Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for sealing a high pressure fluid cavity from a low pressure fluid cavity in a rotating machine such as a gas turbine engine. The cavities are at least partially disposed between a rotatable shaft and a sump housing radially displaced from the rotatable shaft. A seal assembly comprises an air riding carbon seal ring and a circumferential ceramic runner. The carbon seal ring is sealingly engaged with the sump housing and has a radially inward facing seal surface. The circumferential ceramic runner is carried by the shaft and has a radially outward facing seal surface extending axially along the shaft. The radially inward facing seal surface of the air riding carbon seal ring sealingly engages the radially outward facing seal surface of the ceramic runner during rotation of the rotatable shaft at a predetermined range of rotational speeds.

Abstract: A system includes an air chamber and an oil capture cavity. The air chamber includes an inlet to receive pressurized air from a gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity is positioned between the air chamber and an oil sump supplying lubricating oil to the gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity includes an auxiliary vent formed in a base of the oil capture cavity. A seal may separate the oil capture cavity from fluid communication with the oil sump. A nozzle provides fluid communication between the oil capture cavity and the air chamber. The nozzle is configured and positioned to direct a stream of the pressurized air into the oil capture cavity against an opposite wall of the oil capture cavity to create a quiescent zone at the base of the oil capture cavity. The quiescent zone includes the auxiliary vent.

Abstract: An oil scavenge system of a rotatable machine having an axis of rotation is disclosed. The oil scavenge system comprises a sump housing, a scavenge conduit, a bearing, and a squeeze film damper. The sump housing is arranged about the axis and at least partly defining a sump. The sump housing has a radially inner surface for directing the flow of oil and defining a collection orifice. The scavenge conduit is in fluid communication with the collection orifice and a downstream location remote from the sump. The bearing is disposed within the sump. The squeeze film damper is positioned proximate the bearing. The squeeze film damper comprises an annular channel and a supply line. The supply line supplies oil to the annular channel. The squeeze film damper further comprises a discharge line. The discharge line is axially aligned with and discharges toward an inner wall of the scavenge conduit.

Abstract: A machine can include a radially inner component, a radially outer component, and a circumferential seal assembly between the inner and outer components. At least one (e.g., both) of the inner and outer components can be a rotor. The circumferential seal assembly can include a circumferential metallic mount, a circumferential ceramic runner, a circumferential carbon seal, and one or more spring energized seals. The spring energized seals can prevent rotational slippage between the metallic mount and the ceramic runner. The spring energized seals can be necessary to prevent rotational slippage between the metallic mount and the ceramic runner for at least one standard operating state of the machine.

Abstract: A clutch assembly may comprise a plurality of clutch discs and a housing configured to receive the plurality of clutch discs. The housing may include an outer wall and an inner wall defining a channel therebetween. The outer wall may have an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid connection with the channel. The channel may be configured to pass a first heat transfer medium between the inlet port and outlet port. The housing may include a plurality of surface features extending inwards from the inner wall and toward the plurality of clutch discs. The plurality of surface features is configured to transfer heat from second heat transfer medium to the housing, thereby transferring heat away from the plurality of clutch discs. The channel may be configured to transfer heat from the housing to the first heat transfer medium, thereby transferring heat away from the housing.

Abstract: Provided are methods and mRNA expression chips for identifying genes that are defined by certain nitrogen and water content relationships in soil. The genes can be up or down regulated under low nitrogen or arid conditions to increase the yield or biomass of crops.

Abstract: An exemplary cone brake device includes a brake drum and a thermal sprayed coating deposited and bonded to the outer surface. The thermal sprayed coating is configured to engage a friction lining when one of the brake drum and the friction element is moved toward the other of the brake drum and the friction element, so as to decrease the speed of an aerospace propeller.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an integrated system armament capable of receiving an inductive charge, the integrated system armament comprising at least one induction energy receiving unit and at least one electrical conductor; wherein the at least one electrical conductor is of an advanced composite material with the advanced composite material having an electrical power management region, an electrical power management sub-region, an advanced composite material forming an electrical power management micro domain, or combinations thereof; and further wherein at least one of the advanced composite material forming electrical conductor(s) further comprises a thermal power management component having a thermal power management region, a thermal power management sub-region, a thermal power management micro domain, or combinations thereof; which in combination provides the integrated system armament. Further disclosed is a method of wirelessly charging an integrated system armament capable of receiving an inductive charge.

Abstract: An exemplary cone brake device includes a brake drum and a thermal sprayed coating deposited and bonded to the outer surface. The thermal sprayed coating is configured to engage a friction lining when one of the brake drum and the friction element is moved toward the other of the brake drum and the friction element, so as to decrease the speed of an aerospace propeller.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an integrated system charging apparatus comprising a power source, an induction energy transmitting unit, and an electrical conductor; wherein, the power source, the induction energy transmitting unit, and the electrical conductor are electrically connected with each other; and wherein at least one of the electrical conductor, and the induction energy transmitting unit, further comprises an advanced composite material.

Abstract: A clutch assembly may comprise a plurality of clutch discs and a housing configured to receive the plurality of clutch discs. The housing may include an outer wall and an inner wall defining a channel therebetween. The outer wall may have an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid connection with the channel. The channel may be configured to pass a first heat transfer medium between the inlet port and outlet port. The housing may include a plurality of surface features extending inwards from the inner wall and toward the plurality of clutch discs. The plurality of surface features is configured to transfer heat from second heat transfer medium to the housing, thereby transferring heat away from the plurality of clutch discs. The channel may be configured to transfer heat from the housing to the first heat transfer medium, thereby transferring heat away from the housing.

Abstract: The present invention is an article of manufacture comprised of advanced composites having structural, electrical, and thermal characteristics. More specifically, it is an interconnection system that comprises at least one advanced composite material with controlled mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrical component comprising a segment having a diameter in the range of about 1 micrometers to about 10 cm, the segment comprising a plurality of non-metallic, resistive fibers in a non-metallic binder. The segment is precisely trimmed to impart to the segment an electrical resistance within 1% of the desired resistance value. A manufacturing system and methods of manufacturing components having precise specifications also are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus having management of electrical power capacity regions and management of thermal capacity regions including a substrate member region having a length, a width, a thickness, and a surface area. The substrate member region may include a host binder material consisting of a polymer, a thermal plastic polymer, a thermo setting polymer, an intrinsically conductive polymer, an elastomer, a ceramic, a glass, a cement, a metal, a synthetic metal, combinations and mixtures of the above and the like, at least one conductive region for management of electrical power capacity and at least one conductive region for management of thermal capacity and at least one non-conductive regions. At least one of the regions for management of electrical power capacity and, optionally, at least one of the regions for management of thermal capacity as well as non-conductive regions may include an exposed surface for contact with another surface of a functional device.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are temperature sensing and temperature control devices and methods of making them. The temperature sensing and control devices can include a composite member, the composite member including a non-metallic binder material, and one or more non-metallic, electrically conductive fibers disposed in the non-metallic binder material. The temperature sensing and control devices can also include a plurality of contacts disposed on the one or more non-metallic, electrically conductive fibers, wherein the composite member has a substantially continuous decrease in electrical resistance with an increase in temperature.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide composite materials, methods for making and processing these materials, and systems for using the composite materials. The disclosed composite material (or composite member) can include fiber-like and/or particulate materials incorporated within a binder polymer. For example, the composite member can include fibril-shaped, semi-conductive elements that are contained in a suitable binder polymer to achieve a particular resistance value, wherein the fibrils can be integrated and interlinked in a manner as to create an array of resistive elements that precisely define and control current flows through the related device. The composite member can therefore have resistive characteristics and, none or neglectablely low amount of capacitive or inductive characteristics. The composite member can be used in electric test market, e.g., as high performance, dynamic probes/sensors for very frequency and/or complex mixed-frequency signals.

Abstract: An electrical component including a substrate comprising an electroconductive filler in a first polymeric binder, and a coating layer adhered to at least a portion of the substrate surface, the coating layer comprising a nanostructured electroconductive particulate dispersed in a polymeric binder, such as an epoxy resin. A method of making the component also is described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrical component including a substrate comprising an electroconductive filler in a first polymeric binder, and a coating layer adhered to at least a portion of the substrate surface, the coating layer comprising a nanostructured electroconductive particulate dispersed in a polymeric binder, such as an epoxy resin. A method of making the component also is disclosed, comprising obtaining a substrate containing an electroconductive filler in a polymeric binder, dispersing a nanostructured electroconductive particulate filler in a liquid that includes a solvent and/or a reactive diluent to form a dispersion, mixing the dispersion with a liquid resin to form a coating mixture, applying the coating mixture to the substrate, and crosslinking the applied coating mixture to form the coated substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a component comprising a substantially homogeneous composition of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of epoxies, acetals, polyesters, non-ionic rubbers, non-ionic polyurethanes, polyether sulfones, polyether ether ketones, polyether imides, polystyrenes, polyethylene terephthalates, polyamides, polyimides, polyvinylchlorides, polyphenylene oxides, polycarbonates, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymers, silicones, fluropolymers, and polyolefins, a filler, and a metal plating catalyst. A method of making a component also is described comprising obtaining a polymeric material, a liquid, a filler and a metal plating catalyst; combining the metal plating catalyst with the polymeric material, liquid, and filler to form a substantially homogeneous mixture; and evaporating and/or curing the mixture to form a solidified component.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide precision resistive composite members and methods for manufacturing and using them. The resistive composite member can have controllable dimensions, geometric shapes, mechanical properties and resistance values. The resistive composite member can be used for high-performance sensors or instrument probes that require, for example, high contact pressure, ultra-high frequency, and/or enable state-of-the-art digital signal transmission, characterization, or measurement. The resistive composite member can include one or more “twisted-fiber-tow” or one or more arrays of “twisted-fiber-tow” contained in a suitable non-metallic or essentially non-metallic binder material. The “twisted-fiber-tow” can further include a number of fibers that are twisted individually and/or in bundles in order to control the mechanical properties and fine-tune the resistance of the resistive composite member and thus to customize the high-performance instrument probes.