Abstract: Alloys, a process for preparing the alloys, and manufactured articles including the alloys are described herein. The alloys include, by weight, about 11.5% to about 14.5% chromium, about 0.01% to about 3.0% nickel, about 0.1% to about 1.0% copper, about 0.1% to about 0.2% carbon, about 0.01% to about 0.1% niobium, 0% to about 5% cobalt, 0% to about 3.0% molybdenum, and 0% to about 0.

Abstract: A martensitic stainless steel alloy is strengthened by copper-nucleated nitride precipitates. The alloy includes, in combination by weight percent, about 10.0 to about 12.5 Cr, about 2.0 to about 7.5 Ni, up to about 17.0 Co, about 0.6 to about 1.5 Mo, about 0.5 to about 2.3 Cu, up to about 0.6 Mn, up to about 0.4 Si, about 0.05 to about 0.15 V, up to about 0.10 N, up to about 0.035 C, up to about 0.01 W, and the balance Fe and incidental elements and impurities. The nitride precipitates may be enriched by one or more transition metals. A case hardened, corrosion resistant variant has a reduced weight percent of Ni, enabling increased use of Cr, and decreased Co.

Abstract: A method of making a carbon/graphite product using a coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of about 150° C. to 250° C. Also, a carbon/graphite product having a softening point in the range of about 150° C. to 250° C. A method of making mesophase pitch is formed from quinoline insoluble free coal tar pitch distillate from a high efficiency evaporative distillation process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making carbon/carbon composite disks for braking applications that employs a continuous feeding of fiber strands into a mold. The fibers are then compressed to form a mat or preform. The fibers are then needled such that the fibers within the mat interlock and extend in various directions. The mat or preform is then subjected to densification processing. In order to enhance the effectiveness of the densification process and/or to speed up the processing time, a filler is added to the preform during the manufacturing process. The fillers are added by way of a dry powder or as a liquid slurry. The filler may be aluminum oxide, boron carbide, silicon carbide, pitch, or a variety of carbonic or noncarbonic performance enhancers.

Abstract: A method of making the saturated aircraft brake preform using a coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of about 160° C. to 240° C. Also, a product having natural rubber in the formulation and the method of making the product using a coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of about 140° C. to 200° C. A mesophase pitch is formed from quinoline insoluble free coal tar pitch distillate from a high efficiency evaporative distillation process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making carbon/carbon composite discs for an aircraft brake employs a continuous feeding of fiber strands into a mold. Water is then combined with the fibers and the fibers are compressed to form a moisturized mat or preform. The fibers are then needled such that the fibers within the mat or preform extend in radial, circumferential, and axial directions. The mat or preform is then subjected to densification. The resulting disc is of total carbon construction. The water introduced into the mat during the processing serves as both a sacrificial binder and a lubricant during the fabrication.

Abstract: An apparatus for making carbon discs for brake disc assemblies by feeding continuous strands of fibrous carbon material from spools into a die, the volume of the carbon material so dispensed being continuously monitored. A cutter terminates the dispensing operation and a debulking plate urges all of the fibrous carbon material so dispensed into the die alone. The material is compressed within a cylindrical annular die and, in one embodiment, is submitted to a convection curing oven where the preform is cured. Subsequently, the preform is carbonized, densified, and machined to form a final carbon disc brake. In another emobodiment, a dry preform is fabricated, obviating the need for curing and carbonizing.

Abstract: A system and method for modifying program status words (PSW) with overlap enabled. According to the present invention, an instruction which modifies a PSW system mask, access key, or address space code is executed with overlap enabled. This instruction generates a new PSW. The new PSW is pushed into a queue. Once the instruction is complete, the new PSW becomes an architected PSW. If the instruction does not complete, then the new PSW is discarded. Once the new PSW is pushed into the queue, subsequent instructions may execute using the new PSW. Thus, instructions which modify the PSW system mask, access key, and address space code may execute with overlap enabled.

Abstract: A carbon composite aircraft brake disc (10, 50, 60, 110, 120) is manufactured to include internally an insert member (12, 14, 18, 24, 28, 32, 36, 42, 52, 115, 125) which effects positive vibration damping for the disc (10, 50, 60, 110, 120) during operation of the brake (100). The insert member (12, 14, 18, 24, 28, 32, 36, 42, 52, 115, 125) may be a graphite material, paper, or cloth material which is introduced into the interior of material utilized for manufacturing the carbon composite aircraft disc (10, 50, 60, 110, 120). After manufacturing of the brake disc (10, 50, 60, 110, 120) is completed, the brake disc comprises a single integral carbon composite brake disc (10, 50, 60, 110, 120) having disposed completely internally therein the insert member which provides a discontinuity that effects efficiently positive vibration damping of the disc (10, 50, 60, 110, 120) during operation of the aircraft brake (100) in which the disc is located.

Abstract: A device is shown for securing the base portion of a channel member of the type used to support a partition in a building to a ceiling grid structure. The device includes a bracket which is received on the ceiling structure. The channel member is secured to the bracket to support the channel member from the ceiling grid structure without damaging or contacting the ceiling grid structure itself. The bracket is then fastened to the ceiling grid structure to prevent transverse movement of the channel member along the ceiling grid structure. That portion of the ceiling grid structure which is visible within the completed building interior is not damaged when the partition is removed or relocated.