Abstract: A double-sided tribrid welding technique and apparatus for root pass welding of narrow groove welds. The welding technique utilizes three welding devices. A welding apparatus on a backside of the weld joint may strike an arc on the backside of the weld joint; a welding apparatus on a narrow groove side of the weld may strike an arc within the narrow groove weld joint, while the remaining welding apparatus is a laser that can help establish a keyhole as a common pool of molten metal at the root without burning through the root. Once the arcs are struck substantially simultaneously and the laser is energized, the welding heads move simultaneously, the arc welders assisting in maintaining pre-heat temperature, while minimizing distortion and cracking. Adjusting arc weld parameters provides deformation on completion of the root pass so as to compensate for distortion due to metal shrinkage in subsequent passes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for welding a component to fill a groove therein. The method entails simultaneously projecting an electric arc and at least first and second laser beams into the groove. The electric arc melts and deposits a filler material in the groove while the first and second laser beams are projected onto opposite first and second walls, respectively, of the groove. The axis of each of the first and second laser beams is oriented at an acute angle relative to the respective wall thereof.

Abstract: A method of repairing a turbine component having an array of partitions is provided and includes machining one or more partitions of the array to remove trailing edge sections thereof, fabricating one or more replacement inserts, respectively locating the one or more replacement inserts in the one or more machined partitions and substantially simultaneously brazing the one or more replacement inserts to the one or more machined partitions.

Abstract: A composite turbine blade and a method of manufacture thereof is disclosed. The composite turbine blade comprises a turbine blade portion comprising a first material and a first tip plate comprising a second material. The turbine blade portion has an exterior wall and an interior wall surrounding a hollow interior cavity, and a top surface extending from the exterior wall to the interior wall bounding an orifice that is fluidly connected to the hollow interior cavity. The first tip plate may be attached to the turbine blade along the top surface and extending from proximate the exterior wall of the turbine blade across the orifice to cover the orifice.

Abstract: A composite turbine blade and a method of manufacture thereof is disclosed. The composite turbine blade comprises a turbine blade portion comprising a first material and a first tip plate comprising a second material. The turbine blade portion has an exterior wall and an interior wall surrounding a hollow interior cavity, and a top surface extending from the exterior wall to the interior wall bounding an orifice that is fluidly connected to the hollow interior cavity. The first tip plate may be attached to the turbine blade along the top surface and extending from proximate the exterior wall of the turbine blade across the orifice to cover the orifice.

Abstract: A composite turbine blade and a method of manufacture thereof is disclosed. The composite turbine blade comprises a turbine blade portion comprising a first material and a first tip plate comprising a second material. The turbine blade portion has an exterior wall and an interior wall surrounding a hollow interior cavity, and a top surface extending from the exterior wall to the interior wall bounding an orifice that is fluidly connected to the hollow interior cavity. The first tip plate may be attached to the turbine blade along the top surface and extending from proximate the exterior wall of the turbine blade across the orifice to cover the orifice.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming an aluminide coated article comprises: applying an aluminum composition to the article to form a precursor coating, heating the article to a migration temperature sufficient to diffuse a metal from the article into the precursor coating, and gasifying aluminum in the aluminum composition at a gasification temperature that is greater than or equal to the migration temperature. An outward grown aluminide coating forms on the article. In another embodiment, a method for forming an aluminide coated article, comprises: applying an aluminide composition an article to form a precursor coating, heating the article to a migration temperature of greater than or equal to 1,065° C., gasifying the aluminum at a gasification temperature of greater than or equal to 1,065° C., and forming an outward grown aluminide coating on less than 100% of a surface of the article.

Abstract: The present application provides improved diffusion coating compositions and improved methods for diffusion coating metal surfaces. The composition includes (a) a coating powder; and (b) a binder, wherein the coating powder comprises at least one metal, and wherein the binder will release an activator gas during vaporization or combustion. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a substrate; (b) applying a diffusion coating composition to at least a portion of the substrate, wherein the composition comprises a coating powder and a binder, the coating powder comprising at least one metal; and (c) vaporizing or combusting at least a portion of the composition so as to vaporize or combust at least a portion of the binder to produce an activation gas and vaporize at least a portion of the metal to form a coating of the metal on the substrate.

Abstract: A method for welding and brazing a metallic component, such as, for example, a metallic component in a turbine, such as a bucket or blade. The method includes the steps of welding the metallic component to create a welded component; covering the welded component with a braze material to create a braze-covered welded component; and subjecting the braze-covered welded component to stress relief treatment.

Abstract: We have performed separation of bacterial and cancer cells from peripheral human blood in microfabricated electronic chips by dielectrophoresis. The isolated cells were examined by staining the nuclei with fluorescent dye followed by laser induced fluorescence imaging. We have also released DNA and RNA from the isolated cells electronically and detected specific marker sequences by DNA amplification followed by electronic hybridization to immobilized capture probes. Efforts towards the construction of a “laboratory-on-a-chip” system are presented which involves the selection of DNA probes, dyes, reagents and prototyping of the fully integrated portable instrument.

Abstract: A method for quickly booting a personal computer system using a non-volatile reprogrammable memory device. A compressed memory image of the contents of the system working memory, hardware configuration and other information stored in memory when the system is in a desired operational state is stored in the non-volatile reprogrammable memory. When rebooting the process detects changed hardware and diverts from the reboot to identify the hardware before continuing.

Abstract: A surgeon selects a volume of interest by placing an untracked “marker” in a patient near an area where an update is desired. During surgery, when an updated CT scan is requested, the CT scanner performs a scan of the patient using a full field of view to take a series of two-dimensional initial images of the patient from a plurality of angularly spaced positions about the patient. The position of the untracked marker is determined by the CT scanner in or more of the initial images. The volume of interest is defined as the position of the untracked marker, plus some margin. The CT scanner then collimates the x-ray source to scan only the volume of interest. The CT scanner then completes the update scan of the volume of interest and updates a previous CT scan(s) to create a fully updated CT image, reducing x-ray exposure of the patient.

Abstract: There is provided a financial transaction payment method and system for processing a transaction conducted using a financial transaction card. The financial transaction card has associated therewith a financial account in a financial institution and one or more transaction criteria. The financial transaction payment system includes a processing unit and an application program for execution on the processing unit. The method includes the step of determining by the application program whether a transaction accesses an installment loan on the financial account based on the one or more transaction criteria.

Abstract: A system for performing molecular biological diagnosis, analysis and multistep and multiplex reactions utilizes a selfaddressable, selfassembling microelectronic system for actively carrying out controlled reactions in microscopic formats. Preferably, a fluidic system flow a sample across an active area of the biochip, increasing diagnostic efficiency. Preferably, the fluidic system includes a flow cell having a window. Pulsed activation of the electrodes of the biochip are advantageously employed with the fluidic system, permitting more complete sampling of the materials within the biological sample. An improved detection system utilizes a preferably coaxially oriented excitation fiber, such as a fiber optic, disposed within a light guide, such as a liquid light guide. In this way, small geometric systems may be fluorescently imaged. A highly automated DNA diagnostic system results.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers. In one aspect, a particle may be characterized by determining its optophoretic constant or signature. For example, a diseased cell has a different optophoretic constant from a healthy cell, thereby providing information, or the basis for sorting. In the event of physical sorting, various forces may be used for separation, including fluidic forces, such as through the use of laminar flow, or optical forces, or mechanical forces, such as through adhesion.

Abstract: A thermometer for measuring the temperature of a living being comprises a housing having a hollow probe extending outwardly therefrom in a distal direction and a temperature sensing element located at the distal end of the probe. The housing holds a digital display and electrical means in electrical communication with the temperature sensing element for converting the temperature measured by the temperature sensing element into a readout on the display element. A resilient soft cover covers the probe and a portion of the housing to form a gripping surface for the user while allowing visualization of the display element. The resilient cover is softer than the probe.

Abstract: A transaction terminal for use with diverse credit or other transaction cards is provided with an interface unit for receiving a plurality of modules, wherein each module contains programming information corresponding to transactions that may be carried out with at least one of the diverse identification cards presented to the machine. Accordingly, financial institutions who issue cards can independently arrange and program their own security and transaction routines which are to be carried out with the cards and distribute such routines in a secure manner for use on a common terminal.

Abstract: A thermometer for measuring the temperature of a living being comprises a housing having a hollow probe extending outwardly therefrom in a distal direction and a temperature sensing element located at the distal end of the probe. The housing holds a digital display and electrical means in electrical communication with the temperature sensing element for converting the temperature measured by the temperature sensing element into a readout on the display element. A resilient soft cover covers the probe and a portion of the housing to form a gripping surface for the user while allowing visualization of the display element. The resilient cover is softer than the probe.

Abstract: A transaction terminal for use with diverse credit or other transaction cards is provided with an interface unit for receiving a plurality of modules, wherein each module contains programming information corresponding to transactions that may be carried out with at least one of the diverse identification cards presented to the machine. Accordingly, financial institutions who issue cards can independently arrange and program their own security and transaction routines which are to be carried out with the cards and distribute such routines in a secure manner for use on a common terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved programmable marking device in two preferred embodiments thereof. In a first embodiment, the device includes a keyboard-display portion into which is mounted a removable portable marking device with the marking device having circuitry therein which is electrically connected with the computer in the keyboard-display portion when the removable portable marking device is inserted into a specially designed receptacle in the keyboard-display portion. In the operation of the first embodiment, the keyboard is used to type the message which is desired to be printed by the marking device and the desired message is displayed on the display and corrected as desired while the marking device is plugged into the receptacle. That which is displayed in the display has also been transmitted electrically to a memory device contained within the removable portable marking device.