SBIR-STTR Award

The program is to investigate a new drive system for the Deck Edge Elevators for the Next Generation Aircraft Carrier. This drive system is to be electrical in nature and is to replace the current hydraulic engine and hydraulic system. Jered Industries is in a unique position to conduct this investigation due to the vast experience gained with Deck Edge Elevators. Jered Industries has designed and manufactured most of the Deck Edge Elevators currently in service in the US Navy. In addition, Jered Industries was the prime contractor for the Aircraft Elevators for both the Spanish and French Navies. For this study, Jered Industries has teamed with Power Superconductor Applications, Corp.(PSA). PSA has significant experience in linear electric motor technology that we believe will hold the most promising solution for the alternative drive. Benefits By eliminating the hydraulic system the following benefits are to be realized: 1. Reduced maintenance cost 2. Reduced maintenance man-hours 3. Reduced operating personnel 4. Reduced overall weight 5. Lower Life Cycle Cost 6. Overall safety improvement 7. Reduced noise level around equipment 8. Cleaner operating environment around equipment Keywords Deck Edge Elevator, Linear Induction Motor

The objective of this work is to develop a new elevator drive system, eliminating the complex hydraulic system now used. The existing hydraulic drive system is made up of several subsystems and components, such as, pumps, piping, tanks, electrical components, and hydraulic components. It uses hazardous fluids. The new system will not use hydraulics or any other hazardous material/fluid. The electric drive system will retain safety features equivalent to the hydraulic system. It will be lighter and take up less space. Phase II work will mitigate areas of technical risk through prototype design, manufacturing and test, engineering modeling and analysis, and additional research. Jered and Power Superconductor will design, build and test a scaled version of the Linear Synchronous Motor used in the system design. The primary objective of the prototype testing is to verify the ability to produce predicted thrust at a given electrical loading while maintaining acceptable thermal conditions. The motor will be about one third the length of the full-scale motor and is expected to produce about 15,000 pounds of thrust. A shortened reaction rail will be used. Cost and test facility capability have been considered together with desired risk reduction goals in setting the prototype size.

Keywords:
LINEAR SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR, DECK EDGE ELEVATOR, HIGH THRUST