TECH TRANSFER NEWS
December 1999
MTTC Participates in Air Force Symposium on
Micro- and Nano-Structures
(12/1/99) The Air Force Research Laboratory
Propulsion Directorate, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Office of
Scientific Research, and Wright Technology Network (WTN) are jointly sponsoring a
symposium to transfer micro-structures, nano-structures, fullness, and supporting/enabling
technologies to users in Industry and Government. Experts will present these
technologies and partnering opportunities. MTTC has been assisting in the planning
of this Revolutionary Aerospace Micro- and Nano-Structure Applications
Symposium (RAMNAS).
Microtubes have almost
universal application in areas as varied as optics, electronics, medical technology, and
micro-mechanical devices. These tubes will provide the opportunity to miniaturize
numerous products and devices that are currently in existence, as well as allowing the
production of new products.
In addition, the symposium will present nanotube and nanomaterial
technologies. Carbon nanotubes are stronger than steel at only one-sixth the
weight. They are thermal conductors, electrical conductors in three specific types,
and available for purchase in small quantities. 
MTTC Introduces Regional Manufacturers to
Remarkable New Lubricant Additive
(12/1/99) MTTC arranged for Muscle Products
Inc., Butler, PA, to demonstrate their wear-resisting lubricant products, designed for use
in a wide variety of applications, to regional manufacturers. Suggested uses for
these anti-friction based products include gears, piston, cutting tools, and sporting
equipment. Tests by independent laboratories have shown amazing reductions in wear.
A brief demonstration of these lubricant additive products was conducted at the
November 9, 1999 meeting of the Louisville Chapter of the Society of Manufacturing
Engineers (SME). Mr. Randy Hill, Marketing Director for CJ Distributing of Burton,
MI, the regional distributor for the Muscle Products line, will speak and demonstrate how
these products can be used and the monetary benefits.
Dayton Small Business Seminar a Success, MTTC
Planning Similar Event for Louisville
(12/1/99) Representatives of MTTC attended a very
successful seminar in Dayton, OH on October 4, 1999 entitled, "Acquiring Innovative
Technologies to Grow Your Business: A Conference for Small Businesses."
The seminar presented information on innovative new technologies available from the Air
Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, assistance to small
businesses available for the State of Ohio, electronic business guidelines, sources of
funding, and the basics of business plans. Presenters included representatives of
the Air Force, the State of Ohio, and local universities. MTTC assessed topics that
might be of interest to small businesses and plans to offer a similar seminar at its
conference center in Louisville. Watch this website for details.
Navy Looking for Answers
(12/1/99) Our readers may be able to help the Navy
solve an ongoing problem. Shipboard watertight doors (WTD) have handles that, when not
being used, are stowed in the vertical direction. The handles are held there in place by
spring metal clamps. Some of these WTDs are operated hundreds of times a day.
Unfortunately, the clamps being used can corrode, lose their spring (which causes the
handles to fall down and block the doorway) or simply break off. The MTTC is looking for a
replacement for these clips. They do not have to be made of metal, but, if they are metal,
they must be able to withstand salt-water environment. If you have a product or an idea
that we could propose to the Navy, please call or email Dick Gilbert at the numbers at the
bottom of this page.
MTTC Fleet Maintenance Projects
(12/3/99) The Project Status is as follows:
Portable Chlorinator. The
installation of injection ports and other ship modifications is complete. All
equipment and supplies have been delivered to the USS CARR. Final crew training will
be accomplished in December 1999 at which time the operational tests will commence.
Lynx Motor Shock. A new
robust design, with the Space Shuttle APU application in mind, has been completed.
Current plans are to produce this motor from January - April 2000, conduct laboratory
tests with Boeing and then to subject this motor to level 1 shock in the summer of 2000.
Heat Exchanger Descaler. This
has become a very high visibility project in the last two months. COMNAVSURFLANT has
expressed a strong desire to accelerate it in order to provide shipboard capability as
soon as possible. As a result, COMNAVSEASYSCOM has become personally involved.
NSWC Carderock/Philadelphia has prepared the test plan and has initiated actions
with the Naval Environmental Health Center and the test activities.
Watertight Door Hinge. The
1.25 million cycle operational test has been completed. There were three clear
winners. In order to expedite fleet introduction, limited sole source procurements
from each winning concept will be conducted, with initial hardware being used to fix some
especially notorious installations. Concurrently, a competitive procurement will be
staged among the three to obtain the best price for a very large procurement to support
the needs of the entire fleet. This project is considered to be completed
successfully.
Bilge Paint Qualification.
This is a Secretary of the Navy high interest item. The USS PRINCETON (CG-59) has
been assigned as the test ship. A supply of both Alocit and Euronavy has been
procured. Corrosion Engineering Services, Inc. is the performing contractor.
NAVSEA and MTTC have combined resources to apply both of these paint systems on
PRINCETON for evaluation and comparison. Actual ship preparation and paint
application will occur in December 1999 and January 2000. The performance of these
paints will be evaluated under fleet conditions for an extended period of time.
Topside Connector Corrosion Protection.
The "Gel-in-the-Middle"clamshell connector cover tests have led to the
conclusion that this product will not meet Navy needs. However, the Rayvolve (type
N, roll-on) cover, which was also included in this project, has shown excellent results to
date. While laboratory tests are ongoing, several were installed on the Phalanx CIWS
mount on USS MCCLUSKY (FFG-41) Shipboard technicians have used the re-entry capability and
have expressed great satisfaction with the concept.
K-Flex Eco Insulation.
Operational tests are ongoing on USS RUSHMORE during its deployment. At the same
time, MTTC has initiated a study of some insulation that was removed during the evaluation
in June 1999. This material had been used at the upper temperature limit of its
specification and had exhibited some "charring". We would like to
determine whether this has any effect on the insulating qualities of K-Flex Eco. The
RUSHMORE will be returning from deployment in January 2000 and the test installation will
again be evaluated.
DDG-51 Class Louvers. The
test louvers on USS COOK continue to exhibit excellent performance per SURFLANT.
Based on the results to date, the Navy has funded the coating of all louvers on ships
under construction and three complete ship-sets for operational units. This project
is complete and based on strong positive Project Office and Fleet feedback, it is
considered to be a complete success.
Remote Valve Actuators. This
project is in the process of being modified and expanded. The original effort to
test two Tri-Tec actuators has been scaled back to one unit and it is expected to be
delivered to M. Rosenblatt, Inc. this month for installation. In addition, AIRLANT
has expressed a strong desire to team with MTTC to conduct tests on an alternative
actuator, manufactured by the Target Rock Company. Discussions on the scope of work
are currently ongoing.
Ecotherm High Temperature Insulation.
MTTC has received a final statement of work from NAVSEA and is working with BBN,
Inc. to issue a work order. This fibrous material will probably be tested on USS
RUSHMORE, as well. If successful, this effort will undoubtedly lead to changes in
current shipbuilding program specifications.
Tri-Tec Actuator.
The Navy is looking for remote valve actuators that are mechanically and electronically
compatible with current models and are considerably more reliable and user friendly.
This project will procure and test a new model actuator onboard an Aircraft Carrier for at
least six months. A constract has been awareded to M. Rosenblatt, Inc. who will
coordinate this effort.
Ecotherm Insulation. Another
MTTC project, K-Flex ECO is proposed to replace the existing Calcium Silicate in low
temperature applications (<250 deg F). The Navy desires to test another CaSi
replacement, Ecotherm, for high temperatured applications (250-1000 deg F). This
project will install test sections of Ecotherm on a fleet ship and conduct extended at-sea
trials on the USS RUSHMORE in early 2000.
Please
Give Us A Call
For additional news or information about opportunities involving
technology transfer, send an e-mail Dave Goddard or give him a call at (502)367-2186. |
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