Abstract: A method for making a brush-tooth seal, such as a brush-tooth seal which is attachable to a turbine stator, includes obtaining a seal carrier having a groove and having seal teeth and obtaining a brush seal having bristles with tips. The brush seal is engaged in the groove and then attached to the seal carrier. Then, the tips of the bristles of the attached and engaged brush seal are cut, such as with an electric discharge machining (EDM) wire, at a predetermined distance from the longitudinal axis of the seal carrier.

Abstract: A micrometer system includes a motorized drive for repeatedly advancing and retracting the micrometer barrel, and a touch sensor for sensing when the barrel tip has just touched the target surface. The drive is preferably mounted on the micrometer body. By performing a measurement repeatedly, a series of readings can be obtained which cumulatively increases measurement accuracy, especially when contact must be made to a compliant surface.

Abstract: An MRI system acquires NMR tracking data from a tracking coil imbedded in a medical device which is guided by a physician using real time anatomic images produced from image data acquired by the MRI system. A Hadamard magnetic resonance tracking sequence is used to update the tracking coil location which is indicated on the anatomic image. The Hadamard sequence uses four different acquisition, but tracking coil location is updated after each acquisition, using the new acquisition and three previously acquired acquisitions.

Abstract: A splice connector includes a first coupling electrically connected to a first cable or conductor and a second coupling electrically connected to a second cable or conductor. Both couplings include at least one electrically conductive spade. The second coupling engages the first coupling so that the respective spades contact each other, thereby electrically connecting the two cables or conductors. Due to its construction and mass, this connector can be used in high temperature, high-G environments.

Abstract: An MRI system is employed to acquire image data using a pulse sequence in which k-space is sampled in a Fibonacci spiral trajectory. A single pulse sequence may be used to sample all of k-space with a single spiral arm, or k-space can be sampled with a plurality of interleaved Fibonacci spiral arms by performing a corresponding series of pulse sequences.

Abstract: Doped polyanilines are prepared by contacting aniline with an oxidizing agent such as ammonium peroxydisulfate in aqueous solution at a temperature of at most about 10° C. in the presence of at least one organic sulfonic acid, preferably an alkylbenzenesulfonic acid such as dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid. The products may be blended with thermoplastic resins such as polystyrene to produce blends having excellent static discharge properties.

Abstract: A scan control device located in the bore of an MRI system magnet includes tracking coils and a display. Location and alignment of the scan control device is tracked by the MRI system using signals acquired from the tracking coils. These signals are also used to update the scan parameters such that the scan plane of the image acquired by the MRI system is controlled by the scan control device location and orientation. The image is produced on the display to provide an attending physician with interactive control of the image from the magnet bore.

Abstract: An article is described, which includes a metal-based substrate, such as a superalloy; a dense, primary bond layer; and a spongy secondary bond layer. A thermal barrier coating is applied over the secondary bond layer. The spongy layer has a microstructure which includes an open network of interconnected pores. A process is also described. It includes the step of applying a spongy, metallic bond layer over the substrate, followed by the application of a thermal barrier coating. A dense, primary bond layer may optionally be applied before the application of the spongy layer.

Abstract: A shim assembly for a magnet and a method for making a shim assembly. A first spool has a shaft, a first rim attached to a first longitudinal end of the shaft, and a second rim attached to a second longitudinal end of the shaft. A first magnetizable tape has a predetermined length and is wound around the shaft longitudinally between the first and second rims.

Abstract: A combustor comprises an outer combustor casing defining a plurality of circumferentially adjoining combustion chambers. Each combustion chamber comprises a dome at an upstream end and an outlet at a downstream end. A plurality of pre-mixers are joined to the combustor dome of each respective combustion chamber. The pre-mixers comprise a duct having an inlet at one end for receiving compressed air, an outlet at an opposite end disposed in flow communication with the combustion chamber and a swirler disposed in the duct adjacent the duct inlet for swirling air channeled therethrough. A fuel injector is provided for injecting fuel into the pre-mixer ducts and for mixing with the air in the ducts for flow into the combustion chamber to generate a combustion flame at the duct outlets.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus analyzes detector data from a CT system to detect a signature of a bad detector. The apparatus generates a plurality of Helgason-Ludwig condition values from the detector data. The generated values are processed to generate a comparison value, which is compared to a predetermined threshold value. A warning message may be generated when the comparison value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the warning message alerting an operator to the likely presence of a bad detector. In one embodiment, the generated values are further analyzed to generate an estimate of the position of the bad detector. In a preferred embodiment, the comparison value is a matrix norm of a matrix generated from the Helgason-Ludwig condition values.

Abstract: A system for compensating for capacitively coupled artifacts in signals generated by a matrix-addressed x-ray imaging panel including a matrix-addressed array of sensing cells connected to respective integrating read-out amplifiers. While all scan lines are de-energized, a plurality of induced signals output by each amplifier are read, accumulated and averaged by a processor to form respective average values. During normal image panel operation, while scan lines are energized, processor subtracts respective average values from image signals output by respective amplifiers. The result is rounded to obtain an integer value for an image signal corresponding to each amplifier that is compensated for capacitively coupled artifacts.

Abstract: A method for overhauling a steam turbine to increase its power without increasing its overall length. Existing seal assemblies containing seals other than brush seals are replaced with longitudinally-shorter replacement seal assemblies having only brush seals. An existing turbine section, such as a high-pressure turbine section, is replaced with a longitudinally-longer replacement turbine section having additional stages (i.e., additional rows of rotating buckets or blades).

Abstract: The brush seal includes manually-flexible, plastic-containing, brush-seal bristles attached to an elongated bristle holder. The rotary machine has a rotor and stator casing segments with segments of the brush seal positioned one each in a surface groove of a corresponding stator casing segment. In one example, the bristle holder is manually flexible, the bristles and the bristle holder define a monolithic unit, and the brush seal is coiled onto a spool from which a desired length is cut thereby avoiding the necessity of manufacturing a brush seal segment to a specific radius and a specific circumferential length to match a particular stator casing segment.

Abstract: A spray coating simulation for a robotic spray gun assembly imports a discretized model of an object geometry. Next, the simulator imports a numerically characterized spray pattern file and a robot motion file having a plurality of motion positions, dwell times and orientations defining a motion path of the spray gun. The individual motion positions within the motion file are read and a determination is made as to which portions of the object geometry are visible at each motion position. Next, a coating thickness at each visible portion of the object geometry is computed, based on the specified spray pattern data, the dwell time and the orientation of the robot motion path, for each motion position. Finally, the total coating thickness over the object geometry is calculated.

Abstract: A method of correcting aberrations caused by target x-ray scatter in three-dimensional images generated by a volumetric computed tomographic system is disclosed. The method uses a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the distribution of scattered radiation reaching the detector plane. The geometry for the scatter calculation is determined using the uncorrected three-dimensional tomographic image. The calculated scatter is used to correct the primary projection data which is then processed routinely to provide the corrected image.

Abstract: Closed loop control apparatus and methods for reducing ripples in an extruded plastic sheet include, for example, a closed loop speed control system having a roll speed sensor, a roll speed controller, and a roll drive. The roll speed sensor is communicatively coupled to the active extruder roll and configured to determine an actual roll speed of the active extruder roll. The roll speed controller is communicatively coupled to the roll speed sensor and utilizes the actual roll speed and desired roll speed to generate a command signal and transmit such signal to the roll drive. The roll drive is communicatively coupled between the roll speed controller and the active extruder roll, and utilizes the command signal to drive the active extruder roll, through its controllers and power electronics.

Abstract: A melt condensation polymerization process for preparing siloxane copolycarbonates is provided. The process includes reacting an aromatic dihydroxy compound, carbonic acid diester, hydroxyaryl terminated polydiorganosiloxane and catalyst with a salt.

Abstract: An MRI system acquires NMR tracking data from a tracking coil imbedded in an ablation device which is guided by a physician using real time anatomic images produced from image data acquired by the MRI system. The same tracking coil is energized by an RF power source to deliver energy which ablates tissue after the device is guided into proper position.

Abstract: Optical diffusion waves are generated inside localized regions in highly scattering media such as human breast tissue by simultaneously using visible and near-infrared light and focusing ultrasound waves in localized regions. The vibrating tissue medium scatters the impinging light to produce intensity-modulated diffusion waves. The diffusion waves emanating from the insonified region have a frequency equal to the frequency (or a harmonic) of the ultrasound waves and detected at the boundary of the breast in order to acquire data for the density, absorption and scattering parameters in each localized region. A multiplicity of diffusion wave detectors arranged at the boundary of the breast detect scattered diffusion waves at a multiplicity of locations. Each diffusion wave detector comprises a photodetector whose output signals are fed to a detector which detects the amplitudes and phase of the diffusion waves.