Abstract: A mattress includes a core portion having independently inflatable head, seat and foot zones, each of which includes at least an A bladder and a B bladder. Pressure within all the core portion A bladders is adjustable separately from pressure within all the core portion B bladders. Pressure within the A bladders of a given zone are adjustable separately from pressure within the B bladders of the given zone. Pressure within the A bladders of a given zone are separately adjustable from pressure within the A bladders of zones other than the given zone, and pressure within the B bladders of a given zone are separately adjustable from pressure within the B bladders of zones other than the given zone.

Abstract: A mattress configured to support a patient including a foot section having a leg portion, a heel pressure relief portion, and a raised calf support portion positioned intermediate the leg portion and the heel pressure relief portion.

Abstract: This disclosure described a patient support having an air permeable layer, a plurality of inflatable bladders, a pressure-sensing assembly and a controller. In one embodiment, a combination of transverse bladders and vertically oriented can-shaped bladders is provided. In one embodiment, one or more angle sensors are provided in articulatable sections of the patient support.

Abstract: A mattress includes a core portion and a width adjustment portion extending laterally away from the core portion. The mattress has independently inflatable head, seat and foot zones.

Abstract: A hospital bed obstacle detection device (412) and related method for detecting an obstacle between first and second components (24, 26) of a hospital bed (410).

Abstract: The invention is a method for controlling blade tip clearance in a turbine engine having a flowpath extending therethrough, and a system for carrying out the method. The method includes acquiring a first nonpulsating pressure signal PC representative of tip clearance, sensing a second pressure PB substantially unaffected by tip clearance, forming an actual ratio of the acquired pressure and the sensed pressure, determining an error E having an actual component and a desired component, the actual component being a function of the actual ratio; and commanding a clearance control system to reduce the error.

Abstract: A bed includes a mattress having a core the core being one of at least two types. A control system is capable of automatically identifying the core type. In one variant, one core type is a bladder core type and another core type is a foam core type. The mattress may include a tag indicative of the core type and the control system may include a sensor for identifying the core type from the tag and wherein the sensor sends a signal to a controller to indicate a tag type and therefore a mattress type.

Abstract: A fluid mixer for mixing two fluid streams 40, 42 includes a set of main lobes 26 defining alternating primary and secondary main chutes 30, 32, one or more auxiliary lobes 28 intermediate two of the main lobes, and an auxiliary fluid capture duct 62. The auxiliary lobes are defined, at least in part, by the discharge end of the duct. In operation, the duct conveys secondary fluid to secondary chutes 36 defined by the lobes thereby improving the performance of the mixer despite the presence of an obstruction 18 that would otherwise impede thorough mixing of two fluid streams.

Abstract: A mattress assembly is provided that includes an adjustable width.

Abstract: A bed includes a frame with a support deck having a laterally slidable panel and a mattress supported by the deck and having a width adjustment portion. A controller causes a fluid supply to inflate the width adjustment portion when a deck width sensor detects an extended position of the slidable panel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bed, in particular a hospital bed, fitted with a plurality of adjacent individual barrier elements along at least one of its longitudinal sides, the barrier elements extending vertically and each occupying a fraction of the length of the bed.

Abstract: An exit guide vane array for a turbine engine includes a set of guide vanes 28 having a solidity and defining fluid flow passages 74 with a chordwisely converging forward portion 80. The high solidity and convergent passage portion 80 resist fluid separation. The vanes may also cooperate with each other to restrict an observer's line of sight to planes upstream of the vane array.

Abstract: An auxiliary lubrication system for an aircraft turbine engine includes a reservoir 32 of lubricant 50 and a venturi 42 to suction lubricant out of the reservoir and direct an lubricant mist at a bearing 24 or other component requiring lubrication. The venturi is directly connected to a source of motive fluid, such as pressurized air extracted from an engine flowpath 10, and is continuously driven by the motive fluid. The auxiliary system accommodates a failure or malfunction of the primary, high pressure lubrication system. The auxiliary system operates during normal conditions, when the primary system is fully functional. If the primary system fails, the auxiliary system continues to operate for a limited time, until the lubricant in the reservoir is depleted, to provide an lubricant mist to the component being lubricated. The limited-duration lubricant supply allows the aircraft crew time to carry out actions required to safeguard the aircraft and its occupants.

Abstract: Rotor blades 40 for a bladed rotor feature an attachment 44 that improves the energy absorption capability of a snap ring 60 used as one component of a blade axial retention system. The attachment plastically deforms the snap ring rather than shearing through it in response to abnormally high forces exerted on the blade.