Recent Industry Research Projects

Ensign-Bickford Co.

Design of a Chamber for Disposal of PETN Explosive Caps
Light diffusion measurement for system inprovement
Ultimate Ergonomics Work Station
Design of Experiments connected with Shell bulging and elephant fooling phenomenon
Robust Design Experiments for linear explosive devices
Blast simulation studies
Measurement of light diffusion patterns of a lighting system

To view the projects undertaden with each partner, CLICK on partner's name.

Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection And Insurance Co.

Impact Vibration Testing of Un-damped and Damped Pipe Walls

A novel approach to determining stress levels within buried gas pipelines was evaluated using a prototype system with a 3" diameter pipe. Vibration measurements of and un-damped and damped pipe in a box filled with sand (to simulate underground conditions) were conducted using a Testing machine. The natural frequencies of a cylindrical structure rises as stress levels increase.

University of Rhode Island

The Creation of a Spreadsheet Dosimeter for Underwater Acoustics

A spreadsheet algorithm was developed to produce a virtual dosimeter for use in evaluating the underwater noise exposure of marine mammals such as seals, dolphins and whales. The program interfaces with software based spectral analysis program and automatically updates dosage results from a live or taped source.

University of the West Indies – Trinidad

Evaluating the Effect of Alternative Manufacturing Techniques on the Timbral Characteristics of Caribbean Midi Steel Pans: A Preliminary Study

This project involves the evaluation of the effect of alternative manufacturing techniques on the timbral characteristics of Caribbean midi steel pans. The work included modal analysis and acoustic measurements of prototype pans as well as traditional handmade pans.

Gerber Scientific, Inc. - Cam Division

Re–Design of a Vacuum System for Garment Cutting

This project involves the implementation of new vacuum delivery systems and their associated noise radiation levels. The goal is to evaluate candidate vacuum systems and to integrate their placement into the design of a garment-cutting table within noise goals.

Pratt & Whitney Aircraft

Analysis of Protocol for In-flight Thrust Determination of Advanced Ducted Propulsor
Disk Metering Plug Redesign Analysis for PW Engines

Corrosion Effects on High Pressure Turbine Components

The purpose of the present studies was to examine the mechanism by which accelerated attack takes place in alloys. It was hoped that the corrosion mechanism could be determined, but these studies were primarily performed to explore the corrosion problem and to obtain data upon which a more detailed program could be developed, if so required.

PW4000-94" Surge Fleet Management Plan

Launched in 1982 and first receiving its FAA Part 33 certification in 1986 the 94" fan diameter version of the PW4000(the PW4152) was first installed on an Airbus A310 delivered to Pan American World Airways in 1987. Subsequently, the 94" version of the PW4000 was certified on the A300-600(the PW4158), the B767-200/-300(the PW4052, 4056, 4060 and 4062), the B747-400(the PW4056) and the MD-11(the PW4460).

University of Hartford

New Roughness Inspection Probe Mounted on Industrial Robot for Automated Machining

Engineering Applications Center worked with Pratt and Whitney to develop a new miniaturized inspection device. This instrument can be used for monitoring the surface quality of titanium blades. It is a non-contact instrument with a probe type construction that can be inserted into difficult-to-access areas in a manufacturing cell. It is also designed be mounted on the end effector of an Industrial Robot and will be used in real time. The University of Hartford has a well-established research program on the design and development of surface inspection instrumentation including a patent on Laser Inspection System.

Embedded Instrumentation

The current work in the area of intelligent manufacturing has focussed on designing and constructing an on-line geometry and surface inspection system, that forms a portion of a larger supervisory control system. The technique integrates a non-contact optical analyzer and non-contact digitizer with a Computer-Numerically-Controlled (CNC) Machining Center. The general procedure of supervisory control has been developed in an environment of adaptive evaluation of quality and geometry.

Geometric Contour Inspection for Pratt & Whitney Co.

The contour shape of the blade attachment area of the engine is measured by a new laser-scan device, which has been developed at the University of Hartford. A laser-scan device consists of a laser, position-sensitive-detector and motorized translation stage, which is controlled by a computer. The contour shape is measured at four different levels, and each contour line is plotted in different colors in order to detect contour distortion of the attachment surface.

Hamilton Sundstrand

Dynamic Vibration Properties of Fluid Filled Cylindrical Pressure Vessel
Management of Fluids in a Zero Gravity Environment
Analysis of Elliptical Ducting for Boeing 767
Investigation/Analysis of Lap-leakage in the Design/Testing of Spool Valves
Prediction of Spring Lateral Deflection
A new configuration of Aircraft - Engine Starter

In this project the objective is to compare mechanical properties of cast aluminum and cast magnesium jet-engine starter cage.

Fuel Metering Valve C_d Determination for Orifice - “Window” sizing

The purpose of this research was to conduct a study of the design, manufacturing techniques and measurement of test data of current fuel metering valves. Based on this research, the University of Hartford team provided a new metering valve design that will have finer control flow performance characteristic over larger region of operation.

Interfacing TMS320C31 DSP with LVDTs.

Bolt flange studies in fuel injection systems for aerospace industry

Research of the most recent literature was done to develop a design approach for bolt flange design in fuel injection systems. Finite element software was used to arrive at a technique to model the pre load in a bolted connection.

Integrated Product and Process Design with an example of Heat Exchanger Snap-on Headers

An integrated product and process design methodology was established for the fabrication of Heat Exchangers for aerospace applications. The existing designs consist of joints made by brazing and welding. Several designs of new configuration of Heat exchanger snap-on headers were investigated. The project has resulted in a graduate thesis.

Recommendation of a mechatronic technique for direct flow measurement

The objective of this study was to investigate a means of direct measurement of fuel flow for jet engine applications rather than using valve-positioning sensors. The research has resulted in an alternative flow metering and control system. This work has also resulted in a graduate thesis.

Analysis and Redesign of Boeing 737 Safety Valve Cover

A design study was performed with the goal of achieving a reduction in the number of parts, cost and weight for the redesigned part. This resulted in implementing the combination of the filter and valve cover by injection molding.

Thermal and Stress Analysis of Heat Exchanger used on Large Commercial Aircraft

An investigation was performed to study the feasibility of reducing thermal fatigue in high temperature aluminum dual heat exchangers.

Flow Venturi redesign for manufacturability

This project was being conducted in conjunction with Hamilton Sundstrand Engineering and United Tool and Die as part of an integrated product development (IPD) team. The purpose is to redesign the venturi used on Boeing 747-400 Environmental Control System (ECS) to reduce cost and enhance its manufacturability. CAD system such as ProEngineer / Mechanica was used in performance evaluation.

Window sizing analysis for Engine Fuel control valves

The geometric shape of spool valves contributes in a major to the performance of Fuel Control valves. This study involved the design of six different orifice configurations. Currently the orifices and the necessary fixtures are being fabricated before actual testing at the Hamilton Sundstrand facilities.

Kaman Aerospace Corporation

SH-2G External store jettison wind tunnel testing

Aerodynamic Performance Improvement through Wind Tunnel Testing

Wind Tunnel Studies have been conducted to aid in the continuous performance enhancements of the SH-2G and K-MAX helicopters. This work included aerodynamic streamlining such as drag reduction and vortex shedding reduction. Current activities include studying the response of stores that have been jettisoned from the Kaman SH-2G helicopter. Our full–service scale model testing facility has conducted remote operated scale model tests of these dynamic systems in the wind tunnel.

LEGO Systems

Vibration Analysis of Counting Line Weighing Wheel

Mechanical Analysis of Vibrating Bowl Feeders

The focus of this project was to provide a theoretical analysis of the design aspects of vibratory bowl feeder. Relationships between various parameters such as frequency, vibration, angle, coefficient of friction and feed rate were established as a reference for LEGO technicians. The emphasis was to increase the efficiency and reduce maintenance and down times for LEGO’s vibrating bowl feeders.

Mechanical Analysis Studies

Using a simulation technique involving Working Model, mechanical design analysis and simulation studies were conducted for LEGO Systems parts handling equipment and toy products. This study helped to assess product ergonomics and safety.

Carrier Corporation

Mechatronic Technology Demonstrator
Creating custom graphics and user interface

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Design & Construction of Rehabilitation Walker (Funds from Kleberg Foundation to Montefiore Medical Center)

A Telemetry System for In-vivo Temperature Measurement in Orthopedic Implants.

This project highlighted a methodology of monitoring the temperature variations over a period of time in large animals. The research focused on the design and the development of a miniaturized sensing and transmission mechanism to acquire the temperature data. The system uses a visual simulation based data acquisition system that has advantages while monitoring the healing parameters in animals. Simulated in vitro studies in the laboratory were conducted.

Rehab Walker

A dynamic fall prevention system that can safely support a patient during exercise is currently under development. The system, for use in a rehabilitative setting, will allow safe ambulation, prevent falls and enable physiatrists and therapists to control the act of falling during therapy sessions in the hospital.

Wiremold Company

Analysis of Sound Levels at a Wiremold Plastics Factory Division

An analysis of a Wiremold production facility was conducted, and several key noise producing elements of the manufacturing process were identified and redesigned parts were implemented and/or suggested, including quieter air drying equipment and cutting blades. In the case of the air drying equipment, the solution not only reduced noise levels significantly, but also lowered operating costs by using less compressed air.

Product redesign of a Raceway using DFM techniques

In this study a comparative analysis between the existent Single Cover Raceway and the proposed Twin Cover Raceway, was performed to establish the competitive assessment of the redesigned product. A design for assembly analysis was performed to justify the design changes in order to achieve segregation of access while at the same time meeting the cost and assembly needs of the customer.

Product redesign of a Wall Mounted Embedded Box Outlet using DFM techniques

As part of establishing competitive assessment for the new Embedded Box outlet, a comparative design for assembly analysis was conducted versus equivalent products on the market. Baseline labors and cost for a typical installation of this device was determined.

An investigative project on Software evaluation of electromagnetic interference

This project deals with extensive simulations to generate a database characterizing the common mode and differential electromagnetic disturbances. The impact of these disturbances on high-speed data lines for Wiremold in terms of cable length, raceway material and other variables are studied.

OTIS Elevator Company

Noise Measurement Protocol for Machine Rooms; & Noise Control Design for New Elevator Motor

This project had two facets to it: one, to develop a software implementation of an ANSI noise measurement standard for determining sound levels in various elevator machine rooms, accounting for room size variations, surface textures and motor configurations. The second project involved a noise control investigation on a newly implemented elevator motor for reduction of radiated sound levels. Location: Bloomington, IA.

Investigation into the Feasibility of Continuously Variable Transmission Systems for Elevators
Interlocks for Elevator Entrance Doors
Elevator Door Performance Measurement

Sikorsky Aircraft

Sound Quality Study for Interior Cabin Noise Reduction.
Test Results and Analysis for Sikorsky Aircraft Sound Jury Testing, Part 1 & 2.

Pitney Bowes

Acoustic Design Seminar

CNC Software

Design Integration with Manufacturing Utilizing Associativity and the Master Model Concept

Pepsi International

Design & Investigation of a Case Packing Machine

Proctor-Silex

Sharpness Evaluation of Cutting Blades

Vernon Cycles

Design and Evaluation of Multi-use, All-terrain Bicycle

Holmes

Noise Control Design for Holmes Filtration Unit

Polk Audio

Design Optimization for Polk Audio Subwoofer

Other Projects

Smart Sensor development for software portability for UTRC
An Initial Acoustic Evaluation of Architectural Design for the University of Hartford Magnet School
Acoustic Evaluation of Immanuel Lutheran Church Multi–Purpose Hall, Meriden, CT
Bio corrosion measurement in water pipe distribution for New Haven Regional Water Authority