Abstract: Pressure vessels that operate at elevated temperatures and pressures (e.g., 600° F./316° C., 20000 psig), and ultrasonic transducers and signal connectors for use therein, are described. The pressure vessels include a housing defining a cavity. The housing includes a cylindrical body with plugs positioned within openings of the cylindrical body. Each plug has a recess extending from an external surface to a location ultrasonically adjacent the cavity. The pressure vessels additionally include transducer assemblies positioned within respective plug recesses. Each transducer assembly includes a signal connector positioned within the recess adjacent the external surface, a transducer having a piezoceramic element positioned within the recess at the location ultrasonically adjacent the cavity, and a metallic interconnection spring interconnecting the transducer to the signal connector.

Abstract: A motor-fan assembly includes a motor assembly having a tubular core with a rotatable shaft extending therethrough. The assembly includes a working fan assembly which has at least one working fan rotated by the rotatable shaft. A blower housing separates the motor assembly from the working fan assembly, wherein the rotatable shaft extends through the blower housing.

Abstract: An embodiment includes an inertial torque device (ITD) for calibrating a viscometer. The ITD comprises a body, a coupling for connecting the body to a viscometer measurement interface, a rotatable inertial load device coupled to the body, an electric motor coupled to the rotatable inertial load device and coupled to the body, and a controller configured to calibrate the viscometer by controlling the electric motor to rotate the rotatable inertial load device at a predetermined acceleration to apply a predetermined torque to the coupling connected to the viscometer.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring flow resistance of a fluid in a conduit is provided. The system generally includes a reservoir for containing the fluid, a pump connected to the reservoir for distributing the fluid through a conduit having a straight measurement section, one or more pressure sensors connected to the conduit for measuring the pressure of the fluid in the conduit at one end of the straight measurement section and an opposite end of the straight measurement section.

Abstract: High temperature probes and methods for assembling high temperature probes are disclosed. The high temperature probes may include a rod with a thermocouple embedded within the rod, and a ceramic matrix composite sheath substantially surrounding the rod. The high temperature probes may also include an outer metal tube surrounding a portion of the rod, and an inner metal tube positioned between the alumina rod and the outer metal tube, the inner metal tube being configured to prevent the rod from spatial displacement with respect to the outer metal tube.

Abstract: An appliance includes a reverse air flow motor housing. A casing carries and supports a motor, and a ventilation fan is rotated by a rotatable shaft driven by the motor. A lower platform with an air intake port carries a ventilation shroud that partially encloses the ventilation fan. An inner support is mounted between the lower platform and the casing. An outer housing has a sidewall that substantially encloses the motor and is supported by the lower platform. Rotation of the ventilation fan draws in ambient air through the air intake port which then proceeds between the casing and the motor and subsequently through the sidewall port.

Abstract: Provided is a solenoid switch of a motor including a solenoid case, a solenoid having at least one control terminal for connection to at least one external control cable, two power terminals for connection to external power cables, two stationary serrated electrical contacts mounted within the solenoid case, where each serrated electrical contact is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the power terminals, two movable electrical contacts coupled to the solenoid and electrically connected to windings of the motor, where each movable electrical contact corresponds to one of the two serrated electrical contacts, and is movable by applied force of the solenoid. In response to a control signal received by the at least one control terminal, the solenoid is energized and moves the two movable electrical contacts to mate with the corresponding two serrated electrical contacts resulting in an electrical connection between the power cables and the motor windings.

Abstract: This invention provides a mechanism for clearing debris and vapors from the region around the optical axis of a vision system that employs a directed airflow in the region. The airflow is guided by an air knife that surrounds a viewing gap placed in front of the camera optics. The air knife delivers airflow in a manner that takes advantage of the Coanda effect to generate an airflow that prevents infiltration of debris and contaminants into the optical path. Illustratively, the air knife defines a geometry that effectively multiplies the delivered airflow approximately fifty times (twenty-five times on each of two air-knife sides) that of the supplied compressed air. This provides an extremely strong air curtain along the scan direction that essentially blocks infiltration of environmental contamination to the optics of the camera.

Abstract: Inerting fuel systems and methods for inerting fuel tanks are disclosed. An inerting fuel system may include an air inlet passage to receive inlet air, air separation modules to separate oxygen from the inlet air when received, and air separation module valves coupled between the air inlet passage and the air separation modules. The air separation module valves are associated with the air separation modules such that opening of one of the air separation module valves passes a portion of inlet air from the air inlet passage to the air separation module associated with that air separation module valve. A controller selectively opens the air separation module valves such that each of the air separation modules receives a substantially equal level of wear.

Abstract: Total air temperature (TAT) measurement systems, apparatus, and methods for measuring TAT within an airflow are disclosed. A TAT within an airflow may be measured by (1) positioning a probe within an airflow, the probe including an airfoil and a wedge defining a single channel, the single channel including a temperature sensor; (2) receiving a portion of the airflow through the single channel; and (3) determining TAT for the received portion of the airflow using measurements from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: High temperature probes and methods for assembling high temperature probes are disclosed. The high temperature probes may include a rod with a thermocouple embedded within the rod, and a ceramic matrix composite sheath substantially surrounding the rod. The high temperature probes may also include an outer metal tube surrounding a portion of the rod, and an inner metal tube positioned between the alumina rod and the outer metal tube, the inner metal tube being configured to prevent the rod from spatial displacement with respect to the outer metal tube.

Abstract: A nickel and chromium alloy having a combined wt. % of nickel and chromium of at least 97 wt. %, wherein the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the alloy. The alloy may be provided in strip form and has adequate ductility for the manufacture of various products, such as sheaths for flux cored welding electrodes. A method of making the alloy strip includes forming a powder charge that is 97 to 100 wt. % of nickel and chromium combined and the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the charge, roll compacting the powder charge to form a green strip, sintering the green strip to form a sintered strip, and cold rolling and annealing the sintered strip to form the alloy strip.

Abstract: A method of making a molybdenum or molybdenum alloy metal strip is disclosed. The method includes roll compacting a molybdenum-based powder into a green strip. The method also includes sintering the green strip followed by a combination of warm rolling, annealing, and cold rolling steps to form the final metal strip which may be cut-to-length. The strip at the final thickness may also undergo an optional stress relief step.

Abstract: A method of making a molybdenum or molybdenum alloy metal strip is disclosed. The method includes roll compacting a molybdenum-based powder into a green strip. The method also includes sintering the green strip followed by a combination of warm rolling, annealing, and cold rolling steps to form the final metal strip which may be cut-to-length. The strip at the final thickness may also undergo an optional stress relief step.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a housing which maintains a first section that has a first inlet and a first outlet, and a second section that has a second inlet and a second outlet. At least one conductive plate extends between the first section and the second section, wherein the conductive plate transfers heat from a fluid flowing in one of the sections to another fluid flowing in the other of the sections. The sections may be positioned side-by-side such that the fluids' flow is coplanar, or co-curvilinear, and non-intersecting.

Abstract: A sheet of titanium alloy that is less than 0.015? thick has adequate plasticity for subsequent forming into at least a part of a medical device that is MR-Conditional. A method for making the titanium alloy sheet includes cold rolling a titanium alloy to form a sheet having an average thickness less than or equal to 0.015?, cutting the sheet to length, and vacuum annealing the sheet in a final step, wherein the sheet following vacuum annealing has adequate plasticity for subsequent forming into at least a part of a medical device that is MR-Conditional. Neither grinding nor chemical etching is used to reduce the thickness of the titanium alloy when processing the sheet.

Abstract: Total air temperature (TAT) measurement systems, apparatus, and methods for measuring TAT within an airflow are disclosed. A TAT within an airflow may be measured by (1) positioning a probe within an airflow, the probe including an airfoil and a wedge defining a single channel, the single channel including a temperature sensor; (2) receiving a portion of the airflow through the single channel; and (3) determining TAT for the received portion of the airflow using measurements from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for measuring levels of two or more materials maintained within a storage tank using a combination of both a capacitance sensor and a time domain reflectometry (“TDR”) waveguide sensor is disclosed. The apparatus includes a combined circuit for the capacitance sensor and TDR sensor that creates a separation between the return signal from the capacitance sensor and the TDR sensor. The need for the return signal separation is due to the generation of false reflection signals from the capacitance circuitry. In a preferred embodiment, the separation in time is created by moving the capacitance false reflections further in time than the true signal returns. An alternative preferred embodiment would delay the true TDR signals passed the capacitance false reflections. Another alternative preferred embodiment would provide a substantially matched impedance of the capacitance circuit to the TDR circuit, to substantially eliminate the false reflections.

Abstract: A cable assembly and a connector assembly is disclosed. The cable assembly includes a cable having a connector assembly attached on one end and a plurality of conductor pairs extending through the cable, wherein each conductor in a first conductor pair is equidistant to each conductor in a second conductor pair adjacent to the first conductor pair. The connector assembly includes a housing and a plurality of connector contact pairs extending through the housing, wherein each connector contact is associated with one of the conductors in the cable assembly and each connector contact in a first connector contact pair is equidistant to each connector contact in a second connector contact pair adjacent to the first connector contact pair. The connector assembly may be hermetically sealed.

Abstract: An electrocardiography (ECG) electrical cable, that includes a plurality of insulated conductors, a conductive shield surrounding the plurality of insulated conductors and an insulating jacket surrounding the plurality of insulated conductors and the conductive shield. Also, each of the plurality of insulated conductors includes a low noise coating and the insulated conductors are tightly bound together by a semi-conductive wall interposed between the insulated conductors and the shield, thereby reducing rubbing, which can produce triboelectric effects.