85results about How to "Avoid catastrophic failure" patented technology

The invention provides a multi-use light fixture that includes a light engine, a rugged housing, and an external power supply removeably embedded within an optional external enclosure. The light fixture includes several novel heat management features designed to reduce the risk of failure and thereby increase the reliability of the light fixture. The light engine includes groups of light modules, each having a light emitting diode (LED) and a zener diode. The housing includes an internal gap defined between the a circuit board and the housing. The housing also includes an arrangement of external fins and vents that dissipate heat generated by the light engine. The lens cover includes a plurality of inlets to supply ambient air into the fixture. During operation, heat is generated by the light modules, namely the LEDs, and then is transferred along a first flow path through a main body portion of the housing and the fins for dissipation to ambient and a second air flow path whereby ambient air flows through the light engine to increase the performance and efficiency of the light engine.

A compact, energy-efficient extensible illumination source combines the reliability advantages of light emitting diodes (LEDs) with the brightness of conventional lighting. High reliability of the LEDs provides trouble-free operation over a long hour lifetime. This high-output light source can be used in direct lighting applications or for backlighting for translucent materials. The illumination source includes LED printed wire board segments that may be configured to form a light line of any length. The segments are mounted on a inner mounting base which also serves as a first stage heat sink for the LEDs. The illumination source includes a linear mirror for reflecting radiant energy away from the LEDs to produce a uniform linear illumination pattern. A window provides mechanical protection for the LEDs and may be used for diffusing or filtering light from the LEDs. An integral base in contact with the inner mounting base also serves as a heat sink and provides structural support for the illumination source. The integral base further includes channels and cavities for cooling the illumination source and for housing power cables.

The invention provides a light fixture that includes a light engine, a rugged housing, and an internal power module that is thermally isolated. The light fixture includes several novel heat management features designed to thermally isolate the power supply in order to reduce the risk of failure and thereby increase the reliability of the light fixture. The light engine includes groups of light modules, each having a light emitting diode (LED) and a zener diode. The power module resides within a rear receptacle of the housing and includes a power supply, a box, and a cover that enclose the power supply. The housing also includes an arrangement of external fins that dissipate heat generated by the light engine. During operation, heat is generated by the light modules, namely the LEDs, and then is transferred along a flow path through a main body portion of the housing and the fins for dissipation to ambient without negatively impacting the power supply.

A method of forming a photolithographic mask layout with Sub-Resolution Assist Feature (SRAF) elements on a mask for correcting for proximity effects for a pattern imaged comprising the steps of developing a layout of mask features for printing main pattern features. Provide a table of SRAF element data including spacing of main pattern features and SRAF elements, applying SRAF elements to the mask layout as a function of spacing of main pattern features and SRAF elements, legalizing the SRAF elements as a function of style options, and providing a target pattern comprising a modified layout for the mask, identifying problem edge segments of an SRAF element of the target pattern at risk of causing a printing defect, applying a selected bias to the problem edge segments to modify the pattern where there are areas of SRAF element loss, and providing an output of a modified pattern with modified SRAF elements removing the areas of SRAF element loss. The system can provide SRAF elements to the mask layout as a function of spacing of main pattern features and SRAF elements may be based on data from the SRAF table; or the system can applying model based OPC for exposure dose values based on data from the SRAF table.

In various embodiments, a device is provided comprising a balloon configured to expand to an expanded state in response to introduction of a fluid at a first pressure, wherein the fluid perfuses through the balloon above a second pressure, the second pressure being the same or greater than the first pressure. In various embodiments, a method comprising fabricating a balloon configured to expand to an expanded state in response to introduction of a fluid at a first pressure, wherein the fluid perfuses through the balloon above a second pressure, the second pressure being at or greater than the first pressure, disposing the balloon on an elongate member having a lumen, placing the lumen in fluid communication with an interior volume of the balloon.

A dual clutch transmission for a motor vehicle having a synchronizer actuation interlock system includes two input shafts, a counter shaft, and a plurality of gear sets rotatively disposed on the shafts. The gear sets are adapted to be operatively engaged to and disengaged from their respective shafts. A plurality of synchronizers are disposed about the gear sets and the synchronizers are adapted to operatively engage and disengage the gear sets to and from their respective shafts. A plurality of hydraulically actuated shift actuators are each operatively connected to one of the plurality of synchronizers. Each shift actuator is adapted to cause its respective synchronizer to engage and disengage its respective gear sets to and from their respective shaft and further adapted to provide a hydraulic interlock that prevents an associated shift actuator on the same shaft from hydraulically actuating when the shift actuator is already engaged.

A method to prevent the catastrophic failure of electrical contacts of silicon piezoresistive transducers located on a silicon wafer at temperatures above 600° C. comprising the steps of using a lead-free glass frit to surround the contacts and bonding the sensor wafer to a glass wafer employing a lead-free glass and utilizing a modified electrostatic bonding technique to join the silicon wafer to the lead-free glass wafer to form a high temperature SOI device.

A dual clutch transmission for a motor vehicle having a synchronizer actuation interlock system includes two input shafts, a counter shaft, and a plurality of gear sets rotatively disposed on the shafts. The gear sets are adapted to be operatively engaged to and disengaged from their respective shafts. A plurality of synchronizers are disposed about the gear sets and the synchronizers are adapted to operatively engage and disengage the gear sets to and from their respective shafts. A plurality of hydraulically actuated shift actuators are each operatively connected to one of the plurality of synchronizers. Each shift actuator is adapted to cause its respective synchronizer to engage and disengage its respective gear sets to and from their respective shaft and further adapted to provide a hydraulic interlock that prevents an associated shift actuator on the same shaft from hydraulically actuating when the shift actuator is already engaged.

A process for producing a corrugated electrode for use in an electroactive polymer cartridge is disclosed. A laminated web comprising a support sheet laminated to a dielectric elastomer film is positioned. The support sheet defines areas exposing portions of the dielectric elastomer film. A force is applied to the positioned laminated web to stretch the laminated support sheet-dielectric elastomer film web in a direction that is orthogonal to a plane defined by the web. An electrically conductive material is applied to the laminated support sheet-dielectric elastomer film web while the laminated support sheet-dielectric elastomer film web is in a stretched state. The laminated support sheet-dielectric elastomer film web is relaxed to form the corrugated electrode on the dielectric elastomer film portion of the web.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for predicting the service life of a metallic structure subjected to cyclic loading. Such structures experience fatigue, which can lead to failure after a number of loading cycles. The disclosed invention allows for an accurate prediction of the number of cycles to failure for a metallic structure by observing the slope of the rise in surface temperature of the structure after the cyclic loading has begun. The method of this invention provides early and accurate predictions of service life and does not require destructive testing. The method and apparatus of the present invention may be installed on working equipment, thus providing service life predictions for materials in real world use. The invention uses an empirically derived relationship that was confirmed using analytical relationships and material properties. The derived formula uses two constants that may be determined empirically using a disclosed process. The constants also may be estimated mathematically. The apparatus may include a wireless temperature sensor mounted on the metallic structure of interest and a data analysis unit to perform the needed calculations.

Methods and apparatus are described to detect, measure, and determine the presence of unknown Groundloop currents flowing through unidentified circuit pathways within the wiring system distributed within a portion of a fuselage of an airplane substantially made from fiber-reinforced composite materials to avoid catastrophic failures of the electrical system within such an airplane.

A method of forming a photolithographic mask layout with Sub-Resolution Assist Feature (SRAF) elements on a mask for correcting for proximity effects for a pattern imaged comprising the steps of developing a layout of mask features for printing main pattern features. Provide a table of SRAF element data including spacing of main pattern features and SRAF elements, applying SRAF elements to the mask layout as a function of spacing of main pattern features and SRAF elements, legalizing the SRAF elements as a function of style options, and providing a target pattern comprising a modified layout for the mask, identifying problem edge segments of an SRAF element of the target pattern at risk of causing a printing defect, applying a selected bias to the problem edge segments to modify the pattern where there are areas of SRAF element loss, and providing an output of a modified pattern with modified SRAF elements removing the areas of SRAF element loss. The system can provide SRAF elements to the mask layout as a function of spacing of main pattern features and SRAF elements may be based on data from the SRAF table; or the system can applying model based OPC for exposure dose values based on data from the SRAF table.

The invention relates to a fault identification method for inter-turn short circuit of stator windings in doubly-fed motor at sea. The method comprises the following steps of: obtaining three-phase voltage and three-phase current of the stator of the doubly-fed motor whose fault has yet to be recognized; calculating the three-phase voltage and three-phase current of the stator through a modified Park's vector method to obtain the 2 times fundamental frequency component amplitude I2p caused by the inter-turn short circuit fault of the stator windings; and determining whether the 2 times fundamental frequency component amplitude I2p caused by the inter-turn short circuit fault of the stator windings reaches the fault pre-warning value or not. If so, the doubly-fed motor whose fault has yet to be recognized at sea is confirmed to have an inter-turn short circuit fault. Compared with the prior art, the identification method of the invention has robustness to the motor stator voltage imbalance and load variation, and the discrimination is both accurate and strong.

A circuit is disclosed for determining which of a multiplicity of LED strings in an illumination system has a fault. A group of circuits determines the maximum, minimum, midpoint between maximum and minimum, and average voltage of the group of LED string voltages in use, and examines the statistical properties of the LED string voltages. Comparators are used to find the strings which have the highest and lowest operating voltages, and to compare the midpoint and average voltages to determine whether the highest or lowest voltage string is responsible for causing a fault in the illumination system operation. Memory means are used to keep the said determined string turned off to prevent faulty operation.

An apparatus may be configured to provide electrical power while incorporated in an armored garment. The apparatus may include a plate having a footprint that corresponds to a plate of body armor, a plurality of energy storage cells carried by the power plate, and a port carried by the plate. The port may be configured to output power stored in the plurality of energy storage cells from the apparatus. The apparatus may also include one or more processors configured to enhance functionalities of the apparatus.

The invention relates to an offshore doubly fed motor stator winding turn-to-turn short circuit early fault identification method, and is used for judging the doubly fed motor stator winding turn-to-turn short circuit and determining the phase of the turn-to-turn short circuit. The method comprises the following steps that 1) the three-phase signals of an offshore doubly fed motor under fault identification are acquired, including the stator three-phase voltage, the rotor three-phase voltage, the stator three-phase current, the rotor three-phase current and the rotor rotating speed; 2) the three-phase signals are converted to a dq axis coordinate system, the motor parameters are acquired, then the three-phase signals are converted to an alphabeta axis coordinate system, the estimated stator current is acquired through an observer, and the estimated current difference is calculated and decomposed so that a fault severity factor xi is obtained; and 3) when the amplitude of the fault severity factor xi caused by the turn-to-turn short circuit fault reaches the fault early warning value, the stator winding turn-to-turn short circuit fault occurs on the offshore doubly fed motor under fault identification. Compared with the methods in the prior art, the offshore doubly fed motor stator winding turn-to-turn short circuit early fault identification method has the advantages that the fault phase can be reliably located and the robustness is high.

A pump system for movement of fluids having a reciprocating piston power pump having at least three reciprocating pistons operable to displace fluid from a housing having a pumping chamber, an integrally forged crankshaft operably connected to the pistons, at least one sensor operable to sense ambient conditions on the pump, and a computer control for processing data from the sensor to regulate the operation of the pump in response to the data. The system also utilizes protective infused treatments for lubricity and enhanced lubrication sprayers and a reset relief valve and pressure sensors operably connected to the computer system for control and monitoring of the pump.

A portable pneumatic compression riveter consists of a valve, air cylinder and rivet head assembly consisting of an alligator style set of jaws or a c-yoke style jaw set that is used to upset solid rivets used primarily, but not limited to, the aerospace industry. Disclosed is a series of improvements that make the tool lighter, more reliable and safer to operate.

A plastic container having a first portion, a second portion, and a waist between the first portion and the second portion. The waist includes a first angled portion coupled to the first portion, a second angled portion coupled to the second portion, and a curved portion connecting the first angled portion to the second angled portion for forming a deformable region for preventing a catastrophic failure of the waist when the plastic container is filled and capped and subjected to an external force.

The invention relates to an ocean platform multi-stage task system reliability estimation method based on data drive. The estimation method mainly includes the steps that a multi-stage task process model is established, and a probability density function of task time is estimated; a system degenerative process model is established, and the residual life is estimated; according to the reliability definition of the multi-stage task process model and the system degenerative model, system reliability parameter values are obtained through real-time calculation through the task time estimated value and the system service life estimated value. Through measured sensor data, the relation between historical data of an individual multi-stage task system and current real-time data information is established, reliability parameters of the multi-stage task system under the dynamic condition are accurately estimated in real time, and the problem that an existing method is only suitable for static hypothesis and a specific system is solved. The reliability parameters of the ocean platform multi-stage task system are accurately estimated in real time, the system is effectively maintained in real time, the maintenance cost of the system is reduced, and catastrophic faults are effectively avoided.

A safety cable system for a fitness device including a resistance load and a user interface device. A redundant cable apparatus connects the resistance load to the user interface device for lifting the resistance load by a force applied to the user interface device. The redundant cable apparatus comprises two cables extending in redundant cable paths between the resistance load and the user interface device. The two cables can share the resistance load or one of the cables can be dormant until failure of the other cable.

Disclosed is a method for monitoring the operation of a machine. The method comprises measuring a plurality of parameters of the machine to obtain a plurality of measured values and transforming the measured values to generate a plurality of normalised indicator values. The method further comprises using the normalised indicator values to indicate a condition of the machine. Also disclosed is a method of managing the operation of a machine. The method includes measuring a plurality of parameters of the machine, predicting, based on historical data, a time at which the measured values will reach a replacement criterion, identifying one or more components of the machine that require to be replaced in order to prevent the replacement criterion being met, and communicating, to a service provider, an indication of the one or more components that require replacement.

A multi-mode shutdown system in combination with a fuel metering unit of an engine to prevent normal fuel delivery during engine malfunction such as the engine overspeeding. The multi-mode shutdown system includes a shutdown solenoid capable of closing a pressurizing valve to prevent fuel flow to the engine for creating a shutdown mode of operation with no fuel flow to the engine. The multi-mode shutdown system also includes a minimum flow solenoid in fluid communication a source of fuel at a minimum flow rate for creating a minimum flow mode of operation with fuel provided to the engine at the minimal flow rate. In the minimum flow mode, the shutdown solenoid and minimum flow solenoid establish a flow path for the fuel to the engine manifold at the minimal flow rate. During normal operation, the fuel metering unit regulates the fuel flow to the engine.

A plug for a fluid system includes an externally-threaded body and an enlarged head at an end of the body. The body has an internal cavity with a) a first fluid passage into the cavity from another end of the body, and b) at least one radial or axial relief passage into the cavity fluidly separate from the first passage. A burst piston is retained within the cavity and normally blocks fluid flow from the first passage to the relief passage. The piston has a geometry such that a portion of the piston will rupture and separate from the remainder of the piston at a predetermined pressure differential across the first and relief passages, and allow fluid to flow from the first passage to the relief passage. The relief passage has a geometry to prevent the separated portion of the piston from passing through the relief passage.

The invention discloses an underwater towed vehicle automatic detaching apparatus comprising a towing hawser, a bearing joint, a joint pin, an universal connector, a protecting cable, a shackle pin, a shackle body, and a fracture pin. The towing hawser is connected to the underwater towed vehicle through the bearing joint. The bearing joint is connected to an ear plate I of the universal connector through the joint pin and a nut. One end of the protecting cable is connected to an ear plate II of the universal connector, and the other end of the protecting cable is arranged on the shackle body. The shackle pin sequentially penetrates through an aperture on the right side of the shackle body, a through hole used for protecting a cable pedestal, and a threaded hole on the left side of the shackle body. A top boss of the shackle pin is arranged in a shackle body recess. Bottom screw thread of the shackle pin is connected with the threaded hole of the shackle body. The fracture pin penetrates through a spherical hinge opening of the universal connector and a towing hole of a towing support of the underwater towed vehicle, and is fixed by using a fracture pin nut. The apparatus is arranged on a towed vehicle. When the load on the towing hawser exceeds a preset value, the automatic detaching apparatus can be reliably fractured, such that the underwater towed vehicle can be safely detached, and a disastrous failure can be prevented from occurring.

The invention relates to an internal pressure compensation device for an oil-impregnated paper insulating sleeve, which is particularly suitable for internal pressure compensation for oil-SF6 or oil-oil sleeve which is hardly observed by using an oil meter. The internal pressure compensation device comprises a substrate, a compensation device shell and an oil cavity formed in the compensation device shell, and is characterized in that: a freely telescopic corrugated expansion tube bank of which the tubes are arranged in parallel is arranged in the compensation device; and the oil cavity is positioned outside the corrugated expansion tube bank, and is communicated with insulating oil in the insulating sleeve through an oil-way connecting tube. The internal pressure compensation device has the advantages that: a pressure indicating gauge communicated with an alarm system is arranged, so when the oil level or oil pressure exceeds a set limit under the condition that the oil level of the sleeve cannot be observed, the device can indicate to alarm to prevent a phenomenon that the oil level in the insulting sleeve is too low and the pressure is abnormal to cause failure; and by arranging the freely telescopic expansion tube bank, the insulating oil in the insulating sleeve is subjected to volume compensation, the insulating oil is not contacted with the air, and the performance of the insulation oil is prevented from being reduced due to the air.

A portable pneumatic compression riveter consists of a valve, air cylinder and rivet head assembly consisting of an alligator style set of jaws or a c-yoke style jaw set that is used to upset solid rivets used primarily, but not limited to, the aerospace industry. Disclosed is a series of improvements that make the tool lighter, more reliable and safer to operate.

A safety cable system for a fitness device including a resistance load and a user interface device. A redundant cable apparatus connects the resistance load to the user interface device for lifting the resistance load by a force applied to the user interface device. The redundant cable apparatus comprises two cables extending in redundant cable paths between the resistance load and the user interface device. The two cables can share the resistance load or one of the cables can be dormant until failure of the other cable.