Abstract: A system for monitoring smoke and/or temperature of an electronic device includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable terminating at a node. The node is located to measure one or more conditions at the electronic device, and a control system operably connected to the fiber harness. The control system includes a light source configured to transmit light through the fiber harness, a light sensitive device configured to receive scattered light associated with the node, and a control unit configured to analyze the scattered light to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at the node of one or more conditions at the electronic device, wherein the control unit is further configured to transmit a signal in response to the one or more conditions, wherein the one or more conditions are one or more of smoke, fire, and temperature.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a metal foam component from an aerogel containing a polymer and nanoparticles is disclosed. The method may comprise: 1) exposing the aerogel to a reducing condition at an elevated temperature for a reaction time to provide a metal foam; and 2) using the metal foam to fabricate the metal foam component. At least one of the elevated temperature and the reaction time may be selected so that at least some ligaments of the metal foam have a desired ligament diameter or at least some pores of the metal foam have a desired pore size. The desired ligament diameter may be less than about one micron and the component may be a component of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A system for detection and monitoring includes one or more light sources configured to emit light into a monitored space. At least one of the light sources is configured to emit a respective emission cone having a respective emission cone axis. One or more light sensing devices are configured to receive scattered light. At least one of the one or more light sensing devices defines a respective acceptance cone having a respective acceptance cone axis. The emission cone axis of the emission cone, and/or the acceptance cone axis of the light sensing device is angled toward the other. A processor is operatively connected to the at least one light sensing devices to evaluate the scattered light for the presence of particulates in the monitored space.

Abstract: A system for particulate detection and monitoring includes one or more light sources configured to emit light into a monitored space. The system includes at least two light sensing devices configured to receive scattered light. Respective sensing portions of the three two sensing devices share a common centerline axis. A processor is operatively connected to the two light sensing devices and is configured to evaluate the scattered light for presence of particulates in the monitored space.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an elevator car is provided. The method comprising: moving the elevator car through a route segment in a first direction; moving a sensing system integrally connected to the elevator car over a segment of a scattering surface, the sensing system comprising a first light source and a first light sensing device; emitting a plurality of first light impulses onto the scattering surface using the first light source at a first impulse rate; measuring a first data set comprising light scattered off the scattering surface for each of the first light impulses using the first light sensing device; and determining a first velocity of the elevator car in response to the first data set and a baseline data set.

Abstract: A method of monitoring component health is provided. The method includes moving a health monitor over a scattering surface of the component, emitting light of various wavelengths toward the scattering surface from a light source of the health monitor, observing one or more responses of the scattering surface to the light of the various wavelengths at a detector of the health monitor and identifying a condition of the scattering surface from the observed one or more responses of the scattering surface to the light of the various wavelengths.

Abstract: A method of monitoring smoke, fire, and temperature conditions includes transmitting light through a first fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable terminating at a node disposed to monitor a smoke or fire condition at one or more predetermined areas, transmitting light along a second fiber optic cable, the second fiber optic cable arranged to monitor a temperature condition at one or more predetermined areas, receiving scattered light from the first fiber optic cable and/or the second fiber optic cable at a control system, and analyzing the scattered light to determine at least one of the presence and magnitude of smoke, fire and/or a temperature condition along the fiber harness or at the node.

Abstract: A detection system for measuring the presence of one or more conditions in a predetermined area includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light. The at least one fiber optic cable defines a node arranged to measure the one or more conditions. The node is arranged such that light scattered by an atmosphere adjacent the node is received by at least one core of the fiber optic cable. A control system operably connected to the fiber harness includes a light source for transmitting light to the node and a light sensitive device configured to receive scattered light associated with the node. The control system analyzes more than one signal corresponding to more than one wavelength of the scattered light associated with the node to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at the node.

Abstract: A detection system for measuring one or more conditions within a predetermined area includes a fiber harness having at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting light. The at least one fiber optic cable defines a node arranged to measure the condition. The node is arranged such that light scattered by an atmosphere adjacent the node is received by at least one core of the fiber optic cable at at least one scattering angle relative to light transmitted through the node. A control system is operably coupled to the fiber harness such that scattered light associated with the node is transmitted to the control system. The control system analyzes the scattered light to determine at least one of a presence and magnitude of the one or more conditions at the node.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an article includes providing an arrangement of loose nanowires and bonding the loose nanowires in the presence of carbon together into a unitary cellular structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for passively managing cooling air in a gas turbine engine. A cooling air supply line may supply cooling air to a component in the gas turbine engine. A metering coupon may have a negative coefficient of thermal expansion. The metering coupon may allow more airflow through the metering coupon and through the component in response to an increase in temperature.

Abstract: An article with an erosion protection layer. The erosion protection layer may include metal, intermetallic compound, ceramic or glass nanocellular foam particles or monolithic sheets. The particles are dispersed in a polymeric matrix and the monolithic sheets are infiltrated with polymeric material. The nanocellular foam ligaments have submicron cross-sectional diameters.

Abstract: A method for making a plurality of metallic nanowires includes combining a metallic precursor with a solvent to form a metallic precursor solution. A quantity of oxalic acid is added to the metallic precursor solution to form a reduction solution. A plurality of nanowires are precipitated out from the reduction solution.

Abstract: Heat pump cycle provided with a fluidic loop connecting two heat exchangers. The fluidic loop is filled with an electro-caloric liquid as a heat transfer medium. Applying electric filed in one of the heat exchangers the temperature of the electro-caloric liquid is changed.

Abstract: A method for preparing an alloy nanocellular foam includes at least partially coating a nanocellular precursor into a multiple composition nanoparticle precursor and converting the multiple composition nanoparticle precursor into an alloy via a diffusion process.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a metal cellular structure includes providing a sol-gel that is a colloid dispersed in a solvent, the colloid including metal-containing regions bound together by polymeric ligands, removing the solvent from the gel using supercritical drying to produce a dry gel of the metal-containing regions bound together by the polymeric ligands, and thermally converting the dry gel to a cellular structure with a coating in at least one step using phase separation of at least two insoluble elements. Also disclosed is a metal cellular structure including interconnected metal ligaments having a cellular structure and a carbon-containing coating around the metal ligaments.

Abstract: A device, including a non-radioactive detection source, configured to detect airborne particulates and/or gases in an environment by applying a voltage bias to the non-radioactive detection source to create at least one detecting condition, and determining if airborne particulates are present within the at least one detection condition. A method of creating a detecting condition for airborne particulates and/or gases in an environment, the method including the steps of coupling a pair of electrical conductors to a nanocellular material, and applying a voltage bias to the pair of electrical conductors.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a metal foam component from an aerogel containing a polymer and nanoparticles is disclosed. The method may comprise: 1) exposing the aerogel to a reducing condition at an elevated temperature for a reaction time to provide a metal foam; and 2) using the metal foam to fabricate the metal foam component. At least one of the elevated temperature and the reaction time may be selected so that at least some ligaments of the metal foam have a desired ligament diameter or at least some pores of the metal foam have a desired pore size. The desired ligament diameter may be less than about one micron and the component may be a component of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A nanocellular single crystal nickel based material is provided having a thermal diffusivity in the range of 0.0002 cm?2/s to 0.02 cm?2/s and a thermal conductivity in the range of 0.024 W/mK to 9.4 W/mK. The nanocellular single crystal nickel based material may be used to form turbine engine components. The nanocellular single crystal nickel based material may be produced by providing a first solution containing a nickel precursor and deionized water, providing a second solution containing a structure controlling polymer/surfactant and an alcohol, mixing the first and second solutions into a solution containing a reducing agent to form a third solution, and processing the third solution to create the nanocellular single crystal based material.

Abstract: A machine includes a section that defines a target vibrational mode to dampen and a nanocellular foam damper that includes interconnected ligaments in a cellular structure. The interconnected ligaments have an average ligament size defined with respect to a vibrational loss modulus of the nanocellular foam damper and the target vibrational mode. Also disclosed is a method of damping vibration.