Abstract: A metallic article is produced by furnishing one or more nonmetallic precursor compound comprising the metallic base nickel, cobalt, iron, iron-nickel, or iron-nickel-cobalt, and at least one alloying element. The nonmetallic precursor compound(s) are chemically reduced to produce an initial metallic particle without melting the initial metallic particle. The initial metallic particle is thereafter melted and solidified to produce the metallic article. The melted-and-solidified metal may be used in the as-cast form, or it may be converted to billet and further worked to the final form.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for scraping a roll surface rotating in a molten metal coating process comprising traversing a support assembly to one side, lifting the arms attached to said the assembly to a fully retracted position to disengage scraper blades from contact with a roll surface; initiating a scrape cycle by means of a trigger signal; lowering the arms and scraper blades in the mid-point of the sink roll; increasing the pressure reference from lifting pressure to approximately zero; energizing one or more directional valves; increasing the pressure value gradually to a preselected pressure; extending the cylinder in a controlled manner to engage the scraper head gently on to the sink roll; moving the engaged scraping head at controlled, predetermined speed from the sink roll mid point to the fully traversed out position; stopping the traversing means upon reaching the fully traversed out portion; and lifting the scraper head from the roll surface by removing pressure from the cylinder; then repeating the

Abstract: An electromagnetic machine that generates electric power from an engine by having rotor poles on the tips of the fan blade airfoils and stator elements circumferentially placed around the blade airfoils. As the pole tips on the blade airfoils are excited, they rotate past the stator elements, causing a magnetic flux change in the stator. The magnetic flux change results in an electric potential that is used to provide power.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for identifying in-range sensor faults in a gas turbine engine, by observing the tracked component qualities in an embedded model and recognizing anomalous patterns of quality changes corresponding to sensor errors. An embedded model of the engine is employed to estimate sensed parameters such as rotor speeds, temperatures and pressures, as well as other parameters that are computed based on input parameters. Each major rotating component of the engine, including the fan, compressor, combustor, turbines, ducts and nozzle is individually modeled. Sensor failures are detected by identifying anomalous patterns in component quality parameters. A library of anomalous patterns is provided for comparing quality parameters generated by a tracking filter with the library of anomalous patterns. If a pattern is matched, a sensor may be eliminated from the tracking filter and the estimated model parameter used to avoid corrupting the model quality parameters.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component for gas turbine engines, the component having fine features such as thin edges with thicknesses of less than about 0.030 inches and small radii of less that about 0.030 inches formed using the combination of prepreg plies layed up with non-ply ceramic inserts. The CMC components of the present invention replace small ply inserts cut to size to fit into areas of contour change or thickness change, and replace the small ply inserts with a fabricated single piece discontinuously reinforced composite insert, resulting in fewer defects, such as wrinkles, and better dimensional control.

Abstract: A method for making a gas turbine engine turbine blade comprising an airfoil section a platform section, an under platform section, and a dovetail section, the exterior surface of the dovetail section comprising a shank exterior surface and a serrated exterior surface. The blade further includes a silicon-modified diffusion aluminide layer a surface of a turbine blade section selected from the group consisting of the exterior surface of the under platform section, the exterior surface of the dovetail section, and combinations thereof, the aluminide layer having a concentration of silicon at a surface of the aluminide layer in the range of about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent and a concentration of aluminum at the surface of the aluminide layer in the range of about 5 weight percent to about 25 weight percent.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite with a ceramic matrix and a gradient layering of coating on ceramic fibers. The coating typically improves the performance of the composite in one direction while degrading it in another direction. For a SiC-SiC ceramic matrix composite, a BN coating is layered in a gradient fashion or in a step-wise fashion in different regions of the article comprising the ceramic. The BN coating thickness is applied over the ceramic fibers to produce varying desired physical properties by varying the coating thickness within differing regions of the composite, thereby tailoring the strength of the composite in the different regions. The coating may be applied as a single layer as a multi-layer coating to enhance the performance of the coating as the ceramic matrix is formed or infiltrated from precursor materials into a preform of the ceramic fibers.

Abstract: A method of repairing spline and seal teeth of a mated component is disclosed. The method includes a low energy input weld to deposit a repair material on the non-worn, non-pressure face of the splines while minimizing the HAZ grain size. The splined area of the component is then remachined to the original spline contour by removing original material from the worn, pressure face of the splines and excess repair material to produce a mated component with radially re-clocked splines that have original component material on the pressure face of the teeth.

Abstract: A solar cell structure has a solar cell unit structure including a heat sink, and a solar cell having a front side, a back side, and a solar-cell projected area coverage on the heat sink. The solar cell has an active semiconductor structure that produces a voltage between the front side and the back side when the front side is illuminated. An intermediate structure is disposed between and joined to the back side of the solar cell and to the heat sink. The intermediate structure has an intermediate-structure projected area coverage on the heat sink and includes a by-pass diode having a diode projected area coverage on the heat sink. The diode projected area coverage on the heat sink may be substantially the same as the intermediate-structure projected coverage on the heat sink. Alternatively, the diode projected area coverage on the heat sink maybe less than the solar-cell projected area coverage on the heat sink, and the intermediate structure further includes a substrate coplanar with the by-pass diode.

Abstract: A chemical composition and method for repairing a thermal barrier coating on a component designed for use in a hostile thermal environment, such as turbine, combustor and augmentor components of a gas turbine engine. The method repairs a thermal barrier coating on a component that has suffered localized damage to the thermal barrier coating. After cleaning the surface area of the component exposed by the localized spallation, a paste-like mixture of a ceramic composition comprising ceramic powders and nano-sized ceramic materials in a binder is applied to the surface area of the component, and is optionally smoothed using mechanical means. The composition is then allowed to dry and cure to form a dried coating having polymeric characteristics. Upon subsequent heating, the dried coating reacts to produce a glassy ceramic repair coating.

Abstract: An evaporator including a shell having a first end and a second end. A plurality of tubes are disposed within the shell to circulate refrigerant through the shell. A plurality of shell inlets are in fluid communication with the shell to deliver a fluid to exchange heat in the plurality of tubes, preferably through a baffle arrangement. At least one of the shell inlets may be arranged to deliver fluid to the shell adjacent to the first end. In addition, at least one of the other shell inlets may be arranged to deliver fluid adjacent to the second end. A shell outlet is in fluid communication with the shell to discharge fluid from the shell. The shell outlet is arranged to receive the combined liquid delivered to the shell by the plurality of shell inlets.

Abstract: A damaged gas turbine blade which has previously been in service, and which is made of a base metal, is furnished. Any damaged material is removed from the damaged blade tip. The damaged blade tip is weld repaired with a nickel-base superalloy that is more resistant to oxidation resistance than is the base metal in the operating environment of the tip-repaired gas turbine blade. The method does not include any step of coating a lateral surface of the repaired blade tip with a non-ceramic coating after the step of weld repairing.

Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly includes a forked first frame member coupled to a second frame member via a coupling device. The coupling device includes first and second tab units, and a fastening unit. The first tab unit is mounted on the first frame member, and includes a pair of first tabs, each formed with a first coupling hole and an angle-adjusting hole unit. The second tab unit is mounted on the second frame member, and includes a pair of second tabs, each formed with a second coupling hole and an engaging hole unit to be registered with the first coupling holes and the angle-adjusting hole units, respectively. The fastening unit includes a first fastener extended removably through the first and second coupling holes, and a second fastener extended removably through the angle-adjusting hole units and the engaging hole units.

Abstract: An antenna aperture for mounting on the outside mast structure of a submarine is disclosed. The antenna aperture is designed to withstand hydrostatic pressure cycles as would be experienced by a submarine. The antenna is constructed of a highly corrosion resistant housing upon which a wide angle impedance (WAIM) cover designed to meet antenna RF requirements is integrated.

Abstract: A fractal dipole antenna includes a dielectric substrate, first and second closed-loop radiating elements, each of which is formed on the dielectric substrate, and first and second fractal radiating elements, each of which is formed on the dielectric substrate and is surrounded by and connected to a respective one of the first and second closed-loop radiating elements.

Abstract: The present invention is a ceramic matrix composite turbine engine component, wherein the component has a direction of maximum tensile stress during normal engine operation. The component comprises a plurality of biased ceramic plies, wherein each biased ply comprises ceramic fiber tows, the tows being woven in a first warp direction and a second weft direction, the second weft direction lying at a preselected angular orientation with respect to the first warp direction, wherein a greater number of tows are woven in the first warp direction than in the second weft direction, and wherein a number of tows in the second weft direction allows the biased plies to maintain their structural integrity when handled.

Abstract: A discharge muffler (20) in an HVAC&R system (100) includes a plurality of tubes (34, 38, 42) of predetermined length that are disposed at a predetermined spacing in substantially mutual axial alignment by a plate (30). The tubes (34, 38, 42) are secured adjacent to a compressor discharge (24) to minimize pressure reduction, improve flow characteristics and improve efficiency of the HVAC&R system (100).

Abstract: A circuit breaker communication system is provided including a circuit breaker, an electronic module to record and store data associated with the operation of the circuit breaker, and a portable communication unit for downloading the stored data. The portable communication unit includes a power source, a display unit, a processor unit, a communication interface, and a keypad. Also, a cable is provided for interconnecting the portable communication unit to the electronic module. The cable is configured to carry a data signal between the portable communication unit and the electronic module, and to conduct power to the electronic module from the power source. The system may include an optical communication link to transmit to or receive signals from the circuit breaker, a transmitter to transmit data to the optical communication link; and a receiver to receive signals from the optical communication link.

Abstract: A rotted wood stabilizer composition is provided, the composition comprising: from about 75 to about 90 weight percent of a crosslinking polymer; from about 1.5 to about 0.5 to about 1.5 weight percent of a film forming agent, and from about 8 to about 15 weight percent water, and optionally further comprising a biocide and a defoamer. The composition preferably has a pH in the range of from about 2.8 to about 3.0. Further the composition preferably has a viscosity of between about 750 to about 1250 cps as measured on a BROOKFIELD RV viscometer (helipath on) with a #2 T/E spindle at about 12 rpm and about 25° C. The invention further provides for methods of manufacturing the composition, as well as for methods of repairing a rotted area of a wood component by applying the composition of the present invention.