Steven Joseph Arnold

US Patent:

7416062, Aug 26, 2008

Filed:

Oct 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/693853

Inventors:

Steven M. Arnold - Bath OH, US
Nicholas Penney - Kent OH, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

F16F 9/53

US Classification:

1882672, 1882663, 188290

Abstract:

A magnetorheological device comprising a housing having a divider within the housing is disclosed and claimed. A rotary impeller having two paddles is rotatably mounted within the housing. The rotary impeller sealingly engages the divider and the paddles in combination with the divider forms a first chamber and a second chamber. Magnetorheological fluid resides in the chambers and a passageway interconnects the first and second chambers. A coil surrounds a portion of the passageway such that when energized the magnetorheological fluid solidifies plugging the passageway. As the impeller rotates, it pushes the incompressible fluid against the divider in the housing and the plug in the passageway and retards and/or stops the motion of the impeller.

US Patent:

7458221, Dec 2, 2008

Filed:

Oct 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/693850

Inventors:

Steven M. Arnold - Bath OH, US
Nicholas Penney - Kent OH, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

F02K 1/00

US Classification:

60771, 23926539, 181213

Abstract:

A variable area nozzle comprising a concentric support and a plurality of convexly contoured self sealing vanes is disclosed and claimed. The vanes are circumferentially and rotatably mounted to the concentric support forming a nozzle infinitely positionable between a first position corresponding to a minimum area nozzle and a second position corresponding to a maximum area nozzle. A closer, which is preferably a shape memory alloy (SMA), urges the nozzle toward the first position corresponding to a minimum area nozzle. Periodically spaced openers act between adjacent vanes to urge the nozzle to a second position corresponding to a maximum area nozzle.