Abstract: A process for creating a near-surface cooling passage in an air-cooled turbomachine component. The process entails forming a channel in a surface of a surface region of the component so that the channel is open at the surface and fluidically connected to a first cooling passages within the component. A metallic layer is then deposited on the surface and over the channel without filling the channel. The metallic layer closes the channel at the surface of the surface region to define therewith a second cooling passage within the component that is fluidically connected to the first cooling passages. A coating system is then deposited on the metallic layer to define an outermost surface of the component. The second cooling passage is closer to the outermost surface of the component than the first cooling passages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved wall system where a wall form mold has a structural insulated core assembled to form a structural insulated panel (SIP) to form a concrete beam and concrete column to be poured anywhere within the wall as well as between building modules when placed together and erected vertically. The interlocking wall molds interlock within the wall as well as between panels and modules. The wall panels allow concrete columns and beams to be formed in any size and shape. The structural insulated core consists of interlocking foam spacers and support channels which can be glued or screwed together to form an independent wall or as part of a precast wall with columns and beams integrated within the wall panels. Insulated flanges within the wall forming mold separates the wall forming structure from the wall surfaces.

Abstract: A shredder includes a shredding mechanism and a vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations generated by the shredding mechanism. The shredder includes a controller configured to regulate operation of the shredder's motor in response to the detected vibrations. The controller may regulate operation of the shredder so as to keep the detected vibrations below a predetermined vibration level during operation of the shredder. The controller may modify operation of the shredder (e.g., turn the shredder off, conduct an autocorrect sequence, increase or decrease the shredder's speed, display an error message) in response to the detected vibrations having a predetermined characteristic (e.g., frequency and/or amplitude within a predetermined range, a characteristic that indicates a material/paper jam or misfeed).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a structural insulating foam core wall that is versatile to be used as an independent framed wall, combination of an independent wall and Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) wall, in conjunction as part of a precast wall or as part of forming system to form a concrete beams and column structure, and modular units with concrete beams and columns. The structural insulating core wall, can also be used as individual foam spacer blocks, with or without brackets and horizontal bracing channels. Various types of flanges extensions are added to form different support channel flanges. The interlocking foam spacers and support channels which can be glued or screwed together to form structural insulating panels (SIPS), independent walls or as part of a precast wall with columns and beams integrated within the wall panels.

Abstract: An information management system may store information related to tasks to be performed by workers in an organization. Workers in the organization may communicate with the information management system using email messages. The information management system may not require a login or authentication procedure, and workers may interact with the information management system without the need to log in to the information management system. A worker may send an email to the information management system that includes an action type parameter. The action type parameter may indicate a task such as updating a database to indicate that a task has been completed, reassigning a task from one worker to another, or transmitting a report to a worker. The information management system may then perform the action indicated by the action type parameter.

Abstract: An information management system may store information related to tasks to be performed by workers in an organization. Workers in the organization may communicate with the information management system using email messages. The information management system may not require a login or authentication procedure, and workers may interact with the information management system without the need to log in to the information management system. The information management system may receive an email message from a worker that indicates a request for a report. The information management system may determine whether to transmit the report to the worker based on whether the worker is appropriately registered with the information management system, and/or whether the worker has administrative privileges. The information management system, in response to a positive determination, may transmit the report to the email address from which the requesting email message was sent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming an article with a diffusion portion comprises: forming a slurry comprising chromium and silicon, applying the slurry to the article, and heating the article to a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to diffuse chromium and silicon into the article and form a diffusion portion comprising silicon and a microstructure comprising ?-chromium. In one embodiment, a gas turbine component comprises: a superalloy and a diffusion portion having a depth of less than or equal to 60 ?m measured from the superalloy surface into the gas turbine component. The diffusion portion has a diffusion surface having a microstructure comprising greater than or equal to 40% by volume ?-chromium.

Abstract: An oxidation resistant component with high temperature strength and a method of creating such component are disclosed. A modified base metal may be formed by adding at least two strengthening additives to a base metal, the base metal being substantially free from both nickel and cobalt and comprising from about 1% to about 27% chromium by weight. The modified base metal may then be formed into a component and an aluminum-containing slurry may be applied to a surface of the component. The component may then be heated to diffuse aluminum into the component and to form an aluminum diffusion surface layer therein.

Abstract: An oxidation resistant fuel cell component and a method for creating an aluminum diffusion surface layer within a fuel cell component to reduce chromium contamination occurring during operation of a fuel cell are disclosed. Generally, an aluminum-containing slurry may be applied to the fuel cell component. The component may then be heated to diffuse aluminum into the component and to form an aluminum diffusion surface layer therein. The surface layer may be characterized by an intermetallic aluminum-containing phase extending below the surface of the fuel cell component.

Abstract: Oxidation resistant components and methods for creating an aluminum diffusion surface layer within substantially nickel- and cobalt-free components are disclosed. An aluminum-containing slurry may be applied to a component. The component may then be heated to diffuse aluminum into the component and to form an aluminum diffusion surface layer therein. The surface layer may be characterized by an intermetallic aluminum-containing phase extending below the surface of the component.

Abstract: Tools, such as nail clippers, include at least one lever pivotally movable towards and away from another portion of the tools. Yieldable gripping pads of elastomeric material such as rubber, yieldable plastic or the like are disposed on facing surfaces of the lever. The facing pads are usable for clamping about the screw on top of a bottle of nail polish inserted between the pads allowing twisting off of the top by counter-clockwise rotation of the tool relative to the nail polish bottle.

Abstract: A system and method for average daily balance optimization forecast for accelerated loan payoff. A computing apparatus configured using computer readable program code enables optimization of an average daily balance using user-specified configuration of dates of income deposits and expense item withdrawals. Based on user-specified line of credit parameters and loan details, the configured computing apparatus can generate a recurring draw threshold and recurring draw amount that can be used by an individual in leveraging a line of credit for accelerated loan payoff.

Abstract: The hearing device connector for eyeglasses is a connector that attaches a hearing aid device or a hearing device ear hanger to eyeglasses. The hearing aid device can have a flexible elastic sound tube from the transmitter and the sound tube passes through the connector and the stem of the eyeglasses securing the hearing aid directly to the eye glasses. Other types of hearing devices like telephone or radio sound tube can also be attached to the connector and eyeglasses. Eyeglass holders or attachments that fit around a person's head can also be used to fasten the connector to hearing aids.

Abstract: A building form that uses two building panels made of a rigid board and rigid insulation are supported by light gauge framing members and integrating two adjacent building panel molds forming a ribbed chamber into which concrete can be poured. The building panels when jointed together form a depression within the mold panel for a concrete rib when concrete is poured over the building panels. In addition, each of the building panels when separated by another fire resistant board thereby forming a space between the panel molds forming a wider forming mold which becomes an integral part of the building panel. The separated building panels also allow for mechanical means to be distributed. Additional forming means can be added for a wider and deeper forming structure. Several different transverse support beams can be used to increase the panel mold structural strength.

Abstract: The hearing device connector for eyeglasses is a connector that attaches a hearing aid device or a hearing device ear hanger to eyeglasses. The hearing aid device can have a flexible elastic sound tube from the transmitter and the sound tube passes through the connector and the stem of the eyeglasses securing the hearing aid directly to the eye glasses. Other types of hearing devices like telephone or radio sound tube can also be attached to the connector and eyeglasses. Eyeglass holders or attachments that fit around a person's head can also be used to fasten the connector to hearing aids.

Abstract: Payment card transactions at a point of sale (POS) are secured in certain embodiments by intercepting, with a POS security layer installed on a POS terminal, payment data from the POS terminal, transmitting the payment data from the POS security layer to a server security application installed on a POS server, and providing false payment data from the POS security layer to a POS terminal application installed on the POS terminal. The false payment data in various embodiments is processed as if it were the payment data, such that the POS terminal transmits an authorization request to the POS server using the false payment data. In addition, the authorization request may be transmitted from the POS server to a payment gateway.

Abstract: A method and composition are provided for coating honeycomb seals and, more specifically, to a method and slurry for applying an aluminide coating onto honeycomb seals. The method includes preparing a slurry of a powder containing a metallic aluminum alloy having a melting temperature higher than aluminum, an activator capable of forming a reactive halide vapor with the metallic aluminum, and a binder containing an organic polymer. The slurry is applied to surfaces of the honeycomb seal, which is then heated to remove or burn off the binder, vaporize and react the activator with the metallic aluminum to form the halide vapor, react the halide vapor at the substrate surfaces to deposit aluminum on the surfaces of the seal, and diffuse the deposited aluminum into the surfaces to form a diffusion aluminide coating.

Abstract: Payment card transactions at a point of sale (POS) are secured in certain embodiments by intercepting, with a POS security layer installed on a POS terminal, payment data from the POS terminal, transmitting the payment data from the POS security layer to a server security application installed on a POS server, and providing false payment data from the POS security layer to a POS terminal application installed on the POS terminal. The false payment data in various embodiments is processed as if it were the payment data, such that the POS terminal transmits an authorization request to the POS server using the false payment data. In addition, the authorization request may be transmitted from the POS server to a payment gateway.

Abstract: A non-aqueous, non-flammable Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition includes a non-aqueous, non-flammable Group IVB metal alkoxide, wherein the metal is chemically bonded to a glycol containing 4 or more carbons, to an alkoxy group containing 6 or more carbons, or a mixture of both. A fracturing fluid employed in the hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations is formulated through mixture of the non-aqueous, non-flammable Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition with a polymer solution.

Abstract: A system and method for examining, describing, analyzing and/or predicting an organization's emerging levels of performance during routine, special and unexpected events are presented. The tools include a methodology and processes for systematically building, collecting and archiving profiles of the performance capacity within specific organizations or across wider industry or cultural groups. The use of various unique and precise ways to observe, classify, measure and, analyze organizations and the events they are expected to manage allows for discussions of an organization's current ability to perform and the development and testing of projections or forecasts of future performance. Finally, having the option to speculate or to develop what-if scenarios extends the overall usefulness of the device described herein beyond reviews of how an organization is currently, to broader discussions of the organization's general capacity to withstand threats, challenges or attacks emerging from within or outside.