Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine assembly. The method comprises providing at least one propelling gas turbine engine that includes a core engine including at least one turbine. The method also comprises coupling an auxiliary engine to the propelling gas turbine engine such that during operation of the propelling gas turbine engine, at least a portion of the airflow entering the propelling gas turbine engine is extracted from the propelling gas turbine engine upstream from the core engine turbine, and channeled to the auxiliary engine for generating power.

Abstract: A high power, high speed gearbox including a compound face gear planetary gear assembly (FGPGA) is provided. The FGPGA includes a first planetary gear set (PGS1) and a second planetary gear set (PGS2). The PGS1 includes a spur gear connected to an input shaft, a plurality of intermediate pinion gears, a first face gear and a second face gear oriented in a planetary arrangement. The PGS2 includes a plurality of gears oriented in a planetary arrangement and operate to turn an output shaft. The PGS1 first and second face gears are configured to engage the spur gear such that the input shaft can have angle of other than 90° with respect to the output shaft. By implementing the PGS1 face gears in a planetary arrangement with the spur gear and the intermediate pinion gears, the rotational direction of the output shaft can be altered by changing a tooth differential between the PGS1 first and second face gears without employing an idler gear in the PGS1.

Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine assembly. The method comprises providing at least one propelling gas turbine engine that includes a core engine including at least one turbine. The method also comprises coupling an auxiliary engine to the propelling gas turbine engine such that during operation of the propelling gas turbine engine, at least a portion of the airflow entering the propelling gas turbine engine is extracted from the propelling gas turbine engine upstream from the core engine turbine, and channeled to the auxiliary engine for generating power.

Abstract: A high power, high speed gearbox including a compound face gear planetary gear assembly (FGPGA) is provided. The FGPGA includes a first planetary gear set (PGS1) and a second planetary gear set (PGS2). The PGS1 includes a spur gear connected to an input shaft, a plurality of intermediate pinion gears, a first face gear and a second face gear oriented in a planetary arrangement. The PGS2 includes a plurality of gears oriented in a planetary arrangement and operate to turn an output shaft. The PGS1 first and second face gears are configured to engage the spur gear such that the input shaft can have angle of other than 90° with respect to the output shaft. By implementing the PGS1 face gears in a planetary arrangement with the spur gear and the intermediate pinion gears, the rotational direction of the output shaft can be altered by changing a tooth differential between the PGS1 first and second face gears without employing an idler gear in the PGS1.

Abstract: A method facilitates operating a gas turbine engine assembly including a propelling engine and an auxiliary power engine. The method comprises channeling a portion of airflow entering an inlet to the propelling gas turbine engine through a fan assembly and a bypass duct such that the air bypasses the core engine, and channeling a portion of airflow from the bypass duct towards the auxiliary power engine.

Abstract: A support structure for piezoelectric elements in a marine seismic cable is provided. The support structure comprises upper and lower cylindrical halves, each with channels formed therein. Two axial channels are adapted to retain three piezoelectric elements each. A third axial channel, positioned between the sensor element channels, is adapted to retain a flexible circuit. Transverse channels between the sensor element channels and the circuit channels accommodate extension from the flexible circuit. The piezoelectric elements are mounted within their respective channels with a resilient pad with adhesive on both sides. The piezoelectric elements are graded so that any group of three piezoelectric elements exhibits approximately the same sensitivity as any of the other three groups of piezoelectric elements on the support structure.

Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine assembly. The method comprises providing at least one propelling gas turbine engine that includes a core engine including at least one turbine. The method also comprises coupling an auxiliary engine to the propelling gas turbine engine such that during operation of the propelling gas turbine engine, at least a portion of the airflow entering the propelling gas turbine engine is extracted from the propelling gas turbine engine upstream from the core engine turbine, and channeled to the auxiliary engine for generating power.

Abstract: A method facilitates operating a gas turbine engine assembly including a propelling engine and an auxiliary power engine. The method comprises channeling a portion of airflow entering an inlet to the propelling gas turbine engine through a fan assembly and a bypass duct such that the air bypasses the core engine, and channeling a portion of airflow from the bypass duct towards the auxiliary power engine.

Abstract: A support structure for piezoelectric elements in a marine seismic cable is provided. The support structure comprises upper and lower cylindrical halves, each with channels formed therein. Two axial channels are adapted to retain three piezoelectric elements each. A third axial channel, positioned between the sensor element channels, is adapted to retain a flexible circuit. Transverse channels between the sensor element channels and the circuit channels accommodate extension from the flexible circuit. The piezoelectric elements are mounted within their respective channels with a resilient pad with adhesive on both sides. The piezoelectric elements are graded so that any group of three piezoelectric elements exhibits approximately the same sensitivity as any of the other three groups of piezoelectric elements on the support structure.

Abstract: A hydrophone streamer including a central member running substantially the length of the streamer with a strength member and a plurality of conductors has formed therein space adapted to receive a plurality of a spaced apart pairs of collars, a cylindrical chamber wall between each of the pairs of collars defining a chamber, and one or more hydrophones within the chamber. The chamber wall has one or more opening through it for the free passage of sea water into the chamber, thereby shielding the hydrophones from extraneous noise while exposing the hydrophones to a seismic signal conducted by the sea water surrounding the streamer.

Abstract: An arcuate or flat ferroelectric sensor is incorporated in a seismic streamer. The structure comprises two half-cylinders which are mounted together around a cable. The half-cylinders are coupled together by bolts or pins or any other appropriate means. Each half-cylinder defines a well into which a sensor is mounted. With the sensor in place, the structure is covered over with a sound-transparent material to receive an acoustic signal into the sensor. Electrical leads from the sensor are directed through ports in the half-cylinders, and the leads are connected together to provide a composite sensed signal to the cable in analog form. The sensor in each half-cylinder is a single element hydrophone that, when connected to a sensor in a complementary half cylinder in series or in parallel, forms an acceleration cancelling hydrophone.

Abstract: An automatic swimming pool cleaning device (10) includes a flexible cleaning member (12) which is designed to contact an underwater surface of the swimming pool. A tube (14) is coupled to the cleaning member (12) for connecting the cleaning device (10) to a water vacuum hose via hose adaptor (19). Water and pool surface contamination is drawn from underneath the cleaning member (12) up through the tube (14) by suction to a water filter system before being returned to the pool. A flexible valve member (20) is mounted proximate a throat region (22) of the tube (14) wherein as water is drawn up through the tube (14) a decrease in pressure in the throat region (22) causes the valve member (20) to flex and momentarily interrupt the flow of water. The interruption to the flow of water through the tube (14) results in a momentary differential of ambient pressure underneath the flexible cleaning member (12) which enables the device (10) to move forwards incrementally along the underwater surface of the pool.

Abstract: An arcuate or flat ferroelectric sensor is incorporated in a seismic streamer. The structure comprises an interior cable, a surrounding woven strength member, an overlying foam floatation layer, and an enclosing jacket. One or more elongate channels are formed in the overlying floatation layer, and one or more hydrophones are mounted in the channel(s). The elongate channel enlarges the acoustic aperture for the reception of seismic signals.

Abstract: A conversion access gearset includes a first bevel gear, which is connected to a wing cross shaft leading from the proprotor drive train path to the second turbine engine. A second bevel gear is connected to a main transmission input shaft, which is adapted for driving the proprotor. A bevel pinion receives power from the turbine engine, and drives both the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear. An input pinion is connected between the turbine engine and the bevel pinion, and several idler gears are connected between the input pinion and the bevel pinion. A helical gear is connected between the several idler gears and the bevel pinion. The main transmission input shaft is connected to a main transmission input pinion, which is located on the main transmission input shaft opposite of the second bevel gear. The main transmission input pinion receives torque from the main transmission input shaft, and a torque-splitting device splits the torque received from the main transmission input pinion.

Abstract: A hydrophone structure comprises a hydrophone casing within which is mounted a conductive substrate. Sound pressure signals are conducted into the interior of the substrate, on which are mounted piezoelectric crystals on the exterior of the substrate. The volume between the casing and the substrate is nearly filled with a fluid, preferably oil. One or more bubbles of air remain in the volume between the casing and the substrate to permit vibration of the substrate and consequently the piezoelectric hydrophone element.