Abstract: A propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine, an inlet particle separator, an infrared suppression system, and an engine controller. The engine controller may be configured to determine an activation state of the inlet particle separator, adjust one or more engine operating parameters based on the activation state, and control the gas turbine engine based on the adjusted engine operating parameters. The engine operating parameters may be adjusted based on inlet flow, which is determined based on the activation state. The engine controller may be further configured to determine an activation state of the infrared suppression system, adjust one or more engine operating parameters based on the activation state, and control the gas turbine engine based on the adjusted engine operating parameters. The engine operating parameters may be adjusted based on backpressure, which is determined based on the activation state.

Abstract: A spar hull for a floating vessel can include a hard tank having a belly portion, a fixed strake coupled to the outer surface of the tank and a folding strake coupled to the belly portion of the tank, the folding strake having one or more strake panels and one or more support frames. A method for installing folding belly strakes on a spar hull may include providing a floating spar hull having a hard tank with a belly side, rotating the spar so that the belly side is in a first workable position, coupling at least one folding strake to the belly side of the spar, and coupling the strake in a folded position for transport. The method may include positioning the spar hull offshore in a transport position, upending the spar hull, unfolding the strake, fixing the strake in the unfolded position and installing the spar hull.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a subsea overload release system and method. The disclosure provides a releasable connection system than can be overridden during an overload condition, and is resettable in a subsea location in situ. During normal operation, a collet sleeve is slidably engageable with a collet having one or more fingers that can releasably couple a first member with a second member. During an overload condition, an overload piston acting on fluid in an overload reservoir causes an overload pressure and a rupture or other release of fluid through an overload pressure member, causing the overload reservoir to at least partially collapse. The collapse allows the system to extend and force open the fingers to disengage the second member from the first member. When the overload symptom is rectified, the overload reservoir can be reset and the overload pressure member reset or replaced without requiring repairs above sea surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for coating a major surface of a strip article advancing past and in contact with an applicator roll by supplying coating material to the applicator roll for transfer to the strip surface while urging a metering roll against the applicator roll to impart a coating profile to the coating material on the applicator roll before the coating material having that profile is transferred to the strip surface, wherein the metering roll is subjected to a force for bending the axis of the metering roll convexly toward the applicator roll, thereby to compensate for deflection of the metering roll that would otherwise tend to cause nonuniformity of applied coating weight across the width of the strip.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a subsea overload release system and method. The disclosure provides a releasable connection system than can be overridden during an overload condition, and is resettable in a subsea location in situ. During normal operation, a collet sleeve is slidably engageable with a collet having one or more fingers that can releasably couple a first member with a second member. During an overload condition, an overload piston acting on fluid in an overload reservoir causes an overload pressure and a rupture or other release of fluid through an overload pressure member, causing the overload reservoir to at least partially collapse. The collapse allows the system to extend and force open the fingers to disengage the second member from the first member. When the overload symptom is rectified, the overload reservoir can be reset and the overload pressure member reset or replaced without requiring repairs above sea surface.

Abstract: A spar hull for a floating vessel can include a hard tank having a belly portion, a fixed strake coupled to the outer surface of the tank and a folding strake coupled to the belly portion of the tank, the folding strake having one or more strake panels and one or more support frames. A method for installing folding belly strakes on a spar hull may include providing a floating spar hull having a hard tank with a belly side, rotating the spar so that the belly side is in a first workable position, coupling at least one folding strake to the belly side of the spar, and coupling the strake in a folded position for transport. The method may include positioning the spar hull offshore in a transport position, upending the spar hull, unfolding the strake, fixing the strake in the unfolded position and installing the spar hull.

Abstract: A hull-to-caisson interface connection assembly accommodates high tension loads between the hull and a caisson of a Spar-type platform, while facilitating angular flexing motion and constraining lateral and axial movement. The interface connection assembly includes an annular bearing shoulder at the top end of caisson, and a laminated bearing assembly mounted in the bottom of the hull and defining a passage through which the upper portion of the caisson passes, so that the caisson shoulder seats against the upper end of the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly includes a laminated structure of alternating steel and elastomeric flex elements, bonded to each other to flex together as a unit, rather than sliding relative to each other. The laminated structure of the bearing assembly supports the vertical tensile loads applied by the weight of the caisson on the hull, while also accommodating the angular loads applied between the caisson and the hull.

Abstract: A computer-implementable method for estimating the surface area to volume ratio and the surface area of a lung based on x-ray attenuation data obtained from a computed tomography (CT) scan of the lung is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a plurality of CT images that include a lung image from a plurality of subjects. Each of the resulting CT images is displayed such that an x-ray attenuation value is associated with each pixel. Thereafter the lung image is extracted from the CT image. Then, the volume of each lung is calculated based on the plurality of lung images extracted from the plurality of CT images. Also, the volume-of-gas to weight-of-tissue ratio for all of the pixels included in each of the lung images is calculated using the x-ray attenuation value associated with the pixel. The pixel ratio values are used to determine the median volume-of-gas to weight-of tissue ratio for all the pixels included in all the lung images for each lung.

Abstract: The rotary cooking apparatus of this invention includes a housing with a bottom opening to allow heat and smoke from a heat source into the housing. The bottom opening defines a plane on which the housing can rest upon. The opening is generally sized to fit over a grill or some other heat source. A base such as a boot or plate can also be used between the grill or heat source and the housing. The housing has opposing sidewalls. Bearings or bushings are centrally located and attached to the sidewalls. A pivotal door on the housing allows access into the housing. A rotating center attaching device is rotatably positioned within the housing and within the bearings. A rotatory device, such as a rotisserie motor, rotates the rotating center attaching device. Various types of attachments attach to the rotating center attaching device to cook food in a variety of various rotating cooking methods.

Abstract: A method is provided for testing prestressed concrete pipe. In the method, elastic waves are serially induced at at least three different inducing locations along the surface of the conduit. The shear wave component of each induced elastic wave is detected by at least one, and preferably two, acoustic sensors disposed at fixed sensing sites along the conduit. The relationship between at least one parameter of each induced shear wave and the distance between each inducing location and the acoustic sensor(s), are correlated and compared with standard correlations to identify structural discontinuities in the conduit. In a typical example of the method, elastic waves are induced using a mechanical hammer at multiple inducing sites around a multiplicity of annuli along the length of the conduit. Each annulus is separated from adjoining annuli by 2-4 feet.

Abstract: A rack for the display of objects such as flower pots, candy bowls, and fruit baskets. The rack includes arms which extend from a central shaft in a staggered fashion and which include disk-shaped bases on their distal ends for supporting the objects. Furthermore, the arms are slidable on the shaft such that the bases are vertically adjustable. For storage and transport, the arms and legs may be readily disconnected from the central shaft, and the central shaft itself may be broken down into pieces.

Abstract: In an integrated thermal processing method the bulb is completely processed in a dedicated oven. The inside and outside of the bulb are simultaneously heated. The inside and outside are also simultaneously cooled. During the evacuation a temperature gradient is maintained across the face of the panel to reduce tensile stresses which develop in the bulb skirt area during evacuation.

Abstract: This relates to improvements in fuel tanks, and most particularly lightweight fuel tanks for aircraft. Complex and heavy internal supports and baffles are replaced by a support and baffle combination which is very simple, has very few bolts, and includes primarily transverse tubular members which are sufficiently large for a person to place the upper part of his body therein and have radiating, transversely elongated openings through which one's arm may pass so as to facilitate inspection and repair should it be necessary of the interior of the tank. The tank is of a double wall construction and includes an inner skin and outer skin separated by a honeycomb core. Along the longitudinal bottom and top of the tank there are defined troughs which are formed by removing the core between the two facing layers. The bottom trough becomes a sump for the tank, while the top trough becomes a head space.

Abstract: A separable and at least partially pressure balanced safety pipeline connector. The connector is arranged to be included in a pipeline and provide a pressure balanced weak point whereby the connector will separate at a predetermined tension load but which will be insensitive or substantially insensitive to operating line pressure. It includes a housing having one axial end adapted for connection to the pipeline and with the other axial end open. The connector includes a pipe extension member having one axial end adapted for connection to the pipe-line for transmission of line fluids therethrough and with the other axial end arranged for being telescopically received coaxially in the housing in sealed relationship therewith. A shear disc is mounted between the housing and extension member for restraining the same against axial separation in response to axial tension forces applied thereto.

Abstract: A method of artificially inseminating female shrimp with mature ovaries is disclosed wherein the fertilization rate of the eggs is increased and regulated. More specifically, a method of artificially inseminating shrimp is disclosed whereby female shrimp with mature eggs or ovaries and male shrimp with mature spermatophores are selected from those caught in the ocean or raised in a culture pond. The mature spermatophore of the male shrimp is removed, the sperm mass is collected from the spermatophore, and is attached to the female shrimp to effectively fertilize the mature eggs upon spawning in sea water.

Abstract: Apparatus for locking together two mutually telescoping tubular members against relative axial movement, the combination comprising; annular bowl means housed within one of the tubular members and including a pair of axially and oppositely tapered annular surfaces; a plurality of gripping elements circumferentially disposed within the annular bowl means, each gripping element including a pair of oppositely tapered surfaces mateably engaged with respective tapered surfaces of the bowl means; the bowl means and gripping elements being movable between a retracted position in which the tubular members are freely assemblable in the mutually telescoping relationship aforesaid and an extended and locked position in which the bowl means applies opposing forces against both tapered surfaces of each gripping element to squeeze the latter into tight gripping engagement with the other tubular member whereby both tubular members are locked against relative axial movement, and means for moving the bowl means and gripping e

Abstract: A mount for securing a pair of telescopic shock absorbers to an end plate in a cushioning unit for a collapsible trailer hitch used for securing a semi-trailer to the deck of a railroad car. An assembly engages indentations in adjacent side portions of each of the shock absorbers at one end portion thereof to secure the shock absorber to an end plate on which the shock absorbers are mounted.