THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED EFFORT IS TO DESIGN PROTOTYPE AND TEST COMPONENTS THAT COULD BE INTEGRATED INTO A MODULAR CRYOGENIC HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR SYSTEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL CHALLENGES IN TRANSITIONING HYDRAULICS TO CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES. FOREMOST ARE INADEQUATE LUBRICATION FROM CRYOGENIC FLUIDS AND LOSS OF FLEXIBILITY IN MATERIALS THAT TRANSPORT FLUID AMONG COMPONENTS. THE PROPOSED EFFORT WILL ADDRESS THE FIRST LIMITATION WITH A DESIGN APPROACH THAT LEVERAGES PTFE'S (E.G. TEFLON) AS BOTH A SEAL TECHNOLOGY AND AS AN INTERNAL COATING TO REDUCE MATERIAL WEAR. TO ADDRESS THE SECOND CHALLENGE THE PROPOSED EFFORT WILL INVESTIGATE DESIGNS THAT TRANSPORT THE FLUID THROUGH PIVOT JOINTS BETWEEN THE MODULES ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR MATERIAL FLEXURE DURING OPERATION.

University Of Maryland, College Park, College Park MD

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