Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Gebben, V. D..
Digital graph element represents two-state devices. It can be used in modeling mechanical stops, backlash, and other discontinuities that occur whenever subsystems are connected or disconnected.
The inherent tolerance for nuclear radiation makes fluidic devices candidates for nuclear rocket control systems. Also, they are being considered for supersonic jet engine inlet control because of their high temperature and vibration tolerance. Three new control components being considered for these applications are described. A fluidic circuit to control a pneumatic stepping motor for nuclear rocket control drum actuation is discussed. An all-fluidic sensor being developed for determining the position of the normal shock in the inlet of a supersonic jet engine is outlined. A new vortex valve configuration is developed to prevent supersonic jet engine inlet unstarts by regulating bypass flow.
The factors leading to the design of a controlled driving system for either a heart assist pump or artificial heart are discussed. The system provides square pressure waveform to drive a pneumatic-type blood pump. For assist usage the system uses an R-wave detector circuit that can detect the R-wave of the electrocardiogram in the presence of electrical disturbances. This circuit provides a signal useful for synchronizing an assist pump with the natural heart. It synchronizes a square wave circuit, the output of which is converted into square waveforms of pneumatic pressure suitable for driving both assist device and artificial heart. The pressure levels of the driving waveforms are controlled by means of feedback channels to maintain physiological regulation of the artificial heart's output flow. A more compact system that could achieve similar regulatory characteristics is also discussed.
High speed horizontal axis wind turbine generators with blades on the downwind side of the support tower require special design considerations to handle disturbances introduced by the flow wake behind the tower. Experiments and analytical analyses were made to determine benefits that might be obtained by using the generator exciter to provide system damping for reducing power fluctuations.
An equation that relates the pressure flow characteristics of hydraulic spool valves was developed. The dependent variable is valve output pressure, and the independent variables are spool position and flow. This causal form of equation is preferred in applications that simulate the effects of hydraulic line dynamics. Results from this equation are compared with those from the conventional valve equation, whose dependent variable is flow. A computer program of the valve equations includes spool stops, leakage spool clearances, and dead-zone characteristics of overlap spools.
Circuitry is disclosed for processing an arterial pressure waveform to produce during any one cycle a pulse corresponding to the initial systole and a pulse corresponding to the dicrotic notch. In a first channel, an electrical analog of the arterial pressure waveform is filtered and then compared to the original waveform to produce an initial systole signal. In a second channel, the analog is differentiated, filtered, and fed through a gate controlled by pulses from the first channel to produce an electrical pulse corresponding to the dicrotic notch.
An electronic circuit that automatically changes its sensitivity was developed for detecting the bioelectric signal resulting from activation of the heart's ventricles. Regulation of sensitivity was accomplished with two feedback channels that maintain the sensitivity level between an upper and a lower limit. These limits are proportional to the R-wave amplitude. Tests on an experimental circuit demonstrated a capability to reject unwanted signal noise, illustrated difficulties encountered without sensitivity control, and presented closed loop transients which occurred for step changes in R-wave amplitude.
Electronic circuit processes arterial blood pressure waveform to produce discrete signals that coincide with beginning and end of left ventricular ejection. Output signals provide timing signals for computers that monitor cardiovascular systems. Circuit operates reliably for heart rates between 50 and 200 beats per minute.
The design of a specialized analog computer for on-line determination of cardiac stroke volume by means of a modified version of the pressure pulse contour method is presented. The design consists of an analog circuit for computation and a timing circuit for detecting necessary events on the pressure waveform. Readouts of arterial pressures, systolic duration, heart rate, percent change in stroke volume, and percent change in cardiac output are provided for monitoring cardiac patients. Laboratory results showed that computational accuracy was within 3 percent, while animal experiments verified the operational capability of the computer. Patient safety considerations are also discussed.
A special vortex valve was developed for increasing the stability margin of supersonic jet-engine inlets without the use of moving mechanical parts. A compact valve with high flow capacity and with high gain was obtained by using a unique outer wall in the vortex chamber instead of the usual cylindrical shape. The physical features of the valve are described, and the steady pressure-flow characteristics measured on scale models are given. Procedures are provided for adjusting the operating pressure, flow capacity, and gain through systematic changes in geometry.
An electronic circuit for processing arterial blood pressure waveform signals is described. The circuit detects blood pressure as the heart pumps blood through the aortic valve and the pressure distribution caused by aortic valve closure. From these measurements, timing signals for use in measuring the left ventricular ejection time is determined, and signals are provided for computer monitoring of the cardiovascular system. Illustrations are given of the circuit and pressure waveforms.
Inexpensive industrial pneumatic components are combined to produce control system to drive sac-type heart-assistance blood pump with controlled pulsatile pressure that makes pump rate of flow sensitive to venous /atrial/ pressure, while stroke is centered about set operating point and pump is synchronized with natural heart.
Generator can produce sinusoidal pressures at frequencies from 300 to 5000 Hz and peak-to-peak amplitudes up to 5.6 lbs/sq in. Amplitude and phase-angle measurements made at various frequencies are compared with measurements from a piezoelectric transducer mounted flush with the resonant tube wall.
Design and performance of a heart assist or artificial heart control system using pneumatic pump systems
Proportional fluid jet amplifier with flat saturation and its application to gain blocks
Pneumatic driving system for heart assist or total replacement pumps, discussing design features and performance characteristics
Cardiac R wave detector obtains the systolic contraction signal of the human heart and uses it as a reference signal for the heart-assist pump cycle. It processes the electrocardiac signal /QRS wave complex/ of the natural heart in a sequence of operations which essentially elimates all components from the input signal except the R wave.
Electronic circuit for detection of R-wave of electrocardiac signal for control of time cycle of heart-assist pumps