Abstract: A microphone jammer includes an ultrasonic transducer for emitting an ultrasonic jamming signal to jam a microphone of an external electronic device. The apparatus includes a sound chamber that is shaped to direct the ultrasonic jamming signal towards an area for placement of an external electronic device that includes the microphone. The apparatus may include a base and a top portion connected to the base, with the ultrasonic transducer being in the top portion and the sound chamber being shaped to direct the ultrasonic jamming signal towards the base.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a turbine rotor is provided. The method includes fabricating a plurality of substantially cylindrical disks. Fabricating each disk includes fabricating a substantially cylindrical body and extending a bore substantially concentrically through the body. The method also includes coupling at least two of the plurality of disks together to form a rotor having a bore extending axially therethrough.

Abstract: A closure bucket group for mounting on a dovetail of a turbine wheel. The closure bucket group may include a leading bucket with a leading bucket rear side, a closure bucket with a closure bucket front side and a closure bucket rear side, and a trailing bucket with a trailing bucket front side. The leading bucket rear side and the closure bucket front side define a first enclosed keyway and the closure bucket rear side and the trailing bucket front side define a second enclosed keyway. A number of keys may be positioned within the first enclosed keyway and the second enclosed keyway so as to support the closure bucket.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a turbine rotor is provided. The method includes fabricating a plurality of substantially cylindrical disks. Fabricating each disk includes fabricating a substantially cylindrical body and extending a bore substantially concentrically through the body. The method also includes coupling at least two of the plurality of disks together to form a rotor having a bore extending axially therethrough.

Abstract: In heart failure (HF) patients diagnosed according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) rating scale as either Class III or Class IV, with QRS duration ?120 ms, left ventricular (LV) EF?35% (when in sinus rhythm), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can predict sustained improvement in at least LV structure and function. The knowledge of aetiology of a subject's HF status and of a few simple echocardiographic characteristics provides useful information as to whether such patients and undergo significant and beneficial reverse remodelling of the LV in particular and, in the long term can be expected to experience an improvement in all-cause mortality, for example such patients can be reasonably expected to survive and enjoy a relatively enhanced quality of life (QOL). A patient who qualifies according to the invention can be termed a reverse remodelling responder (RRR) or the like.

Abstract: A hand tool comprising first and second jaw members and first and second handle members, the first handle and both jaw members being cooperatively connected by a force multiplying linkage system. A force applied to the first handle drives the linkage system to close the jaws to crimp or cut a work piece. In one embodiment of the invention, a link in the linkage system has a first end movable between first and second positions relative to its first end pivot pin wherein the first and second jaw members close a first distance when the link first end is in the first position and close a second distance when the link first end is in the second position. Other embodiments comprise other step-wise changes in distance between force-bearing pivot locations in the linkage system to close the jaws progressive distances with successive closures of the first and second handles.

Abstract: A turbine comprises an oil deflector including at least one set of seal rings, and a shaft including an annular step. The step includes a circumferential surface in proximity to the seal rings of the oil deflector and a side surface extending radially from a center portion of the shaft and defining a groove positioned radially underneath the circumferential surface.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining radial clearances in a rotating machine are provided. The rotating machine includes at least one shell, at least one rotor, and at least one stationary component. The method includes creating a finite element model for at least one component within the rotating machine, creating a cycle deck data file for the rotating machine, determining an initial clearance versus time, and determining an initial clearance versus location.

Abstract: A turbine bucket is disclosed which includes a dovetail for mounting the bucket within the turbine, a parallelogram-shaped platform connected to the dovetail, a parallelogram-shaped shroud, and an airfoil connected between the platform and the shroud. The platform includes an inner flowpath surface at which a first end of the airfoil intersects with the platform the inner flowpath surface being parallelogram-shaped and formed from a first inclined plane and a second inclined plane that meet at a first common boundary and form a first ridge or valley, boundary bisecting the inner flowpath surface, the shroud including an outer flowpath surface at which the second end of the airfoil intersects the shroud, the outer flowpath surface being parallelogram-shaped and formed from a third inclined plane and a fourth inclined plane that meet at a second common boundary and form a second ridge or valley, second common boundary bisecting the outer flowpath surface.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining radial clearances in a rotating machine are provided. The rotating machine includes at least one shell, at least one rotor, and at least one stationary component. The method includes creating a finite element model for at least one component within the rotating machine, creating a cycle deck data file for the rotating machine, determining an initial clearance versus time, and determining an initial clearance versus location.

Abstract: A turbine wheel including a male dovetail configuration about substantially an entire periphery of the wheel, interrupted by a notch formed by removal of portions of the male dovetail at a bucket loading location on the periphery of the wheel. A closure bucket adapted for loading onto the wheel includes a root portion, a platform and airfoil, the root portion formed with a pair of radially inwardly extending laterally spaced tangs, the tangs each formed with a pair of radially aligned retaining pin holes, the retaining pin holes located radially inwardly of the male dovetail configuration.

Abstract: A turbine bucket is disclosed which includes a dovetail for mounting the bucket within the turbine, a parallelogram-shaped platform connected to the dovetail, a parallelogram-shaped shroud, and an airfoil connected between the platform and the shroud. The platform includes an inner flowpath surface at which a first end of the airfoil intersects with the platform the inner flowpath surface being parallelogram-shaped and formed from a first inclined plane and a second inclined plane that meet at a first common boundary and form a first ridge or valley, boundary bisecting the inner flowpath surface, the shroud including an outer flowpath surface at which the second end of the airfoil intersects the shroud, the outer flowpath surface being parallelogram-shaped and formed from a third inclined plane and a fourth inclined plane that meet at a second common boundary and form a second ridge or valley, second common boundary bisecting the outer flowpath surface.

Abstract: A turbine wheel including a male dovetail configuration about substantially an entire periphery of the wheel, interrupted by a notch formed by removal of portions of the male dovetail at a bucket loading location on the periphery of the wheel. A closure bucket adapted for loading onto the wheel includes a root portion, a platform and airfoil, the root portion formed with a pair of radially inwardly extending laterally spaced tangs, the tangs each formed with a pair of radially aligned retaining pin holes, the retaining pin holes located radially inwardly of the male dovetail configuration.

Abstract: Improvements relating to devices and methods for carrying out a double-catheter epidural procedure are provided. An integrated valve assembly employs a manipulable dial for selectively connecting an anesthesia input port to one of plural output ports to thereby provide anesthesia delivery access through a catheter to a targeted location in a patient's epidural space.