Abstract: A computer-implemented method of vending air travel services comprises determining a plurality of published fares each associated with a respective one of a plurality of root booking classes, said published fares being applicable to the purchase of air travel at a root service level. The method further comprises determining a plurality of derived fares each associated with a respective equivalent booking class that is one of the root booking classes, said derived fares being applicable to the purchase of air travel at a non-root service level, the derived fare for which the equivalent booking class is a particular one of the root booking classes being computed from the published fare associated with the particular one of the root booking classes by applying a price differential that is common across multiple ones of the root booking classes.

Abstract: A method of managing a multi-traveler flight pass based on interaction with a user, comprising: allocating a bank of available air travel credit to the multi-traveler flight pass; associating air travel conditions with the multi-traveler flight pass; and, in response to receiving from the user data identifying a plurality of travelers associated with the multi-traveler flight pass, associating said plurality of travelers with the multi-traveler flight pass. Also, a method of booking air travel services by using a multi-traveler flight pass associated with (i) a pool of travelers; (ii) certain air travel conditions and (iii) a bank of air travel credit, comprising: receiving from a user an identification of a flight to be booked for a given traveler in said pool of travelers using the multi-traveler flight pass; booking said flight; and, responsive to said booking, deducting credit from said bank of air travel credit associated with the multi-traveler flight pass.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a collection of air travel segments and associated travel terms to a user. Different collections of air travel segments are provided to a user. The user selects a collection. The user also selects travel terms including the number of air travel segments to be used and the time period of use. Upon payment, a user may then book flights as long as the flights comply with the collection and travel terms.

Abstract: Turbine vane segments having outer and inner bands and a vane extending therebetween are welded one to the other by E-beam welding along their adjoining margins and from the outside of the bands. The adjoining margins on the hot gas path sides of the outer and inner bands are chamfered, TIG-welded and machined to provide a smooth, continuous gas path surface. The aft hook of each segment is cut back to provide inset faces in a radially projecting flange and a flange extending axially from the radial flange. A filler piece having a body shaped to correspond to the shape of the space between the inset faces of the radial flange is E-beam welded to the radial flange. Gaps between a tongue on the filler piece and the inset faces of the axially extending flange are provided with weld filler material and TIG-welded to complete the welding of the aft hook.

Abstract: A mold for molding a core for use in casting hollow parts includes, a lower mold portion and an upper mold portion defining therein a cavity corresponding to the outer surface of the core. The lower mold portion includes a cutout disposed along a parting line defined between the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion and opening onto the cavity. After introduction of a ceramic slurry mixture into the mold the upper mold portion is removable, to expose a first side of the core and a protective flash formed in the cutout. Desirably, a heat shield is positioned over the protective flash and the exposed portion of the parting line of the lower mold portion so that the lower mold portion is not exposed directly to a flame during a preliminary firing to impart sufficient strength to the ceramic core so that the ceramic core may be handled.

Abstract: Turbine vane segments having outer and inner bands and a vane extending therebetween are welded one to the other by E-beam welding along their adjoining margins and from the outside of the bands. The adjoining margins on the hot gas path sides of the outer and inner bands are chamfered, TIG-welded and machined to provide a smooth, continuous gas path surface. The aft hook of each segment is cut back to provide inset faces in a radially projecting flange and a flange extending axially from the radial flange. A filler piece having a body shaped to correspond to the shape of the space between the inset faces of the radial flange is E-beam welded to the radial flange. Gaps between a tongue on the filler piece and the inset faces of the axially extending flange are provided with weld filler material and TIG-welded to complete the welding of the aft hook.

Abstract: A mold for molding a core for use in casting hollow parts includes, a lower mold portion and an upper mold portion defining therein a cavity corresponding to the outer surface of the core. The lower mold portion includes a cutout disposed along a parting line defined between the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion and opening onto the cavity. After introduction of a ceramic slurry mixture into the mold the upper mold portion is removable, to expose a first side of the core and a protective flash formed in the cutout. Desirably, a heat shield is positioned over the protective flash and the exposed portion of the parting line of the lower mold portion so that the lower mold portion is not exposed directly to a flame during a preliminary firing to impart sufficient strength to the ceramic core so that the ceramic core may be handled.

Abstract: A mold for molding a core for use in casting hollow parts includes, a lower mold portion and an upper mold portion defining therein a cavity corresponding to the outer surface of the core The lower mold portion includes a cutout disposed along a parting line defined between the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion and opening onto the cavity After introduction of a ceramic slurry mixture into the mold the upper mold portion is removable, to expose a first side of the core and a protective flash formed in the cutout Desirably, a heat shield is positioned over the protective flash and the exposed portion of the parting line of the lower mold portion so that the lower mold portion is not exposed directly to a flame during a preliminary firing to impart sufficient strength to the ceramic core so that the ceramic core may be handled.