Abstract: A method of designing a structure, such as an airfoil section. A first set of candidate designs is generated in a first optimisation process, each candidate design comprising a set of M design variables associated with an M-dimensional design space. A subset of the first set of candidate designs is selected. The selected subset of candidate designs is analysed by proper orthogonal decomposition or principal component analysis to generate an N-dimensional design space defined by N design variables, N being less than M. A second set of one or more candidate designs is then generated in a second optimisation process, each candidate design comprising a set of N design variables associated with the N-dimensional design space.

Abstract: A system for providing real-time, integrated production of individually addressed sealed envelopes containing personalized printed material matched to individual addresses, the system including at least one printing controller capable of receiving personalized printing data from at least one data source, the personalized printing data including envelope address information for a multiplicity of envelopes and personalized envelope contents information which varies for the multiplicity of envelopes and is matched to individual envelope addresses, the at least one printing controller being operative to merge and order the personalized printing data from the at least one data source such that it is printed in a desired distribution sorting order, selected to optimize postal savings in bulk mailings and at least one production facility for the individually addressed sealed envelopes containing personalized printed material matched to individual addresses, each of the at least one production facility including at l

Abstract: A cooling system for a machine is provided. The machine has an operator compartment, a front end, and an engine cooled by a first heat exchanger and mounted within an engine compartment. The engine compartment is positioned behind the operator compartment in relation to the front end. A fan is mounted within the engine compartment and has an inlet and a first and a second outlet. A second heat exchanger is fluidically coupled to the fan and the engine and mounted within the engine compartment. A first fluid flow path extends from ambient to the inlet. A second fluid flow path extends from the first outlet to ambient and extends through the second heat exchanger. A third fluid flow path extends from the second outlet to ambient and extends through the first heat exchanger, and is thermally isolated from the second fluid flow path.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking a plurality of flat articles on edge is provided that receives articles in an article receiver that includes a stop wall to receive the front edge of each article and stop horizontal motion of the article and a rotatable segmented roller for receiving the bottom edge of each article. The segmented roller is rotatable about a central axis of the cylinder and includes a planar surface, the planar surface receiving the bottom edge of each flat article when the planar surface is in a horizontal position. The segmented roller is rotatable from a stopped position wherein the planar surface is in the horizontal position to form a gap to receive the bottom edge of one article at a time to a rotating configuration wherein the cylindrical outer surface of the segmented roller drives the one article against a stacking conveyor bed.

Abstract: A method of identifying a configuration of an object, the method comprising the steps of: specifying a plurality of different object configurations; for each specified object configuration, using a first simulation procedure to simulate the specified conditions so as to generate data that can be used to evaluate the object configuration against the optimisation criterion; identifying a functional relationship between data generated for each specified object configuration; using the functional relationship and the optimisation criterion to select a data point, and identifying an object configuration corresponding thereto; and using a second simulation procedure, wherein the second simulation procedure comprises iteratively calculating values of variables characterising the object configuration until the values satisfy a convergence criterion, wherein for at least one of the specified object configurations, the first simulation procedure is completed before the values calculated therein satisfy the convergence

Abstract: We disclose a shrink film comprising a first layer comprising a monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer; a second layer comprising low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE); and a third layer comprising a monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer; wherein the second layer is disposed between the first layer and the third layer. We also disclose methods of using the shrink film to prepare bundled or fully enclosed groups of objects.

Abstract: A method of generating a multifidelity model of a system comprises the steps of obtaining training data from a high fidelity model of the system, providing a low fidelity model of the system, providing a kriging model to compensate for discrepancies between the high and low fidelity models, adjusting the kriging model to maximise the likelihood of the training data when the low fidelity model, compensated by the kriging model, is used to model the system, and generating a multifidelity model of the system based on the low fidelity model when compensated by the adjusted by the adjusted kriging model. The system may be a gas turbine or a part of a gas turbine for example a tail bearing housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking articles on edge is provided which has a discharge magazine for stacking the articles face-to-face and on-edge. The magazine has an article edge receiver having a non-offset position and an offset position. The article edge receiver has a register wall for aligning the articles in the non-offset position and a segmented rotational offset disk for aligning the articles in the offset position. The disk has a cut out segment having a planar stop edge surface. The cut out segment is rotatable from an article receiving position to an article bypass position. When in the receiving position, the planar stop edge surface is at a right angle to the two faces of the article. When in the article bypass position, the segmented rotational offset disk allows the articles to bypass the segmented rotational disk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing of optical fibers, including optical fibers that are part of an optical device. In one illustrative embodiment, one or more optical fibers may be secured to a work pallet that is moved within a processing system before, during and/or after processing of the fibers. Optical fibers may be picked from the work pallet and processed while a portion of the fibers remains secured to the work pallet. Two or more processes may be performed on a fiber for each pick of the fiber from the work pallet. Optical fibers may be handled by gripping devices that include one curved clamping surface and two planar surfaces. Gripping devices may operate in open, closed and contain states when handling optical fibers.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for improving installation of software suites by including topological information pertaining to the run-time environment of products in the suite. A model and framework are described, where the objects of the data model include one or more preferred topologies. A template may be provided for each topology, with which an installer enters data values for customizing this topology. The approach disclosed herein enables more efficient and flexible software installation than is available in the prior art, by adapting the installation process for a particular topology of a destination run-time environment. Using the disclosed techniques, a solution builder is able for the first time to enforce or recommend the topology which is most efficient for this end solution. (For example, the solution builder may specify the types of machines which comprise a preferred run-time environment for the software products in the suite.

Abstract: An automated workstation capable of continuous, non-stop processing of specimens includes an environmentally controlled storage area that holds multiple cassettes containing specimen plates. A robotic arm for processing the specimens, e.g., by grasping the plates, moving them from the cassettes to other apparatus contained within the workstation, and placing the plates back in the cassettes. An interlock mechanism prevents the operator and robotic arm from simultaneously accessing a cassette. Novel robotic arms, robotic arm positioning mechanisms, plate handling mechanisms, effector tip/plate washing mechanisms, thin-walled pipetters, back-flushing mechanisms and fluid level detection mechanisms, as well as methods for operating the same, facilitate continuous operation of the workstation along with compactness, high throughput and high accuracy of operation. Narrow, thin-walled capillary-like pipetters serve as both means for acquiring and processing small quantity specimens with high precision.

Abstract: A sensor plug for use in sensing a plurality of operating conditions of a gearbox is disclosed. The sensor plug includes a body defining an axis. A probe end is formed at one end of the body and is particularly adapted for attaching to an oil drain plug of the gearbox. A plurality of sensors are located within the body for sensing operating conditions of the gearbox through the probe end. Examples of the sensors located within the body include a vibration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing, retrieving, and processing customer-oriented data sets in which relatively large sets of customers and their transactions or the like may be quickly and efficiently analyzed. A multi-dimensional access structure is utilized in which each cell representing one dimension element or a combination of dimension elements may include a list of customers who have made purchases or other transactions associated with that cell. Each customer record in a list may summarize predetermined information pertaining to that customer's behavior in the cell. Such records may be sorted by customer number to enable efficient combining of multiple lists. In applications wherein the number of such cells is prohibitively large, only a portion of these cells may actually include materialized lists.

Abstract: A slot coating die (10) is provided, comprising an upper die half (12) and a lower die half (14) attached together with a shim (16) disposed therebetween, each die half extending along an axis (18) and having a front and a back. The front of the upper die half includes a movable lip insert (22) extending substantially the entire width thereof and movable with respect to the upper die half toward and away from the front of the upper die half in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis. At least one adjustable die opening (20), which is adjustable independently of the movable lip insert, is defined by the upper and lower die halves and the shim plate disposed therebetween. A plurality of push-pull bolts (30) provide a coarse adjustment mechanism for adjusting the relative positions of the lower and upper die halves with respect to each other in a direction generally parallel to that in which the movable lip insert may be moved.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyvinylbutyral sheet having a desired uniform adhesivity comprising preparing a blend of polyvinylbutyral and a compatible quantity of a at least one plasticizer and an adhesion control agent, and extruding the blend to form a sheet, the improvement comprising monitoring the acidity of the sheet and adding water to the blend as an agent for controlling the adhesivity of said sheet.