Abstract: A fuel control system for a gas turbine engine includes a metering valve for metering a flow of fuel, a throttling valve for maintaining a pressure drop across the metering valve, the throttling valve being shiftable between an open state and a shutoff state blocking an outlet of the metering valve, a primary control pressure supply for supplying a primary control pressure to the metering valve for controlling the position of the metering valve, a backup control pressure supply, a transfer valve shiftable between a first position connecting the primary control pressure to supply to the metering valve and a second position connecting the backup control pressure to the metering valve, and an electrohydraulic servovalve (EHSV) operably connected to the throttling valve and the transfer valve and controlling the state of the transfer valve and the position of the throttling valve. Also a method for controlling a transfer valve and a throttling valve.

Abstract: A fuel control system (10) for a gas turbine engine includes a main fuel inlet line (18), an auxiliary fuel inlet line (20) and an engine fuel outlet line (16). A first flow path extends from the main fuel inlet line (18) to the engine fuel outlet line (16) and a second flow path extends from the auxiliary fuel inlet line (20) to the engine fuel outlet line (16). A check valve (22) in the first flow path allows fuel flow through the first flow path in a direction from the main fuel inlet line (18) to the engine fuel outlet line (16) and substantially prevents fuel flow through the first flow path in a direction from the engine fuel outlet line (16) to the main fuel inlet line (18). The check valve (22) is shiftable between a first position connecting the auxiliary fuel inlet (20) to the engine fuel outlet (16) and a second position blocking the second flow path. Also a method of controlling fuel flow in a fuel control system of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic servovalve (EHSV) (10) that includes a nozzle (16), a motor (12) operably connected to the nozzle (16) for controlling the position of the nozzle (16) based on current provided to the motor (12), a spool (18) having first and second ends (22,26) slidably mounted in a sleeve (34) having first and second ends (31,33) and a first land (21) near the first end (22), a first passage (40) extending from near the nozzle (16) to the first end (31) of the sleeve (34), a second passage (42) extending from near the nozzle (16) to the second end (33) of the sleeve (34), the spool (18) shifting to a first fail-safe position when the current is below a first predetermined level and latching in a second fail-safe position different than the first fail-safe position when the current exceeds a second predetermined level greater than the first predetermined level.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to chenille yarns, fabrics prepared therefrom, and items formed therewith. The chenille yarns comprise an adhesive component that is incorporated into the yarn is such a way that the yarns, and the fabrics made therefrom, exhibit excellent physical characteristics, particularly abrasion resistance.

Abstract: The present invention is a multicomponent fiber comprising a temperature-regulating inner fiber component encapsulated by an outer fiber component. The invention further provides methods of preparing the inventive multicomponent fiber and methods of preparing a temperature-regulating fiber component incorporating at least one phase change material.

Abstract: Microfilament-generating multicomponent fibers are provided that include a first polymer component and a second polymer component extruded together in separate contiguous polymer segments extending along the length of the fiber. The first polymer component comprises a synthetic melt-processable polymer that is substantially soluble in a first relatively benign solvent selected from water, aqueous caustic solution, and non-halogenated organic solvents. The second polymer component is formed from a second synthetic melt-processable polymer dimensioned to produce one or more microfilaments upon dissolution of the first polymer, and that is substantially soluble in an aqueous solvent selected from water and aqueous caustic solution. The two polymer components are dissolvable in different solvents.

Abstract: The invention provides a drawn and/or crimped fiber comprising a biodegradable polymer, such as polylactic acid, wherein the drawn and/or crimped fiber exhibits a storage-stable tenacity that does not decrease from an initial tenacity upon manufacture by more than about 10% after storage for 120 days in ambient conditions. The polymer composition used to form the fiber may comprise a softening agent. The fiber can be a drawn and crimped bicomponent fiber that is helically self-crimped and which comprises a first biodegradable polymer component and a second biodegradable polymer component, wherein the first polymer component and the second polymer component exhibit different polymer morphology such that each polymer component will undergo a different extent of longitudinal shrinkage upon application of heat. The outer surface of the fiber may carry a water-repellant coating. The invention also provides a method of forming a drawn and/or crimped fiber exhibiting storage-stable tenacity.

Abstract: Microfilament-generating multicomponent fibers are provided that include a first polymer component and a second polymer component extruded together in separate contiguous polymer segments extending along the length of the fiber. The first polymer component comprises a synthetic melt-processable polymer that is substantially soluble in a first relatively benign solvent selected from water, aqueous caustic solution, and non-halogenated organic solvents. The second polymer component is formed from a second synthetic melt-processable polymer dimensioned to produce one or more microfilaments upon dissolution of the first polymer, and that is substantially soluble in an aqueous solvent selected from water and aqueous caustic solution. The two polymer components are dissolvable in different solvents.

Abstract: Multicomponent fibers are provided that include a plurality of coextruded polymeric components arranged in discrete structured domains. The polymer domains have one or more identifying characteristics that can be varied to form a plurality of different identifying patterns. A plurality of islands in the sea fibers can be provided, the plurality of fibers including two or more subsets of fibers, each subset comprising a uniquely identifiable cross sectional pattern of island domains, each pattern being formed from an array comprising a predetermined number of island domains in predetermined locations within the array, wherein each pattern is determined by classifying individual island domains within the array as present or absent from the pattern. The plurality of fibers can be meltspun simultaneously to form a filament yarn or tow.

Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-component fiber, fiber-containing (e.g., fibrous) material made of multi-component fibers, and methods of forming the fiber-containing material. The fiber-containing material is made of a plurality of multi-component fibers of at least first and second segments. The first and second segments are respectively made of different polymer materials having a high melt temperature and a low melt temperature relative to each other, and the first and second segments are splittable from each other. The fiber-containing material is made by collecting a plurality of the multi-component fibers, splitting the first and second segments from each other, and thermally bonding the fibers by melting the lower melt temperature polymer material of the first segments or second segments. The melted polymer material encapsulates cross-over points of remaining segments, of higher melt temperature polymer material, to act as a binder for the fiber-containing material.

Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-component fiber, fiber-containing (e.g., fibrous) material made of multi-component fibers, and methods of forming the fiber-containing material. The fiber-containing material is made of a plurality of multi-component fibers of at least first and second segments. The first and second segments are respectively made of different polymer materials having a high melt temperature and a low melt temperature relative to each other, and the first and second segments are splittable from each other. The fiber-containing material is made by collecting a plurality of the multi-component fibers, splitting the first and second segments from each other, and thermally bonding the fibers by melting the lower melt temperature polymer material of the first segments or second segments. The melted polymer material encapsulates cross-over points of remaining segments, of higher melt temperature polymer material, to act as a binder for the fiber-containing material.