Abstract: In some examples, the disclosure describes an accelerometer including a proof mass, and a housing enclosing the proof mass. The accelerometer includes a cold temperature sink defining a condensing surface. In some examples, the disclosure describes a technique for making an accelerometer. The example technique includes forming a cold temperature sink defining a condensing surface, and enclosing a proof mass in the housing. The condensing surface is configured to promote at least one of condensation or ice formation in an interior of the housing. The condensing surface is spaced from the proof mass to divert at least one of condensate or ice away from the proof mass.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a CAN network topology for an HVAC communication system. The CAN network topology comprises at least three primary nodes having a predetermined termination impedance and a plurality of end nodes coupled to each primary node, wherein the predetermined termination impedance is set to the optimal setting of 180 ohms. Advantageously, the present disclosure eliminates the need for physically setting CAN node terminations. This reduces install time and removes variability of the install settings. Further, removing this variability reduces the risk for post-installation call-backs due to incorrect system setup. The present disclosure optimizes signal slew rate, which improves signal reliability.

Abstract: Vehicle systems and methods are provided for capturing audio during operation for subsequent presentation and analysis. One method involves obtaining a plurality of audio segments via an audio input device onboard an aircraft, classifying each audio segment of the plurality of audio segments into one or more of a plurality of topic categories based at least in part on the content of the respective audio segment, and providing a graphical user interface (GUI) display depicting the plurality of audio segments in a time-ordered sequence. The GUI display includes GUI elements for selectively removing subsets of audio segments classified into particular topic categories from the time-ordered sequence.

Abstract: An effusion cooling hole for a component associated with a gas turbine engine extends along a longitudinal axis. The effusion cooling hole includes an inlet section spaced apart from a first surface of the component. The inlet section includes a face orientated transverse to the first surface and defines an inlet through the face that has a first diameter. The effusion cooling hole includes an outlet at a second surface of the component and downstream from the inlet section. The effusion cooling hole includes a diverging section downstream from the inlet section and upstream from the outlet. The diverging section is defined substantially external to a thickness of the component, and the effusion cooling hole transitions from the first diameter to a second diameter at the diverging section. The effusion cooling hole includes an intermediate section that fluidly connects the diverging section to the outlet.

Abstract: An airfoil for a rotor blade in a gas turbine engine includes a first side wall and a second side wall joined to the first side wall at a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil further includes a tip cap extending between the first and second side walls such that the tip cap and at least portions of the first and second side walls form a blade tip and an internal cooling system. The internal cooling system includes a leading edge cooling circuit, a central cooling circuit, and a trailing edge cooling circuit. Each of the internal passages within the leading edge cooling circuit, the central cooling circuit, and the trailing edge cooling circuit is bounded in the radial outward direction with a surface that has at least one escape hole or that is positively angled in the radial outward direction relative to a chordwise axis.

Abstract: Embodiments of a methods for producing gas turbine engine rotors and other powdered metal articles having shaped internal cavities are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes consolidating a powdered metal body utilizing a hot isostatic pressing process to produce a rotor preform in which elongated sacrificial tubes are embedded. Acid or another solvent is directed into solvent inlet channels provided in the elongated sacrificial tubes to chemically dissolving the elongated sacrificial tubes and create shaped cavities within the rotor preform. The rotor preform is subject to further processing, such as machining, prior to or after chemical dissolution of the elongated sacrificial tubes to produce the completed gas turbine engine rotor.

Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a dynamic vertical situation display on an aircraft includes generating display data for a dynamic vertical situation display displayed on a display based upon flight plan data from a flight management system, where the flight plan data includes a plurality of waypoints and one or more phases of flight. A current phase of flight of the aircraft and a number of waypoints currenting displayed on the dynamic vertical situation display on the display is determined, and instructions to dynamically change a size of the dynamic vertical situation display on the display are generated based upon at least one of the number of waypoints currenting displayed on the display and the current phase of flight of the aircraft.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes an airfoil that has a tip region that extends from the leading edge toward the trailing edge, and the tip region is bounded by a wall that extends at an angle. The leading edge has a leading edge cooling circuit that is defined from the platform to a tip flag channel, and the leading edge cooling circuit is in fluid communication with the tip flag channel. The pressure side includes at least one tip dust hole defined through the wall proximate the pressure side, and the at least one tip dust hole has an inlet and an outlet. The airfoil has at least one rib defined on the wall that extends at a second angle to direct the particles and a portion of the cooling fluid into the inlet.

Abstract: A system for ordering flight crew tasks during flight of an airborne vehicle is provided. The system includes one or more processors configured by programming instructions encoded on non-transient computer readable media. The system is configured to: retrieve a current ordering of a plurality of flight crew tasks across a flight profile and task context data; retrieve current flight data including: targets and constraints, progress and state of each required checklist, airspace dynamics information, environmental conditions, the time of day and year, and aircraft state information which includes the current automation and configuration state; retrieve airborne vehicle operator preferences; analyze the retrieved current ordering of flight crew tasks and task context data, current flight data, and operator preferences to predict a flight crew task saturation period; and re-order the current ordering of the plurality of flight crew tasks to reduce the occurrence of task saturation periods.

Abstract: A method in a peer-to-peer network for recording maintenance data is provided. The method comprises receiving troubleshooting summary secured data (TSSD) from a plurality of sources; entering the TSSD from the plurality of sources using a Blockchain framework, wherein TSSD from a source is entered as a unique transaction in the Blockchain framework when a set of smart maintenance keys possessed by the source authorizes the entry of the TSSD; providing a first level of controlled access to a first subset of entered TSSD to an entity possessing a first level controlled access set of keys; providing a second level of controlled access to a second subset of the entered TSSD to an entity possessing a second level controlled access set of keys; and providing a third level of controlled access to all of the entered TSSD to an entity possessing a third level controlled access set of keys.

Abstract: Architectures or techniques are presented that can learn relationships between graphical elements presented by a user interface and physical conditions that exist in an environment. Furthermore, the architectures or techniques can, potentially based on the learned information, present the graphical elements to the user interface in a manner that is determined to be more efficient. For example, graphical elements that were historically accessed when a particular physical condition is true can be identified. These identified graphical elements can then be presented in a location of the user interface that is determined to be favorable to rapid or efficient selection at times with the particular physical condition is determined to be satisfied.

Abstract: An adaptive system in an aircraft for presenting speed and altitude recommendations for supersonic flight on an aircraft display unit is provided. The system is configured to: predict, based on received aircraft sensor inputs from on board aircraft sensors, an optimum speed and altitude profile while flying in a supersonic phase of flight between a plurality of waypoints for the current aircraft model, wind conditions, and mission; and determine using a SONIC boom prediction model whether the optimum speed and altitude profile would cause an acceptable BOOM effect per a predefined BOOM effect threshold limit during flight between the plurality of waypoints, wherein a BOOM effect is a perceived sound level on land due to unrestricted supersonic flight over land, and wherein a BOOM effect threshold limit is an acceptable perceived sound level on land due to supersonic flight over land.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calculating and displaying flight safety analytics for an aircraft. The method comprises first receiving historical flight data for the aircraft from a flight data quick access recorder (QAR) located onboard the aircraft. The flight data is then processed to identify safety events and store the identified safety events in an events database. The contents of the events database are analyzed to determine statistical data regarding the identified safety events. An onboard predictive model is applied that utilizes the statistical data to predict the likelihood of a safety event based on current flight data received from the aircraft. The predicted likelihood of a safety event is displayed on a flight display of the aircraft.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for detecting a stray magnetic field are provided. An example apparatus may include a first magnetic sensor element at a first position relative to a magnetic field source to detect a target magnetic field emitted by the magnetic field source, a second magnetic sensor element at a second position relative to the magnetic field source to detect the target magnetic field emitted by the magnetic field source, and a processor element electronically coupled to the first magnetic sensor element and the second magnetic sensor element. In some examples, the processor element may be configured to: receive a first output from the first magnetic sensor element, receive a second output from the second magnetic sensor element, and detect the stray magnetic field interfering with the target magnetic field based at least in part on the first output and the second output.

Abstract: A hearing protection device configured to measure the noise exposure of a user and to provide a time remaining estimate until a maximum noise exposure level is achieved. Generally, the hearing protection device may comprise a sound sealing section, a microphone configured to generate a detected sound signal indicative of the measured sound level at the user's ear canal, a memory/storage configured to record the detected sound signal as sound exposure history, a timer configured to measure the amount of time the hearing protection device is exposed to sound, and a processor configured to receive a timer signal from the timer and the detected sound signal to calculate a time remaining estimate until reaching the maximum noise exposure level. Additionally, the maximum noise exposure level may be based on industry regulations or personalized hearing thresholds.

Abstract: A two temperature electronic expansion valve control for variable speed compressors that utilizes a correlation between airflow percentage and heat exchanger pressure drop to control the operation of an expansion valve. An indoor airflow percentage request may be communicated from an outdoor controller to an air handler controller. Using a correlation between airflow percentage and pressure drop across the heat exchanger, the airflow percentage may be used in predicting an outlet pressure of refrigerant exhausted from the heat exchanger. The predicted pressure drop may be used in determining a saturated temperature for the exhausted refrigerant. The determined saturated temperature may be compared to a sensed temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the heat exchanger to determine a superheat value, which is compared to a reference superheat value in determining the degree to open or close the expansion valve.

Abstract: A card-based game system, and associated method of play, includes a package, and a first set of cards and a second set of cards contained in the package. The first set of cards are prize cards having prize indicia indicating a prize award assigned to the prize card, the prize indicia covered by a removable covering. The second set of cards are command cards, each command card having instructions to players to perform an act that results in a gain or loss of a prize card. A sufficient number of the prize cards and command cards are provided for play of a game wherein a plurality of the prize cards are distributed to each player and a plurality of the prize cards remain as common cards. Upon completion of the game, each player removes the covering on their prize cards to reveal the prize award assigned to the prize card.

Abstract: An infusion pump is provided, including a specially programmed microprocessor, a flow sensor for measuring flow from a source of fluid through an output tubing, a pumping section including a plurality of fingers in operational relationship to the output tubing, an outlet valve associated with the output tubing, and a first actuator configured for sequentially displacing the plurality of fingers to displace fluid through the output tubing. An inlet valve is disposed between the pumping section and the source of fluid; and a second actuator is also included. For detection, by the flow sensor, of flow above a predetermined level, the microprocessor is configured for one of: closing the outlet valve independently of the inlet valve using the first actuator; and closing the inlet valve independently of the outlet valve using the second actuator.