Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a cylindrical outer case(s) defining a base compression cylinder(s) with an inner cylindrical cylinder(s) defining power cylinder(s) circumferentially spaced in the engine and each housing opposing intake and exhaust pistons. Inlet ports for supplying pressurized air to the pistons included a small percentage of base compression air stored in an accumulator at a pressure that is the highest pressure in the engine. Flex tubes judiciously mounted in the piston and attached at either end to the piston and piston ring for supplying air from the accumulator to a plurality of pockets formed in the piston ring to hydrostatically support the pistons and piston rings. The pistons power a rotary cam mounted on opposing ends of the engine and a cam follower system positions the pistons for the 2-cycle operation. A four bar linkage system operatively connected to the piston rod to minimize piston side loads.

Abstract: A thermal load relief ring is disposed between the mating surfaces of adjacent cases of a gas turbine engine and secured thereto by a dowel pin or bolt to assure the concentricity of the cases. The bolt and dowel pin are configured to assure the concentric fit of the components. These configurations allow the cases to be fabricated from different materials to allow a lighter and less expensive case.

Abstract: The linkage system for the variable vane stators includes a pumphandle driven by the linear actuator and a cooperating pumphandle slider bracket where the slider bracket includes a machined hard coated stop for limiting travel of the pumphandle when the vanes are at the full opened position. The pumphandle through the drive link circumferentially positions a synchronizing ring that is connected through a plurality of drive links to each of the vanes circumferentially spaced in the stator for changing the angle of each of the vanes as scheduled by a control and actuator for optimizing the performance of the compressor and gas turbine engine. The steps for assembling the linkage system and actuator for synchronizing the positions of the stops on the actuator and slider bracket relative to a given position of the stator vanes defines a method for providing a rigless variable vane system.

Abstract: The leading edges of the segmented corrugated springs of each of the two bump foils of a hydrodynamic thrust bearing are offset such that the leading edge in the upper segmented corrugated springs are circumferentially spaced relative to the leading edge of the lower segmented corrugated springs that is underlying each respective segment of the bump foils. In some embodiments the leading edge of the bump foil is attached and the trailing edge is free to move axially and in other embodiments the reverse occurs where the trailing edge of the bump foil is attached and the leading edge is free to move axially.

Abstract: The top foil of a hydrodynamic fluid film thrust bearing is formed from a single flat annular disk with radial depressions extending from the outer diameter to the inner diameter of the disk that protrude toward the foil plate and define between adjacent depressions a working surface that is configured to complement the foil bumpers attached to the foil plate. The bump foils of the upper foil plate and the bump foils of the lower foil plates can be either in axial alignment or can be displaced relative to each other. When the two sets of bump foils are displaced, the leading edge of the upper bump foils are disposed upstream (relative to the direction of the air stream entering the bump foils) of the leading edge of the lower bump foils.

Abstract: A separate canister of propellant is operatively connected to a canister housing an noxious chemical or dye that is activated by a spring loaded trigger normally holding a connecting valve closed. The system is affixed to a cuff made from a fabric that wraps around the wrist of the wearer.

Abstract: A thermal load relief ring is disposed between the mating surfaces of adjacent cases of a gas turbine engine and secured thereto by a dowel pin or bolt to assure the concentricity of the cases. The bolt and dowel pin are configured to assure the concentric fit of the components. These configurations allow the cases to be fabricated from different materials to allow a lighter and less expensive case.

Abstract: The attachment of the blade to the disk of a gas turbine engine includes a sloped deep slot formed in the rim of the disk for accepting the dovetail of the root of he fan or compressor blade allowing the removal of a single blade from the disk and includes a segmented retainer plate disposed at the aft end of the bearing against the blade root to react out the slope induced axial blade loads providing a low hub-tip ratio configuration. A blade support disposed between the live rim of the disk and the bottom of the blade serves to support the blades radially during non-operating conditions and includes pockets for retaining weights for dynamic balance of the rotor. A forward mounted snap ring prevents forward movement of the blade during non-operating conditions.

Abstract: The leading edge of the turbine airfoil of a turbine blade for a gas turbine engine is cooled by utilizing helix shaped holes that are rectangular in cross-section and curved to produce film holes egressing at low angles adjacent the outer surface of the leading edge. The helix holes extend from the root to the tip of the blade and are parallelly and longitudinally spaced.

Abstract: A rotating drum divided in axial spaced compartments with one of the compartments includes paddles and coalescing material to separate the fluid from the liquid and the other compartment includes stationary oil pumping and water pumping means and an energy recovery means for effectively separating fluid such as oil from liquid such a water. Another embodiment includes a simplified version of the fluid/liquid separator adapted for zero gravity environment and includes means for purging the lines from air prior to pumping the liquid. An electrical sensing circuit including conductivity sensors or an electronic controller including pressure sensors serve to control the rate of removal of the separated component or controlling said purging means.

Abstract: The in-line fluid connector serves to separate the upstream and downstream portions of flexible or semi-flexible conduit to allow maintenance on the flow system. The connector includes a female valve and sleeve attached to one portion of the conduit and a male housing attached to the other portion of the conduit. An installation tool that is either hand operated or motor driven consists of a pushout rod whose outer diameter fits into the sleeve for pushing the valve out of the female housing and into the sleeve and for positioning seals to straddle the passageways formed in the female portion and seals in the pushout rod to prevent leakage from the upstream and downstream portions. A locking ring secures the female and male portions and a ball screw motor driven actuator may be used to stroke the installation tool.

Abstract: The inner shroud of the vane of a vane assembly for the compressor section of a gas turbine engine is fabricate from a composite material preferably imide resin reinforced with carbon fibers and is formed into an open ended box-like member segment supporting no less than two vanes or airfoils. The segments are interlocked by a necked down edge adapted to slip into the open end of the adjacent inner shroud of the stator vane that serve to seal the gas path and provide damping. Rub strips are integrally formed on the bottom surface of the inner shroud.

Abstract: An annular combustor for a gas turbine engine is constructed to include a sector that has a reduced airflow distribution than the remainder of the circumference by supplying a reduced airflow in a judiciously located portion of the fuel nozzles and the single stage of radially ingested combustion airflow. This single stage circumferential zoned annular combustor serves to accommodate higher fuel/air ratios.

Abstract: A brush seal consisting of a annular backing plate, annular side plate and a bundle of bristles disposed axially sandwiched in between serve to transmit the axial load when assembled and eliminate the necessity of seal retaining mechanism such as split rings or retaining plates. The invention is particularly adapted to seal the interface of the combustor and the stator of the first stage turbine of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A cavity judiciously dimensioned and located adjacent the tip's surface discharge port of internally cooling passage of the airfoil of the turbine blade of a gas turbine engine and extending from the pressure surface to the back wall of the discharge port guards against the contamination and plugging of the discharge port.

Abstract: An easy to clean and sanitize skewer driver for driving the horizontally supported skewer in the rotisserie oven for roasting chickens and other food products is formed from an outer and an inner sleeve where the inner sleeve is affixed to a planet gear and is journalled in the outer sleeve for rotary motion. A pin bisecting the inner sleeve retains the inner sleeve and planet gear and defines a recess or socket for accepting the end of and driving the skewer for rotation about its own axis, The outer sleeve is frictionally fitted to the reel plate to orbit in the rotisserie oven so that the skewer rotates with and relative to the reel plate.

Abstract: Damping and sealing of the quill shaft (30) that transmits torque from one rotating component to another as for example in a pitch change actuator system for aeronautical propellers is provided by an O-ring (40) mounted in the space between the end of ball screw (20) and the flange (41) radially extending from quill shaft (30) and the preload of the O-ring (40) provided by the shims (46) bearing against flange (41) and O-ring (40) which serves to enhance the wearability of splines (26, 28 and 50).

Abstract: A surgical instrument which allows the surgeon to insert the instrument in a remote location in a body cavity and from the proximal end rotate a control knob to rotate a tool bit mounted on the distal end for use in prostheses. The surgical instrument can be held in one hand and the control knob can be manipulated by the thumb or finger(s) of that hand. Several drive mechanisms including a spur gear train, bevel gear, spherical ball and link chain and belt are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of applying therapeutic heat a patient including forming a heating pad having an outer container having a first side formed by a material non-pervious to water and a second side formed by a material pervious to water. The container substantially encapsulates an outer bag containing and exothermic chemical and an inner bag containing a solvent. Further, the first side is covered by a layer of heat insulating materially and the second side by a layer of sponge-like material. The fist side and sponge-like material are contacted with water, thereby causing the sponge-like material to absorb water. Then the inner bag is fractured, causing the chemical and solvent to mix, producing heat, which is directed at the sponge-like material. The second side of the heating pad is then placed against the body, causing moist heat to be applied to the body. The pad may by tied to the body using straps extending from the ends of the container.

Abstract: Pitch change for a variable pitch propeller or fan of the type utilized in a gas turbine engine is effectuated by the unique application of a bidirectional electrical induction AC motor and an electrical DC induction brake operatively connected to the pitch change actuator. The motor can be utilized in a slip speed range encompassing from a positive slip speed to zero slip speed and negative slip speeds which removes the limitations on the gear ratio.