Abstract: Determining shot peening intensity by affixing a Almen test strip to a shot peening surface, removing the peened strip from the shot peening surface, measuring an arc height of the shot peened strip, and determining peening intensity on the surface from the measured arc height. The strip may be affixed with an adhesive such as rubber cement and may be a sub-size strip cut from a full size Almen strip. The arc heights of the sub-size strip may be correlated to arc heights of the standard strips. A sub-size strip may be affixed to and a full size standard strip may be mounted on a peening surface of a block and be simultaneously shot peened. Arc heights may be measured on a gage having support means for holding both strips.

Abstract: A tool capable of removing material is applied to a turbine wheel cooling slot. Material is removed from a selected portion of the cooling slot with the tool. And, stress concentrations are reduced within the slot through the removal of material.

Abstract: A measuring tool measures a trailing edge position of gas turbine nozzle. The tool includes a frame member attachable to at least one predefined reference point on the nozzle. At least one sliding member is slidable relative to the frame member and includes a measuring point engageable with the trailing edge. A position of the sliding member relative to the frame member is determinative of the trailing edge position.

Abstract: A method for reducing the emissions from combustion gases produced during a combustion process includes injecting a hydrocarbon-based reducing agent into the combustion gases to form a combustion gas mixture. The combustion gas mixture including oxides of nitrogen, NOx, is directed through a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) system including a catalyst bed to remove NOx from the combustion gas mixture and to produce an exhaust gas. In one embodiment, the exhaust gases are released from the SCR to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for determine a level of significance of an image. Certain embodiments include selecting one or more parameters for use in determining a level of significance for an image, assigning a value to each of the one or more parameters, and determining the level of significance for the image based on the parameters and the values associated with each of the one or more parameters. One or more parameters may be weighted to affect determination of the level of significance. An offset may be added to the determination of the level of significance for the image. Parameters may include clinical relevance, diagnosis pattern, segmented area, number of pixels, and/or reading time for the image, for example.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a light-transmissive glass envelope having an inner surface, means for providing an electric discharge to the interior of the glass envelope, a phosphor layer within the interior of the glass envelope and a discharge-sustaining fill gas and a mercury dose sealed inside the light-transmissive glass envelope. The light-transmissive glass envelope can comprise a light-transmissive mixed alkali glass envelope and the phosphor layer can comprise a phosphor layer of approximately three mg/cm2. A barrier layer of approximately 0.3 mg/cm2 or less of alumina can be applied to the inner surface of the light-transmissive glass envelope. The mercury dose can be present in an amount to provide a saturated mercury vapor pressure within the light-transmissive glass envelope throughout substantially the entire life of the lamp. The lamp can have an end-of-life mercury consumption value of approximately 0.63 mg or less, including 0.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for high sensitivity whole body scanning using MR imaging. The invention includes acquiring MR data as the patient moves through the iso-center of the magnet while providing interactive control for the operator to change scan parameters and table motion and direction. The technique allows efficient whole body scanning for fast screening of abnormalities while allowing operator control during the screening process to interrupt table motion and redirect the speed and direction of the table while also allowing control over the acquisition plane, number of sections imaged, inter-section spacing, and the scan location.

Abstract: A system and method for MR imaging is disclosed that includes an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet to impress a polarizing magnetic field and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. A computer is included that is programed to generate a motion waveform from a physiological signal acquired from a subject to be imaged and compare a shape of the motion waveform to a shape of a reference motion waveform to identify points in the motion waveform corresponding to a periodic complex. The computer is also programed to trigger MR data acquisition from the subject upon identification of the periodic complex.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for adjusting RF pulses and gradient waveforms to reduce B1 field magnitude in MR imaging sequences. When an RF pulse is presented which has a high amplitude segment that would exceed a maximum B1 magnitude, the system and method provided herein can apply a variable slew rate design technique. A slew rate of at least one gradient waveform can be varied to reduce a B1 field magnitude during transmission of the high amplitude segment of the RF pulse. By controlling the slew rate of gradient waveforms for non-Cartesian k-space trajectories according to a calculated maximum allowable slew rate function, embodiments of the system and method can, in effect, reduce gradient amplitude.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of managing a machinery monitoring system is provided. The method includes relating an asset output to at least one asset input, generating at least one rule based on the relation, selecting at least one of live asset data, historical asset data, user-supplied asset data, and third party supplied asset data to test the at least one rule, testing the at least one rule incrementally using the selected asset data, and monitoring the output of the at least one rule at each increment.

Abstract: A wind generator having removable change-out bearings includes a rotor and a stator, locking bolts configured to lock the rotor and stator, a removable bearing sub-assembly having at least one shrunk-on bearing installed, and removable mounting bolts configured to engage the bearing sub-assembly and to allow the removable bearing sub-assembly to be removed when the removable mounting bolts are removed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an improved safety device for use in the railroad industry. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to an above ground lock extension for train derails. Train derails are used in the railroad industry for derailing and therefore effectively stopping trains or unattended rolling stocks which rolls over said derail. The lock extension device comprises a locking device allowing an individual to lock said lock extension device to a derail while standing in an upright position, thereby diminishing injuries that may occur with prior art locking devices that are at ground level.

Abstract: A method for constructing a tower having a length along a longitudinal axis defined by the tower includes assembling a first tower section including three first legs. Each first leg diverges from the longitudinal axis along a length of the first leg. A second tower section is assembled. The second tower section includes three second legs each extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The three second legs at least partially define a passage through the second tower section. The second tower section is coupled to the first tower section.

Abstract: A method for displaying temporal data on a portable device is presented. The method includes converting the temporal data to clock coordinates to generate a clock data set. In addition, the method includes presenting a clock plot representative of the clock data set on a dial of a clock. Systems and computer-readable medium that afford functionality of the type defined by this method are also contemplated in conjunction with the present technique.

Abstract: A stator bar facility including: a stator bar workstation; an in-ground pit below the workstation; a stator bar elevator extending from the workstation pit, and a coupling mechanism attached to the elevator, wherein the coupling mechanism further comprises a rotational mount to receive at least one stator bar, wherein the rotational mount enables the received stator bar to be turned from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.

Abstract: A method for laser shock peening an article, such as a gas turbine engine airfoil, with varying thickness by varying a surface fluence of a laser beam over a laser shock peening surface as a function of the thickness beneath a laser shock peened spot formed by the beam on the surface. The fluence may be equal to the thickness multiplied by a volumetric fluence factor, the volumetric fluence factor being held constant over the laser shock peening surface. The volumetric fluence factor may be in a range of about 1200 J/cm3 to 1800 J/cm3 and more particularly about 1500 J/cm3. The method may include varying energy in the laser beam using a computer program controlling firing of the laser beam. A device such as an optical attenuator external to a laser performing firing may be used to vary the energy.

Abstract: An airfoil is disclosed having a concave pressure side and a convex suction side defining a chord length, and a leading edge and a trailing edge. A leading edge protective strip is adhered by a bond layer to and protectively covers the leading edge and respective predetermined portions of the pressure side and suction side of the airfoil body from the leading edge downstream towards the trailing edge. The predetermined portion of the suction side covered by the leading edge protective strip is less than the predetermined portion of the pressure side covered by the leading edge protective strip.

Abstract: The present application provides a wind turbine system. The wind turbine system may include a number of blades, a number of wind speed sensors positioned on the blades, a controller in communication with the wind speed sensors, and one or more performance adjustment, mechanisms in communication with the controller. The controller activates the performance adjustment mechanisms in response to the wind speed sensors.

Abstract: A fused wiring harness having a fused wiring assembly and a second wiring assembly. The fused wiring assembly includes a first primary conductor, a first secondary fused conductor, and a second secondary fused conductor. The first secondary fused conductor is conductively connected to the first primary conductor at a first junction. The second secondary fused conductor is conductively connected to the first primary conductor at a second junction. The second wiring assembly includes a second primary conductor, a first secondary conductor, and a second secondary conductor. The first secondary conductor is conductively connected to the second primary conductor at a third junction. The fused wiring harness further includes a first overmold portion at least partially enveloping the first junction and the third junction, thereby securing the fused wiring assembly to the second wiring assembly.

Abstract: A tower includes an outer portion forming an outer covering for the wind turbine tower and an inner portion disposed within the outer portion. The inner portion includes a preassembled power module including an upwardly extending support and electrical components that extend outwardly beyond the upwardly extending support and guide supports coupled at a first end to the upwardly extending supports and extending outwardly beyond the electrical components.