Abstract: A method of tracking products in inventory comprises receiving an identifier in a first computer system, the identifier identifying a transaction in which at least one product has been purchased, and transmitting a contact signal from the first computer system to a second computer system, the second computer system storing information relating to a plurality of available products. Information relating to the purchased product is transmitted from the second computer system to the first computer system in response to the second computer receiving the contact signal and used to update information relating to the products in inventory. The identifier is received in the first computer system by scanning a bar code representing the identifier, the bar code being printed on a receipt relating to the transaction. The contact signal and the information relating to the purchased product are transmitted via an internet connection established between the first and second computer systems.

Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes at least two gas turbines driving two generators on respective first and second shafts; and a steam turbine having plural sections wherein one or more of the plural sections are on the first shaft and remaining sections of the plural sections are on the second shaft. A variation of the combined cycle power plant includes two gas turbines driving two generators on respective first and second shafts; and a steam turbine including high, intermediate, and low pressure sections on the second shaft.

Abstract: A system and method for anticipating and controlling overspeed in a combined cycle turbine of the type having a gas turbine with a fuel flow control valve and a steam turbine with at least one steam control valve both disposed on a single shaft and having a heat recovery steam generator heated by said gas turbine and connected to supply steam to the steam control valve, the combined cycle turbine having a unified control system and driving a load. Below a preselected shaft speed the gas turbine fuel command signal controls power. Above the preselected shaft speed the steam turbine speed signal also controls power.

Abstract: A gas turbine is solidly coupled with rigid couplings in tandem with a reheat steam turbine and utilizes the combined inertia of the rotating members and the braking torque of the gas turbine air compressor to assist a single control system to limit overspeed of the complete unit. In its broadest and preferred form, the normal intercept steam valves and reheat stop valve between the reheater and the lower pressure steam turbine sections are eliminated, and the high pressure steam control valves are used to prevent overspeed, with steam flowing through a "valveless" conduit from the reheater to the lower pressure steam turbine sections. The control system includes means for sensing a potential overspeed condition and operating the control valves to prevent overspeed.In a modified form of the invention a dump valve may be provided between the air compressor discharge and the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

Abstract: A gas turbine is solidly coupled with rigid couplings in tandem with a reheat steam turbine and utilizes the combined inertia of the rotating members and the braking torque of the gas turbine air compressor to assist a single control system to limit overspeed of the complete unit. In its broadest and preferred form, the normal intercept steam valves and reheat stop valve between the reheater and the lower pressure steam turbine sections are eliminated, and the high pressure steam control valves are used to prevent overspeed, with steam flowing through a "valveless" conduit from the reheater to the lower pressure steam turbine sections. The control system includes means for sensing a potential overspeed condition and operating the control valves to prevent overspeed.In a modified form of the invention of dump valve may be provided between the air compressor discharge and the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

Abstract: A gas turbine is solidly coupled with rigid couplings in tandem with a reheat steam turbine and utilizes the combined inertia of the rotating members and the braking torque of the gas turbine air compressor to assist a single control system to limit overspeed of the complete unit. In its broadest and preferred form, the normal intercept steam valves and reheat stop valve between the reheater and the lower pressure steam turbine sections are eliminated, and the high pressure steam control valves are used to prevent overspeed, with steam flowing through a "valveless" conduit from the reheater to the lower pressure steam turbine sections. The control system includes means for sensing a potential overspeed condition and operating the control valves to prevent overspeed. In a modified form of the invention a dump valve may be provided between the air compressor discharge and the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

Abstract: A gas turbine is solidly coupled with rigid couplings in tandem with a reheat steam tubine and utilizes the combined inertia of the rotating members and the braking torque of the gas turbine air compressor to assist a single control system to limit overspeed of the complete unit. In its broadest and preferred form, the normal intercept steam valves and reheat stop valve between the reheater and the lower pressure steam turbine sections are eliminated, and the high pressure steam control valves are used to prevent overspeed, with steam flowing through a "valveless" conduit from the reheater to the lower pressure steam turbine sections. The control system includes means for sensing a potential overspeed condition and operating the control valves to prevent overspeed.In a modified form of the invention a dump valve may be provided between the air compressor discharge and the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

Abstract: A gas turbine is solidly coupled with rigid couplings in tandem with a reheat steam turbine and utilizes the combined inertia of the rotating members and the braking torque of the gas turbine air compressor to assist a single control system to limit overspeed of the complete unit. In its broadest and preferred form, the normal intercept steam valves and reheat stop valve between the reheater and the lower pressure steam turbine sections are eliminated, and the high pressure steam control valves are used to prevent overspeed, with steam flowing through a "valveless" conduit from the reheater to the lower pressure steam turbine sections. The control system includes means for sensing a potential overspeed condition and operating the control valves to prevent overspeed.In a modified form of the invention a dump valve may be provided between the air compressor discharge and the combustion chamber of the gas turbine.

Abstract: A method for starting and loading a combined cycle turbine of the type having a gas turbine with a fuel flow control valve and a steam turbine with at least one steam control valve both disposed on a single shaft and having a heat recovery steam generator heated by said gas turbine and connected to supply steam to the steam control valve, the combined cycle turbine having a unified control system and driving a load and also having an auxiliary steam source connected to the steam control valve. The improved method comprises starting and cranking the combined unit by controlling steam from the auxiliary steam source with the steam control valve, initiating and controlling fuel flow to the gas turbine with the fuel flow control valve, initiating combustion, controlling acceleration of the combined unit with the steam control valve, transferring acceleration control of the combined unit to the gas turbine fuel flow control valve, and accelerating the combined unit to rated speed.

Abstract: An electronic hand-held, talking learning aid is disclosed. The learning aid includes a MOS speech synthesizer chip having an active surface area on the order of 45,000 square mils. The disclosed speech synthesizer chip includes a digital lattice filter, a voiced/unvoiced excitation circuit, a speech parameter interpolator, an input parameter decoder, a digital-to-analog converter and associated timing circuits. The learning aid is also provided with a microprocessor which functions as a controller for controlling the operation of the unit. A small speaker is driven by the digital-to-analog converter on the speech synthesis chip and a keyboard and display device are strobed by the microprocessor controller. Features include modes in which a speech synthesizer recites instructions or questions to the operator who must properly respond.

Abstract: An improved combined cycle plant with a gas turbine, a steam turbine and a generator arranged in tandem on a single shaft system in the order aforementioned, including a single thrust bearing with rigidly coupled rotor members. A thrust bearing for the shaft system is supported in a bearing standard keyed to the foundation on the side of the steam turbine toward the gas turbine to restrain axial movement. The thrust bearing is preferably located in the compressor inlet of the gas turbine. The steam turbine comprises a first casing with the hihg pressure section supported in a bearing standard keyed to the foundation adjacent the thrust bearing. The second casing with the low pressure section is keyed to the foundation at its outlet in the center of the exhaust hood. In a preferred arrangement with a single flow low pressure turbine section, the second casing combines an intermediate pressure turbine section adjacent the generator receiving steam from the reheater.

Abstract: A turning gear apparatus mounted adjacent the bull gear of a large turbomachine rotor has a carriage pivotably mounted to the frame, a first pinion rotatably mounted on the carriage, and a second pinion continuously engaging the first pinion and rotatably mounted to the frame coaxial with the carriage pivoting axis. The improvement comprises locating the carriage on the side of the bull gear where it rotates in an upward direction, with the axis of the second pinion located such that when the carriage is pivoted and the first pinion engages the bull gear, the axis of rotation of the first pinion is located on a selected angle below the horizintal substantially equal to the pressure angle of the bull gear tooth, resulting in substantially vertical reaction forces.

Abstract: An electronic handheld talking translator including a speech synthesis integrated circuit device. The speech synthesis integrated circuit device includes a digital filter, a voiced/unvoiced excitation circuit, a speech parameter interpolator, an input parameter decoder, a digital-to-analog converter, a speaker and associated timing circuits. A non-volatile memory stores digital data representative of the correct spellings of selected words in a foreign language and the model vocal tract control data necessary to control the speech synthesis circuit in a manner to cause the selected words to be audibly pronounced by the translator.

Abstract: Discloses a backup lube oil pump system for a steam turbine lube oil system. The primary and secondary pump system of the prior art lube oil system normally includes a primary centrifugal pump affixed to the turbine shaft and ac and dc motor-driven pumps to supply lubrication during start-up and shutdown when the primary pump cannot maintain flow due to low rotational speed. If the turbine is coasting down due to an ac power failure, the ac motor-driven backup pump is inoperative. The dc (battery) driven backup pump becomes the only backup left and the failure of batteries if not charged regularly can render it as a poor backup system. In the invention a backup lube oil system having high reliability utilizes a positive displacement lube oil pump driven by a rotor-driven permanent magnet generator. The pump is in parallel with a primary check valve in the lube oil feed line, so that the positive displacement backup lube oil pump is supplying oil at all times to the shaft bearing.

Abstract: Edible seeds and nuts having been stored at low preserving temperatures are treated so as to produce a roasted, salted product wherein the salt is strongly held without the use of oil additives. The process utilizes temperature-conditioning storage, a heat treatment which expands surface cells, spray treatment with an unsaturated sodium chloride solution, followed by roasting.

Abstract: An electronic talking learning aid is disclosed. The learning aid includes a speech synthesis circuit which, in the embodiment disclosed, includes a digital lattice filter circuit, a voiced/unvoiced speech excitation circuit, a speech parameter interpolator, an input parameter decoder, a digital-to-analog converter circuit and associated timing circuits. The learing aid is also provided with a controller and at least one memory for storing digitized speech parameters as well as other digital data. This other digital data may represent, for instance, correct answers to questions posed by the talking learning aid. A keyboard or other response insertion device is provided to permit an operator to input his or her answers to the questions posed by the learning aid. In the disclosed embodiment, the talking learning aid asks the operator to input the correct spelling of a spoken word and informs the operator whether or not the response was correct.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for controlling thermal stress on component parts of a steam turbine while providing maximum loading and unloading rates during startup, shutdown, and other periods of load change. From monitored and derived quantities, a loading rate is calculated for each of a plurality of preselected turbine component parts and the lowest rate is selected for control. Simultaneously, and in concert with load change calculation and execution, the steam admission mode of the turbine is automatically directed to either the partial arc mode or the full arc mode as necessary to reduce stress as compared with a preselected and adaptive stress reference value.

Abstract: Hydrofluoric acid and/or other fluorine compounds are recovered by reacting fluosilicic acid with a sodium-containing compound to form an alkaline aqueous slurry comprising precipitated amorphous silica and dissolved sodium fluoride. The precipitated amorphous silica is separated from the alkaline aqueous slurry leaving an aqueous solution of sodium fluoride. The sodium fluoride solution can be used as such or reacted with other substances (such as alumina, to form synthetic cryolite). Sodium fluoride is recovered from the aqueous solution (as by evaporation or extraction) and used per se or reacted with sulfuric acid to produce hydrogen fluoride.

Abstract: Phosphoric acid is prepared from phosphate rock and sulfuric acid by using a reaction train comprising a dissolving slurry and a crystallization slurry maintained at different sulfate levels. Both inter and intra vessel circulation are used at high rates to minimize reagent concentration gradients and temperature gradients and provide a suitable crystallization environment. Preferably, the intra vessel circulation is substantially in plug flow, as through a draft tube.

Abstract: The invention comprises a multi-vessel reaction apparatus useful for reacting phosphate rock and sulfuric acid in which the reaction slurry undergoes intra- and inter- vessel circulation (preferably through a draft tube). The solution portion of the slurry in a first vessel or set of vessels (the "dissolver") is preferably maintained at at lower sulfate ion concentration and the solution portion of the slurry in the second vessel or system of vessels (the "crystallizer") is preferably maintained at a positive sulfate ion concentration. Also preferred are means for maintaining the second vessel or set of vessels at a reduced pressure. Most preferred is that means be included in at least one said vessel for incorporating a crystal modifier (e.g. a sulfonic acid, a sulfonic acid salt, tall oil fatty acids or alkoxylated or esterified tall oil fatty acids) in the crystallizer. The system can be used in the anhydrite, hemihydrate or gypsum types of processes.