Abstract: A method of stabilizing combustion in a gas turbine engine includes the steps of observing a combustor flame from a location upstream from said flame to detect spectral characteristics indicative of a condition affecting combustion stability, and tuning the engine to stabilize combustion based upon an indicated condition affecting combustion stability.

Abstract: The invention includes a system, method and machine readable program for dynamically controlling the casting of a material. Generally, the systems and methods described herein include an active control feedback system or aspects thereof including a temperature sensing device that is well-suited for the harsh environment of the interior of a caster such as a caster for casting metal. Temperature measurement can be accomplished either directly or indirectly. The system is configured to compare the measured temperature with an ideal casting temperature. The temperature sensing device is operably coupled to a cooling device that modulates a flow of coolant to dynamically cool the material being cast. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the cooling device includes a plurality of nozzles for delivering one or more cooling fluids to the material being cast.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for actively controlling combustion in a gas turbine engine, which includes a fuel injector for issuing fuel into a combustion chamber of the gas turbine engine. The fuel injector has a dynamic pressure sensor for measuring acoustic pressure within the combustion chamber and a flame sensor for observing flame characteristics within the combustion chamber. The system further includes a high speed valve assembly for controlling flow of fuel to the injector and an electronic controller associated with the fuel injector for commanding the valve assembly to deliver fuel to the fuel injector at a commanded flow rate, based upon input from the sensors in the fuel injector.

Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed which includes a feed arm having a flange for mounting the injector within the combustor and a fuel nozzle depending from the feed arm for injecting fuel into the combustor for combustion. An optical sensor array is operatively associated with the fuel nozzle for observing combustor flame characteristics. The optical sensor array includes a plurality of sapphire rods positioned to be close enough to the combustor flame to oxidize soot deposits thereon.

Abstract: A wireless tire pressure sensing system for an aircraft comprises: dual resonant circuits mounted to a wheel of the aircraft, each resonant circuit comprising: a variable capacitance sensor and a wire loop of a predetermined inductance coupled thereto, one capacitance sensor for monitoring the pressure of a tire mounted to the wheel, and the other capacitance sensor operative as a reference to the one capacitance sensor; an interrogating circuit magnetically coupleable to the dual resonant circuits and operative to induce magnetically a variable frequency current in the dual resonant circuits, the one resonant circuit responding to the induced current with an E-field signal at a first resonant frequency commensurate with the capacitance of the one sensor, and the other resonant circuit responding to the induced current with an E-field signal at a second resonant frequency commensurate with the capacitance of the other sensor; a receiving circuit E-field coupleable to the dual resonant circuits and operative t

Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed which includes a feed arm having a flange for mounting the injector within the combustor and a fuel nozzle depending from the feed arm for injecting fuel into the combustor for combustion. An optical sensor array is located within the fuel nozzle for observing combustion conditions within the combustor.

Abstract: A wireless tire pressure sensing system for an aircraft comprises: dual resonant circuits mounted to a wheel of the aircraft, each resonant circuit comprising: a variable capacitance sensor and a wire loop of a predetermined inductance coupled thereto, one capacitance sensor for monitoring the pressure of a tire mounted to the wheel, and the other capacitance sensor operative as a reference to the one capacitance sensor; an interrogating circuit magnetically coupleable to the dual resonant circuits and operative to induce magnetically a variable frequency current in the dual resonant circuits, the one resonant circuit responding to the induced current with an E-field signal at a first resonant frequency commensurate with the capacitance of the one sensor, and the other resonant circuit responding to the induced current with an E-field signal at a second resonant frequency commensurate with the capacitance of the other sensor; a receiving circuit E-field coupleable to the dual resonant circuits and operative t