Abstract:
A dressing for wounds (10) contains a useful material (40), such as dye or biocide, trapped within or behind a gelatin barrier (36). On application to a wound, metalloproteinases naturally present in the wound diffuse into the dressing and degrade the gelatin, releasing the trapped material. The released material serves various useful purposes, such as indicating the status of the wound or improving wound healing.
Abstract:
A method for imaging an array of microspheres. The method employs a wavelength tunable light source and camera for detecting and quantifying the presence of biological probes that indicate the presence of specific chemical moieties within a biological system.
Abstract:
A specular light source and camera for detecting and quantifying the presence of biological probes, which contain a colorant with spectral properties that depend upon the angle of illumination and angle of imaging, that indicate the presence of specific chemical moieties within a biological system.
Abstract:
A torque transfer assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a ring gear subassembly and a differential subassembly rotatably supported in said ring gear subassembly, a friction clutch pack for coupling the ring gear subassembly to the differential subassembly, and a hydraulic clutch actuator for selectively frictionally loading the clutch pack. The hydraulic clutch actuator includes a variable pressure relief valve assembly to selectively control the friction clutch pack. The variable pressure relief valve assembly includes a valve closure member, a valve seat complementary to the valve closure member, and a electro-magnetic actuator for engaging the valve closure member and urging thereof against the valve seat with an axial force determined by a magnitude of an electric current supplied to the electro-magnetic actuator so as to selectively vary a release pressure of the pressure relief valve assembly based on the magnitude of the electric current.
Abstract:
A method for operating a switched reluctance electrical generator in a manner that is highly efficient involves initially performing a mapping technique to obtain data relating to all of the possible operating conditions of the generator system that generate the desired output power. This mapping technique can be performed empirically or by computer simulation. Then, the effective phase currents supplied to the windings on the stator are measured or calculated. Next, the optimum conduction angles can be selected as those turn-on angles and turn-off angles that occur using the smallest effective phase currents supplied to the windings on the stator. Lastly, the generator system is operated using the selected optimum turn-on and turn-off angles. If desired, a feedback loop can be provided for comparing the actual output power that is generated by the generator system with a desired reference output power level to insure that such actual output power is maintained at or near the desired output power. To accomplish this, the conduction angles can be adjusted in response to such comparison to increase or decrease the actual output power as necessary.
Abstract:
A hydraulic coupling assembly is provided for an auxiliary drive axle of an all wheel drive motor vehicle. The hydraulic coupling assembly comprises a rotatable casing, first and second output shafts axially outwardly extending from said casing, at least one hydraulically operated, selectively engageable friction clutch assembly for operatively coupling the casing to at least one of the output shafts, and at least one hydraulic clutch actuator. The hydraulic actuator includes a hydraulic pump located within the casing and adapted to generate a hydraulic pressure to frictionally load the friction clutch assembly, and a variable pressure relief valve assembly fluidly communicating with the hydraulic pump to selectively control the hydraulic pressure generated by the pump. The variable pressure relief valve assembly includes an electro-magnetic actuator selectively for varying a release pressure of the pressure relief valve assembly based on a magnitude of an electric current applied thereto.
Abstract:
A torque transfer assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a ring gear subassembly and a differential subassembly rotatably supported in said ring gear subassembly, a friction clutch pack for coupling the ring gear subassembly to the differential subassembly, and a hydraulic clutch actuator for selectively frictionally loading the clutch pack. The hydraulic clutch actuator includes a variable pressure relief valve assembly to selectively control the friction clutch pack. The variable pressure relief valve assembly includes a valve closure member, a valve seat complementary to the valve closure member, and a electromagnetic actuator for engaging the valve closure member and urging thereof against the valve seat with an axial force determined by a magnitude of an electric current supplied to the electromagnetic actuator so as to selectively vary a release pressure of the pressure relief valve assembly based on the magnitude of the electric current.
Abstract:
An ordinance platform with a variable reluctance electric motor is provided. The motor has a stator integrated with a bearing race which is fixably connected with the tank body. The bearing race provides the function of a rotor and is fixably or integrally connected with the tank turret. The rotor is vertically supported by the stator for rotational movement by a plurality of ball bearings. The stator is formed having a plurality of individual phase segments which are arranged in an annular array. Each of the stator phase segments is provided with a phase winding and a plurality of stator pole teeth. The stator phase windings are connected individually to respective driver circuits so as to essentially create a plurality of individual stators about the rotor. The rotor race is formed and is provided with a plurality of rotor pole teeth which are disposed adjacent the stator pole teeth. Thus, when the phase windings of the individual stator phase segments are energized, the moveable race (integrated with the rotor and connected with the gun turret) is rotated relative to the stationary race (integrated with a stator and connected with the tank body), without any intermediate coupling device such as gears, belts and the like.
Abstract:
A variable reluctance electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of axially extending inner teeth and a rotor assembly rotatably supported therein. The rotor assembly includes a shaft having a plurality of rotor pole sub-assemblies provided thereon. Each of the rotor pole sub-assemblies includes a hub secured to the shaft, a pair of annular rotor packs secured to the ends of the hub, and an electromagnetic coil disposed loosely about the hub between the two rotor packs. Each of the rotor packs has a plurality of axially extending outer teeth formed thereabout which are disposed adjacent to the inner stator teeth. The rotor pack teeth of each of the rotor pole sub-assemblies are angularly offset from one another, preferably by equal amounts. The electromagnetic coils are engaged by the stator such that the rotor assembly is free to rotate relative thereto. The electromagnetic coils are sequentially energized and de-energized so as to create sequential magnetic circuits between each of the rotor pole sub-assemblies and the stator. These magnetic circuits sequentially cause the angularly offset teeth of the rotor packs to be attracted to the teeth of the stator, resulting in rotation of the rotor assembly relative to the stator.
Abstract:
A synchronous inductor electric motor includes a hollow stator having a plurality of permanent magnets secured to the inner surface thereof. The magnets are radially polarized in alternating fashion about the inner circumference of the stator. A plurality of radially inwardly extending stator teeth are provided on each of the magnets so as to exhibit a polar magnetization which is the same as the adjacent magnets. A rotor assembly supported concentrically within the stator includes a shaft having a plurality of rotor pole sub-assemblies provided thereon. Each of the rotor pole sub-assemblies includes a hub secured to the shaft, a pair of annular rotor packs secured to the ends of the hub, and an electromagnetic coil disposed loosely about the hub between the two rotor packs. Each of the rotor packs has a plurality of axially extending outer teeth formed thereabout which are disposed adjacent to the inner stator teeth. The rotor pack teeth of each of the rotor pole sub-assemblies are angularly offset from one another. The coils are engaged by the stator such that the rotor assembly is free to rotate relative thereto. The coils are sequentially energized and de-energized so as to selectively polarize the associated rotor packs. As they are magnetized, the angularly offset teeth of the rotor packs are attracted toward and repelled from the adjacent teeth of the stator, resulting in rotation of the rotor assembly relative to the stator.