Abstract: A method of refurbishing a transition duct (100) for a gas turbine system includes providing the transition duct. The transition duct has a first wall (221) defining a first passageway (110) and having holes (223) through a metal layer (322) and a ceramic layer (323), and the transition duct also has a second wall (222) adjacent to and separate from the first wall and external to the first passageway, where the first and second walls define a second passageway (210) coupled to the first passageway through the holes in the first wall. The method further includes masking the holes in the first wall, sealing the first passageway, and after sealing the first passageway, using a liquid etchant to chemically remove the ceramic layer from the first wall while keeping the liquid etchant out of the second passageways.

Abstract: A method of joining superalloy substrates together comprises diffusion bonding the superalloy substrates by depositing an activator directly on the surface of the joint to be bonded and thereafter subjecting the joint to heat and pressure. The heat and pressure causes the surface of the superalloy, in the presence of the activator, to diffusion bond without the use of a brazing alloy. By eliminating the brazing alloy, a high strength, high temperature bond is achieved, yet there is no molten brazing alloy to be drawn through capillary action into any fine features surrounding the joint being bonded, and there is no residue left at the interface that would diminish the mechanical or chemical properties of the joint.

Abstract: A method of establishing a leak tight and structural connection between a core tube and an accommodating header plate in a tubular heat exchanger, including the steps of positioning the core tube into bores of the header plate and a braze foil, installing a ferrule inside the core tube end, radially expanding the ferrule in the core tube end, thus expanding the core tube end into intimate contact with the header plate in which it is received, deforming a ferrule into pinching contact with the braze foil plate, directing the flow of the braze material towards the contact surface area, and brazing the tubular heat exchanger in order to form a seal at the intimate contact area. A leak tight connection and a tubular heat exchanger having a leak tight connection produced via the noted method are also set forth.

Abstract: A method of joining superalloy substrates together comprises diffusion bonding the superalloy substrates by depositing an activator directly on the surface of the joint to be bonded and thereafter subjecting the joint to heat and pressure. The heat and pressure causes the surface of the superalloy, in the presence of the activator, to diffusion bond without the use of a brazing alloy. By eliminating the brazing alloy, a high strength, high temperature bond is achieved, yet there is no molten brazing alloy to be drawn through capillary action into any fine features surrounding the joint being bonded, and there is no residue left at the interface that would diminish the mechanical or chemical properties of the joint.

Abstract: An apparatus for steering a nosewheel on an aircraft, or the like, while the aircraft is on the ground. The apparatus includes a steering shaft that engages a cluster of gears and transfers torque from a steering command to the gears. The steering shaft is rotatable from a centered position in response to steering torque. A centering mechanism imparts a counter-torque on the cluster of gears to restore the steering shaft to the centered position when steering torque is released. The gear cluster comprises two drive gears that accurately guide the steering shaft to the centered position under the influence of the centering mechanism. The gear cluster is configured to minimize and compensate for gear wear, permitting accurate and consistent centering of the main shaft each time a steering torque is released.

Abstract: An internally threaded (23) collet nut (22) is placed onto the first cable (12) and a first cable (12) is inserted into a collapsible collet (20) on a connector body (18). The collet nut (22) and a breakaway nut (30) are engaged with simple wrenches to establish a reactive torque between the collet nut (22) and the breakaway nut (34) to break away the breakaway nut (34) from the connector body. An enlarged end (16) of the second cable (14) is placed into the interior of a retainer nut (30), which is threaded onto the threaded section (19) of the connector body (18) to abut the collet nut (22), thereby connecting the two cables (12 and 14).