Abstract: A navigation system provides sensors and a user interface mounted in a single unit while allowing individual users to make adjustments to the user interface without affecting the functionality of the device. This is accomplished by mounting the orientation sensitive sensors (e.g. accelerometers, gyros, etc) rigidly to a mounting bracket rigidly mounted to the vehicle (such as to the dashboard). The sensors are mounted within a ball rigidly mounted to the bracket and the ball is secured within a rotatable socket on the user interface enclosure. In this manner, the user interface enclosure can rotate on the ball, but the orientation of the sensors relative to the vehicle will remain the same.

Abstract: A hanger assembly has a rail having a front portion, a back portion, and a rail opening therethrough. The rail opening has a shape having a larger diameter at the back portion and a smaller diameter at the front portion. A plug conforms to the shape of the opening, has a plug opening therein and a lip disposed upon an internal surface thereof. The lip engages a hook having an extension for insertion into the plug opening and engaging the lip within the plug.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes multiple elevator cars (22, 32) within a hoistway (26). Counterweights (24, 34) are associated with the respective elevator cars (22, 32) by load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, different roping ratios are used for the load bearing members (40, 50). In some examples, the lengths of the load bearing members (40, 50) are selected to allow contact between the counterweights (24, 34) within the hoistway (26) and prevent contact between the elevator cars (22, 32). The difference in car and counterweight separation distances is greater than a stroke of a counterweight buffer plus an expected dynamic jump of the elevator cars. A disclosed example includes passages (80) through a portion of at least one of the elevator cars (22) for accommodating the load bearing member (50) of another elevator car (32) located beneath the elevator car (22) with the passages (80).

Abstract: A mask for performing high speed media finishing on airfoils includes a thicker portion and a thinner portion. The thicker portion is spaced further from an edge that will become a leading edge in the final airfoil than the thinner portion. The media is redirected by the thicker portion toward the edge where the finishing is to occur.

Abstract: A starter motor controller for an auxiliary power unit transfers thermal energy from low thermal capacity electric components to high thermal capacity electric components to control temperature without active cooling systems.

Abstract: A seal assembly includes a body having two circumferential sides, a leading end, and a trailing end. At least one of the circumferential sides includes a first channel sidewall, a second channel sidewall, and a channel bottom wall that together define a seal channel for receiving a seal. The seal channel includes a slot that cooperates with a tab on the seal to facilitate securing the seal within the seal channel.

Abstract: A method for gasifying a carbonaceous material includes supplying a main slurry flow to a main cavity of a two-stage slurry splitter, dividing the main slurry flow into secondary slurry flows that flow into secondary cavities extending from the main cavity at distal ends of first stage flow dividers, dividing each secondary slurry flow into tertiary slurry flows that flow into slurry injection tubes extending from each secondary cavity at distal ends or second stage flow dividers, injecting the tertiary slurry flows into a gasification chamber coupled to the injector module, impinging annular shaped sprays of a reactant onto corresponding ones of the tertiary slurry flows within the gasification chamber using annular impinging orifices in a face plate of the injector module, and cooling the face plate to withstand high temperatures and abrasion.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit includes a gas generator that produces a flow of gases to drive a free power turbine that directly drives an electric generator. The electric generator is driven by the free power turbine at a desired speed without the use of step down gearing to provide a lighter weight and more cost effective electric power generating system.

Abstract: An example space-based power generation panel arrangement includes a first reflective panel and at least one heat pipe configured to communicate thermal energy to the first reflective panel and a second reflective panel. The heat pipe is configured to hinge the first reflective panel to the second reflective panel.

Abstract: A method of processing steel includes carburizing a martensitic stainless steel work piece to produce a carburized case by utilizing in combination, (i) a composition of the martensitic stainless steel work piece, (ii) a preselected carbon concentration in the carburized case, and (iii) a preselected grain size of the martensitic stainless steel work piece such that the carburized case predominately forms carbides of composition M6C, M2C, M23C6 or combinations thereof. The martensitic stainless steel work piece is then heated to substantially solution the metal carbides. The work piece is then quenched at a cooling rate that is sufficient to avoid substantial precipitation of any carbides during cool down to the martensite start temperature, then given a low temperature temper. In so doing, the carburized case hardened martensitic stainless steel will have balanced mechanical, tribological and corrosion resistance properties for high performance bearing and gear components.

Abstract: A bipolar plate (30) for use in a fuel cell stack (10) includes one or more first metal layers (40a) having a tendency to grow an electrically passive layer in the presence of a fuel cell reactant gas and one or more second metal layers (40b) directly adjacent the one or more first metal layers (40a). The second metal layer has a tendency to resist growing any oxide layer in the presence of the fuel cell reactant gas to maintain a threshold electrical conductivity. The second metal layer also has a section for contacting an electrode (12, 14) and providing an electrically conductive path between the electrode (12, 14) and the first metal layer.

Abstract: A transverse flux machine has at least three phases, each provided by a stator core and phase windings. Each of the at least three phases is captured within a common housing. Parallel lines extend from the at least three phases, and a current source converter is created on each of the parallel lines by inductors, a switching network, and communicating capacitors, which are received within the common housing.

Abstract: An example fan motor controller housing includes an inner fan housing, an outer fan housing including a base plate, plenums and air passages, stator vanes and a motor control housing. The inner fan housing, the outer fan housing, the stator vanes, and the motor control component housing are all made of a polymer. The fan motor controller housing also includes heat sinks attached to the plenums. The heat sinks are cooled by air flowing from air passages through the plenum. Motor controller components are attached to the heat sink and heat dissipates from the motor controller components to the heat sink.

Abstract: A component intended for use in very low temperature situations has an electromechanical actuator with a control for an electric motor. The control receives a temperature signal indicative of a temperature being experienced by the electromechanical actuator. The control is operable to produce a current signal sent to the electric motor which will generate heat without significant torque. A method of operating the electromechanical actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A track assembly for a particulate material extrusion pump according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a link assembly with a roller bearing. An insert mounted to a load beam located such that the roller bearing contacts the insert.

Abstract: A method or apparatus of accessing data includes detecting at least one parameter of a component of a refrigerated container and providing data relating to the at least one parameter to a transmitting computer located on the refrigerated container. The method or apparatus can further include transferring the data from the transmitting computer to a first remote computer located at an off-site location and transferring the data from the first remote computer to a second remote computer located at another off-site location.

Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a compressor shell having first and second scroll members. The scroll members each have a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from its base. The generally spiral wraps of the first and second scroll members interfit to define compression chambers. A shaft causes the second scroll member to orbit relative to the first scroll member. At least one bypass port is formed in a base of one scroll member, and communicates with at least one of the compression chambers. The bypass port communicates with a passage leading to a suction pressure chamber within the compressor shell. A solenoid valve is movable between a reduced capacity position and a full capacity position, and selectively supplies a pressurized fluid to a fluid valve associated with the bypass port, such that movement of the solenoid can control whether the bypass port is open or closed.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a fan and a fan bypass passage downstream of the fan for conveying a bypass airflow from the fan. A nozzle associated with the fan bypass passage includes a plurality of different positions that influence the bypass air flow. One or more sensors near the fan produce a signal representative of a foreign object near the fan. A controller commands the nozzle to move to a desired one of the plurality of different positions in response to the signal from the sensor to change a pressure ratio across the fan to thereby reduce a mechanical stress on the fan.

Abstract: An electric power generation system has a synchronous machine, a starter excitation source and an exciter field driver. The starter excitation source is connected to the synchronous machine via multiple phase connections, and the exciter field driver is connected to the synchronous machine via a portion of the same phase connections. At least one of the phase connections is connected to each other phase connection via a transient voltage suppressor.