Air-bearing-pad principle, combined with monitoring system of the air-bearing force, prevents damage between electrical and mechanical connectors joining a large engine system to the test stand during remote mating. Pad provides a cushion between engine and test stand

Hendrickson, R. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

March 1971	 Brief 71-10044 
, IC Y co%
AEC-NASA TECH BRIEF 
YES	 Space Nuclear S ystems Office	 W 
AEC-NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the research and development program of the U.S. 
AEC or from AEC-NASA interagency efforts. They are issued to encourage commercial application. Tech Briefs are 
available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests 
for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may be directed to the Technology Utilization 
Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Prevention of Damage to Delicate Connectors During Mounting 
of Heavy Engines for Testing 
Air Supply,_. 9iJIator 
90 psi 
--I 
I	 'r'	 I
I 
I
(I 
-F
5V dc Supply 
(6 Places 
Typical) 
Engine 
I
k	
/ 
I---	
_4 _ Surge I	 II I 
Tank
____ 
-
Engine Support L
"•' 
Pressure j4-'	 Structure  Air 
Transducer (6 Places l I Load (6 Places Typical) 
/Later'a\18,
Readout Typical) Azimuth (located in MCC  
Air Bearing" Carriage (6 Places CAB) 
Pad Typical) 
(6 Places Signal mpl. 
Typical)
±l5Vdc 
115V60H°fl Supply
Layout of the Mounting System; Schematic 
The problem: 
A means of controlling the forces to prevent damage 
between the electrical and mechanical connectors 
joining a large engine system (about 18,160 kg, or 
40,000 lb) to a test stand during remote mating. 
The solution: 
Use of an air-bearing-pad principle to provide a 
cushion between the engine and the test stand, and 
of a system for monitoring of the air-bearing force.
How it's done: 
The engine is floated on a "lateral and azimuth 
(LA) carriage," by use of six commercially available 
air-bearing pads (see fig.), at a fixed total pressure. 
The combination of LA carriage and floating engine 
is raised mechanically until the engine's connectors 
mate with those of the test stand. A pressure trans-
ducer is associated with each air pad; the transducers' 
outputs are connected in series to an operational 
amplifier that drives a load-readout meter.
(continued overleat) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic 
Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per-
son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any
liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this 
document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-
vately owned rights. 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710000044 2020-03-17T02:18:35+00:00Z
While the engine is floating on the carriage, but 
before their elevation, the meter shows a reading that 
is only proportional to the weight of the engine. When 
the entire assembly is raised, the reading increases as 
the forces of the connectors between engine and test 
stand are registered. By prior calibration (with 
weights) one can establish safe connector-force limits. 
Mechanical lowering of the assembly results in un-
coupling of the connectors that is indicated by a drop 
in readout, from the force of engine plus connectors, 
down to the force of engine suspension alone. If any 
air bearing ceases to function, limit switches mounted 
in the system sense a misalignment and stop the opera-
tion. The pressure range of each air-bearing trans-
ducer is from 0 to 446 kN/rn 2 (0 to 50 psig); each is 
accurate within 107 kN/m 2 (0.75 psig) full scale.
Note: 
No further documentation is available. Specific 
questions, however, may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
AEC-NASA Space Nuclear 
Systems Office 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Washington, D.C. 20545 
Reference: B71-10044 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by AEC or NASA. 
Source: R. J. Hendrickson of

Aerojet-General Corp.

under contract to

AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Systems Office 
(NUC-10322)
., 
Brief 71-10044	 Category 06


Prevention of damage to delicate connectors during mounting of heavy engines for testing

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