Abstract: Apparatus and method to improve vapor phase diffusion coating of articles. The apparatus provides a barrier to segregate the portion of the article requiring coating from the portion of the article not requiring coating. The fixture is reusable, being unaffected by the coating gases. The fixture reduces the exposure of the coating gases with the portion of the article not requiring coating. By use of an optional seal, the portion of the article not requiring coating can be isolated from the coating gases.

Abstract: A dental tool for use with an ultrasonic transducer, the tool comprises a substantially elongate tool defined by a shaft having a proximal end with a coupling attachment at the proximal end for attachment to an ultrasonic transducer, and a distal end having a tip configured for performing a dental procedure, and a fluid passage extending from the proximal end to a port configured and positioned to direct fluid onto the tip.

Abstract: An article is formed of an alpha-beta titanium-base alloy, preferably an alloy having more than about 3.5 weight percent molybdenum. An example of such an article is a gas turbine compressor blade having a nominal composition, in weight percent, of about 4 percent aluminum, about 4 percent molybdenum, about 2 percent tin, about 0.5 percent silicon, balance titanium and impurities. The article is processed to form a martensitic structure therein. The processing, which typically involves forging or weld repairing, includes the steps of first heating the article to a first-heating temperature of greater than about 1600° F., and thereafter first cooling the article to a temperature of less than about 800° F. The article is thereafter second heated to a second-heating temperature of from about 1275° F. to about 1375° F. for a time of from about 1 to about 7 hours, and thereafter second cooled to a temperature of less than about 800° F.

Abstract: A jet aircraft fan case containment design that uses polyurethane to absorb fan blade fragments and uses polyurethane to prevent fan blade fragments from penetrating the fan case. The polyurethane is used in place of or to supplement KEVLAR® and/or fiberglass wraps used to contain fan blade fragments. The polyurethane is also used in place of aluminum alloy and stiffening ribs in the fan case.

Abstract: A dental tool for use with an ultrasonic transducer, comprises a substantially elongate tool defined by a shaft having a proximal end with a coupling attachment for attachment to an ultrasonic transducer. A distal end of the tool has a tip configured for performing a dental procedure, and a fluid passage extending from the proximal end to a port configured and positioned to direct fluid onto the tip.

Abstract: A coated article is prepared by furnishing an nickel-base article substrate having a free sulfur content of more than 0 but less than about 1 part per million by weight. A protective layer is formed at a surface of the article substrate. The protective layer includes a platinum aluminide diffusion coating. The protective layer may be substantially yttrium-free, or have a controlled amount of yttrium. A ceramic layer may overlie the protective layer.

Abstract: A final throat area of a gas turbine nozzle circumferential structure is established by providing at least two gas turbine nozzle vanes, and determining a pairwise initial throat area between each pair of gas turbine nozzle vanes. For each pair of gas turbine nozzle vanes whose pairwise initial throat area is not within the final pairwise throat area target range, a trailing edge of at least one of the gas turbine nozzle vanes is extended responsive to the step of determining the initial pairwise throat area, so that a final pairwise throat area is within a final pairwise throat area target range. A nozzle plurality of pairs of gas turbine nozzle vanes that together comprise the gas turbine nozzle circumferential structure may be selected so that a sum of their final pairwise throat areas is within a final total throat area target range.

Abstract: A motor mount constructed from a single piece of sheet metal. The motor mount contains a band portion and at least three leg portions. The band portion clamps around a motor and the leg portions radiate from the band portion. The leg portions secure the motor to a housing.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting depressions in a road surface. The cutting machine includes a rotatable cutting drum connected with a drive device for rotating the cutting drum and an engaging device for moving the cutting drum out of and into contact with the road surface. The drive device includes a gear box with a flywheel located on the input side of the gear box and the cutting drum comprises a plurality of cutting teeth, the teeth removably retained to the cutting drum to effectively cut the road surface and includes a means for anchoring a tooth shank to a tooth holder permanently affixed to said cutting drum. A power unit that moves the cutting drum along the road surface is provided with a detector for continuously detecting a distance that the cutting drum is moved by the power unit and for generating a signal indicative of the distance moved.

Abstract: A heat treatment process that will restore the mechanical properties of an aircraft engine article that includes a cast nickel-based superalloy portion welded to a wrought portion. The heat treatment process includes placing an article that includes the nickel-based superalloy cast portion into a heat treatment chamber, evacuating the chamber to a suitable atmosphere, heating the chamber in a manner that minimizes distortion of the cast portion to a temperature in the range of 1950° F. to 2050° F., holding the temperature in that range for a period of time sufficient to solution all the delta phase precipitates, and then cooling the article to room temperature in a manner that minimizes distortion of the article. After solution heat treatment, the wrought portion of the engine part can be removed and replaced and the engine article can be reprocessed.

Abstract: A turbine blade has an airfoil section with a root end and a tip end, and an attachment at the root end of the airfoil section. A blade tip seal is joined to the tip end of the airfoil section. The blade tip seal is formed as an open-cell solid aluminum oxide foam made of aluminum oxide cell walls having intracellular volume therebetween. The blade tip seal has a blade interface region adjacent to the tip end of the airfoil section. The blade interface region is formed of the aluminum oxide foam and a nickel-base alloy within the intracellular volume. The blade tip seal also has a contact region remote from the blade interface region and comprising the aluminum foam wherein the intracellular volume is porosity.

Abstract: A scented spa bath additive that when added to a spa produces the visual and sensual effects of sitting in a large cocoa bath. The additive is added to the hot water of a spa to produce a chocolate scent and a foaming sensation to provide the user with the sensation of sitting in a hot cocoa bath. The additive is a whipped cocoa bath that not only produces a pleasant chocolate scent, but also produces a bubbly foam that produces a long-lasting froth. Unlike the large bubbles normally produced in spas by adding just a cocoa powder, the whipped cocoa bath of the present invention produces bubbles have a surface tension that allows for a long life, so that the experience can be extended.

Abstract: A coated article having a high resistance to wear damage has a substrate, and a layered coating overlying the substrate. The layered coating includes a ductile metallic layer overlying and in facing contact with the substrate, and a protective layer overlying and in facing contact with the ductile metallic layer and including a mixture of a quasicrystalline metallic phase and a non-quasicrystalline ductile phase. The coated article is preferably used in applications where it is subjected to wear conditions.

Abstract: An article is made by preparing an elongated preform having a net metallic composition, and including a tubular sheath made of a sheath nickel-base alloy, and a core disposed within the tubular sheath and including consolidated powder particles made of a core nickel-base alloy. The net metallic composition is preferably a nickel-base superalloy, and most preferably a high-gamma-prime nickel-base superalloy. The preform is wire drawn to a final maximum transverse size that is less than the initial maximum transverse size, to produce a drawn article. The drawn article may be used as a weld filler material.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of manufacturing a preform for a RTM molding process that will increase both the handling capability of the preform and the final part quality. The invention consists of applying a patterned discontinuous layer of liquid resin over at least one side of a layer of reinforcing fibers. The resin film can consist of a homogeneous liquid, an aqueous dispersion or a melted resin applied at an elevated temperature. In one embodiment, there is present a roller having a patterned surface. Liquid resin is applied to the surface of the patterned roller via a second roller. The layer of reinforcing fibers is passed by the roller in such a fashion that the resin from the pattern on the surface of the roller is transferred to the layer of reinforcing fibers. The contact of the roller with the layer of reinforcing fibers is sufficient to force some of the resin into the fibers themselves.

Abstract: A deposit is formed on a deposition substrate using a deposition gun that bums a mixture of a fuel and an oxidizer to form a deposition gas flow, mixes a powder into the deposition gas flow to form a deposition mixture flow, and projects the deposition mixture flow therefrom. The deposition gun is provided with a flowing coolant. A flow rate of the fuel to the deposition gun, a flow rate of the oxidizer to the deposition gun, a flow rate of the powder to the deposition gun, and a cooling capacity of the coolant flow are all measured. The flow rate of the fuel, the flow rate of the oxidizer, the flow rate of the powder, and the cooling capacity of the coolant flow are all controlled responsive to the step of measurements.

Abstract: Maintenance procedures for an article such as a component of a gas turbine engine are analyzed by defining a set of workscopes that may be performed upon the article, gathering maintenance frequency information for each type of subsequent trailing workscope that may be performed after a prior leading workscope, for a sample set of maintenance procedures, and determining a measured sample workscope mix in the form of a set of trailing workscope probabilities as a function of each leading workscope. A projected workscope mix is projected for a set of maintenance procedures from the measured sample workscope mix. From the projected workscope mix, labor, supplies, and monetary estimates for maintenance procedures may be calculated. Alternative maintenance strategies may be readily compared using this approach.

Abstract: A method for safeguarding regions of an airfoil adjacent to a work area from collateral damage as a result of laser operations. The method utilizes apparatus that includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly is fixedly attached to the laser nozzle assembly and moves with the laser nozzle assembly. The laser operations are controlled by a preprogrammed CNC controller. A fixture is used to position the workpiece in relationship to the nozzle on a laser table, the table movable in response to instructions from the controller. A beam stop material is placed over the regions of the airfoil adjacent to the work area to prevent back wall burn or to absorb reflected laser beam energy and to protect the region from other collateral damage such as stray material. The beam stop material is held in place on the workpiece and the workpiece is held in position on the fixture by elastomeric bands.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for accurately and repeatably positioning metallic parts having variable length extrusions and shaped sheet metal in a modular die system that forms a joggle in the metallic parts. The apparatus of the present invention includes a standard joggle die system that is currently in use in the art. The apparatus further includes a movable back gage assembly that works in combination with the joggle die system to allow an operator to accurately position the workpiece between the joggle dies at a preselected position. The back gage assembly is movable in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The back gage assembly moves into a stored position away from the working area of the dies to permit the joggle to be formed in the workpiece. The back gage assembly can then move back into the working area to accurately position the next workpiece without the need for further adjustments.

Abstract: A sacrificial ceramic fixture precursor is furnished with a shaped portion thereof shaped to receive a supported article. The sacrificial ceramic fixture precursor is immersed into a molten reactive metal for a period of time sufficient to permit the sacrificial ceramic fixture precursor and the reactive metal to react together. The result is a reacted ceramic fixture comprising an open-cell solid foam of ceramic cell walls having an interconnected intracellular volume therebetween. The reacted ceramic fixture is contacted to a supported article to produce a process assembly. The process assembly is processed as required for the supported article, which typically includes heating to an elevated temperature.