Abstract: An improved membrane switch includes multiple detents. A pair of electric circuits are completed by the membrane switch. The switch includes the pair of open electric circuits, three flexing areas, and two membrane contacts. Normally the flexing areas bias the membrane contacts out of contact with the electric circuits. When a first actuation force is applied to the membrane, the intermediate flexing area flexes allowing the first circuit to be complete by the first membrane contacts. When a second actuation force is applied to the membrane, the center and outer flexing areas flex allowing the second circuit to be completed by the second membrane contacts. The inventive membrane switch provides the operator with a clear indication and a detent feel for each of the two circuits.

Abstract: An axial flow, turbofan gas turbine engine, generally, has a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section. An axially extending flow path for working medium gases extends through these sections. The compressor section includes an upstream low pressure compressor and a downstream high pressure compressor. The high pressure compressor is formed by a stator assembly and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly has a plurality of airfoils or blades which extend radially outward from a rotor disk. During operation, the fan section draws in the working medium gases, as well as, sand. The sand abrades the blades and causes the blades to erode. In an effort to determine the service life remaining in a blade after erosion damage has been done, the present invention relates to a method and a gauge for measuring the service life remaining in a blade.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved fixture (70) for masking a portion of an airfoil (12) during coating operations. The fixture (70) includes a masking member (54) and a clamp (74) for forcing the masking member (54) into contact with the portion of the airfoil (12) requiring masking.