Abstract: Systems and methods for a stabilized evaporable getter for increased handleability is provided. In certain embodiments, a method includes preparing a first getter material, a second getter material, and a metal material. Additionally, the method includes mixing the first getter material, the second getter material, and the metal material into a mixed getter material. Further, the method includes placing the mixed getter material into a getter holder. Also, the heat-treating the getter holder at a temperature below an activation temperature for an exothermic reaction of the mixed getter material but above a melting temperature of the metal material.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming a coating layer on a cold sprayed component. The systems include a mold including interior surfaces that define a mold cavity, a first deposition apparatus configured to form an initial layer on the interior surfaces of the mold, a second deposition apparatus configured to form a coating layer on the initial layer, a cold spraying additive manufacturing apparatus configured to form a component layer on the coating layer such that contact surfaces between the component layer and the coating layer form a bond in situ, a component removal apparatus configured to separate the initial layer from the mold, and a layer removal apparatus configured to remove the initial layer from the coating layer, wherein the component layer defines a component and the coating layer defines a coating thereon.

Abstract: Systems and methods for oxide-based doping of an evaporable getter are described herein. In certain embodiments, a method includes mixing a first getter material with a second getter material to create a mixed getter material. The method also includes mixing an oxide dopant with the mixed getter material to create a doped getter material. Further, the method includes sealing the doped getter material within a device. Moreover, the method includes applying heat to the doped getter material to cause the doped getter material to emit a doped gas for deposition on internal surfaces of the device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for filling cracks in an environmental barrier coating and/or a thermal barrier coating (EBC/TBC). The method comprises locating a component within an enclosure of an apparatus, the component including a substrate having the EBC/TBC thereon, wherein the EBC/TBC includes cracks extending from an exterior surface of the EBC/TBC toward the substrate, reducing pressure within the enclosure to a first pressure that is less than atmospheric pressure, applying a filler slurry to the exterior surface to cover the cracks while the EBC/TBC is exposed to the first pressure, increasing the enclosure to a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure, wherein the second pressure is sufficient to cause the filler slurry on the EBC/TBC to infiltrate into and fill the cracks, and sintering the filler slurry sufficient to cure the filler slurry within the cracks.

Abstract: Components and methods for producing such components are provided. The component comprises a substrate having a ceramic material, and a coating system on a surface of the substrate. The coating system includes one or more layers defining a composition gradient. A first portion of the coating system closest to the surface of the substrate has a composition comprising at least 95 wt. % of a rare earth disilicate, a second portion of the coating system furthest from the surface of the substrate has a composition comprising at least 50 wt. % of a rare earth monosilicate, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion has a composition comprising both the rare earth disilicate and the rare earth monosilicate.

Abstract: A multilayer protective coating system includes a turbine engine component substrate formed of a ceramic matrix composite material, an environmental barrier coating layer including a rare earth disilicate material deposited directly on the substrate, and a plurality of pairs of alternating layers of the rare earth disilicate material and a rare earth monosilicate material deposited and sintered directly on the environmental barrier coating layer. Each layer of the plurality of pairs of alternating layers is relative less thick as compared with the environmental barrier coating layer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for filling cracks in an environmental barrier coating and/or a thermal barrier coating (EBC/TBC). The method comprises locating a component within an enclosure of an apparatus, the component including a substrate having the EBC/TBC thereon, wherein the EBC/TBC includes cracks extending from an exterior surface of the EBC/TBC toward the substrate, reducing pressure within the enclosure to a first pressure that is less than atmospheric pressure, applying a filler slurry to the exterior surface to cover the cracks while the EBC/TBC is exposed to the first pressure, increasing the enclosure to a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure, wherein the second pressure is sufficient to cause the filler slurry on the EBC/TBC to infiltrate into and fill the cracks, and sintering the filler slurry sufficient to cure the filler slurry within the cracks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for oxide-based doping of an evaporable getter are described herein. In certain embodiments, a method includes mixing a first getter material with a second getter material to create a mixed getter material. The method also includes mixing an oxide dopant with the mixed getter material to create a doped getter material. Further, the method includes sealing the doped getter material within a device. Moreover, the method includes applying heat to the doped getter material to cause the doped getter material to emit a doped gas for deposition on internal surfaces of the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a stabilized evaporable getter for increased handleability is provided. In certain embodiments, a method includes preparing a first getter material, a second getter material, and a metal material. Additionally, the method includes mixing the first getter material, the second getter material, and the metal material into a mixed getter material. Further, the method includes placing the mixed getter material into a getter holder. Also, the heat-treating the getter holder at a temperature below an activation temperature for an exothermic reaction of the mixed getter material but above a melting temperature of the metal material.

Abstract: A protective coating system includes a turbine engine component substrate formed of a ceramic matrix composite material, an environmental barrier coating layer including a rare earth disilicate material formed directly on the substrate, and a thermal barrier coating layer including a porous rare earth monosilicate material having a metal silicate material infiltrated within at least a portion of the pores formed directly on the environmental barrier coating layer.

Abstract: A method of applying a protective coating to a substrate includes the steps of: providing a turbine engine component substrate formed of a ceramic matrix composite material, forming an environmental barrier coating layer including a rare earth disilicate material directly on the substrate, treating an outer surface of the environmental barrier coating layer to form a thermal barrier coating layer including a porous rare earth monociliate material directly on the environmental barrier coating layer. The step of treating the outer surface is performed using a thermal process consisting of the application of heat or a chemical-thermal process consisting of the application of heat and a chemical. The method further includes infiltrating at least a portion of the pores with a metal solution or suspension.

Abstract: A multilayer protective coating system includes a turbine engine component substrate formed of a ceramic matrix composite material, an environmental barrier coating layer including a rare earth disilicate material deposited directly on the substrate, and a plurality of pairs of alternating layers of the rare earth disilicate material and a rare earth monosilicate material deposited and sintered directly on the environmental barrier coating layer. Each layer of the plurality of pairs of alternating layers is relative less thick as compared with the environmental barrier coating layer.

Abstract: A method for using a shape memory alloy (SMA) with a non-evaporable getter (NEG) employed in a vacuum device is disclosed. The method comprises coupling a NEG component to a SMA component to form an NEG/SMA assembly pair; heating the NEG/SMA assembly pair to activate the NEG component; and packaging the activated NEG component with the SMA component to form an NEG/SMA package having a gas tight seal. The method further comprises installing the NEG/SMA package in the vacuum device; and heating the installed NEG/SMA package such that the SMA component is actuated to expose the activated NEG component to a vacuum chamber in the vacuum device.

Abstract: A method of applying a protective coating to a substrate includes the steps of: providing a turbine engine component substrate formed of a ceramic matrix composite material, forming an environmental barrier coating layer including a rare earth disilicate material directly on the substrate, treating an outer surface of the environmental barrier coating layer to form a thermal barrier coating layer including a porous rare earth monociliate material directly on the environmental barrier coating layer. The step of treating the outer surface is performed using a thermal process consisting of the application of heat or a chemical-thermal process consisting of the application of heat and a chemical. The method further includes infiltrating at least a portion of the pores with a metal solution or suspension.

Abstract: A protective coating system includes a turbine engine component substrate formed of a ceramic matrix composite material, an environmental barrier coating layer including a rare earth disilicate material formed directly on the substrate, and a thermal barrier coating layer including a porous rare earth monosilicate material having a metal silicate material infiltrated within at least a portion of the pores formed directly on the environmental barrier coating layer.

Abstract: A camera mount assembly for holding a camera or other perception sensor that may be fixed with respect to a ground plane and used for incremental angle measurement of the camera or other perception sensor in three axes, such that the precise spatial relationships of imaged objects with respect to the orientation/position of the camera or other perception sensor may be determined. A base structure of the camera mount assembly may be affixed to a fixed or moveable support structure and multiple leveling devices and/or laser devices are provided to establish a reliable reference relative to the ground plane. Thus, the exact orientation of the camera or other perception sensor in space may be determined frame to frame, such that the precise orientation of imaged objects with respect to the orientation/position of the camera or other perception sensor relative to the ground plane may be determined over time.

Abstract: A camera mount assembly for holding a camera or other perception sensor that may be fixed with respect to a ground plane and used for incremental angle measurement of the camera or other perception sensor in three axes, such that the precise spatial relationships of imaged objects with respect to the orientation/position of the camera or other perception sensor may be determined. A base structure of the camera mount assembly may be affixed to a fixed or moveable support structure and multiple leveling devices and/or laser devices are provided to establish a reliable reference relative to the ground plane. Thus, the exact orientation of the camera or other perception sensor in space may be determined frame to frame, such that the precise orientation of imaged objects with respect to the orientation/position of the camera or other perception sensor relative to the ground plane may be determined over time.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a seat assembly, and corresponding method, for seat retraction in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode. Seat refraction is provided by detecting a user initiated input for the retraction. Thereafter, a front seat is refracted such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of at least one driving control input device, for example, a steering wheel, pedals or a gear shift, during an autonomous driving mode. Such seat retraction prevents the occupant from providing inadvertent driving inputs to the driving control input devices during the autonomous driving mode.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon-based or ester-based drilling fluid or mud is described wherein the drilling fluid contains cesium phosphate. The hydrocarbon-based or ester-based drilling fluid or mud can have, for example, an external phase that contains hydrocarbon fluid and an internal phase that contains cesium phosphate. The hydrocarbon-based drilling fluid or mud can further contain at least one emulsifier or surfactant, and optionally other ingredients. The present invention can permit hydrocarbon-based drilling fluids to be essentially solids-free and may be used without corrosion and/or formation damage problems, for example, due to the use of the cesium phosphate in an internal phase of the hydrocarbon-based or ester-based drilling fluid. The present invention also relates to hydrocarbon-based or ester-based fluids for completion, workover, suspension and packer operations which contain cesium phosphate.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a steering wheel assembly, and corresponding method, for retracting a steering wheel in a vehicle. In the steering wheel retraction, a steering column is configured to first pivot upwards about a horizontal axis directed along the vehicle's width via a pivoting member. Thereafter, the steering wheel column is configured to slide, via an actuating member, in a forward direction towards the instrument panel of the vehicle. Thus, before moving the steering column in a forward direction, the steering wheel is moved away from the driver's legs by the pivoting action. This helps reduce the likelihood of the steering wheel hitting the driver's legs during the retraction.