Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the fatigue life of a structure calculate, in real time, the values for the magnitudes of the stress forces imposed at a particular location on the structure, from one or more sensed structural parameters. Also, the associated temperature values of the structure may be calculated or measured. The calculated stress data are continuously examined, in real time, to determine if the direction of their magnitude is increasing or decreasing. If a change in direction is indicated, the previously stored peak data point in the increasing direction is paired with the previously determined peak data point in the decreasing direction to form a cycle pair. The structural fatigue life is then determined, in real time, from this cycle pair.

Abstract: A premixer for an industrial type gas turbine engine wherein the premixer includes a diffuser ring assembly made up of annular concentric rings and upstream of the diffuser ring assembly in the airflow path is a corresponding fuel manifold ring assembly, each ring in the manifold ring assembly corresponding to a passageway formed between the diffuser rings, and each manifold ring includes a downstream channel for feeding the fuel to the air as the air passes by the ring.

Abstract: An integrated process for treating a vacuum gas oil, kerosene, naphtha and Diesel-containing feed, includes the steps of providing a reaction feed containing residue, vacuum gas oil, kerosene, naphtha, Diesel, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and C1-C4 gas phase compounds; providing a stripping gas; providing a washing feed; and feeding the reaction feed, the stripping gas and the washing feed to a stripping and washing zone so as to obtain a gas phase containing the hydrogen sulfide, the ammonia, the C1-C4 gas phase compounds, the naphtha, the kerosene, the Diesel and the vacuum gas oil and a liquid phase, wherein the reaction feed is provided at a reaction feed pressure of between bout 700 psig and about 3500 psig, and wherein the stripping and washing zone is operated at a pressure within about 80 psig of the reaction feed pressure.

Abstract: An impeller for a circumferential current pump is injection molded and can be used as it is without being polished. The impeller (7) is provided with a plurality of vane grooves (12) on an outer periphery of a synthetic resin disc-like member (8) rotated by a motor, and is rotatably received with a substantially disc-like space (6) formed between a pump casing (4) and a pump cover (5). A disc-like recess portion (14) is formed in both side surfaces (10, 11) of the disc-like member (8). A formation is performed so that a ratio (L/2t) between the sum (t1+t2=2t) of a gap (t1) between one side surface (10) and the pump casing (4) and a gap (t2) between another side surface (11) and the pump cover (5), and a size (L=R0−H−R1) obtained by subtracting a radical groove length (H) of the vane groove (12) and a radial size (R1) of the recess portion (14) from a radial size (R0) of the disc-like member (8) satisfies a relation 66≦(L/2t).

Abstract: A butterfly valve noise suppressor is provided for reducing the noise generated by a gas flow passing through an open butterfly valve having a disc pivotally mounted in a valve housing for rotation about a transverse axis between an open and a closed position thereof. The noise suppressor includes a plurality of flat and perforated baffle plates arranged in a cruciform configuration, mounted in a flow path immediately downstream of the pivotal disc, axially extending and thereby dividing the downstream flow path into four axial and quadrant cross-sectional segments. The gas flow passing the edge of the pivotal disc in the valve generates a flow turbulence to form an unsteady large wake downstream of the valve. This unsteady wake is the source of noise. The cruciform baffle plates permit the gas flow to pass therethrough without obstruction thereto, while allowing the turbulence to communicate laterally through the perforation, thereby dissipating the wake unsteadiness to reduce noise.

Abstract: A molded plastic article having improved electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. The article includes a plastic layer and an outer film layer over the plastic layer. The outer film layer has an inner surface adjacent to and bonded to the plastic layer and an outer surface opposed to the inner surface. The plastic layer and outer layer are electrically conductive. Preferably the outer layer has higher conductivity than the plastic layer.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine fan assembly includes fan blades spaced axially from stator vanes inside an annular bypass duct. A plurality of perforated baffle plates are installed in the annular bypass duct downstream of the stator vanes. The perforated baffle plates extend in a generally axial direction and are unevenly, circumferentially spaced apart from one another to divide a major section of the annular bypass duct into a plurality of axial flow-path segments in an asymmetrical pattern to disrupt continuity, destroy a symmetrical pattern and absorb sound energy of a spinning mode of sound pressures imbedded in the air flow downstream of the stator vanes, without substantially affecting a thrust provided by the air flow when discharged from the bypass duct.

Abstract: A film is placed over a mold cavity and molten plastic deposited thereon to form a combination of a film with molten plastic thereon. The film-molten plastic combination is then formed in said mold cavity into a molded article in the shape of the mold cavity.

Abstract: A method and device for balancing the charges of a plurality of series-connected battery cells, the device comprising a current dissipative loop connected across the terminals of each battery cell, the voltage across each battery cell being measured, the average value of the measured voltages being determined, the measured voltage being then compared to the average value, and the measured voltage of each battery cell being adjusted to the average value so as to equalize charges of all battery cells.

Abstract: An operation control system includes a data recorder for recording data representing the features of behavior of a vehicle in a memory card and an operation control assisting apparatus for analyzing the driving tendency of the vehicle. The operation control assisting apparatus reads measurement data out of the memory card, classifies the measurement data into a set of data about the low-speed range, a set of data about the intermediate-speed range, and a set of data about the high-speed range, extracts behavior features in each speed range from the classified measurement data, and creates judgment information for judging the driving tendency by a driver of the vehicle in an ex post facto way based on the results of the extract.

Abstract: Disclosed are flat/vertical type vacuum field transistor (VFT) structures, which adopt a MOSFET-like flat or vertical structure so as to increase the degree of integration and can be operated at low operation voltages at high speeds. The flat type comprises a source and a drain, made of conductors, which stand at a predetermined distance apart on a thin channel insulator with a vacuum channel therebetween; a gate, made of a conductor, which is formed with a width below the source and the drain, the channel insulator functioning to insulate the gate from the source and the drain; and an insulating body, which serves as a base for propping up the channel insulator and the gate.

Abstract: A message transmission system comprises a transmitter and receivers, the transmitter comprising a generator for generating a digital data signal representing a message, and an encoder for encoding the digital data in a serial code having a first and second frequencies representing respectively digital data signal first and second logic states. A modulator is connected to at least one source of visible light for modulating the intensity of light emitted by the light source with the serial code. The light emitted by the light source has two distinct intensities when the light intensity is modulated with the first and second frequencies. Each receiver comprises a detector sensitive to the visible light emitted by the light source for converting visible light emitted by the source into an electrical signal having two states depending on the intensity of the visible light detected. A decoder reconstructs the transmitted message from the electrical signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a securing or button replacement device which includes a base member having an attachment side and a fastening side and a connecting member secured to the base member. The connecting member is sized to fit through a hole in a first piece of material to be joined to a second piece of material or a first part of a garment to be joined to a second part of a garment. After a free end of the connecting portion is passed through the hole, the connecting member is looped on itself so that the free end can be brought into engagement with a plurality of engagement members on the fastening side of the base member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piezo-electric stretching detector which is used for measuring the positive and negative stretching on the surfaces of rigid structures using electric signals, wherein said detector can be attached by a force connection onto said surfaces in a compressible or non-removable relation. This stretching detector has a high sensitivity in all stretching directions and is made of a piezo-ceramic material which is applied in a thin layer on at least one surface of a flexible metal sheet or which is fixedly attached to said metal sheet in the shape of a moulded body. At least one of said stretching detectors can be arranged on the free abutting end of at least one resilient pressure body which is imbedded in the reception housing of a stretching sensor. The stretching sensor further comprises members for pressing the reception housing onto the surface to be measured.

Abstract: A vane having a trunnion portion and an airfoil portion is provided with a stress reducing undercut on the trunnion portion proximate to the transition zone defined between the trunnion portion and the airfoil portion of the vane.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing cold formed shaped packaging having at least one recess made from a metal-plastic laminate 20. Examples of such shaped forms of packaging are the base parts of push-through packs or blister packs. The process is such that the laminate 20 is held between a retaining tool 5 and a die 1. The die 1 exhibits at least one opening 8 and a stamping tool 6 is driven into the die opening 8 causing the laminate to be shape-formed into the said packaging and, correspondingly, exhibiting one or more recesses. The die 1 and the retaining tool 5 exhibit facing edge regions 11,12, and within the edge region 11 the die 1 exhibits a shoulder region 13 that surrounds the die opening 8 or openings 8. The surface of the shoulder region 13 lies 0.01 to 10 mm lower than the surface of the edge region 11 of the die 1.

Abstract: A securing/clamping system for use with platens of a molding machine including a stationary platen having a first mold half affixed thereto, a movable platen having a second mold half affixed thereto, the movable platen travelling along a plurality of tiebars, and reciprocatively moving between a mold open and mold closed position, and a system for applying a clamping force to the movable platen.