Abstract: The disclosure describes a system to provide a steady supply of lumber pieces to a board separating device and insure the correct positioning of each lumber piece, at the proper time, thus allowing the separating device to function at a substantially higher rate than hitherto possible with previously known infeeding arrangements.

Abstract: A device for simulating ophthalmic surgery is disclosed which comprises a laser for generating a laser beam, an array for sensing whether the laser beam has been projected at the array, and a computer system operatively connected to the laser and the array, the computer system for actuating the laser, for determining whether the array has sensed the laser beam, and for creating an ablation profile based upon whether the array has sensed the laser beam.

Abstract: A control system for a ducted fan gas turbine engine (10) comprises a control unit (29) that receives input signals from a pressure transducer (27) located within the engine's fan duct (11) downstream of the fan (13) and a rotational speed transducer (32) mounted adjacent the shaft (24) carrying the fan (13). In the event of the control unit (29) detecting a fall in the air pressure downstream of the fan (13) and an increase in fan speed, it commands a temporary reduction in the fuel flow to the engine (10). Such a decrease in the air pressure downstream of the fan (13) and increase in fan speed is indicative of the fan (13) entering a stall condition. The temporary reduction in fuel flow to the engine (10) enables the fan (13) to recover from that stall condition.

Abstract: Provided is a ribbon assembly having the functional capability of providing break-out of ink coated or colored outer primary coated optical glass fibers from the ribbon assembly. The ink coating or colored outer primary coating is formulated from a benzophenone compound and at least about 1 wt. % of a homolytic photoinitiator to provide a level of adhesion between the ink coating or colored outer primary coating and matrix material which is less than the level of adhesion between the ink coating or colored outer primary coating and an adjacent underlying coating. Also provided are ink coating and colored outer primary coating compositions adapted to form ink coatings and colored outer primary coatings suitable for use on optical glass fibers contained in a ribbon assembly.

Abstract: A portable, stackable wagon assembly includes a main compartment over which a handle structure is movable to an operational position; the main compartment includes side walls provided with support members for a tray that is insertable into the main compartment to rest on the support members; the tray is provided with at least one partition wall and a handle to facilitate removal from the wagon assembly.

Abstract: A gas turbine combustion chamber which has primary, secondary and tertiary combustion zones in flow series has a secondary mixing duct and a tertiary mixing duct. The secondary and tertiary mixing ducts reduce in cross-sectional area from their intakes to their outlet apertures to provide an accelerating flow through the mixing ducts to prevent the formation of recirculating zones, Fuel injectors have fuel discharge apertures downstream of any recirculating zones formed at the intakes The fuel injectors extend across a major portion of the width of the ducts to effectively subdivide the ducts over tat least part of the streamwise length of the ducts. The portions of the fuel injectors within the ducts are oval shaped in cross-section and the portions outside the ducts are aerofoil shaped in crosssection. The fuel injectors reduce in dimension perpendicular to the widthwise direction of the duct.

Abstract: A system by which the air exhausted from either end of a pneumatic cylinder is directed, by an arrangement of control valves, to external surge tanks of appropriate volume where it is compressed to produce a deceleration effect at the end of each stroke before being released to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A patient head clamp is provided with two pairs of interconnected arms arranged so that the sleeves carrying skull penetrating pins will maintain the pins in alignment with the limits of the spatial separation of the arms of clamp.

Abstract: Shrouds (40) surrounding a stage of turbine blades (44) are cooled by a compressor airflow which is led to the downstream end of the shrouds before contacting them. The airflow passes through apertures (56) in plates (50) then over the shrouds (40) in an upstream direction, to exit from apertures (62) in the shrouds (40) in parallel with and in the same direction as the gasflow. Airflow needed is reduced relative to prior art needs, resulting in improved engine efficiency, and ejection of the air does not disturb the gasflow.

Abstract: A containment casing for a gas turbine engine comprising a substantially rigid casing shell arranged in operation coaxially with an axis of rotation of the gas turbine engine. The casing extending circumferentially around an array of fan rotor blades which are arranged to rotate about the engine axis. In the region of the casing where it is predicted blade impact in the event of a fan blade failure, there is at least one reinforcing rib extending substantially radially from the casing and circumscribing the outer periphery of the casing shell. The ribs providing improved strengthening of the casing. Preferably a first rib is positioned about the casing between the operational position of the trailing edge and the mid chord point of the fan blade. A second rib is axially positioned between the operational position of the mid chord point and the leading edge of the fan blade. A third rib may also be positioned axially forward of the operational position of the leading edge of the fan blade.

Abstract: A double wall structure for a gas turbine engine has an inner wall comprising a number of tiles. The outer wall is provided with a number of apertures through which air is directed into the space between the two walls. Inclined apertures are provided in the tiles so that cooling air can pass into the combustion chamber and form a cooling film underneath the tile. Each tile is provided with a number of pedestals. The orientation of the inclined apertures is such that the axis of each aperture lies upon an unobstructed channel between the pedestals.

Abstract: Provided is a combustion chamber for producing a pressurized gas containing: a wall structure defining an interior chamber; an explosion chamber disposed within the interior chamber and arranged such that compressed air can contact an exterior surface of the explosion chamber to cool it, a first reflecting surface for reflecting a pressure wave within the interior chamber; a second reflecting surface for reflecting the pressure wave within the interior chamber, wherein the first and the second reflecting surfaces are constructed and arranged to resonate the pressure wave in the interior chamber; at least one first inlet for introducing a first gas into the interior chamber; and at least one outlet from the interior chamber for drawing off a pressurized gas from the interior chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of the heat treatment of a fluent food product with steam includes a pressure vessel having a steam inlet at one end and an a product outlet at the opposite end; an inner partition wall having an open end defines the product introduction and treatment chamber and includes a fluid distribution device adapted to provide a plurality of discrete turbulent sprays that impact in a turbulent manner on the interior surface of the partition wall to then flow downwardly to the open end in a turbulent manner while steam flow upwardly toward a vent located at the top of the treatment chamber; balanced flow of steam is effected by apertured baffles extending between the interior wall of the vessel and the partition wall.

Abstract: A hydraulic seal (15) for providing a seal between two concentric shafts (10,12) of a gas turbine engine comprises a radially outer element (16) that defines an annular oil reservoir (21) and a radially inner element (22) having an annular fin (24) that projects into the oil reservoir (21). The radially inner seal element (22) is attached to its associated shaft (10) by frangible shear pins (26). In the event of relative axial movement between the shafts (10,12) the shear pins (26) break, thereby ensuring that such shaft relative axial movement is not unduly inhibited.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of the fly ash are described wherein heavy metals are separated and wherein there is formed a leaching resistant slag; the fly ash is introduced into a reactor into an oxidizing gas stream which is heated to at least 2500 degrees C. in a plasma generator; the fly ash melts and forms liquid drops of slag and a carbonaceous or hydrocarbonaceous material is added to the gas stream which burns and supplies extra energy to the process; the ratio of oxygen and carbon is regulated so that the ratio CO.sub.2 /CO+CO.sub.2 is kept within the limits 0.4-0.

Abstract: An apparatus (42) for inspecting an as cast turbine blade (40), with impingement cooling passages (36) (see FIG. 2 ), comprises a vacuum pump (52) arranged to evacuate the interior of the turbine blade (40) through pipe (48) and valve (54) and a supply of steam (46) arranged to supply steam to the interior of the turbine blade (40) through the pipe (48) and a valve (50). An infrared camera (56) is arranged to view the outer surface (32) of the turbine blade (40) to detect hot spots produced on the outer surface (32) of the turbine blade (40) by jets of steam impinging on the inner surface (35) of the turbine blade (40) from the cooling passages (36). A processor (60) records the images produced by the camera (56) and analyses the images to determine if the cooling passages (36) have been formed and if they have been formed in the correct position.

Abstract: A fuel injector (32) for a gas turbine engine combustion chamber (22) comprises a fuel injector nozzle (34) and a fuel feeding member (36). A wire mesh (76) is located in a space (74) defined between a hollow outer member (72) arranged around and spaced from a hollow inner member (70) of the fuel feeding member (36) and a fuel nozzle body (54) of the fuel injector nozzle (34). The wire mesh (76) rubs against the hollow outer member (72), the hollow inner member (70) and the fuel nozzle body (54) to frictionally damp vibrations of the fuel injector (32).

Abstract: A hybrid control system executes tasks within a transaction which is executed in a given order. The order in which the tasks are executed is inversely proportional to their deadlines. The deadlines are assigned an initial deadline D, an initial maximum end-to-end delay of the transaction is calculated using the initial deadlines D and the given order of the tasks.The deadline of the task with the largest deadline is reduced by an increment to give a new deadline and if the task following it has an increment to give a new deadline. A new end-to-end delay is calculated using the new deadlines and the given order of the tasks. These steps are repeated until the new end-to-end delay does not exceed the desired maximum end-to-end delay.