Abstract: A method and a system for forming a composite airfoil structure from a preform composite airfoil structure made from resin impregnated prepreg plies. The preform is shaped with a mold having a stationary lower mold and an upper mold. The preform is inserted in the lower mold and the upper mold is then moved towards the lower mold. The preform is compressed with the upper and lower mold, providing a contact between the upper mold, the preform, and the lower mold. Extra resin from the preform is removed through the leading edge and trailing edge. During the compression molding process, the shear stress on the plies of the preform is balanced, hence eliminating ply movement and preventing wrinkles from occurring. In addition, the length of the resin flow path is reduced, which decreases the mold force requirement, shear stresses, and thus wrinkles.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for allowing the operator of an ultrasound imaging system to switch between two-dimensional slices and three-dimensional projections in such a way that it is easy for the operator to visualize the relationship of the two-dimensional slice to the three-dimensional anatomy. In a "volume rotate" mode, the display screen displays an orientation box along with a three-dimensional projected image generated from a defined data volume. The orientation box provides a visual indication of the shape and orientation of that defined data volume. In a "cut plane" mode, a movable polygon representing a selected two-dimensional slice is displayed inside a stationary orientation box. The polygon provides a visual indication of the orientation and position of the slice relative to the defined data volume. In a "cut plane rotate" mode, a stationary polygon representing a selected two-dimensional slice is displayed inside a rotatable orientation box.

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 shoot-through protection system for an electric power generating system including a synchronous generator, a bridge rectifier coupled to an output of the generator for converting alternating current (AC) from the generator to direct current (DC) at a rectifier output, and at least one inverter coupled to the rectifier output for converting the DC output to a controlled frequency AC output for application to a load. The generator has a separately excited field winding in which the magnitude of field excitation controls the voltage output of the generator. A microprocessor-based controller regulates generator field excitation in a manner to control the DC output of the rectifier. The generator is protected from a shoot-through in the inverter by detecting a sustained voltage drop in the rectifier DC output and reversing generator field excitation in response to such a voltage drop to rapidly drive generator output voltage to substantially zero volts.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade comprises a shank portion, a tip portion and an airfoil. The airfoil has a pressure side wall and a suction side wall that are interconnected by a plurality of partition sidewalls, defining an internal cooling passageway within the airfoil. The internal cooling passageway includes at least one radial outflow passageway to direct a cooling medium flow from the shank portion towards the tip portion and at least one radial inflow passageway to direct a cooling medium flow from the tip portion towards the shank portion. A number of mixing ribs are disposed on the partition sidewalls within the radial outflow passageways so as to enhance the thermal mixing of the cooling medium flow, thereby producing improved heat transfer over a broad range of the Buoyancy number.

Abstract: Magnetic shields for plastic molded electricity meter frames are positioned to substantially block external magnetic fields from adversely affecting operation of meter components. The shield can be utilized with either electromechanical or electronic energy meters. In an electromechanical watthour meter which employs an aluminum disk driven to rotate through a magnetic field produced by a retarding magnet, the meter frame includes an integrally formed retarding magnet shield and an integrally formed bearing shield. The shields are coextensive with the frame, and extend from an inner periphery of the frame toward the retarding magnet and the bearing, respectively. The shields are formed of a magnetically permeable powder, such as a ferrite powder mixed with the plastic material from which the meter frame is molded. The shields divert externally applied fields away from the magnetically sensitive components of the meter without adversely affecting meter accuracy.

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 metalworking die has a soft metal plating on its contact surfaces. The plating produces a continuous lubricant supply which is only depleted slowly when employed in a hot metalworking operation. In forming a near-net-shape part using this die, the metalworking piece is coated with a glass lubricant. A temporary lubricant of graphite is also sprayed on the coated die.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating test vectors for use in testing ASIC designs at both the functional and circuit levels, and for comparing the results of functional level and circuit level tests, employ a set of software tools to facilitate generating test vectors and to compare results of simulation at the functional level with results of simulation at the synthesized circuit level. The software tool set includes a preprocessor program which reads source files and produces skeleton test vector files, a compiler program for compiling the test vector files, and an output comparison program for comparing functional level test results with circuit simulation level test results.

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: A retarding magnet assembly includes magnets configured to apply a constant drag on the rotating disk of an electromechanical electricity meter. The assembly includes upper and lower keepers secured to opposing extensions of the meter frame. A spacer is secured, at a first end, to the upper keeper, and a non-magnetic flexure spring is secured to a second end of the spacer. A pair of upper magnets are secured to the flexure spring member at opposing ends. A pair of lower magnets are secured to the lower keeper at opposing ends. The meter rotating disk extends between the upper and lower magnets. The equilibrium point of the flexure spring changes, depending on strength of the upper magnets and their consequent attraction to the upper keeper. Thus, if the upper magnets becomes stronger due to a temperature change, the attraction of the upper magnets to the upper keeper increases, and the upper magnets move closer to the upper keeper.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a probe and method for inspecting a complex shaped object having an irregular surface. In this invention, a flexible film of piezoelectric elements is combined with a flexible film of eddy current elements into a single probe. The probe simultaneously inspects the volume and the surface of the object by using the flexible ultrasonic transducer and the flexible eddy current sensor, respectively.

Abstract: A method for evaluating moldability characteristics of a plastic resin in an injection molding process. A vital few process response variables are determined from a plurality of process response variables that are used to characterize the injection molding process. The vital few process response variables control a plurality of quality characteristics that are used to characterize a molded product made from the plastic resin. An empirical model is then developed describing the relationship between the vital few process response variables and the plurality of quality characteristics. The empirical model is then trained with experimental data taken from injection molding process runs using new grades of the plastic resin. The trained empirical model is then used to evaluate the moldability characteristics of new grades of the plastic resin.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system employs a thinned array of transducer elements in order to reduce the number of signal processing channels. The transducer elements are reduced in number and then selectively located at grid positions in a pattern which reduces the sidelobe levels produced by the array. Thinning is accomplished by discretizing the aperture of the transducer array in two steps. First, a continuous aperture is discretized as a set of concentric rings. Then each ring is replaced by a set of spaced transducer elements. A zero sampling technique is used to determine the number of elements on each ring.

Abstract: The ammonia content of fuel gas in an IGCC power generation system is reduced through ammonia decomposition, thereby reducing the NO.sub.x emissions from the plant. The power generation system includes a gasifier, a gas turbine and at least one catalytic reactor arranged between the gasifier and the gas turbine. The catalytic reactor may be either a three stage or two stage device. The three stage reactor includes a first catalyst which promotes water-gas-shift, a second catalyst which promotes CO methanation, and a third catalyst which promotes ammonia decomposition. The two stage reactor includes a first catalyst which promotes water-gas-shift and CO methanation and a second catalyst which promotes ammonia decomposition. The plural catalytic stages may be disposed in a single vessel or successively disposed in individual vessels, and the catalysts may be in a pelletized form or coated on honeycomb structures. Alternatively, fluidized bed reactors may be used.

Abstract: A high power motor drive converter includes a three level neutral point clamped (NPC) output power conversion stage including switches; a split series connected DC capacitor bank coupled in parallel with the NPC output power conversion stage; and a controller for selecting switch positions for controlling the NPC output power conversion stage and controlling a neutral voltage balance of the DC capacitor bank by using space vector modulation and predictive charge calculations.

Abstract: A ballast system for at least one dimmable fluorescent lamp includes a resonant switching inverter and a controller which controls the inverter to operate above resonance during starting and normal running operation. After a start delay timer allows time for the lamp filaments to heat up, the controller provides control signals to a gate driver to drive the switching devices of the switching inverter initially at a relatively high frequency and then reduces the frequency until a sufficiently high voltage is reached to start the lamp. Once the lamp is started, the inverter is operated in its normal feedback mode. The ballast system further includes an overvoltage shutdown mechanism. During lamp starting, if either the output of the start delay timer is high or the output voltage is greater than a first overvoltage shutdown threshold, then an overvoltage shutdown timer is activated to shut down operation of the inverter for a predetermined overvoltage shutdown period.

Abstract: A thermocouple array includes a dielectric layer having via openings therethrough, a first patterned conductive layer facing one surface of the dielectric layer, and a second patterned conductive layer facing another surface of the dielectric layer. Portions of the second patterned conductive layer can extend through the via openings to couple respective portions of the first patterned conductive layer. The second patterned conductive layer has a different thermal emf than the first patterned conductive layer. The dielectric layer, the first patterned conductive layer, and the second patterned conductive layer can be surface-conformable.