Abstract: A seal assembly and a rotary machine, such as a steam turbine, containing the seal assembly. A casing circumferentially surrounds a rotor and includes a circumferential channel open to the rotor. Seal segments are circumferentially arrayed in the channel and are movable between radially inward and outward positions. Circumferentially adjacent seal segments have circumferentially opposing surface grooves. A resilient and imperforate member is engaged in the grooves of circumferentially-adjacent seal segments circumferentially urging apart such segments and providing sealing between such segments.

Abstract: A brush seal which, among other applications, may be used for sealing a steam leakage gap between a steam turbine rotor and a steam turbine casing. A brush seal backing plate has a surface which includes adjacent first and second areas. First and second bristle packets contact and generally cover, respectively, the first and second areas. A first anti-hysteresis plate is positioned between and contacts the first and second bristle packets, is aligned generally perpendicular to the backing plate, and is proximate and generally spaced apart from the backing plate. The anti-hysteresis plate restores the bristles which would otherwise become set in a non-sealing position against the backing plate because of transient events such as thermal differential growth or relative movement of the rotor and casing.

Abstract: A brush seal which, among other applications, may be used for sealing a steam leakage gap between the shrouded free end of steam-turbine buckets (blades) of a steam-turbine rotor and a circumferentially surrounding steam-turbine stator. In a first embodiment, the brush seal includes first and second bristle packets having, respectively, first and second bristles, wherein the second bristles are more abrasive than the first bristles. In a second embodiment, the brush seal includes a bristle packet having bristles which are more abrasive proximate their free ends than not proximate their free ends.

Abstract: A motor assembly, such as an evaporator fan for a refrigerator, has a motor, first and second mounting bracket segments, and monolithic and elastomeric first and second grommets. The motor housing has opposingly protruding first and second end bosses. Each grommet includes inner and outer ring portions joined together by spaced-apart and generally-radially-extending spoke portions. The inner ring portion is positioned on the corresponding end boss. The outer ring portion has a hub and a circumferential flange radially projecting form the hub. Each mounting bracket segment has an opening, wherein the hub is positioned in the corresponding opening and wherein the circumferential flange longitudinally abuts the corresponding mounting bracket segment.

Abstract: A brush seal which, among other applications, may be used for sealing a steam leakage gap between the shrouded free end of steam-turbine buckets of a steam-turbine rotor and a circumferentially surrounding steam-turbine stator. In a first embodiment, an unflexed brush seal includes bristles having a generally straight first portion secured to a backing plate and a coextensive and generally straight second portion with a free end. The second portion makes a greater angle, than that of the first portion, with respect to a directed reference line. In a second embodiment, the first and second portions are curved, wherein a tangent line to the second portion makes a greater angle than a tangent line to the first portion.

Abstract: A gas-path leakage seal for generally sealing a gas-path leakage-gap between spaced-apart first and second members of a turbine (such as combustor casing segments of a gas turbine). The seal includes a flexible and generally imperforate metal sheet assemblage having opposing first and second surfaces and two opposing raised edges extending a generally identical distance above and below the surfaces. A first cloth layer assemblage has a thickness generally equal to the previously-defined identical distance and is superimposed on the first surface between the raised edges. A second cloth layer assemblage is generally identical to the first cloth layer assemblage and is superimposed on the second surface between the raised edges.

Abstract: A method for detecting misalignment of initially-aligned fiber filaments in a composite. An optical fiber is placed among the fiber filaments in the composite, light is directed into the optical fiber, the intensity of the light in the optical fiber is measured during subsequent composite processing, and attenuation in such light intensity is ascertained which indicates such misalignment (e.g., wrinkling, bending, buckling, porosity, delamination and the like) is being detected during such processing. In another preferred method, before-processing and after-processing x-ray images are taken of an x-ray-attenuating fiber which has been placed among x-ray-transparent fiber filaments in a composite.

Abstract: A lightweight steam turbine blade includes a metallic airfoil portion with at least one surface recess containing a void volume having adjacent first and second regions. Filler material is placed in and bonded to the surface recess and generally completely fills the void volume. The filler material in the first region has a higher average modulus of elasticity than that of the filler material in the second region.

Abstract: A shim assembly for a pole face of a magnet. A non-magnetizable shim tray may be positioned proximate, and preferably is attachable to, the pole face. The positioned shim tray has a surface hole having longitudinally adjacent first and second portions. The second portion has a generally circular circumference. The first portion has a perimeter generally identical to the circumference but with, for example, a flat region. A shim holder has a perimeter generally identical to the perimeter of the first portion so that it may be inserted through the first portion and into the second portion of the surface hole. A predetermined shim is removably attachable to the shim holder. The inserted shim holder, with the attached shim, is rotatable, and, when so rotated, the flat regions of the perimeters of the shim holder and the second portion of the surface hole are misaligned.

Abstract: A seal assembly having a flexible cloth seal which includes a shim assemblage surrounded by a cloth assemblage. A first tubular end portion, such as a gas turbine combustor, includes a longitudinal axis and has smooth and spaced-apart first and second surface portions defining a notch therebetween which is wider at its top than at its bottom and which extends outward from the axis. The second surface portion is outside curved, and a first edge of the cloth seal is positioned in the bottom of the notch. A second tubular end portion, such as a first stage nozzle, is located near, spaced apart from, and coaxially aligned with, the first tubular end portion. The second tubular end portion has a smooth third surface portion which surrounds at least a portion of the first tubular end portion and which is contacted by the cloth seal.

Abstract: An open superconductive magnet useful in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. The magnet has two spaced-apart assemblies and preferably has a "C" shape. Each assembly has: a vacuum enclosure having a longitudinal axis and surrounding a bore; a magnetizable pole piece located within the bore and outside the vacuum enclosure; and a superconductive main coil, a superconductive shielding coil, and a magnetizable ring positioned within the vacuum enclosure. There is no magnetizable solid path between the two pole pieces. Preferably, the ring is positioned longitudinally between the main and shielding coils.

Abstract: An open superconductive magnet useful in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. The magnet has two spaced apart assemblies, wherein each assembly has a superconductive shielding coil spaced longitudinally outward and apart from a superconductive main coil. A magnetizable pole piece is spaced apart from the coils, has a radially-outer portion at least partially radially overlapping the main coil, and has a longitudinally-inner portion which projects longitudinally inward past the longitudinally outer end of the main coil.

Abstract: An X-ray tube assembly having bearings rotatably connecting a rotor shaft and a stator. A pair of circumferential protrusions each radially extend from the shaft and are spaced apart a first radial distance from the stator. A substance, which includes metal (such as gallium) and which is liquid at the assembly's operating temperature, is located longitudinally between the circumferential protrusions. The substance radially extends a second radial distance between, and in conductive thermal contact with, the shaft and the stator. Preferably, the second radial distance is greater than fifty times the first radial distance, and the first radial distance is between twenty and sixty microns.

Abstract: An open superconductive magnet useful in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. The magnet has two spaced apart assemblies, wherein each assembly has a magnetizable pole piece and a magnetizable ring radially spaced outwardly apart from, and at least partially longitudinally overlapping, the pole piece. A superconductive main coil is positioned radially between the pole piece and the ring. A superconductive shielding coil is positioned radially outward from the superconductive main coil and longitudinally outward from the longitudinally outer end of the ring.

Abstract: A method for detecting misalignment of initially-aligned fiber filaments in a composite. An optical fiber is placed among the fiber filaments in the composite, light is directed into the optical fiber, the intensity of the light in the optical fiber is measured during subsequent composite processing, and attenuation in such light intensity is ascertained which indicates such misalignment (e.g., wrinkling, bending, buckling, porosity, delamination and the like) is being detected during such processing. In another preferred method, before-processing and after-processing x-ray images are taken of an x-ray-attenuating fiber which has been placed among x-ray-transparent fiber filaments in a composite.

Abstract: A probe, such as an eddy current probe, which can be moved by hand to a surface to be tested. A toroidal-shaped first resilient member contacts the bottom face of a support member. An elastic membrane extends over the bore of the first resilient member, contacts the bottom lateral surface of the first resilient member, and is unattached to the radially-inward-facing surface of the first resilient member. A more elastic, second resilient member is placed in the bore, is unattached to the first resilient member, and contacts the bottom surface of the elastic membrane. A flexible, surface-conformable, eddy current sensing coil overlies a portion of the bottom side of the second resilient member.

Abstract: A lightweight, impact-resistant gas turbine blade, such as an aircraft engine fan blade, includes a metallic airfoil portion with at least one surface recess containing a void volume having adjacent first and second regions. Filler material is placed in and bonded to the surface recess and generally completely fills the void volume. The filler material in the first region has a higher average modulus of elasticity than that of the filler material in the second region.

Abstract: A method for determining an adaptive feedrate for a machine tool used to machine a workpiece initially cut from stock using a stock-cutting program. Initial workpiece geometry is obtained from a geometry modeling program using the stock-cutting NC program as an input. Such automatically-generated initial workpiece geometry is used to derive adjusted (i.e., adaptive) feedrates in accordance with a known method.

Abstract: An eddy current probe which can be moved by hand to a surface to be tested. A toroidal-shaped first resilient member contacts the bottom face of a support member. An elastic membrane extends over the bore of the first resilient member, contacts the bottom lateral surface of the first resilient member, and is unattached to the radially-inward-facing surface of the first resilient member. A more elastic, second resilient member is placed in the bore, is unattached to the first resilient member, and contacts the bottom surface of the elastic membrane. A flexible, surface-conformable, eddy current sensing coil overlies a portion of the bottom side of the second resilient member.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet includes different-diameter, longitudinally-proximate, first and second coil form segments. First and second superconductive coils are wound, respectively, around the first and second coil form segments. A first spacer ring is attached to the first coil form segment and longitudinally abuts a lateral side of the first superconductive coil, and a second spacer ring circumferentially surrounds and is attached to the second coil form segment and longitudinally abuts a lateral side of the second superconductive coil. Two or more circumferentially-spaced-apart plate members are attached to, and extend radially outward from, the first and second spacer rings.