Abstract: A stem couples a fuel injector inlet to a fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle includes a primary fuel flow portion and a secondary fuel flow portion. The stem includes an input end for receiving a primary fuel flow and a secondary fuel flow from the fuel injector inlet. The stem includes three concentric tubes with the first tube coupling the primary fuel flow from the injector to the primary portion of the nozzle. A second concentric tube couples the secondary fuel flow from the injector to the secondary portion of the nozzle. The primary fuel flow and the secondary fuel flow in the two concentric tubes are nonlinear with respect to the input and output ends of the stem. The third concentric tube provides structural support and an insulating space for the first two concentric tubes. Methods for constructing the stem are provided. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for aligning a X-ray beam collimator to a linear array X-ray detector. The method computes a horizontal centerline on the detector and a horizontal centerline the collimator. The horizontal centerlines are then aligned. Vertical centerlines are computed for the detector and collimator. A thickness for a shim is computed from the difference in the vertical centerlines. The collimator is installed on vertical standoffs with the shims inserted between the collimator and standoffs. The shims align the collimator and detector in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A gripper for holding a manufactured part in a X-ray inspection system. The gripper includes a stationary jaw, a slidable jaw, a gripper base, a wear plate, a centering bushing an end plate, and a cam actuated spring mechanism for opening and closing the jaws. Both jaws are removable and adjustable in a keyway. Set screws are used to hold the jaws in place for a predetermined separation and allows a part to be positioned off center. The removable aspect allows for various jaw configurations. The centering bushing includes a cam shaped opening for accepting an end of an pneumatic activated ball plunger of a numerically controlled part manipulator. The centering bushing aligns the gripper to the longitudinal axis of the part manipulator.

Abstract: Means are provided for controlling and modulating the temperature of the hot gas exiting the combustor associated with a gas turbine engine. The means establish a preselected temperature gradient in the hot gas so as to provide a flow of hot gas at a relatively higher temperature through gaps between adjacent turbine vanes and a flow of hot gas at a relatively lower temperature upon the vanes.

Abstract: Air control means in a gas turbine engine having a variable pitch rotatable airfoil and means for varying the pitch of the airfoil are disclosed. The air control means comprises a platform fixedly attached to a radially inner end of the airfoil. The platform is generally positioned on a rotatable annular surface, which surface defines outer and inner spaces. In a first position, an edge portion of the platform substantially conforms to the annular surface. In a second position, the edge portion is displaced radially outwardly from the surface thereby allowing fluid communication between the outer and inner spaces.

Abstract: A flexible U-shaped channel is abutted against a surface to be measured, thereby forming an acoustic duct, with the surface forming one wall of the duct. An acoustic source injects sound waves into the duct traveling parallel with the surface in order to establish a standing acoustic wave. Measurements of acoustic pressure at several points allows one to compute k.sub.y, the acoustic wave number normal to the surface, and from k.sub.y to compute the acoustic impedance of the surface.

Abstract: A plurality of openings are provided in a stationary wall of a gas turbine engine aft of the compressor discharge to admit compressor discharge air into a sealed cavity formed between the stationary wall and the rotor of the gas turbine engine. A valve, biased to an open position, is associated with each of the openings so that under low speed conditions some of the compressor discharge air is admitted to the cavity to provide supplementary axial force on the rotor in one direction to prevent crossover under such conditions. Under higher speed conditions the increase in compressor discharge pressure overcomes the force biasing the valve to its open position, thereby causing the valve to close and terminate flow of compressor discharge air to the cavity, terminating the aforementioned supplementary axial force on the rotor.

Abstract: In the repair of a metallic article portion, a metal powder and laser beam are applied concurrently, the laser beam being applied in a power density range of 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.6 watts per square centimeter at an interaction time between the laser and the article and powder of 0.005-2 seconds to generate a repair layer.Apparatus for delivering a consistent, continuous flow of powder comprises the combination of an enclosed powder reservoir including means to introduce a gas under pressure, a mechanical means to feed powder into a conduit, a conduit vibrating means, and a fluid-cooled powder delivery nozzle.

Abstract: A removable disk for an annular casing in a turbomachine is disclosed. The disk is coaxial with the casing and slideably engagable with the casing in ambient conditions. The disk radially contacts the casing during operation so as to provide increased stiffness to the casing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the leakage flow rate through a labyrinth seal is disclosed. This is achieved by first injecting a tracer gas through a spray tube at an upstream region of the seal. The tracer gas mixes with the gas stream to form a mixed flow stream. The concentration of the tracer gas in the mixed flow stream is then measured, allowing the leakage flow rate to be calculated.

Abstract: A substrate penetrates a main seal in an ionization chamber filled with pressurized gas. In one form of the present invention, a second chamber is provided around the region of penetration. The substrate then also penetrates the second chamber. The second chamber is pressurized with a gas at a lower pressure than in the ionization chamber. Thus, the pressure differential across the main seal is lowered, thereby reducing the load on the main seal.

Abstract: A temperature sensor, for measuring the temperature of air flowing in a substantially annular path into a compressor stage of a gas turbine engine, is positioned in proximity to the inner diameter of the annular flow path forward of the compressor stage where the measured temperature of the compressor inlet air is reliable during periods of water ingestion as well as during dry operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator for rotating a plurality of circumferentially spaced variable vanes each having a spindle extending through a casing about which the vane is rotatable. The actuator includes an arcuate unison member and a plurality of levers each having first and second ends, respective ones of the levers being fixedly attached to a vane spindle at the lever first end and rotatably attached to the unison member at the lever second end. Frangible means are provided for allowing at least one of the vanes to be rotated to an angular position different from the position of adjacent ones of the vanes upon impact of the one vane by a foreign object, and limit means are provided for maintaining the angular position of the one vane within predetermined limits with respect to the angular position of adjacent vanes to prevent 1/REV excitation.

Abstract: In the invention, a light beam is scanned along a surface bearing data, such as a serial number. Reflected light is measured and processed for character recognition. The invention wobbles or dithers the light beam during the scan, and takes reflectivity measurements several times within a region on the surface, the region being called a pixel. This procedure enhances the reflectivity signature of edges, thus improving the ability to recognize characters.

Abstract: In an invention detector having an array of detectors, grounding pads are positioned in the spaces between some detectors (data detectors) and other detectors (reference detectors). The grounding pads are kept at zero electric potential, i.e., grounded. The grounding serves to (1) drain away electrons and thereby prevent an unwanted accumulation of charge in the spaces, and (2) cause the electric field lines to be more perpendicular to the detectors in regions near the grounding pads.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a turbomachinery blading configuration. The configuration includes a circumferential recess in a blade support structure and a plurality of blades. Each blade has a platform for mounting the blade within the recess. Each platform includes oppositely directed, generally circumferentially facing edges, each edge having a first and second axial surfaces separated by a recess. The surfaces contact matching surfaces on adjacent blades thereby determining predictable load paths for tangential and twisting moment reaction forces acting on the blades.

Abstract: A method of fabricating sheet metal panels and the article produced thereby. According to one form, the method of fabrication includes the steps of providing a panel of sheet metal, perforating the panel to provide a plurality of holes, forming the panel into a preselected curve about a longitudinal centerline, forming the leading edge portion of the panel into a front flange, forming a shoulder in the panel centered on the holes and extending perpendicularly from a surface thereof, bending an outer portion of the shoulder into a lip, and bonding the portions of the panel comprising the shoulder and lip.

Abstract: The invention is an improved inlet particle separator for removing extraneous matter from a stream of air directed into the engine's core section. The improved separator utilizes two stages of separation. The first stage is an axial flow separator for initially separating engine inlet air into a first flow of relatively contaminated air and a second flow of relatively clean air. This first stage of separation is accomplished by sharply turning the air flow radially inwardly so that the relatively dense extraneous matter continues in its original direction into a scavenge system. A second stage of separation is accomplished in the scavenge system and comprises a centrifugal separator that separates the first flow of air into third and fourth flows of relatively contaminated air for the purpose of protecting a blower that powers the flow through the scavenge system and which is in flow communication with only the relatively less contaminated fourth flow of air.

Abstract: Method for improving signal response of a linear array ionization detector. The detector employs a detector assembly having plural closely-spaced detector elements mounted on a substrate with the assembly positioned in a high pressure, gas-filled chamber. Signal response is improved by cleaning the assembly and coating it with a moisture resistant material before insertion into the chamber.

Abstract: The invention comprises a blade for a gas turbine engine including an airfoil portion having a non-linear stacking axis which is effective for generating a compressive component of bending stress due to centrifugal force acting on the blade. The compressive component of bending stress is provided in a life-limiting section of the blade, which, for example, includes trailing and leading edges of the blade. Inasmuch as the stacking axis, which represents the locus of centers of gravity of transverse sections of an airfoil portion of the blade, is non-linear, an increased amount of a compressive component of bending stress can be generated at a life-limiting section between root and tip sections of the blade without substantially increasing bending stress at the root of the blade.