Abstract: A brush-seal bristle assembly, a brush seal segment containing such assembly, and a rotary machine (such as a steam or gas turbine) containing such segment. The machine has a rotor, a stator casing, and the segment. The segment has a housing and the assembly. The assembly has bristles and a bristle holder. The fixed ends of the bristles are fixedly-attached to the bristle holder, the bristle holder is rotatably-attached to the housing, and the housing is positioned in a channel of the casing. In one example, a spring rotationally biases the bristle holder to a second position to avoid unwanted bristle-rotor contact during machine startup or shutdown. Then, fluid pressure generated by the machine during steady-state operation overcomes the spring bias and rotationally biases the bristle holder to a first position wherein the bristle free ends are closer to the rotor for proper sealing.

Abstract: A dewpoint sensor comprises a pressure vessel having an entry port, an exit port, and a temperature controlled plate. A quartz crystal resonator is housed within the pressure vessel and disposed in intimate contact with the temperature controlled plate. A temperature sensor is disposed to generate signals representative of the quartz crystal resonator temperature. Circuitry is coupled to the quartz crystal resonator and the temperature sensor, which circuitry is configured to control the temperature of the quartz crystal resonator, to measure the frequency of the quartz crystal resonator and to monitor the temperature signals and the frequency of the quartz crystal resonator when exposed to a flow between the entry port and the exit port so as to calculate a dewpoint value of the flow.

Abstract: A combustion enhancing insert for a cylinder of an internal combustion engine having a body shaped for insertion into the cylinder so as to partially occupy the squish area of the cylinder as well as the crevice area of the cylinder. The combustion enhancing insert also occupies part of the combustion area but does not interfere with valve flow. The combustion enhancing insert can be attached to the cylinder head, cylinder wall or made as part of the head gasket and can be formed as part of the cylinder inserted as a retrofit. The present invention will reduce the amount of unburned combustion gases collecting in the squish area and crevice area. Also, the compression ratio will be increased. This will result in better fuel efficiency with less deposits and emissions.

Abstract: A combined burner and grate structure for use in connection with a gas range includes one or more burner elements. Each burner element has one or more fuel inlets, one or more fuel outlets disposed on one or more side surfaces, and a top surface. A horizontal planar support for a cooking vessel is made up of the top surface of each burner element. A gas rangetop can include one or more of these combined burner and grate structures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deburring or radiusing articles made of TZM alloys by electrochemical machining uses a pulsating current and a binary salt electrolyte solution simultaneously applied across a gap between a tool electrode and a TZM workpiece. The pulse duration is typically in the range between about 0.5 milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds and the pulse interval is between 5 milliseconds and 150 milliseconds. The pulse voltage amplitude is typically in the range between about 8 volts to about 30 volts. The binary salt electrolyte solution is an aqueous salt solution with a total concentration typically in the range between about 14% to about 20% by weight of sodium chloride and sodium nitrate. The ratio of sodium chloride to sodium nitrate is typically in the range of between about 1:1 to about 1.5:1. The standoff distance, or gap, between the tool electrode and the TZM workpiece is typically in the range between 0.015 mm to about 3.0 mm.

Abstract: Apparatus which is selectively operable at low frequencies (less than 5,000 Hz and preferably between about 100 Hz to about 1,000 Hz) breaks up jets of high-viscosity fluid into monodisperse droplets. The apparatus includes a housing having a chamber, a piston disposed in the chamber, a magnetic-coil system operably attached to the housing and to the piston, and an oscillator for driving the magnetic-coil system. The housing and the piston define a reservoir for receiving a supply of high-viscosity fluid which is acted upon by oscillating motion of the piston to impart pressure perturbations on the supply of fluid so that the fluid upon discharge from the reservoir separates and breaks up into a plurality of monodisperse droplets. Also disclosed is a method for optimizing the performance of the apparatus to minimize the power required for droplet formation.

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: A circulating laser beam is generated in an oscillator having a gain medium. The laser beam is dumped from the oscillator to produce a laser beam pulse. The laser beam pulse is expanded and returned through the same gain medium for amplification thereof. The circulating laser beam and returning laser beam pulse travel in different paths through gain medium allowing the use of a small Pockels cell in the oscillator.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for selecting damper values in a refrigerator. Performance parameters indicating a desired fresh food temperature and desired freezer temperature are obtained for a plurality of control settings. A fresh food temperature variance limit and a freezer temperature variance limit are also obtained. A transfer function for the refrigerator representing performance of the refrigerator at each of said plurality of control settings is determined. A plurality of damper values are determined to minimize deviation from the desired fresh food temperature and the desired freezer temperature for each of said plurality of control settings.

Abstract: A machine vane unit includes a first airfoil and a second airfoil located between and connected to a first flange and a second flange. The second airfoil includes a second leading portion located rearward of a first leading portion of the first airfoil relative to a direction of intended flow. The first flange and the second flange are configured to be connected to casing for a machine portion. The first airfoil and/or the second airfoil may include and/or have cast therein a hollow. The first airfoil and the second airfoil may be formed integrally.

Abstract: A combustor assembly comprises a plurality of circumferentially arranged fuel nozzles, which fuel nozzles have a first end coupled to a combustion chamber and a second end attached to an endcover. The plurality of fuel nozzles define a central region therebetween. A baffle is disposed within the central region. The baffle has an upstream base portion adjacent the endcover and a contoured downstream portion having a width that is smaller with respect to a width of the upstream base portion so as to transition a recirculating flow into a downstream flow to minimize flashback occurrences within the central region.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing blend segregation in a mixture comprises a light transmissive window disposed within a feed connection between a hopper and an extruder for example, a light source for emitting a light beam, and a light sensor to perform spectrum analysis of any incident light supplied thereto. An illumination assembly has a first end optically coupled to the light source and a second end optically coupled to the light transmissive window to illuminate a portion of the internal path provided by the feed connection. At least one detection assembly is provided, having a first end disposed adjacent to the light transmissive window so as to detect the reflection from any illuminated polymer blend passing therethrough. The light sensor collects the diffuse reflecting light from the polymer blend and transforms the diffuse reflecting light into tri-color signals, reflection curves or the like, for comparison with other diffuse reflecting light so as to determine if a particular blend is segregating.

Abstract: A dewpoint sensor comprises a pressure vessel having an entry port, an exit port, and a temperature controlled plate. A quartz crystal resonator is housed within the pressure vessel and disposed in intimate contact with the temperature controlled plate. A temperature sensor is disposed to generate signals representative of the quartz crystal resonator temperature. Circuitry is coupled to the quartz crystal resonator and the temperature sensor, which circuitry is configured to control the temperature of the quartz crystal resonator, to measure the frequency of the quartz crystal resonator and to monitor the temperature signals and the frequency of the quartz crystal resonator when exposed to a flow between the entry port and the exit port so as to calculate a dewpoint value of the flow.

Abstract: A low emissions combustor includes a premixer for premixing liquid fuel and compressed air for achieving low NOx emissions without water or steam injection. The premixer includes a centerbody disposed in a shroud defining an annular flow channel extending between an inlet and outlet of the shroud. A plurality of fuel injection orifices are spaced circumferentially around the centerbody with each having an outlet being substantially flush with an outer surface of the centerbody. The fuel injection orifices inject liquid fuel into the flow channel wherein it is atomized by compressed air channeled through the shroud inlet. In a preferred embodiment, the fuel injection orifices are inclined at an acute angle for injection the fuel toward the shroud inlet to increase differential mixing velocity with the compressed air.

Abstract: A gas oven comprises at least a first burner element disposed within an oven cavity of the gas oven. A first control valve is disposed within a gas line connected to the burner element and to a gas source. The control valve controls gas flow to the burner element. A first temperature sensor is positioned so as to detect temperature about the burner element. A controller is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor and to the control valve wherein the controller ensures successful ignition of the burner element by monitoring the temperature signals generated from the temperature sensor to determine if the temperature signals increase a rate that is greater than a predetermined.

Abstract: A turbine assembly comprises a plurality of rotating blade portions in a spaced relation with a stationery shroud. The rotating blade portions comprise a root section, a tip portion and an airfoil. The tip portion has a pressure side wall and a suction side wall. A number of flow discouragers are disposed on the blade tip portion. In one embodiment, the flow discouragers extend circumferentially from the pressure side wall to the suction side wall so as to be aligned generally parallel to the direction of rotation. In an alternative embodiment, the flow discouragers extend circumferentially from the pressure side wall to the suction side wall so as to be aligned at an angle in the range between about 0.degree. to about 60.degree. with respect to a reference axis aligned generally parallel to the direction of rotation.

Abstract: A method of hygroscopic optical material fabrication comprising the steps of cutting a hygroscopic optical material to generate an optical substrate of appropriate dimensions and polishing the hygroscopic optical material for appropriate surface figure or surface quality. The cutting and polishing of the hygroscopic optical material is completed while the hygroscopic optical material is isolated from aqueous contamination so as to maintain or increase the damage threshold of the hygroscopic optical material.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying heat to a rotatable workpiece is disclosed. A rotating lathe is provided for mounting a workpiece, for example a quartz tube, thereto so as to enable rotation of the workpiece. At least one translatable burner is coupled to a fuel source and an oxygen source for producing a flame. The burner is directed such that flame impinges upon the workpiece mounted on the rotating lathe. A first pulse control valve is coupled to and positioned between the translatable burner and the fuel source. A second pulse control valve is coupled to and positioned between the translatable burners and the oxygen course. The first and second pulse control valves are pulsed at a predetermined frequency to prevent the formation of a steady thermal boundary layer about the workpiece to improve the rate of heat transfer between the flame and the workpiece.

Abstract: An exemplary method for welding a circular disk coaxially atop a tubular body comprises the steps of rotating the body and disk thereon, drawing a vacuum inside the body for vacuum holding the disk thereon, and welding the disk along a rim thereof to the body to sealingly join the disk thereto.

Abstract: The appliance comprises a container for receiving the soiled articles, a circulation pump for distributing a hot liquid to the container, a drain positioned in the container and connected to the pump for emptying the liquid from the container upon completion of a cycle and a hydroclone connected to the drain and the pump, for removing soil from the liquid such that about ninety percent (90%) of the liquid distributed to the container during one cycle can be utilized during at least one subsequent cycle.