Abstract: A core structure (10) includes a first core element (16) including a leading edge section (30), a tip section (32), and a turn section (34) joining the leading edge and tip sections (30, 32). The first core element (16) is adapted to be used to form a leading edge cooling circuit (102) in a gas turbine engine airfoil (100). The leading edge cooling circuit (102) includes a cooling fluid passage (104) having a leading edge portion (106) formed by the first core element leading edge section (30), a tip portion (108) formed by the first core element tip section (32), and a turn portion (110) formed by the first core element turn section (34). Each of the leading edge portion (106), the tip portion (108), and the turn portion (110) of the cooling fluid passage (104) are formed concurrently in the airfoil (100) by the first core element (16).

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an infrared apparatus to heat a body. The infrared apparatus includes layers. The first layer has a first conductive path coupled to pass a first current. The second layer has a second conductive path running coincident to the first conductive path. The second layer terminates an electric field produced within said first layer. The first conductive path includes a resistive element that produces heat from the current.

Abstract: Turbine and compressor casing/housing abradable component embodiments for turbine engines, have abradable surfaces with asymmetric forward and aft ridge surface area density. The forward ridges have greater surface area density than the aft ridges to compensate for greater ridge erosion in the forward zone during engine operation and reduce blade tip wear in the aft zone. Some abradable component embodiments increase forward zone ridge surface area density by incorporating wider ridges than those in the aft zone.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus to heat a body. The apparatus includes a first and second heating element. The first heating element has a first conductive path and is coupled to pass a current. The second heating element has a second conductive path that runs adjacent to the first conductive path. The second heating element terminates an electric field produced within the first heating element. The first conductive path is coupled to redirect the current to the second conductive path and set up complimentary magnetic fields between the first and second heating elements.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for generating and offering to customers rewards in exchange for the customer's continued presence in a retail environment. An example rewards system may receive, from a detection system, a notification that a computing device associated with the customer is in a retail environment and, in response, transmit an offer to the computing device that offers the customer a reward in exchange for remaining in the retail environment for at least a predetermined amount of time. The rewards system may receive, from the detection system, real-time data indicating a behavior of the customer in the retail environment, and, from a third-party server, non-real-time data associated with the customer. The rewards system may generate the reward based on the real-time data and the non-real-time data. After the predetermined amount of time, the rewards system may transmit the reward to the computing device.

Abstract: Turbine and compressor casing abradable component embodiments for turbine engines, with composite, non-inflected, bi-angle, “hockey stick” like pattern abradable surface ridges and grooves. Some embodiments include distinct forward upstream and aft downstream composite multi orientation groove and vertically projecting ridges planform patterns, to reduce, redirect and/or block blade tip airflow leakage downstream into the grooves rather than from turbine blade airfoil high to low pressure sides. In some embodiments the grooves are split or divided into multiple sections to interrupt flow traveling inside the groove and cause a local pressurization that reduces tip leakage flow. Some ridge or rib embodiments also have first lower and second upper wear zones. The lower zone optimizes engine airflow characteristics while the upper zone is optimized to minimize blade tip gap and wear by being more easily abradable than the lower zone.

Abstract: A method for generating an ion flow asymmetry in a capactively coupled radiofrequency plasma reactor comprising a step for energization of a first electrode by a radiofrequency voltage waveform. The standardized voltage waveform is an approximate waveform with a degree of approximation of a standardized sawtooth radiofrequency function having different rising and falling slopes. The degree of approximation of the approximate waveform and the pressure P of the gas are sufficiently high for causing the appearance of an asymmetry of the ion flows between the ion flow at the first electrode and the ion flow at a second electrode.

Abstract: Turbine and compressor casing abradable component embodiments for turbine engines, with composite, non-inflected, bi-angle, “hockey stick” like pattern abradable surface ridges and grooves. Some embodiments include distinct forward upstream and aft downstream composite multi orientation groove and vertically projecting ridges planform patterns, to reduce, redirect and/or block blade tip airflow leakage downstream into the grooves rather than from turbine blade airfoil high to low pressure sides. In some embodiments the grooves are split or divided into multiple sections to interrupt flow traveling inside the groove and cause a local pressurization that reduces tip leakage flow. Some ridge or rib embodiments also have first lower and second upper wear zones. The lower zone optimizes engine airflow characteristics while the upper zone is optimized to minimize blade tip gap and wear by being more easily abradable than the lower zone.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an infrared apparatus to heat a body. The infrared apparatus includes layers. The first layer has a first conductive path coupled to pass a first current. The second layer has a second conductive path running coincident to the first conductive path. The second layer terminates an electric field produced within said first layer. The first conductive path includes a resistive element that produces heat from the current.

Abstract: A seal assembly between a disc cavity and a hot gas path in a gas turbine engine includes a stationary vane assembly and a rotating blade assembly axially upstream from the vane assembly. A platform of the blade assembly has a radially outwardly facing first surface, an axially downstream facing second surface defining an aft plane, and a plurality of grooves extending into the second surface such that the grooves are recessed from the aft plane The grooves are arranged such that a circumferential space is defined between adjacent grooves During operation of the engine, the grooves impart a circumferential velocity component to purge air flowing out of a disc cavity through the grooves to guide the purge air toward a hot gas path such that the purge air flows in a desired direction with reference to a direction of hot gas flow through the hot gas path.

Abstract: An airfoil cooling arrangement (12), including: a leading edge chamber (54) configured to cool an interior surface (68) of an airfoil; and an impingement orifice (60) configured to direct an impingement jet (64) toward an impingement location (66) disposed on the interior surface and offset from a camber line (28) of the airfoil The airfoil cooling arrangement is effective to guide post impingement cooling fluid along the interior surface, through a leading portion (76) of the leading edge chamber, and then back toward a trailing edge (22) of the airfoil in a helical motion (114).

Abstract: A matching circuit is provided to adapt electrical impedance simultaneously for at least one pair of a higher and a lower frequencies between a plasma reactor and a generator; said matching circuit comprises at least a “load and tune” L-type stage, and includes a “tune circuit” connected in series to the plasma reactor and having at least one of or both an inductor and a capacitor in series; a “load circuit” connected in parallel to the series-connected “tune circuit” and load, and comprising at least one of or both an inductor and a capacitor in parallel; and the component values of the tune and load circuits are chosen such that, for the lower frequency, the matching circuit follows a negative load reactance path in a Smith chart, and for the higher frequency, the matching circuit follows a positive load reactance path in the Smith chart.

Abstract: A method is provided for exciting at least one electrode of a capacitively coupled reactive plasma reactor containing a substrate. The electrode is excited by applying a RF voltage with a trapezoidal waveform comprising a ramp-up, a high plateau, a ramp-down and a low plateau. The plasma density can be controlled by adjusting the duration of the ramp-up, the duration of the ramp-down, the amplitude and the repetition rate of the trapezoidal waveform. The ion energy distribution function at the substrate can be controlled by adjusting the amplitude and the relative duration between the high plateau and the low plateau of the trapezoidal waveform.

Abstract: A plurality of hazard alarm devices are in spatially diverse locations and coupled together with an input-output bus. An interconnect protocol enables non-originating alarm devices to synchronize their audible alert tone pulses with audible alert tone pulses from an originating alarm device in a local hazard alarm condition. Hence, all audible alert tone pulses start sounding substantially together with allowances for signal contention and arbitration between the spatially diverse alarm devices.

Abstract: A seal assembly between a disc cavity and a hot gas path in a gas turbine engine includes a stationary vane assembly and a rotating blade assembly axially upstream from the vane assembly. A platform of the blade assembly has a radially outwardly facing first surface, an axially downstream facing second surface defining an aft plane, and a plurality of grooves extending into the second surface such that the grooves are recessed from the aft plane The grooves are arranged such that a circumferential space is defined between adjacent grooves During operation of the engine, the grooves impart a circumferential velocity component to purge air flowing out of a disc cavity through the grooves to guide the purge air toward a hot gas path such that the purge air flows in a desired direction with reference to a direction of hot gas flow through the hot gas path.

Abstract: A plurality of hazard alarm devices are in spatially diverse locations and coupled together with an input-output bus. An interconnect protocol enables non-originating alarm devices to synchronize their audible alert tone pulses with audible alert tone pulses from an originating alarm device in a local hazard alarm condition. Hence, all audible alert tone pulses start sounding substantially together with allowances for signal contention and arbitration between the spatially diverse alarm devices. The originating alarm device continuously sounds its pattern of audible alert tone pulse groups without interruption, while the non-originating alarm devices periodically pause sounding a group of their audible alert tone pulses. The originating alarm device may be found by listening for the alarm device that is continuously sounding audible alert tone pulse groups without pause.

Abstract: The present invention is an ASIC-controlled alarm unit. The ASIC circuit performs all the necessary control functions to provide audible and visual signaling when used with external horn and strobe circuits.

Abstract: An entertainment content personalization system is described. A method may comprise accessing content for presentation on a user interface, the content comprising entertainment services content associated with content data; generating user data comprising user profile data and user interaction data, the user interaction data based on interactions with the content through the user interface; and presenting personalized content on the user interface comprising content selected based on the user data and the content data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A load mounting system for a vehicle generally includes a support assembly configured for supporting a load, wherein the support assembly has a first end and a second end, the first end being mountable to a frame of a vehicle at one or more support assembly mounting locations along the frame. The system further includes at least one retaining device configured for securing the load on the support assembly, the at least one retaining device being coupleable to the first and second ends of the support assembly, wherein the at least one retaining device is coupleable to the first end of the support assembly at a different location than the support assembly mounting locations along the frame.

Abstract: A method is provided for exciting at least one electrode of a capacitively coupled reactive plasma reactor containing a substrate. The electrode is excited by applying a RF voltage with a trapezoidal waveform comprising a ramp-up, a high plateau, a ramp-down and a low plateau. The plasma density can be controlled by adjusting the duration of the ramp-up, the duration of the ramp-down, the amplitude and the repetition rate of the trapezoidal waveform. The ion energy distribution function at the substrate can be controlled by adjusting the amplitude and the relative duration between the high plateau and the low plateau of the trapezoidal waveform.