Abstract: Composite assemblies are described that include composite spars that are co-cured with one or more sacrificial members on their flanges, forming an integrated sacrificial surface for the composite spars. In one embodiment, the composite assembly includes a composite spar having a web and flanges that project from sides of the web. The composite assembly further includes a sacrificial member of composite materials co-cured with the composite spar on an outer surface of at least one of the flanges. In addition, the sacrificial member has an outer surface that has been machined into conformance with an inner surface of at least one skin panel for an aircraft structure to form a contact surface with the at least one skin panel.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes an inlet for receiving bulk solids, a plurality of heat transfer plate assemblies, a plurality of spacers disposed between adjacent heat transfer plate assemblies, and supports for supporting the heat transfer plate assemblies. The heat transfer plate assemblies include a first plate having a first pair of holes extending therethrough, the first plate having channels extending along a surface thereof, for the flow of fluid through the channels, and a second plate bonded to the first plate to enclose the channels, the second plate including a second pair of holes generally aligned with the first pair of holes to form through holes to facilitate flow of the fluid through the through holes and the channels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for comminution of solid materials. Solid materials are introduced into a first pressure vessel. A working fluid is provided in the first pressure vessel at an operating pressure and an operating temperature. The working fluid is allowed to permeate into the solid materials. The working fluid may permeate into the solid materials while in a supercritical fluid phase. The working fluid is rapidly expanded to thereby create fractured solid materials from the solid materials. Rapidly expanding the working fluid may comprise causing a transition of the working fluid from a supercritical phase with a first density to a subcritical vapour phase with a second density.

Abstract: A dispenser for mixing and dispensing a multi-component adhesive or sealant includes a first motor operably coupled to two or more plungers, each plunger being slidably disposed in a respective one of two or more barrels and configured to apply a dispensing pressure to respective materials to be dispensed, a second motor operably coupled to an output drive shaft having a mating end, and a coupling plate removably attached to a front end of the dispenser, the coupling plate configured to attach to a disposable mixer attachment configured to mix and dispense the multi-component adhesive or sealant, the disposable mixer attachment having a drive shaft driving a mixing component and configured to selectively couple with the mating end of the output drive shaft of the second motor, thereby enabling dynamic mixing of the respective materials to be dispensed.

Abstract: A dispenser and related methods of dispensing material, in particular viscous materials, from a container and through a nozzle. The dispenser includes a body portion for holding the container in a fixed relationship with the body portion, a plunger movable to advance with respect to the container to urge material from the container through the nozzle, a motor arranged to move the plunger and a controller arranged to control the motor. The motor is controlled according to a distance traveled by the plunger, for example a dispensing distance or a distance the plunger is retracted away from the nozzle, or the motor is controlled according to a speed of the plunger.

Abstract: A dispenser for mixing and dispensing a multi-component adhesive or sealant includes a first motor operably coupled to two or more plungers, each plunger being slidably disposed in a respective one of two or more barrels and configured to apply a dispensing pressure to respective materials to be dispensed, a second motor operably coupled to an output drive shaft having a mating end, and a coupling plate removably attached to a front end of the dispenser, the coupling plate configured to attach to a disposable mixer attachment configured to mix and dispense the multi-component adhesive or sealant, the disposable mixer attachment having a drive shaft driving a mixing component and configured to selectively couple with the mating end of the output drive shaft of the second motor, thereby enabling dynamic mixing of the respective materials to be dispensed.

Abstract: A method, a computing device and a computer program product are provided in order to automatically apply window leveling to an image, such as a medical image. In the context of a method, a gaze location within an image is determined based upon a determination that a user is staring at the gaze location. The method also determines a region of interest within the image based upon the gaze location and determines pixel values for pixels within the region of interest. The method also establishes window level values based upon the pixel values for pixels within the region of interest and applies window leveling based upon the window level values established based upon the pixel values for pixels within the region of interest.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a mixing of viscous materials is provided, to dispense a two or more component material such as a two or more component sealant or adhesive. The dispenser comprises a dispensing mechanism for dispensing respective materials from a material holder through a dynamic mixer. The dispensing mechanism is driven by a first electric motor and the dynamic mixer is driven by a second electric motor. Advantageously, a simple and effective multicomponent dispenser with a dynamic mixer is provided.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a mixing of viscous materials is provided, to dispense a two or more component material such as a two or more component sealant or adhesive. The dispenser comprises a dispensing mechanism for dispensing respective materials from a material holder through a dynamic mixer. The dispensing mechanism is driven by a first electric motor and the dynamic mixer is driven by a second electric motor. Advantageously, a simple and effective multicomponent dispenser with a dynamic mixer is provided.

Abstract: A method, a computing device and a computer program product are provided in order to automatically apply window leveling to an image, such as a medical image. In the context of a method, a gaze location within an image is determined based upon a determination that a user is staring at the gaze location. The method also determines a region of interest within the image based upon the gaze location and determines pixel values for pixels within the region of interest. The method also establishes window level values based upon the pixel values for pixels within the region of interest and applies window leveling based upon the window level values established based upon the pixel values for pixels within the region of interest.

Abstract: A dispenser and related methods of dispensing material, in particular viscous materials, from a container and through a nozzle. The dispenser includes a body portion for holding the container in a fixed relationship with the body portion, a plunger movable to advance with respect to the container to urge material from the container through the nozzle, a motor arranged to move the plunger and a controller arranged to control the motor. The motor is controlled according to a distance traveled by the plunger, for example a dispensing distance or a distance the plunger is retracted away from the nozzle, or the motor is controlled according to a speed of the plunger.

Abstract: A method of operating a power plant is provided. The method includes channeling saturated steam at a first pressure to a pressure control device, superheating the steam by decreasing the pressure of the saturated steam from the first pressure to a second pressure using the pressure control valve, and channeling the superheated steam towards a steam turbine component to facilitate cooling the component.

Abstract: A method for making a test specimen includes machining out a chordal core from an annular forging and machining the specimen symmetrical about a chordal axis of the core. A linear cutting tool such as a wire EDM machine is used for the machining which includes at least a partially cylindrical cutting about the chordal axis with the linear cutting tool. A copper or brass tubular EDM electrode may be used. The chordal core may be machined from fat of the forging. The test specimen may have with a gauge section diameter in a range of 0.1-0.5 inches. The EDM process may include directing jets of machining fluid or dielectric in up and down along a cutting portion of an EDM wire of the EDM machine or performing the EDM process in a tank of machining fluid or dielectric with the annular forging submerged in the fluid or dielectric.

Abstract: A stabilising arrangement to limit the transverse movement of a shaft inside a hollow tube. The stabilising arrangement can include a plurality of stabilizing members each defining a bore for accepting the shaft therethrough and a portion extending outwards from the bore to limit transverse movement of the shaft inside the hollow tube. One or more respective resiliently deformable spacers or springs can be attached to and positioned between the stabilising members to resiliently space the stabilizing members apart, while allowing the stabilizing members to be compressed together or expanded inside the hollow tube.

Abstract: A dispensing gun for viscous material including a stock supporting a push rod which is advanceable along a keep in which a cartridge of a material can be mounted. The rod is advanced by means of a catch plate and a locking plate prevents the rod retreating with the catch plate. The locking plate is carried by the rod between a first and a second position so that it acts as a lost motion brake once force is removed from the trigger in one configuration of the dispensing gun, taking the dispensing force off the cartridge to prevent leaking when the trigger is not depressed. In an alternative configuration, the lost motion is reduced, for example to zero, to allow a continuous dispensing action by maintaining the pressure in the cartridge using a pumping action of the trigger.

Abstract: A rod actuator particularly for a mastic gun comprises wear compensation and pressure relief. The wear compensation is effected by a biased catch plate. The catch plate is released from the rod in the actuator by a sleeve transmitting a releasing force applied to a brake plate through to the catch plate. The pressure relief is provided also by the sleeve riding on the rod such that when the trigger is released the rod is able to retreat by a limited amount defined by the movement of the release plate between a released and engaged relationship with the rod.

Abstract: A method for making a test specimen includes machining out a chordal core from an annular forging and machining the specimen symmetrical about a chordal axis of the core. A linear cutting tool such as a wire EDM machine is used for the machining which includes at least a partially cylindrical cutting about the chordal axis with the linear cutting tool. A copper or brass tubular EDM electrode may be used. The chordal core may be machined from fat of the forging. The test specimen may have with a gauge section diameter in a range of 0.1-0.5 inches. The EDM process may include directing jets of machining fluid or dielectric in up and down along a cutting portion of an EDM wire of the EDM machine or performing the EDM process in a tank of machining fluid or dielectric with the annular forging submerged in the fluid or dielectric.

Abstract: A method of operating a power plant is provided. The method includes channeling saturated steam at a first pressure to a pressure control device, superheating the steam by decreasing the pressure of the saturated steam from the first pressure to a second pressure using the pressure control device, and channeling the superheated steam towards a steam turbine component to facilitate cooling the component.

Abstract: A rod actuator particularly for a mastic gun comprises wear compensation and pressure relief. The wear compensation is effected by means of a biased catch plate. The catch plate is released from the rod in the actuator by means of a sleeve transmitting a releasing force applied to a brake plate through to the catch plate. The pressure relief is provided also by the sleeve riding on the rod such that when the trigger is released the rod is able to retreat by a limited amount defined by the movement of the release plate between a released and engaged relationship with the rod.

Abstract: A non-unity ratio cartridge for a dispensing gun for delivering (for example) binary components of a curable material. The outlet ports in the cartridge are compensated to provide equal flow velocities while at the same time ensuring they are dimensionally the same as between cartridges of different ratios such that the same nozzle attachment (for example) can be used on any of a set of cartridges of different ratios.