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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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Cable connector shell improves electrostatic and electromagnetic shielding by electrically connecting cable braid around entire circumference. Connector cable braid is slipped over ferrule and sleeve is slipped over braid, clamping it tightly to shell. Connector shell completely shields cable conductors.
Electrodynamic tethers are wires deployed across the earth's geomagnetic field through which a current is flowing. The radiation impedance of a tether with end connectors carrying an ac current is computed from classical antenna theory. This simulates the use of a tether on a space structure. It is shown that the current flow pattern at the tether connector is critical to determining the overall radiation impedance. If the tether makes direct electrical contact with the ionosphere then radiation impedances of the order of several thousand Ohms can be expected. If the only electrical contact is through the end connectors then the impedance is only a few Ohms for a dc current rising to several tens of Ohms for an ac current with frequencies in the whistler range.
Report evaluates silicone potting materials for electrical connectors. Describes tests of connector specimens made with CV-2510 and DC-6-1104 silicones with dibutyl tin dilaurate catalyst and evaluates test results in light of previously published test results for polyurethanes. Discusses requirements for connector-potting materials, methods used to evaluate silicones, techniques for preparing specimens, and results of tests. Identifies commercial sources of silicone potting materials.
A coaxial cable connector is provided, which resists radio frequency breakdown in coaxial cables used in the vacuum of outer space. The connector body surrounds an insulator which includes an easily compressible elastomeric portion. An insulated coaxial cable is prepared so that its insulation projects beyond the outer conductor and compresses the elastomeric portion of the connector insulator.
System for connecting electrical and/or fluid lines includes mechanism reducing length of stroke necessary to make or break connections. Feature enables connection and disconnection in confined space, and compensates for misalignment between connectors. Connector in active member moves upward at twice the speed of downward stroke of passive member. Stroke amplified within connector system. Applications include connections between modular electronic units, coupled vehicles, and hydraulic systems.
A fluid connector system is disclosed which includes a modified plumbing union having a rotatable member for drawing said union into a fluid tight condition. A drive tool is electric motor actuated and includes a reduction gear train providing an output gear engaging an integral peripheral spur gear on the rotatable member. Coaxial alignment means are attached to both the connector assembly and the drive tool. A hand lever actuated latching system includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced latching balls selectively wedged against the alignment means attached to the connector assembly or to secure the drive tool with its output gear in mesh with the integral peripheral spur gear. The drive motor is torque, speed, and direction controllable.
The multimode fiber bandwidth enhancement techniques to meet the Gigabit Ethernet standards for local area networks (LAN) of the Kennedy Space Center and other NASA centers have been discussed. Connector with lateral offset coupling between single mode launch fiber cable and the multimode fiber cable has been thoroughly investigated. An optimization of connector position offset for 8 km long optical fiber link at 1300 nm with 9 micrometer diameter single mode fiber (SMF) and 50 micrometer diameter multimode fiber (MMF) coupling has been obtained. The optimization is done in terms of bandwidth, eye-pattern, and bit pattern measurements. It is simpler, is a highly practical approach and is cheaper as no additional cost to manufacture the offset type of connectors is involved.
A complex of high pressure piping at Stennis Space Center carries rocket propellants and other fluids/gases through the Center's Component Test Facility. Conventional clamped connectors tend to leak when propellant lines are chilled to extremely low temperatures. Reflange, Inc. customized an existing piping connector to include a secondary seal more tolerant of severe thermal gradients for Stennis. The T-Con connector solved the problem, and the company is now marketing a commercial version that permits testing, monitoring or collecting any emissions that may escape the primary seal during severe thermal transition.
The invention concerns a connector, in an aircraft engine, for mounting a ring to a turbine rotor which the ring surrounds. The ring carries propeller blades, and the connector transmits both thrust and torque loads between the ring and the rotor, without significant deformation. However, the connector does deform in order to accommodate differential thermal growth between the ring and the rotor.
An electronics chassis box includes a pair of opposing sidewalls, a pair of opposing end walls, a bottom surface, a top cover, and ring connectors assemblies mounted in selective ones of the walls of the electronic box. Boss members extend from the bottom surface at different heights upon which circuit cards are mounted in spatial relationship to each other. A flex interconnect substantially reduces and generally eliminates the need of a motherboard by interconnecting the circuit cards to one another and to external connectors mounted within the ring connector assemblies.
An adapter for installing a connector to a terminal post, wherein the connector is attached to a cable, is presented. In an embodiment, the adapter is comprised of an elongated collet member having a longitudinal axis comprised of a first collet member end, a second collet member end, an outer collet member surface, and an inner collet member surface. The inner collet member surface at the first collet member end is used to engage the connector. The outer collet member surface at the first collet member end is tapered for a predetermined first length at a predetermined taper angle. The collet includes a longitudinal slot that extends along the longitudinal axis initiating at the first collet member end for a predetermined second length. The first collet member end is formed of a predetermined number of sections segregated by a predetermined number of channels and the longitudinal slot.
Fiber optic cables are increasingly being used in harsh environments where they are subjected to vibration. Understanding the degradation in performance under these conditions is essential for integration of the fibers into the given application. System constraints oftentimes require fiber optic connectors so subsystems can be removed or assembled as needed. In the present work, various types of fiber optic connectors were monitored in-situ during vibration testing to examine the transient change in optical transmission and the steady-state variation following the event. Inspection of the fiber endfaces and connectors was performed at chosen intervals throughout the testing.
For panel-mount-type connectors, keying is usually "built-in" to the connector body, necessitating different part numbers for each key arrangement. This is costly for jobs that require small quantities. This invention was driven to provide a cost savings and to reduce documentation of individual parts. The keys are removable and configurable in up to 16 combinations. Since the key parts are separate from the connector body, a common design can be used for the plug, receptacle, and key parts. The keying can then be set at the next higher assembly.
Systems, methods and piezoelectric patches are provided for monitoring the structural health of connectors in overhead transmission lines. A plurality of piezoelectric patches is mounted to different locations on the connector. At least one of the patches is actuated using an AC voltage and certain electrical properties either from the same patch or of a different patch are evaluated over time to determine the structural health of the connectors.
An electrical connector carries large amounts of electrical current between two circuit boards with low resistance and low self-inductance by means of an interdigitated anode and cathode, thereby providing low dynamic voltage loss. The connector also may include, near where power will be consumed, an interposer board with on-board capacitance to provide even lower dynamic voltage loss. The connector has application to delivering low-voltage, high-current power from a power supply on a first board to electronics on a second board: the low resistance provides low voltage drop for a load current that is constant, while the low inductance and the capacitors provide low voltage fluctuation for a load current that changes. These issues are of great importance, for example, in designing high-performance computers.
Systems, methods, and apparatus that employ a connector assembly having a substrate layer with an inner aperture and an outer periphery, and one or more signal traces disposed on the substrate that extend from an inner first location to an outer second location of the apparatus, for communicating data between electronic devices positioned within an interior volume of an enclosed vessel and complementary electronic devices positioned in an ambient environment external to the enclosed vessel. An inner connector is conductively connected the signal traces at the inner first location of each signal trace, and an outer connector is conductively connected to the one or more signal traces at the outer second location of each signal trace. A substantially flat exterior surface extends radially over at least a portion of a region between the respective first locations and the respective second locations.
The Energy Connector is a web-based software application that is designed to facilitate energy bill savings for low-income households through streamlined community solar subscriptions. By using the Connector, Developers and Subscription Managers can save money on acquisition costs and streamline enrollment without having to perform additional income verification.
Polymer cracks are not a new problem in the PV industry. However, the suddenness and severity of the cracking connector model is new and concerning. Some sites are experiencing wide-spread cracking of a specific connector model. The preliminary investigation results are (1) there are potential clearance issues with the O-ring, leading to high mechanical stress; (2) potential use of lubrication yields polymer embrittlement; and (3) clear mechanical or chemical differences between the affected model and other PPE-based models using FTIR and tensile testing could not be demonstrated.