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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1972

Electroslag and electrogas welding

These two new joining methods perform welding in the vertical position, and therein lies the secret of their impressive advantages in material handling, in weld preparation, in welding speed, in freedom from distortion, and in weld soundness. Once the work has been set in the proper vertical position for welding, no further plate handling is required. The molten filler metal is held in place by copper shoes or dams, and the weld is completed in one pass.

Campbell, H. C.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Automated Space Processing Payloads Study. Volume 1: Executive Summary

An investigation is described which examined the extent to which the experiment hardware and operational requirements can be met by automatic control and material handling devices; payload and system concepts are defined which make extensive use of automation technology. Topics covered include experiment requirements and hardware data, capabilities and characteristics of industrial automation equipment and controls, payload grouping, automated payload conceptual design, space processing payload preliminary design, automated space processing payloads for early shuttle missions, and cost and scheduling.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1975

Automated space processing payloads study. Volume 2, book 1: Technical report

The extent was investigated to which experiment hardware and operational requirements can be met by automatic control and material handling devices; payload and system concepts that make extensive use of automation technology are defined. Hardware requirements for each experiment were established and tabulated, and investigations of applicable existing hardware were documented. The capabilities and characteristics of industrial automation equipment, controls, and techniques are presented in the form of a summary of applicable equipment characteristics in three basic mutually-supporting formats. Facilities for performing groups of experiments are defined along with four levitation groups and three furnace groups; major hardware elements required to implement them were identified. A conceptual design definition of ten different automated processing facilities is presented along with the specific equipment to implement each facility and the design layouts of the different units. Constraints and packaging, weight, and power requirements for six payloads postulated for shuttle missions in the 1979 to 1982 time period were examined.

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NASA NTRS1975

The Dynairship

A feasibility analysis for the construction and use of a combination airplane-airship named 'Dynairship' is undertaken. Payload capacities, fuel consumption, and the structural design of the craft are discussed and compared to a conventional commercial aircraft (a Boeing 747). Cost estimates of construction and operation of the craft are also discussed. The various uses of the craft are examined (i.e, in police work, materials handling, and ocean surveillance), and aerodynamic configurations and photographs are shown.

Miller, W. M., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Some developments in the feeding of coal to fluidized bed combustors

Research is being done in the development of fluid bed combustors for high sulphur coal, using limestone or dolomite in the bed for removal of the sulphur. Operating units to date have proven the inadequacies of available material handling techniques for introduction and control of the coal and adsorbent to the beds. Larger units now being contemplated will pose formidable problems in this area. Some of the techniques which were developed for the existing pilot units and novel ideas under consideration for future, large production units are illustrated and described.

Caldwell, L. G.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Some opportunities in teleoperated mining

Processes involved in remote control mining (fragmentation, material handling, ground and environmental control) are discussed with reference to longwall shear mining, the method which affords the greatest potential for the use of teleoperated systems. The breakup and haulage procedures are outlined, with attention to environmental control subsystems, i.e., noise and dust abatement. A description of a four-legged chock, attached to a section of a face conveyor and operated remotely, is presented.

Palowitch, E. R.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The role of chemical engineering in space manufacturing

A survey of factors involved in space manufacturing is presented. It is shown that it will be more economical to obtain the necessary raw materials from the moon than from earth due to earth's greater gravity and atmosphere. Discussion covers what resources can be mined and recovered from the moon and what ranges of industrial feedstock can be provided from lunar materials, noting that metallurgy will be different in space due to the lack of key elements such as H, C, Na, Cl, etc. Also covered are chemical plant design, space environmental factors such as vacuum and zero gravity, recycling requirments, reagent and equipment mass, and unit operations such as materials handling and phase separation. It is concluded that a pilot plant in space could be an economic boon to mankind.

Waldron, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Self-adjusting mechanical snubbing link

All-mechanical shock-absorber concept has several advantages over hydraulic devices. Snubbing link automatically adjusts length under light loads, locks at any position when onslaught exceeds design limits for which it is set, and will not leak oil or require periodic servicing. Concept can be incorporated as safety device on material handling systems or as energy absorption device or governor for machines or equipment.

Holman, E. V.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Four-Degree-of-Freedom Platform

Hydraulic actuators make a new motion control system more compact and more efficient than previous designs that use gimbals. System moves a platform in four degrees of freedom--simultaneous pitch, roll, yaw, and displacement. Developed for flight simulators, kinematic concept may also be useful in stabilizing platforms for shipboard equipment, material-handling machinery, and construction equipment.

Chou, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The growth of metastable peritectic compounds

The influence of gravitationally driven thermosolutal convection on the directional solidification of peritectic alloys is considered as well as the relationships between the solidification processing conditions, and the microstructure, chemistry, and magnetic properties of such alloys. Analysis of directionally solidified Pb-Bi peritectic samples indicates that appreciable macrosegregation occurs due to thermosolutal convection and/or Soret diffusion. A peritectic solidification model which accounts for partial mixing in the liquid ahead of the planar solidification interface and describes macrosegregation has been developed. Two-phase dendritic and banded microstructures were grown in the Pb-Bi peritectic system, refined two-phase microstructures have were observed, and candidate formation mechanisms proposed. Material handling, containment, casting, microstructural and magnetic characterization techniques were developed for the Sm-Co system. Alloys produced with these procedures are homogeneous.

Larson, D. J., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The Factory of the Future

A brief history of aircraft production techniques is given. A flexible machining cell is then described. It is a computer controlled system capable of performing 4-axis machining part cleaning, dimensional inspection and materials handling functions in an unmanned environment. The cell was designed to: allow processing of similar and dissimilar parts in random order without disrupting production; allow serial (one-shipset-at-a-time) manufacturing; reduce work-in-process inventory; maximize machine utilization through remote set-up; maximize throughput and minimize labor.

Byman, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Telerobotic assembly of space station truss structure

Discussed are methods of assembling the space station's structure utilizing only telerobotic devices, i.e.: (1) an approximately anthropomorphic telerobot with two dextrous arms; (2) the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRNS); (3) various material handling machines. Timelines and task recommendations for autonomous operations are also included. Also described are some experimental results comparing two manipulator control devices.

Fischer, Grahme↗

NASA NTRS1986

Life Science Research Facility materials management requirements and concepts

The Advanced Programs Office at NASA Ames Research Center has defined hypothetical experiments for a 90-day mission on Space Station to allow analysis of the materials necessary to conduct the experiments and to assess the impact on waste processing of recyclable materials and storage requirements of samples to be returned to earth for analysis as well as of nonrecyclable materials. The materials include the specimens themselves, the food, water, and gases necessary to maintain them, the expendables necessary to conduct the experiments, and the metabolic products of the specimens. This study defines the volumes, flow rates, and states of these materials. Process concepts for materials handling will include a cage cleaner, trash compactor, biological stabilizer, and various recycling devices.

Johnson, Catherine C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Vacuum pumps and systems: A review of current practice

A review of the fundamental characteristics of the many types of vacuum pumps and vacuum pumping systems is given. The optimum pumping range, relative cost, performance limitations, maintenance problems, system operating costs and similar subjects are discussed. Experiences from the thin film deposition, chemical processing, material handling, food processing and other industries, as well as space simulation are used to support conclusions and recommendations.

Giles, Stuart↗

NASA NTRS1987

Software for integrated manufacturing systems, part 2

Part 1 presented an overview of the unified approach to manufacturing software. The specific characteristics of the approach that allow it to realize the goals of reduced cost, increased reliability and increased flexibility are considered. Why the blending of a components view, distributed languages, generics and formal models is important, why each individual part of this approach is essential, and why each component will typically have each of these parts are examined. An example of a specification for a real material handling system is presented using the approach and compared with the standard interface specification given by the manufacturer. Use of the component in a distributed manufacturing system is then compared with use of the traditional specification with a more traditional approach to designing the system. An overview is also provided of the underlying mechanisms used for implementing distributed manufacturing systems using the unified software/hardware component approach.

Volz, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

A robotic system for automation of logistics functions on the Space Station

Spacecraft inventory management is currently performed by the crew and as systems become more complex, increased crew time will be required to perform routine logistics activities. If future spacecraft are to function effectively as research labs and production facilities, the efficient use of crew time as a limited resource for performing mission functions must be employed. The use of automation and robotics technology, such as automated warehouse and materials handling functions, can free the crew from many logistics tasks and provide more efficient use of crew time. Design criteria for a Space Station Automated Logistics Inventory Management System is focused on through the design and demonstration of a mobile two armed terrestrial robot. The system functionally represents a 0 gravity automated inventory management system and the problems associated with operating in such an environment. Features of the system include automated storage and retrieval, item recognition, two armed robotic manipulation, and software control of all inventory item transitions and queries.

Martin, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Experimental verification of a large flexible manipulator

A large experimental lightweight manipulator would be useful for material handling, for welding, or for ultrasonic inspection of a large structure, such as an airframe. The flexible parallel link mechanism is designed for high rigidity without increasing weight. This constrained system is analyzed by singular value decomposition of the constraint Jacobian matrix. A verification of the modeling using the assumed mode method is presented. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the linearized model are compared to the measured system natural frequencies and their associated mode shapes. The modeling results for large motions are compared to the time response data from the experiments. The hydraulic actuator is verified.

Lee, Jac Won↗

NASA NTRS1987

On Motion Planning and Control of Multi-Link Lightweight Robotic Manipulators

A general gross and fine motion planning and control strategy is needed for lightweight robotic manipulator applications such as painting, welding, material handling, surface finishing, and spacecraft servicing. The control problem of lightweight manipulators is to perform fast, accurate, and robust motions despite the payload variations, structural flexibility, and other environmental disturbances. Performance of the rigid manipulator model based computed torque and decoupled joint control methods are determined and simulated for the counterpart flexible manipulators. A counterpart flexible manipulator is defined as a manipulator which has structural flexibility, in addition to having the same inertial, geometric, and actuation properties of a given rigid manipulator. An adaptive model following control (AMFC) algorithm is developed to improve the performance in speed, accuracy, and robustness. It is found that the AMFC improves the speed performance by a factor of two over the conventional non-adaptive control methods for given accuracy requirements while proving to be more robust with respect to payload variations. Yet there are clear limitations on the performance of AMFC alone as well, which are imposed by the arm flexibility. In the search to further improve speed performance while providing a desired accuracy and robustness, a combined control strategy is developed. Furthermore, the problem of switching from one control structure to another during the motion and implementation aspects of combined control are discussed.

Cetinkunt, Sabri↗