concept can deliver the desired performance attributes using disc rotational speeds and stresses that are well within the realm of modern materials. A preliminary mechanical valve design is included in the report.

pressure gain combustion↗

Development of a multicomponent force and moment balance for water tunnel applications, volume 2

The principal objective of this research effort was to develop a multicomponent strain gauge balance to measure forces and moments on models tested in flow visualization water tunnels. Static experiments (which are discussed in Volume 1 of this report) were conducted, and the results showed good agreement with wind tunnel data on similar configurations. Dynamic experiments, which are the main topic of this Volume, were also performed using the balance. Delta wing models and two F/A-18 models were utilized in a variety of dynamic tests. This investigation showed that, as expected, the values of the inertial tares are very small due to the low rotating rates required in a low-speed water tunnel and can, therefore, be ignored. Oscillations in pitch, yaw and roll showed hysteresis loops that compared favorably to data from dynamic wind tunnel experiments. Pitch-up and hold maneuvers revealed the long persistence, or time-lags, of some of the force components in response to the motion. Rotary-balance experiments were also successfully performed. The good results obtained in these dynamic experiments bring a whole new dimension to water tunnel testing and emphasize the importance of having the capability to perform simultaneous flow visualization and force/moment measurements during dynamic situations.

Suarez, Carlos J.↗

Single Ball Bearing Lubricant and Material Evaluator

A test apparatus provides an applied load to a monoball through a trolley which moves along a loading axis. While applying the load to the monoball, the torque meter is in communication with the spherical monoball, and a load cell senses the application of applied force to the monoball. Meanwhile, a rotary actuary imports rotary oscillating motion to the monoball which is sensed by a position sensor and a torque meter. Accordingly, a processor can determine the coefficient of friction in substantially real time along with a cycles per second rate.

Philip B Hall↗