Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a ceramic reinforced titanium alloy includes the steps of providing, in a pre-alloy powdered form, a ceramic reinforced titanium alloy composition that is capable of achieving a dispersion-strengthened microstructure, directing a low energy density energy beam at a portion of the alloy composition, and forming a ceramic reinforced titanium alloy metal having ceramic particulates of less than 10 ?m on a weight-average basis. The step of forming includes the sub-steps of withdrawing the energy beam from the portion of the powdered alloy composition and cooling the portion of the powdered alloy composition at a rate greater than or equal to about 106° F. per second, thereby forming the ceramic reinforced titanium alloy metal.

Abstract: A method for mitigating helicopter rotor blockage of communications comprising fast fourier transforming (FFT) pilot symbols, implementing a time delay of one frame, applying a forgetting factor to an accumulated spectrum, and performing a leaky coherent integration, wherein the leaky coherent integration adds a result of the fast fourier transform of the one current frame of data to the accumulated spectrum. The method also comprises calculating a threshold, wherein the threshold is based on a mean energy of all FFT bins in the accumulated spectrum, masking the FFT bins, wherein masking comprises retaining only FFT bins that exceed the threshold and above a minimum expected rotor blocking frequency, inverse fast fourier transforming the accumulated spectrum, erasing the pilot symbols below the threshold and removing them from the signal, and erasing data symbols that lie in a blockage by setting associated bit-log likelihood ratios to zero.

Abstract: An apparatus to set an output window includes an ambient condition detector from which non-alarm messages can be output at a pre-determined time. The detector includes a real-time clock which can be set wirelessly by a real-time synchronizing message. A message emitting window can also be wirelessly pre-set. The non-alarm messages are emitted at times in the pre-set window.

Abstract: A security sensor system comprises one or more laser detection and ranging (LADAR) sensors configured for accumulation of three-dimensional image data. In one embodiment, the one or more LADAR sensors each comprise a LADAR device, such as a MEMS device, configured to transmit a plurality of laser pulses, and a microprocessor operatively coupled to the LADAR device. One or more data storage devices is operatively coupled to the microprocessor and configured to store the three-dimensional image data, as well as predetermined protected area boundary and fixed object definitions. A GPS receiver can be operatively coupled to the microprocessor and a GPS antenna. The microprocessor is configured to perform a LADAR image analysis that compares the three-dimensional image data with the protected area boundary and fixed object definitions to identify one or more potential intruders.

Abstract: Embodiments of a gas turbine engine component having sealed stress relief slots are provided, as are embodiments of a gas turbine engine containing such a component and embodiments of a method for fabricating such a component. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes a core gas flow path, a secondary cooling flow path, and a turbine nozzle or other gas turbine engine component. The component includes, in turn, a component body through which the core gas flow path extends, a radially-extending wall projecting from the component body and into the secondary cooling flow path, and one or more stress relief slots formed in the radially-extending wall. The stress relief slots are filled with a high temperature sealing material, which impedes leakage between the second cooling and core gas flow paths and which fractures to alleviate thermomechanical stress within the radially-extending wall during operation of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An aircraft thrust reverser actuation system includes a plurality of actuator assemblies that are each configured, upon receipt of a drive torque, to move to a position. The rotary hydraulic motor is coupled to each of the actuator assemblies and is configured, upon receipt of hydraulic fluid, to rotate and supply the drive torque to each of the actuator assemblies. The control valve is in fluid communication with the rotary hydraulic motor and is configured, upon receipt of electrical current, to move to a valve position based on the magnitude of the received electrical current, to thereby control the direction and flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor. The valve control is configured, upon receipt of thrust reverser commands, to supply the electrical current to the control valve and selectively vary the magnitude of the electrical current based on the positions of the actuator assemblies.

Abstract: A system for generating and supplying electrical power to DC loads on an aircraft may include a permanent magnet machine (PMM) generating an output voltage at a plurality of output terminals and a solid-state switch connected to each of the output terminals to short-circuit the output terminal when the switch is ON. A control unit may be configured to detect an unbalanced fault in the system and, responsively to said detection, to close all of the switches simultaneously to convert the unbalanced fault to a balanced fault so that DC currents are precluded from circulating within the PMM.

Abstract: In an example, a chip-scale atomic clock physics package is provided. The physics package includes a body defining a cavity having a base surface and one or more side walls. The cavity includes a first step surface and a second step surface defined in the one or more side walls. A first scaffold mounted to the base surface in the cavity. One or more spacers defining an aperture therethrough are mounted to the second step surface in the cavity. A second scaffold is mounted to a first surface of the one or more spacers spans across the aperture of the one or more spacers. A third scaffold is mounted to a second surface of the one or more spacers in the cavity and spans across the aperture of the one or more spacers. Other components of the physics package are mounted to the first, second, and third scaffold.

Abstract: An assembly for a turbocharger can include a turbine housing that defines an exhaust inflow chamber that includes a wastegate valve seat and that defines an exhaust outflow chamber; and a wastegate valve plug that includes a seal surface where, in a closed state, the seal surface seats against the wastegate valve seat and where, in an open state, the wastegate valve plug extends into the exhaust inflow chamber. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for measuring phase attributes of high voltage electrical lines comprises a single high voltage probe. The probe comprises a sensing element for selectively measuring voltage of a high voltage electrical line. A processing circuit detects zero crossings of the measured voltage, applies a time tag to the zero crossings, and stores samples of the amplitude and time tagged zero crossings. A memory stores samples of the amplitude and time tagged zero crossings for a plurality of high voltage electrical lines. A processor is operatively associated with the memory for determining phase relationships between the plurality of high voltage electrical lines.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for a high temperature isomerization reaction converting (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene to (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene. In certain aspects of the invention, such a process includes contacting a feed stream with a heated surface, where the feed stream includes (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene or mixture of (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene with (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene. The resulting product stream includes (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and (E)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, where the ratio of (Z) isomer to (E) isomer in the product stream is higher than the ratio feed stream. The (E) and (Z) isomers in the product stream may be separated from one another.

Abstract: Systems and methods that utilize a terrain database to find the elevation of the ground in the area of ground-mapping illumination to optimize the tilt of a ground-mapping antenna. An exemplary system located on a host aircraft includes a memory that stores terrain elevation data and a component that provides height, position, and orientation information of the host aircraft. A processor receives the height, the position, and the orientation information; defines a desired terrain area to be mapped, based on the received information; retrieves terrain elevation data from the memory, based on the desired terrain area to be mapped; and calculates at least one tilt angle for a ground-mapping radar function based on the retrieved terrain height value and the aircraft's height, position, and orientation information. One or more actuators is commanded to move an antenna based on the calculated at least one tilt angle.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods of assembling an abrasive blast respirator are disclosed. The method may comprise removably attaching an exhalation valve into an exhalation valve port of a facepiece, removably installing the facepiece into a hood, removably attaching a filter to a first inhalation valve, where the first inhalation valve is coupled to the facepiece, and removably attaching a breathing hose to a second inhalation valve, where the second inhalation valve is coupled to the facepiece.

Abstract: A force sensor system includes a housing assembly, a sensor, an actuator, and an actuator travel stop. The sensor is disposed within the housing assembly, and is configured to generate a sensor signal representative of a force supplied to the sensor. The actuator is disposed at least partially within, and is movable relative to, the housing assembly. The actuator extends from the housing assembly and is adapted to receive an input force. The actuator is configured, upon receipt of the input force, to move toward, and transfer the input force to, the sensor. The actuator travel stop is disposed within the housing assembly, and between the housing assembly and a portion of the actuator. The actuator travel stop is configured to be selectively engaged by the actuator and, upon engagement by the actuator, to limit movement of the actuator toward, and the input force transferred to, the sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle display system displays approach lights acquired by a vision system overlaid on, and aligned with, a stored synthetic approach light symbol. A stored approach light type that corresponds to the target runway may be verified to match the acquired approach lights. A synthetic approach light symbol that corresponds to the approach light type is chosen and aligned with the approach lights for display.

Abstract: An assembly can include a valve seat for an exhaust bypass valve of a serial turbocharger system; and a gasket that includes a planar portion that defines a perimeter and that includes a tab that extends from the perimeter of the planar portion for engagement with the valve seat to secure the gasket to the valve seat. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A node for a low loss passive optical hub is provided. The low loss passive optical hub includes a 1:N-split fiber and a plastic-optical fiber. The 1:N-split fiber has a fused-fractional end and N second-fractional ends. The 1:N-split fiber is formed from N sub-fibers. The N sub-fibers each have a first-fractional end and a second-fractional end. The N first-fractional ends are fused to form the fused-fractional end. The plastic-optical fiber has a first end and a second end. The first end of the plastic-optical fiber is optically coupled to the fused-fractional end of the 1:N-split fiber.

Abstract: A method can include providing a multi-piece locating pin, inserting a pin piece of the multi-piece locating pin into an opening in a wall of a bearing positioned in a bore of a housing of a turbocharger assembly, and securing a screw piece of the multi-piece locating pin in an opening of the housing to thereby secure the pin piece and axially locate the bearing in the bore of the housing of the turbocharger assembly. Other exemplary pins, arrangements and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An accelerometer device for reducing stress on the sensor resulting from temperature extremes and multiple coefficients of thermal expansion. An exemplary accelerometer device includes upper and lower stators and a reed. The reed includes a support ring and a paddle that is flexibly connected to the support ring. The support ring includes a ring section and at least two mounting devices. The mounting devices are at least partially mechanically isolated from the ring section. The ring section flexibly receives the paddle. The mounting devices include a pad area and a neck area that connect the pad area to the ring section. The neck area includes a width dimension that is narrower than a diameter dimension of the pad area.

Abstract: A desired current through a carbon nano tube (CNT) element of a CNT memory device can be controlled by a wordline voltage, and a voltage on the CNT common node can be held constant. The common node can be constant at a source voltage if a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) is used in the CNT memory device, or the common node can be constant at a supply voltage if an n-channel MOSFET is used in the CNT memory device.