Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.

Abstract: A use-activated cup dispenser capable of sensing the manual removal of individual cups therefrom is provided. Manual removal is understood to include physical contact between a hand and a cup and extraction of the cup from the cup dispenser by the user. The invention includes a decorative cover including a housing disposed between first and second covers, at least one switch mechanism, a control circuit, and at least one active element including light elements, motor elements, scent dispensers, and/or audio elements. The decorative cover further includes an opening along one end. One or more switch mechanisms are provided along the first cover adjacent to the opening. The functionality of switch mechanisms includes direct contact, indirect contact, and non-contact between the cup and an optical or mechanical switch. The control circuit could be disposed on a circuit board and controls the functionality of the active elements.

Abstract: An improved air-riding seal system for turbine engines is presented. The seal system includes a movable primary seal assembly, a stationary secondary seal assembly, and at least one structure to increase the stiffness of a thin film between the primary seal and a rotating component. The primary seal assembly includes an annular seal ring and an arcuate support arm. The annular seal ring has a cross section that is substantially L-shaped and a surface with a step face and a circumferential dam. The arcuate support arm has a tooth at one end adjacent to an outermost circumferential surface along the seal runner, which could include an optional notch. The tooth and outermost circumferential surface are separated by a gap. A plurality of radial dams disposed along the surface in an outward radial arrangement from the circumferential darn is provided to improve the stiffness of the thin film.

Abstract: A wearable wound simulant including a skin replica having the appearance of a particular region of the human body, examples including but not limited to a leg, arm, torso, or stomach, and a wound disposed along the skin replica is described. The skin replica includes a plurality of bendable layers arranged to replicate the visual and tactile properties of human tissues and at least one tear resistant layer comprised of a fabric material disposed between two bendable layers. The tear resistant layers are less stretchable than the bendable layers so as to prevent the bendable layers from stretching beyond their failure threshold. Design elements of the present invention facilitate the visual, tactile, and functional aspects of a battlefield wound so as to allow for the diagnosis of injuries associated therewith.

Abstract: A force balanced seal for use with a rotor in the turbomachine has a member in opposed facing disposition to the rotor with a face dam portion of the member having a surface parallel with the sealing surface of the rotor, a groove in the member facing the rotor and bounding the face dam surface, an air bearing surface in the member facing the sealing surface of the rotor, a second passageway through the member from the air bearing surface to a radially outwardly facing surface of the member and a first passageway through the member from the groove to a member surface facing oppositely from the air bearing surface. An operating clearance between the seal and rotor is maintained by a closing force, exerted through a plurality of springs, and an opposing opening force created by pressurized air venting through the second passageway to the first passageway.

Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly for counter-rotating and co-rotating turbine engines is described. The seal assembly includes a pair of end rings and a seal element. At least one end ring has a flange, with upper and lower surfaces, disposed along and extending from one side of the ring. The seal element includes a ring, with inner and outer radial surfaces, and a ring flange wider than the ring. The ring flange is disposed along and extends diametrically from the outer radial surface, the latter also contacting the lower surface along at least one flange. The seal element is disposed between the end rings so that the ring flange extends beyond the flanges. The invention avoids the wear and heating problems inherent to intershaft seal systems, thus allowing the seal element to be composed of a temperature resistant metal, metal alloy, or carbon graphite.

Abstract: A system and method for a physically-based gift key enabling a purchaser to deliver a single, fully integrated gift item to a recipient and including an electronic greeting card and store credits redeemable online is presented. The method includes the steps of activating a gift key, customizing an electronic greeting card associated with the gift key at a host site via physical or wireless linkage of a gift key to a first local computer, accessing the greeting card at the host site via linkage of the gift key to a second local computer, and redeeming store credit associated with the gift key at a retail website accessible from the host site. The system includes gift key and host computer system directly or indirectly controlling a host site. A local computer automatically launches a website at host or retailer levels when the gift key is linked to the local computer.

Abstract: A circumferential seal system for sealing a high pressure region from a low pressure region separated by a runner with an outer circumferential surface and a seal ring disposed about the outer circumferential surface is described. The seal system includes a plurality of groove sets separately disposed along the outer circumferential surface. Each groove set further includes at least two grooves. At least one groove within each groove set exerts a lifting force via a fluid from the high pressure region onto the seal ring as the runner translates with respect to the seal ring along an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotation of the runner. The continuous feed of fluid onto the seal ring ensures a thin film between the seal ring and the runner regardless of their relative arrangement during axial excursions of the runner resulting from conditions within a turbine engine.

Abstract: A system and method for a physically-based gift key enabling a purchaser to deliver a single, fully-integrated gift item to a recipient and including an electronic greeting card and store credits redeemable online is presented. The method includes the steps of activating a gift key, customizing an electronic greeting card associated with the gift key at a host site via physical or wireless linkage of a gift key to a first local computer, accessing the greeting card at the host site via linkage of the gift key to a second local computer, and redeeming a store credit associated with the gift key at a retail website accessible from the host site. The system includes a gift key and a host computer system directly or indirectly controlling a host site. The gift key has a housing, an integrated circuit within the housing, and a connector or wireless interface extending from the housing so as to allow linkage of the gift key with a computer remotely located with respect to the host and retailer sites.

Abstract: An improved air-riding seal system for turbine engines is presented. The seal system includes a movable primary seal assembly, a stationary secondary seal assembly, and at least one structure to increase the stiffness of a thin film between the primary seal and a rotating component. The primary seal assembly includes an annular seal ring and an arcuate support arm. The annular seal ring has a cross section that is substantially L-shaped and a surface with a step face and a circumferential dam. The arcuate support arm has a tooth at one end adjacent to an outermost circumferential surface along the seal runner, which could include an optional notch. The tooth and outermost circumferential surface are separated by a gap. The secondary seal ring is disposed between and contacts the primary seal assembly and housing structure so as to form a bore seal and a face seal therewith.

Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.

Abstract: A therapeutic device for thermally assisted urinary function is presented. The therapeutic pad (14) is composed of an upper thermal element (18) and a lower thermal element (19) having a portal (15), both elements substantially cup-shaped to cover and contact the groin. The therapeutic pad (14) is composed of a material sufficiently capable of storing energy from either an external or internal source. The therapeutic pad (14) communicates stored energy as heat to tissues comprising the groin and regions adjacent thereto. The portal (15) allows for the unimpeded flow of urine from the urinary tract into a receptacle.

Abstract: A solid-state disconnect device capable of isolating and protecting circuits and equipment from overloads and undesired transients is presented. The protection device includes at least one depletion mode circuit block having three terminals (drain, gate, and source), which in its simplest form is implemented by a single n-channel depletion mode field-effect transistor, and two enhancement mode circuit blocks each having three terminals (drain, gate and source), each implemented in simplest form by a single n-channel enhancement mode field-effect transistor. The current conducting path of the first enhancement mode circuit block is connected in series with the current conducting path of the depletion mode circuit block. The drain terminal of the second enhancement mode circuit block is connected through a current limiting load to both the gate terminal of the second enhancement mode circuit block and the drain terminal of the first enhancement mode circuit block.

Abstract: A motion sensor arrangement is presented for dispenser capable point-of-purchase devices. The invention includes one or more motion sensors and a power management circuit facilitating activation of visual and motion display elements and/or a dispensing mechanism. Motion sensors are attached to a shelf-mountable display unit and capable of determining the presence of a person within the vicinity of the device. Power management circuit communicates with the motion sensors and display elements, examples including light emitting diodes and motorized drive devices. The power management circuit activates one or more display elements to communicate queues to a person within visual range of the point-of-purchase device. The dispensing mechanism ejects a coupon or product information sheet when a person is sensed within the vicinity of the point-of-purchase device.

Abstract: A circumferential seal system for sealing a high pressure region from a low pressure region separated by a runner with an outer circumferential surface and a seal ring disposed about the outer circumferential surface is described. The seal system includes a plurality of groove sets separately disposed along the outer circumferential surface. Each groove set further includes at least two grooves. At least one groove within each groove set exerts a lifting force via a fluid from the high pressure region onto the seal ring as the runner translates with respect to the seal ring along an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotation of the runner. The continuous feed of fluid onto the seal ring ensures a thin film between the seal ring and the runner regardless of their relative arrangement during axial excursions of the runner resulting from conditions within a turbine engine.

Abstract: An improved air-riding seal system for turbine engines is presented. The seal system includes a movable primary seal assembly, a stationary secondary seal assembly, and at least one structure to increase the stiffness of a thin film between the primary seal and a rotating component. The primary seal assembly includes an annular seal ring and an arcuate support arm. The annular seal ring has a cross section that is substantially L-shaped and a surface with a step face and a circumferential dam. The arcuate support arm has a tooth at one end adjacent to an outermost circumferential surface along the seal runner, which could include an optional notch. The tooth and outermost circumferential surface are separated by a gap. The secondary seal ring is disposed between and contacts the primary seal assembly and housing structure so as to form a bore seal and a face seal therewith.

Abstract: An electromagnetic absorber assembly capable of minimizing reflectivity caused by reflected and diffracted waves within a test chamber is presented. The absorber assembly includes a plurality of first wedges and a plurality of second wedges disposed in a symmetrical arrangement so as to form a continuous and smoothly changing v-shaped pattern along one or more walls of an anechoic test chamber. Each wedge has a triangular-shaped first end and second end formed by a pair of side walls and a base wall. One second end of each first wedge contacts and covers one first end of each second wedge along a contact plane. First and second wedges are disposed at a first angle and a second angle, respectively, about the contact plane in a symmetrical arrangement. The assemblies described could be installed on a flat or shaped absorber base or wall to divert reflected and refracted fields away from a quiet zone.

Abstract: A circumferential seal system for sealing a high pressure region from a low pressure region separated by a runner with an outer circumferential surface and a seal ring disposed about the outer circumferential surface is described. The seal system includes a plurality of groove sets separately disposed along the outer circumferential surface. Each groove set further includes at least two grooves. At least one groove within each groove set exerts a lifting force via a fluid from the high pressure region onto the seal ring as the runner translates with respect to the seal ring along an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotation of the runner. The continuous feed of fluid onto the seal ring ensures a thin film between the seal ring and the runner regardless of their relative arrangement during axial excursions of the runner resulting from conditions within a turbine engine.

Abstract: A magazine well plug used to render a weapon safe and/or to prevent sand, water, and other contaminants from entering a weapon is described. The magazine well plug includes a main body substantially shaped to conform to the interior of a magazine well, an optional flange substantially disposed about the main body, and an optional grip element disposed at one end of the main body facilitating insertion and removal of the plug with respect to the magazine well. The main body and flange are comprised of one or more compressible materials. The main body is dimensionally larger than one or more dimensions within a magazine well so as to require the main body to be compressed in part or whole when inserted into a magazine well. The invention avoids openings inherent with rigid plugs, thereby preventing solid and/or liquid contaminants from entering a magazine well.