Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope (RLG) assembly comprises an RLG block comprising: a first anode; a second anode; a cathode; and a cavity. The RLG assembly further comprises a current supply circuit coupled to the RLG block. The current supply circuit comprises a high voltage power supply to provide a high voltage signal; a first current path coupled between the high voltage power supply and the first anode to provide a first current to the first anode; and a second current path coupled between the high voltage power supply and the second anode to provide a second current to the second anode. The second current path is configured to mirror the first current such that the second current approximately matches the first current. Each component in the second current path is configured to operate based on power derived only from the high voltage signal.

Abstract: A motor drive loop circuit for a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope is provided. The motor drive loop circuit includes a motor configured to drive a proof mass in the MEMS gyroscope and a minus-90-degree phase-shift twin-tee notch filter. The motor is configured to cause the proof mass to oscillate at a primary-proof-mass mode. The a minus-90-degree phase-shift twin-tee notch filter is configured to: provide a minus 90 degree phase at a motor resonance frequency equal to the primary-proof-mass mode; suppress resonance at undesired mechanical modes of the motor during a startup of the motor; and provide gain at the motor resonance frequency.

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope (RLG) assembly comprises an RLG block comprising: a first anode; a second anode; a cathode; and a cavity. The RLG assembly further comprises a current supply circuit coupled to the RLG block. The current supply circuit comprises a high voltage power supply to provide a high voltage signal; a first current path coupled between the high voltage power supply and the first anode to provide a first current to the first anode; and a second current path coupled between the high voltage power supply and the second anode to provide a second current to the second anode. The second current path is configured to mirror the first current such that the second current approximately matches the first current. Each component in the second current path is configured to operate based on power derived only from the high voltage signal.

Abstract: A motor drive loop circuit for a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope is provided. The motor drive loop circuit includes a motor configured to drive a proof mass in the MEMS gyroscope and a minus-90-degree phase-shift twin-tee notch filter. The motor is configured to cause the proof mass to oscillate at a primary-proof-mass mode. The a minus-90-degree phase-shift twin-tee notch filter is configured to: provide a minus 90 degree phase at a motor resonance frequency equal to the primary-proof-mass mode; suppress resonance at undesired mechanical modes of the motor during a startup of the motor; and provide gain at the motor resonance frequency.

Abstract: A coating system that includes a plurality of portions, each portion comprising one or more layers. The coating system includes an outer portion, which is an infrared radiation (IR) interaction portion, that dissipates incident (IR). Underlying this outer portion is a performance portion. The performance portion comprises at least one layer that includes microspheres. Between the substrate and performance portion is a compliance portion. The compliance portion comprises at least one layer of high temperature material that has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) intermediate the performance layer and the substrate. The compliance portion thus reduces any high temperature thermal mismatch between the substrate and the performance portion.

Abstract: A coating system that includes a plurality of portions, each portion comprising one or more layers. The coating system includes an outer portion, which is an infrared radiation (IR) interaction portion, that dissipates incident (IR). Underlying this outer portion is a performance portion. The performance portion comprises at least one layer that includes microspheres. Between the substrate and performance portion is a compliance portion. The compliance portion comprises at least one layer of high temperature material that has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) intermediate the performance layer and the substrate. The compliance portion thus reduces any high temperature thermal mismatch between the substrate and the performance portion.

Abstract: A method for reducing effects of vibropendulous errors within a sensor device having three orthogonal sensors is described. The method includes calculating compensation terms for each sensor, the compensation terms associated with an angle between a pendulous axis for the sensor and a cross axis of the sensor, and subtracting the compensation terms for each sensor from data received from that sensor.

Abstract: A process for depositing pure platinum on a substrate is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, the process comprises applying a solution consisting of Pt(acetylacetonate)2 and ethanol or acetone onto a substrate and wrapping at least a portion of the substrate with aluminum foil. The process further comprises heating the substrate wrapped with the aluminum foil to about 300° C. at a rate of about 10–25° C. per minute and then holding at about 300° C. for about 1 hour, wherein the Pt(acetylacetonate)2 decomposes to deposit pure platinum on the substrate.

Abstract: A method for the polymerization of metal oxo-hydroxide in solution to form dense contiguous oxide films on small particles suspended in the solution. A standard ethanol-based sol-gel reaction solution is prepared by resulting in a solution containing dissolved metal oxo-hydroxides and phosphates, as well as finely divided suspended metal substrate particles. Intermediate molecular weight alcohols, namely alcohols with three, four, five, six or seven carbon atoms, are added to the reaction solution to increase the boiling point of the reaction. The temperature of the reaction solution is raised to below the boiling point of the solution. Water is added to the reaction solution to initiate the polymerization of the metal oxo-hydroxide. The polymerization reaction, coupled with the phosphates acting a surfactant, coats the metal substrate particles with a dense contiguous coating of metal oxide.

Abstract: Non-spherical particles including a major dimension, for example flakes of material, are positioned with the major dimension oriented generally along an article surface in respect to which the particle is disposed. The particles, disposed in a fluid medium, the viscosity of which can be increased to secure the particles in position, are positioned using a force on the particles. The force includes torque force from a magnetic field, force from flow of the fluid medium, the force of gravity, and the force of surface tension alone or in combination with the force of gravity.

Abstract: A jet pump for a nuclear reactor includes a riser and an inlet mixer having a set of nozzles and a mixing section for receiving coolant flow from the nozzles and suction flow from an annular space between the reactor vessel and the shroud core. To minimize or eliminate electrostatic deposition of charged particulates carried by the coolant on interior wall surface of the inlet-mixer of the jet pump, and also to inhibit stress corrosion cracking, the interior wall surfaces of the nozzles and mixing section are coated with a ceramic oxide such as TiO2 and Ta2O5 to thicknesses of about 0.5-1.5 microns.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing metallic flake having an environmental coating for use in oxidative and corrosive atmospheres. Fluidized bed techniques are utilized to perform a controlled oxidation of metallic particles that include aluminum. The fluidized techniques permit the formation of a thin, outer shell of alumina over the outer surface of the flake. Because the oxidation is controlled so that the selective oxidation produces a thin outer shell, the particle has good reflectance and the metallic core of the particle is unaffected by the oxidizing treatment. Although the techniques of the present invention are effective for producing a reflective surface on aluminum-containing iron alloys while the core particles can be either magnetically soft or hard, the techniques can be used to produce a reflective surface that is corrosion and oxidation resistant on any aluminum containing alloy. Apparatus that facilitates the controlled oxidation is also set forth.

Abstract: A tightly adherent anti-stick coating applied over coated turbine components of gas turbine engines. The tightly adherent coating is an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, W, group 4b and group 5b metals of the periodic table and Si, Ge and Sn of group 4a. The oxide is applied directly over existing environmental coatings, and thermal barrier coatings. It can also be applied directly to substrate material and to areas that are not within the combustion exhaust gases, such as platform portions and shank portions of airfoils including turbine blades. The oxide is conveniently applied to a uniform thickness of no greater than about 10 microns, and prevents the build-up of corrosion products and other products of combustion from the gases, thereby increasing the life expectancy of the component.

Abstract: A jet pump for a nuclear reactor includes a riser and an inlet mixer having a set of nozzles and a mixing section for receiving coolant flow from the nozzles and suction flow from an annular space between the reactor vessel and the shroud core. To minimize or eliminate electrostatic deposition of charged particulates carried by the coolant on interior wall surface of the inlet-mixer of the jet pump, and also to inhibit stress corrosion cracking, the interior wall surfaces of the nozzles and mixing section are coated with a ceramic oxide such as TiO2 and Ta2O5 to thicknesses of about 0.5-1.5 microns.

Abstract: A tightly adherent anti-stick coating applied over coated turbine components of gas turbine engines. The tightly adherent coating is an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, W, group 4b and group 5b metals of the periodic table and Si, Ge and Sn of group 4a. The oxide is applied directly over existing environmental coatings, and thermal barrier coatings. It can also be applied directly to substrate material and to areas that are not within the combustion exhaust gases, such as platform portions and shank portions of airfoils including turbine blades. The oxide is conveniently applied to a uniform thickness of no greater than about 10 microns, and prevents the build-up of corrosion products and other products of combustion from the gases, thereby increasing the life expectancy of the component.

Abstract: A coating is prepared by providing a plurality of metallic flake particles, depositing a surface-protective applied layer on the particle surfaces to form protected particles, and mixing the protected particles with a binder precursor to form a coating mixture. The coating mixture is applied to a substrate. The surface-protective applied layer is preferably silica, which is deposited by a sol-gel process from a tetraethyl orthosilicate solution.

Abstract: Helmet trackers include transmitters to transmit information regarding the orientation and position of the helmet, receivers to receive the information, and processors to process the information to determine the position and orientation of the helmet. An apparatus, connected to the transmitter, is used to attain a faster response time for the transmitter to transmit. Such apparatus may include an amplifier, a plurality of capacitors connected to the amplifier, a plurality of transistors each connected to a respective capacitor, and a controller connected to each transistor to control when a transistor turns on. The capacitors can store charge while the transistors are “off,” and once the transistors are turned “on”, an instant charge will exist to supply energy to the transmitter.

Abstract: A coated article comprises a substrate, an inner environmental resistant coating portion including Al on the substrate, and an outer heat energy reflecting and oxygen diffusion inhibiting coating portion outward of the inner portion. The outer coating portion is multi-layer, comprising 6-48 discrete stacked layers and a total outer coating portion thickness in the range of about 2.5-25 microns.

Abstract: A component for use in a high-temperature environment such as the coating chamber of a PVD apparatus. A reflective coating on the component serves as a barrier to radiant heat transfer to the component by reflecting thermal radiation. The coating comprises at least one pair of reflective layers, each layer being formed of a material that is essentially transparent to electromagnetic wavelengths of between 500 and 3000 nanometers (nm). In addition, the material of the outermost layer of the pair has a higher index of refraction than the material of the other layer of the pair.

Abstract: A heating apparatus and method for welding a superalloy article. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus and method entail welding a superalloy article within an enclosure equipped with a thermal radiation-generating device that preheats the article to a temperature of at least 1500.degree. F. prior to welding. The invention more particularly provides a thermally-reflective coating on a reflector member positioned adjacent the thermal radiation-generating device for the purpose of reflecting thermal radiation emitted by the device into the enclosure. The device is then operated to heat the superalloy article to a suitable temperature, e.g., 1500.degree. F. or more, after which a welding operation is performed on the superalloy article.