Engineering topics

Burley, Richard K.

Publications and source records attributed to Burley, Richard K..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1995

Easing The Calculation Of Bolt-Circle Coordinates

Bolt Circle Calculation (BOLT-CALC) computer program used to reduce significant time consumed in manually computing trigonometry of rectangular Cartesian coordinates of holes in bolt circle as shown on blueprint or drawing. Eliminates risk of computational errors, particularly in cases involving many holes or in cases in which coordinates expressed to many significant digits. Program assists in many practical situations arising in machine shops. Written in BASIC. Also successfully compiled and implemented by use of Microsoft's QuickBasic v4.0.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Monitor For Electrical-Discharge Machining

Circuit monitors electrical-discharge-machining (EDM) process to detect and prevent abnormal arcing, which can produce unacceptable "burn" marks on workpiece. When voltage between EDM electrode and workpiece behaves in manner indicative of abnormal arcing, relay made to switch off EDM power, which remains off until operator attends to EDM setup and resets monitor.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Valve malfunction detection apparatus

A detection system is provided for sensing a malfunction of a valve having an outlet connected to an end of a first pipe through which pressurized fluid may be flowed in a downstream direction away from the valve. The system includes a bypass pipe connected at its opposite ends to the first pipe and operative to bypass a portion of the fluid flow therethrough around a predetermined section thereof. A housing is interiorly divided by a flexible diaphragm into first and second opposite chambers which are respectively communicated with the first pipe section and the bypass pipe, the diaphragm being spring-biased toward the second chamber. The diaphragm housing cooperates with check valves and orifices connected in the two pipes to create and maintain a negative pressure in the first pipe section in response to closure of the valve during pressurized flow through the first pipe. A pressure switch senses the negative pressure and transmits a signal indicative thereof to a computer. Upon cessation of the signal while the valve is still closed, the computer responsively generates a signal indicating that the valve, or another portion of the detection system, is leaking.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Electronic Edge Finder

Simple device reduces inaccuracy caused by deflection. Electronic edge finder helps in measuring dimensions of machined parts to within 0.0001 in. Tubular probe used to measure accuracy of placement of holes in bolthole circle. Control box contains circuitry activating buzzer to indicate electrical contact between probe and workpiece. Helpful when machinist cannot directly observe probe, such as in blind holes.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Long-Wearing Wire Guide For Welding Torch

Insert for wire-guide tube on tungsten/inert-gas welding apparatus extends life of guide tube and increases accuracy of weld. Hardened insert resists wear by sliding tungsten wire. Chamfer guides wire into insert.

Gutow, David A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Noncontaminating Borescope Viewing Fixture

All-stainless-steel viewing fixture for borescope used without fear of breakage or contaminating internal cavities of equipment. Fixture fits over conventional viewing head on borescope. Used for internal inspections by visible illumination or visible fluorescence from ultraviolet illumination.

Molina, Orlando G.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Steel Collet For Welding Electrodes

Improved steel collet holds electrode for tungsten inert-gas welding but allows quick and easy replacement. Also ensures reliable arc starting. Slip-on compression ring compresses tapered section of body of collet around inner end of welding electrode. Collet mounted in receptacle below stack of lenses and filters in coaxial-vision welding torch. Blind hole in collet protects outermost lens from damage by electrode.

Gilbert, Jeffrey L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Lock For Valve Stem

Simple, cheap device locks valve stem so its setting cannot be changed by unauthorized people. Device covers valve stem; cover locked in place with standard padlock. Valve lock made of PVC pipe and packing band. Shears, drill or punch, and forming rod only tools needed.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Washing Off Polyurethane Foam Insulation

Jet of hot water removes material quickly and safely. Simple, environmentally sound technique found to remove polyurethane foam insulation from metal parts. Developed for (but not limited to) use during rebuilding of fuel system of Space Shuttle main engine, during which insulation must be removed for penetrant inspection of metal parts.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Simple, Internally Adjustable Valve

Valve containing simple in-line, adjustable, flow-control orifice made from ordinary plumbing fitting and two allen setscrews. Construction of valve requires only simple drilling, tapping, and grinding. Orifice installed in existing fitting, avoiding changes in rest of plumbing.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Spot-Welding Gun With Adjustable Pneumatic Spring

Proposed spot-welding gun equipped with pneumatic spring, which could be bellows or piston and cylinder, exerts force independent of position along stroke. Applies accurate controlled force to joint welded, without precise positioning at critical position within stroke.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Second Vapor-Level Sensor For Vapor Degreaser

Second vapor-level sensor installed at lower level in vapor degreaser makes possible to maintain top of vapor at that lower level. Evaporation reduced during idle periods. Provides substantial benefit, without major capital cost of building new vapor degreaser with greater freeboard height.

Painter, Nance M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Automatic Tension Adjuster For Flexible-Shaft Grinder

Flexible shaft of grinding tool automatically maintained in tension by air pressure. Probelike tool bent to reach hard-to-reach areas for grinding and polishing. Unless shaft held in tension, however, it rubs against its sheath, overheating and wearing out quickly. By taking up slack in flexible cable, tension adjuster reduces friction and enables tool to operate more efficiently, in addition to lengthening operating life.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Ground-Sensing Circuit For Arc Welders

Ground-sensing circuit for arc-welding power supply prevents arc burns at loose ground connections on workpiece. Used with ac supply or dc supply of either polarity. Includes oscillator/detector pairs normally shorted out by ground connections to workpiece. When one or more of these four connections broken, one or more oscillator signals applied across power diodes and detected. Detected oscillator signal trips shutoff relay.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Making Internal Molds Of Long, Curved Tubes

Mold material carried to internal weld joint and removed after impression taken. Remotely operated device makes impression mold of interior surface of tube at weld joint. Mold provides indication of extent of mismatch between members at joint. Maneuvered to weld inspected through curved tube 3 in. in diameter by 50 in. long. Readily adapted to making molds to measure depth of corrosion in boiler tubes or other pipes.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Grinding Parts For Automatic Welding

Rollers guide grinding tool along prospective welding path. Skatelike fixture holds rotary grinder or file for machining large-diameter rings or ring segments in preparation for welding. Operator grasps handles to push rolling fixture along part. Rollers maintain precise dimensional relationship so grinding wheel cuts precise depth. Fixture-mounted grinder machines surface to quality sufficient for automatic welding; manual welding with attendant variations and distortion not necessary. Developed to enable automatic welding of parts, manual welding of which resulted in weld bead permeated with microscopic fissures.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Programmable Grit-Blasting System

In programmable grit-blasting system undergoing design, controller moves blasting head to precise positions to shape or remove welding defects from parts. Controller holds head in position for preset dwell time and moves head to new position along predetermined path. Position of articulated head established by pair of servomotors according to programmed signals from controller. Head similar to video borescope. Used to remove welding defects in blind holes. Suited for repetitive production operations in grit-blast box.

Burley, Richard K.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Redundant Grounding Circuit For Arc Welding

Arc burns at loose ground connections prevented. Protective grounding scheme for arc-welding power supply includes four ground leads to workpiece and circuit that automatically turns off welding current if one or two ground leads becomes disconnected. Prevents burns and inadvertent welding occuring where full welding current passes through single loose ground contact.

Burley, Richard K.↗