Abstract: An apparatus may include a diode-pumped solid-state laser oscillator configured to output a pulsed laser beam, a modulator configured to modify an energy and a temporal profile of the pulsed laser beam, and an amplifier configured to amplify an energy of the pulse laser beam. A modified and amplified beam to laser peen a target part may have an energy of about 5 J to about 10 J, an average power (defined as energy (J)×frequency (Hz)) of from about 25 W to about 200 W, with a flattop beam uniformity of less than about 0.2. The diode-pumped solid-state oscillator may be configured to output a beam having both a single longitudinal mode and a single transverse mode, and to produce and output beams at a frequency of about 20 Hz.

Abstract: A nozzle for a fuel injector of a gas turbine engine, the nozzle having an insulating air gap adjacent a conduit for carrying fuel, the air gap formed between a pair of concentrically arranged annular walls, wherein the pair of annular walls are arranged to move independently to accommodate differential thermal expansion, the nozzle further including: a channel extending circumferentially around a surface a first of the pair of annular walls, facing a second of the pair of annular walls; and a sealing member received in the channel, to close the insulating gap.

Abstract: A fuel injector provided for gas turbine engine has a nozzle including pilot fuel and mains fuel discharge orifice's for respectively spraying pilot and mains fuel flows into a combustor of the engine. The injector further has a feed arm extending to the nozzle for feeding fuel to the pilot and mains discharge orifices from pilot and mains supplies respectively. The nozzle and the feed arm contain one or more pilot passages for flow of the pilot fuel flow from the pilot supply to the pilot discharge orifice and one or more mains passages for flow of the mains fuel flow from the mains supply to the mains discharge orifice. The nozzle and the feed arm contain a plurality of the pilot passages and/or a plurality of the mains passages. The pilot and the mains passages intertwine repeatedly, and are both smoothly curved as they intertwine around each other.

Abstract: A nozzle for a fuel injector of a gas turbine engine, the nozzle having an insulating air gap adjacent a conduit for carrying fuel, the air gap formed between a pair of concentrically arranged annular walls, wherein the pair of annular walls are arranged to move independently to accommodate differential thermal expansion, the nozzle further including: a channel extending circumferentially around a surface a first of the pair of annular walls, facing a second of the pair of annular walls; and a sealing member received in the channel, to close the insulating gap.

Abstract: A fuel injector provided for gas turbine engine has a nozzle including pilot fuel and mains fuel discharge orifice's for respectively spraying pilot and mains fuel flows into a combustor of the engine. The injector further has a feed arm extending to the nozzle for feeding fuel to the pilot and mains discharge orifices from pilot and mains supplies respectively. The nozzle and the feed arm contain one or more pilot passages for flow of the pilot fuel flow from the pilot supply to the pilot discharge orifice and one or more mains passages for flow of the mains fuel flow from the mains supply to the mains discharge orifice. The nozzle and the feed arm contain a plurality of the pilot passages and/or a plurality of the mains passages. The pilot and the mains passages intertwine repeatedly, and are both smoothly curved as they intertwine around each other.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and/or controlling components of a railway system which includes a track and at least one train that is operable to run on said track, comprises the steps of: a) providing an acoustic transducer proximate the railway for picking up acoustic signals; b) receiving acoustic signals from the transducer; and c) analyzing the received signals.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and/or controlling components of a railway system which includes a track and at least one train that is operable to run on said track, comprises the steps of: a) providing an acoustic transducer proximate the railway for picking up acoustic signals; b) receiving acoustic signals from the transducer; and c) analysing the received signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an immunoassay for antibodies against an infectious agent. The present invention also relates to the use of the immunoassay and a kit for performing the immunoassay of the present invention. The immunoassay for antibodies against an infectious agent relates to a method comprising: i. incubating a sample suspected of containing said antibodies with immobilized antigen of the infectious agent and free labeled antigen of the infectious agent; ii. separating immobilized components from non-immobilized components; iii. incubating the immobilized components with further free labeled antigen of the infectious agent and removing non-immobilized components; and iv. determining the amount of labeled antigen immobilized, wherein the amount of label is indicative of the amount of said antibodies present in the sample.

Abstract: An orthopaedic shoulder brace that is adapted to evenly distribute weight onto a patient's waist and hip is disclosed. The shoulder brace includes a first anatomically-conforming shell having an upper curved portion for comfortably fitting around a right side of the waist of a user, and having a lower curved portion for comfortably fitting onto the right hip of the user. A second anatomically-conforming shell is also included which has an upper curved portion for comfortably fitting around a left side of the waist of the user, and which has a lower curved portion for comfortably fitting onto the left hip of the user. A strap connects the front portions of the first anatomically-conforming shell and the second anatomically-conforming shell, and a joining shell connects the back portions of the two shells. The joining shell is rotatably connected to the first anatomically-conforming shell at a first joint and rotatably connected to the second anatomically-conforming shell at a second joint.