Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method of rapidly and efficiently cooling a liquid, wherein flow is induced via gravitational feed from a reservoir, through a cooling chamber, further in connection to a refrigerant source wherein said liquid exits through an inferior actuatable outlet and said refrigerant is released through an exit valve. Specifically, the present invention allows for the rapid cooling of an alcoholic liquid through contactless exposure a carbon dioxide refrigerant source whereby said liquid and refrigerant occupy separate, non-communicating chambers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for carrying out a self-diagnosis (115) of an automated vehicle (1), wherein the following steps are carried out:—operating the vehicle (1) in a standard operating mode (I) for a transport-oriented operation of the vehicle (1), in which the self-diagnosis (115) is automatically carried out according to a first weighting, and—operating the vehicle (1) in a diagnosis operating mode (II), in which the self-diagnosis (115) is automatically carried out using a second weighting, said second weighting being greater than the first weighting.

Abstract: A device (1) controllable by a short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal, e.g. a Bluetooth signal from a mobile device (23), is configured to receive, e.g. from the mobile device and neighboring lighting devices (11-12), one or more signals which comprise the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal, determine changes in received radio frequency signals from the one or more signals, detect presence, e.g. of a resident (51), based on the changes, determine a control command from the short-range point-to-point radio frequency signal, and execute the control command in dependence on the presence being detected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for carrying out a self-diagnosis (115) of an automated vehicle (1), wherein the following steps are carried out:—operating the vehicle (1) in a standard operating mode (I) for a transport-oriented operation of the vehicle (1), in which the self-diagnosis (115) is automatically carried out according to a first weighting, and—operating the vehicle (1) in a diagnosis operating mode (II), in which the self-diagnosis (115) is automatically carried out using a second weighting, said second weighting being greater than the first weighting.

Abstract: An actuating apparatus having a signal transmitter and a mechanical operating element, wherein the mechanical operating element includes a first position that is stable over time and a second position that is stable over time, wherein the mechanical operating element, in the case of a movement from the first position that is stable over time into the second position that is stable over time, actuates the signal transmitter, and wherein the signal transmitter, upon actuation, causes a first signal change followed by a second signal change of an output signal, and an evaluation circuit detects an actuation of the mechanical operating element based on the first signal change and the second signal change.

Abstract: An actuating apparatus having a signal transmitter and a mechanical operating element, wherein the mechanical operating element includes a first position that is stable over time and a second position that is stable over time, wherein the mechanical operating element, in the case of a movement from the first position that is stable over time into the second position that is stable over time, actuates the signal transmitter, and wherein the signal transmitter, upon actuation, causes a first signal change followed by a second signal change of an output signal, and an evaluation circuit detects an actuation of the mechanical operating element based on the first signal change and the second signal change.

Abstract: A current sensing apparatus is disclosed that provides improved immunity to external magnetic fields, enhanced resolution, and a wide sensing range. The current sensing apparatus includes a conductor having a plurality of current path regions formed therein, which are separated by a pair of slots formed through the conductor. A pair of magnetic field sensors is positioned relative to the pair of slots to sense a magnetic field produced by a current flow through one of the current path regions.

Abstract: A current sensing apparatus is disclosed that provides improved immunity to external magnetic fields, enhanced resolution, and a wide sensing range. The current sensing apparatus includes a conductor having a plurality of current path regions formed therein, which are separated by a pair of slots formed through the conductor. A pair of magnetic field sensors is positioned relative to the pair of slots to sense a magnetic field produced by a current flow through one of the current path regions.

Abstract: A nickel-base braze material suitable for closing holes in a high temperature component, such as a tip cap hole in a turbine blade. The braze material comprises first and second filler materials and a binder. The first filler material comprises particles of a first alloy, and the second filler material comprises particles of at least a second alloy having a lower melting temperature than the first alloy. The second alloy consists essentially of, by weight, about 8 to about 23 percent chromium, about 4 to about 18 percent cobalt, about 1.5 to about 6.0 percent tantalum, about 1.0 to about 6.0 percent aluminum, about 0.3 to about 1.5 percent boron, about 2.0 to about 6.0 percent silicon, up to 0.2 percent carbon, the balance being nickel and incidental impurities.

Abstract: In a process for the assembly of wax trees, a wax runner is placed in a flat position, and a wax pattern is located adjacent to the wax runner. Both the wax pattern and the wax runner are heated and then placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax patterns and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed, a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree, and additional wax patterns are affixed in the same manner.

Abstract: A turbine blade squealer tip has a continuous squealer tip wall extending radially outwardly from and continuously around a tip cap. A recessed tip wall portion of the tip wall is recessed inboard from a pressure side of an airfoil outer wall of an airfoil of the blade forming a tip shelf therebetween. A plurality of film cooling shelf holes are disposed through the tip shelf to an internal cooling circuit of the blade and are spaced away from a junction between the recessed tip wall portion and the tip shelf. The exemplary embodiment of the airfoil includes shelf hole centerlines of the holes passing through pierce points in the shelf. At least a majority of the shelf hole centerlines are angled in outboard directions away from and outboard of the squealer tip wall. A majority of centerlines are angled away from vertical lines passing through the pierce points at first component angles in a range between 2 degrees and 16 degrees.

Abstract: A process for the assembly of wax trees in which a wax runner is placed in a flat position and a wax pattern is located adjacent the wax runner. Both the wax runner pattern and the wax runner are heated and then are placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax pattern and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree and additional wax runners are affixed in the same manner.

Abstract: A process for the assembly of wax trees in which a wax runner is placed in a flat position and a wax pattern is located adjacent the wax runner. Both the wax runner pattern and the wax runner are heated and then are placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax pattern and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree and additional wax runners are affixed in the same manner.

Abstract: A turbine blade squealer tip has a continuous squealer tip wall extending radially outwardly from and continuously around a tip cap. A recessed tip wall portion of the tip wall is recessed inboard from a pressure side of an airfoil outer wall of an airfoil of the blade forming a tip shelf therebetween. A plurality of film cooling shelf holes are disposed through the tip shelf to an internal cooling circuit of the blade and are spaced away from a junction between the recessed tip wall portion and the tip shelf. The exemplary embodiment of the airfoil includes shelf hole centerlines of the holes passing through pierce points in the shelf. At least a majority of the shelf hole centerlines are angled in outboard directions away from and outboard of the squealer tip wall. A majority of centerlines are angled away from vertical lines passing through the pierce points at first component angles in a range between 2 degrees and 16 degrees.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved visualization and measurement system (15). In the preferred embodiment, the visualization system comprises: a video sensor (16) having a range of view (18), a field of view (19), and a video output signal (20), a non-contact instrument (21); having a measurement zone (22) and a measurement output signal (23), the instrument and video sensor being so configured and arranged that the measurement zone is aligned in the field of view; a processor (24) for processing the video output signal and the measurement output signal and for providing a processor output signal (25); a display device (26) for displaying the processor output signal; and a control device (28) for moving the field of view and measurement zone in the range of view.

Abstract: A process for the assembly of wax trees in which a wax runner is placed in a flat position and a wax pattern is located adjacent the wax runner. Both the wax runner pattern and the wax runner are heated and then are placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax pattern and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree and additional wax runners are affixed in the same manner.

Abstract: A bi-directional voltage translator (102) includes a first port (300/302), a second port (302/300), and a switch circuit (310). The first port (300/302) communicates a first signal at a first voltage or a second voltage (V.sub.1 /V.sub.2). The second port (302/300) communicates a second signal at the first voltage or a third voltage (V.sub.2 /V.sub.1). The second and third voltages (V.sub.1 /V.sub.2) are different. The switch circuit (310) is coupled to the first port (300/302) and the second port (302/300). The switch circuit (310), responsive to the first signal at the first voltage and the second signal at the third voltage (V.sub.2/ V.sub.1), communicates to the second port (302/300) the second signal at the first voltage. The switch circuit (310), responsive to the second signal at the first voltage and the first signal at the second voltage (V.sub.1 /V.sub.2), communicates to the first port (300/302) the first signal at the first voltage.