Abstract: A grain combine has a header, a header discharge port, a feederhouse for transporting the cut crops from the header housing into a rotating concave threshing system. The header, discharge port and feederhouse are separated into separate first and second discrete cut crop passageways extending from the header to the intake end of the concave.

Abstract: Present drive wheels for use with an endless belted track fail to adequately disperse the debris at the interface between the drive wheel and the endless belted track. The present drive wheel includes a mounting hub having a plurality of cantilevered drive members. An opened ended slot is provided between each of the plurality of driving members to provide an effective escape path for debris.

Abstract: An end face seal for sealing between first and second articulately coupled members of a track joint is disclosed. The seal is provided with a flexible dirt shield of elastomeric material. The dirt shield extends radially outwardly from the seal ring and has a distal end that is adapted to sealingly engage the first member at a location externally of the load ring to prevent the ingress of abrasive materials between the seal ring and the load ring and eliminate the abrasive erosion of the load ring, thereby maintaining the axial seal bearing force of the load ring against the seal ring throughout the useful life of the seal.

Abstract: The invention disclosed and taught herein teaches method and apparatus for restricting the ingress of hot combustion gases into the turbine disc plenum of a gas turbine engine as the hot gases flow from a turbine nozzle assembly and into the turbine blades. A jet of engine cooling air is injected into the wake region immediately behind and down stream of the nozzle assembly's stator vanes thereby reducing the static pressure recovery otherwise occurring within the wake region. Thus, a lessor amount of buffering air is required within the turbine disc plenum to prevent the ingress of hot gases thereby resulting in an increased efficiency of the engine's cooling air delivery system and over all engine performance.

Abstract: Existing combustors have the tendency to emit emissions and require a large quantity of cooling air to retain or extend the life of the components to a reasonable life expectancy. The present combustor reduces the emissions emitted therefrom, requires a reduced quantity of cooling air while resulting in a high heat transfer cooling rate extending the life expectancy of the components. The combustor construction includes an interior liner having a plurality of angled holes extending therethrough arranged in a preestablished pattern defining a centroid and an exterior liner having a plurality of holes extending therethrough at about a 90 degree. At least a portion of the plurality of holes in the exterior liner being radially aligned with the centroid of the plurality of holes in the interior line.

Abstract: Driving systems for belted machines have in the past utilized a common material interface to drive the belted machine. For example, rubber belted machines have generally used a rubber drive therewith. The present drive wheel is made of metal and includes a plurality of contacting elements attached to the outer surface of a drum. Each of the contacting elements have a contacting surface have a generally diamond configuration defining a leading point of contact, a trailing point of contact, a major length and a minor length. The plurality of contacting elements are arranged on the drum in a plurality of spaced apart rows which extend circumferentially along and axis and each of the major lengths coincide with the axis. Furthermore, the major length is greater in length than the minor length. The plurality of contacting elements extend from the outer surface a preestablished distance and the interface of the preestablished distance and the contacting surface form a sharp edge 67 or a point 68.

Abstract: An improved airfoil tip sealing apparatus is disclosed wherein brush seals are attached to airfoil tips with the distal ends of the brush seal fibers sealingly contacting opposing wall surfaces. Embodiments for variable vanes, stators and both cooled and uncooled turbine blade applications are disclosed.

Abstract: The control systems for reducing NOx in the combustion systems of past gas turbine engines has incorporated a variety of expensive and complicated techniques to reduce the NOx level. For example, such systems use schemes for introducing more air into the primary combustion zone, recirculating cooled exhaust products into the combustion zone and injecting water spray into the combustion zone. The present system reduces the formation of NOx within the combustion zone by controlling the air/fuel ratio and more explicitly by controlling the air portion of the air/fuel ratio. The present system includes a device for directing a portion of the flow of compressed air exiting a compressor section into an injection nozzle and into a combustor, a device for reducing the flow of compressed air into the combustor.

Abstract: The present method of making a workpiece having a plurality of holes defined therein includes the plurality of holes defining a specific flow at a specific flow condition.

Abstract: Past airfoil configurations have been used to improve aerodynamic performance and engine efficiencies. The present airfoil configuration further increases component life and reduces maintenance by reducing internal stress within the airfoil itself. The airfoil includes a chord and a span. Each of the chord and the span has a bow being summed to form a generally "C" configuration of the airfoil. The generally "C" configuration includes a compound bow in which internal stresses resulting from a thermal temperature gradient are reduced. The structural configuration reduces internal stresses resulting from thermal expansion.

Abstract: Conventional methods for heat treating cylindrical components such as track bushings involve multiple steps. For example, many such methods consist of carburizing, cooling, induction-hardening, quenching, and tempering. The conventional methods have proved to be costly because different heat treating apparatus are required. This causes duplicate handling and wasted manufacturing time. The present invention provides an apparatus 30 for heat treating a bushing 10 simultaneously from an outer peripheral surface 12 and the pair of inner circumferential surfaces 20.

Abstract: Air flow delivery systems for gas turbine engines are used to increase component life and increase power and efficiencies. The present system increases the component life and increases efficiencies by directing a portion of a compressed air formed by the compressor section and located in a first fluid flow path to a second fluid flow path including a heat exchanger positioned operatively within the second flow path. The second fluid flow path results in a flow of cooled cooling air to be directed to the components of the gas turbine engine to be cooled. Thus, the components of the gas turbine engine are more efficiently cooled with a smaller quantity of air drawn from the compressor section generated air than if compressor generated air was used for cooling components of the gas turbine engine. Furthermore, more compressor generated air remains for combustion within the combustor section of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle includes a first cavity having a first preestablished cross-sectional area and a second preestablished cross-sectional area being larger than the first preestablished cross-sectional area. And, an actuating device being positioned at an inlet end of the first cavity and controllably varying the flow of a compressed fluid through the fuel injection nozzle. The fuel injection nozzle further including a second cavity having a flow of compressed fluid flowing therethrough.

Abstract: Past connector assemblies have failed to provide adequate amounts of the air/cooling liquid mixture from the heat exchanger to the surge tank for proper air venting. The present invention overcomes this and other problems by providing a connector assembly 48 which is easily installed within a tank portion 14 of the heat exchanger 12. The connector assembly 48 includes a tubular member 50 which has a cylindrical portion 54 and a bifurcated end portion 56. The bifurcated end portion 56 has a rectangular outer shape 66 which is designed so that it can be squeezed into a rectangular shaped opening 44 in the tank portion 14. A nut 92 which has an inner threaded portion 104 is threaded onto an outer threaded portion 64 of the cylindrical portion 54 until a pair of tabs 76,78 on the bifurcated end portion 56 are securely seated against an inner surface 16 of the tank portion 14. A washer 110 is seated against an annular beaded seat 36 to form a first seal.

Abstract: The present nozzle and shroud assembly mounting structure configuration increases component life and reduces maintenance by reducing internal stress between the mounting structure having a preestablished rate of thermal expansion and the nozzle and shroud assembly having a preestablished rate of thermal expansion being less than that of the mounting structure. The mounting structure includes an outer sealing portion forming a cradling member in which an annular ring member is slidably positioned. The mounting structure further includes an inner mounting portion to which a hooked end of the nozzle and shroud assembly is attached. As the inner mounting portion expands and contracts, the nozzle and shroud assembly slidably moves within the outer sealing portion.

Abstract: The present gas turbine engine (10) includes a disc assembly (64) defining a disc (66) having a plurality of blades (70) attached thereto. The disc (66) has a preestablished rate of thermal expansion and the plurality of blades have a preestablished rate of thermal expansion being less than the preestablished rate of thermal expansion of the disc (66). A shroud assembly (100) is attached to the gas turbine engine (10) and is spaced from the plurality of blades (70) a preestablished distance forming an interface (108) therebetween. Positioned in the interface is a seal (110) having a preestablished rate of thermal expansion being generally equal to the rate of thermal expansion of the plurality of blades (70).

Abstract: Air flow cooling systems are used to increase component life. The present air flow cooling system increases the component life, increases efficiencies and eliminated components. For example, the power source or gas turbine engine is used to cause a flow of air around and about electrical components which need cooling. A plurality of compartments insure the direction of a flow of cooling air around and along the electrical components and the compressor section of the gas turbine engine causes the air to flow around and along the electrical components.

Abstract: The present turbine wheel assembly increases component life and turbine engine longevity. The combination of the strap and the opening combined with the preestablished area of the outer surface of the opening and the preestablished area of the outer circumferential surface of the strap and the friction between the strap and the opening increases the life and longevity of the turbine wheel assembly. Furthermore, the mass "M" or combined mass "CM" of the strap or straps and the centrifugal force assist in controlling vibrations and damping characteristics.

Abstract: A multipiece combustor has a portion thereof being made of a plurality of ceramic segments. Each of the plurality of ceramic segments have an outer surface and an inner surface. Each of the plurality of ceramic segments have a generally cylindrical configuration and including a plurality of joints. The joints define joint portions, a first portion defining a surface being skewed to the outer surface and the inner surface. The joint portions have a second portion defining a surface being skewed to the outer surface and the inner surface. The joint portions further include a shoulder formed intermediate the first portion and the second portion. The joints provide a sealing interlocking joint between corresponding ones of the plurality of ceramic segments.

Abstract: A quick-disconnect coupling device (12) for use with a power device (8) and for attaching a variety of attachments (18) to a stick (10) includes a pair of brackets (22) attached to the attachment (18), a frame assembly (40) being attached to the power device (8) and an activation device (80). The actuation device (80) having a plurality of linkage members (82) being positioned in a locked position (84) when the power device (8) is attached to the attachment (18) and being in an open position (83) when not being attached to the attachment (18). The linkage members (82) including a latch (130) having a pair of ends (132) being spaced apart and in the locked position (84) being in contacting relationship with the each of the pair of brackets (22).