Polymer Technologies Inc. Develops Transparent Calibrated Moisture Boot |
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Polymer Technologies, Inc. (PTI) is a leading manufacturer of high performance plastic and metal-injection molded parts for the aerospace, military and medical/surgical industries. Working together with the NCDMM (National Center for Defense Manufacturing & Machining), PTI recently developed a transparent calibrated moisture boot, which is designed to protect the rotating shaft and seal in the UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter Pitch Trim Actuator. The UH-60 Pitch Trim Actuator is a flight control component designed to maneuver and stabilize the helicopter while it's in flight. During normal operation, hydraulic fluid can seep past the seal and collect in the boot. Because the boot currently being used is an opaque black, it is difficult to determine the amount of hydraulic fluid that is collecting in the boot, until so much has accumulated that the boot detaches from the Actuator end cap. When the boot detaches, the hydraulic fluid spills onto the upper flight deck, and the Pitch Trim Actuator is assumed to be unserviceable and turned in for repair. It is estimated that 20% of the Pitch Trim Actuators turned in for this reason are actually still serviceable, the company said. PTI designed a single cavity injection mold configured to produce the boot and worked closely with AMRDEC/SAIC and material suppliers to determine the optimal material for it. Once the material was selected, PTI developed the appropriate molding parameters in order to successfully mold the transparent calibrated moisture boot. By developing a transparent calibrated boot, visual inspections can measure the amount of fluid seepage as a function of flight hours to determine the Pitch Trim Actuator's serviceability. This is expected to reduce the number of Actuators turned in prematurely for service by 20%, saving the |
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NCDMM an estimated $1.1 million per year and over $20 million over the life of the project, said the company. The transparent calibrated moisture boots are currently being flight-tested and PTI has been recognized by the NCDMM as a "Valued Alliance Partner." For more information contact: Neal Goldenberg Polymer Technologies, Inc. 10 Clifton Blvd., Clifton, NJ 07011 973-778-9100 Fax: 973-778-9797 E-mail: nealg@polymertek.com
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