Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine comprising a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston; a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston; a crossover passage between the compression cylinder and the combustion cylinder arranged to provide working fluid to the combustion cylinder; a controller arranged to determine a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder based on a received indication of a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder; and a coolant system arranged to regulate a temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder; wherein, in response to determining that the peak temperature of combustion exceeds a selected threshold, the controller is configured to control the coolant system to regulate the temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder so that a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder is less than the selected threshold.

Abstract: A split cycle internal combustion engine comprising a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston; a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston; a crossover passage between the compression cylinder and the combustion cylinder arranged to provide working fluid to the combustion cylinder; a controller arranged to determine a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder based on a received indication of a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder; and a coolant system arranged to regulate a temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder; wherein, in response to determining that the peak temperature of combustion exceeds a selected threshold, the controller is configured to control the coolant system to regulate the temperature of the working fluid supplied to the combustion cylinder so that a peak temperature of combustion in the combustion cylinder is less than the selected threshold.

Abstract: A turbine blade has a root portion, a platform and an aerofoil, the aerofoil is mounted on the platform and is formed by a pressure side wall and a suction side wall and has an outer surface, the pressure side wall and the suction side wall meet at a leading edge and a trailing edge, the aerofoil has an axial chord length, the suction side wall defines part of the radially outward surface of the aerofoil, the suction side wall defines an overhang, the overhang has a maximum overhang length that is between 5% and 20% of the axial chord length of the blade and is located between 5% and 50% of the suction surface length from the leading edge.

Abstract: A system for tracking space object includes a plurality of independent, self-powered, commendable beacons, a plurality of ground sensors that are distributed worldwide and receive the beacon's transmission, a centralized command center that provides signal processing, space object position determination, and message generation, and a set of world-wide distributed ground transmission terminals that send commands to the beacons.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hands free inductive charging of batteries for an electric vehicle is characterized by the use of a transformer having a primary coil connected with a charging station and a secondary coil connected with a vehicle. More particularly, the when the vehicle is parked adjacent to the charging station, the primary coil is displaced via a self alignment mechanism to position the primary coil adjacent to the secondary coil to maximize the inductive transfer of charging current to the secondary coil. The self alignment mechanism preferably utilizes feedback signals from the secondary coil to automatically displace the primary coil in three directions to position the primary coil for maximum efficiency of the transformer.

Abstract: A turbine blade has a root portion, a platform and an aerofoil, the aerofoil is mounted on the platform and is formed by a pressure side wall and a suction side wall and has an outer surface, the pressure side wall and the suction side wall meet at a leading edge and a trailing edge, the aerofoil has an axial chord length, the suction side wall defines part of the radially outward surface of the aerofoil, the suction side wall defines art overhang, the overhang has a maximum overhang length that is between 5% and 20% of the axial chord length of the blade and is located between 5% and 50% of the suction surface length from the leading edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hands free inductive charging of batteries for an electric vehicle is characterized by the use of a transformer having a primary coil connected with a charging station and a secondary coil connected with a vehicle. More particularly, the when the vehicle is parked adjacent to the charging station, the primary coil is displaced via a self alignment mechanism to position the primary coil adjacent to the secondary coil to maximize the inductive transfer of charging current to the secondary coil. The self alignment mechanism preferably utilizes feedback signals from the secondary coil to automatically displace the primary coil in three directions to position the primary coil for maximum efficiency of the transformer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hands free inductive charging of batteries for an electric vehicle is characterized by the use of a transformer having a primary coil connected with a charging station and a secondary coil connected with a vehicle. More particularly, the when the vehicle is parked adjacent to the charging station, the primary coil is displaced via a self alignment mechanism to position the primary coil adjacent to the secondary coil to maximize the inductive transfer of charging current to the secondary coil. The self alignment mechanism preferably utilizes feedback signals from the secondary coil to automatically displace the primary coil in three directions to position the primary coil for maximum efficiency of the transformer.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a device and method for making same. The device includes a substrate supporting optical waveguide, an overlay waveguide and a mode coupler for coupling between the substrate-supported and overlay waveguides. One embodiment includes a high-confinement overlay waveguide capable of low-loss bends with small bend radii, down to tens of microns, which represents two orders of magnitude improvement over prior art. One embodiment includes a feedback path enabled by the high-confinement waveguide, capable of implementing tunable ring resonator filters with free spectral ranges over 100 GHz and modulators with compact and interferometrically stable feedback paths. Another embodiment includes a periodically poled lithium niobate section capable of integrating wavelength conversion within a compact feedback path. Another embodiment includes an amplifier section, which may be incorporated in the feedback path.

Abstract: Snooze Ezz is a device to aid an individual in sleeping while in a seated position. One embodiment of the invention utilizes a chin cup, adjustable straps with hangers, quick release clips and ear pads. Other embodiments of the invention may include earplugs on the adjustable straps. Still other embodiments of the invention may utilize velcro hook and loop arrangements instead of hangers. To use the preferred embodiment of Snooze Ezz, a user would simply attach the hangers to a seatback or other suitable location. He would then slip his head between the adjustable straps and position the chin cup under his chin. The individual can also slip the ear pads and/or earplugs on to block out light or noise.

Abstract: The reproducibility of preforms made by solution doping is significantly improved by adding an internal heat source, such as N2O, as a processing gas during the soot deposition process. The addition of the internal heat source gas results in forming a surface soot layer which exhibits a relatively uniform and consistent morphology. The improvement in the soot surface morphology results in improving the uniformity of the amount of solution dopant retained in the soot layer from preform to preform.

Abstract: The specification describes methods for the manufacture of very large optical fiber preforms wherein the core material is produced by MCVD. Previous limitations on preform size inherent in having the MCVD starting tube as part of the preform process are eliminated by removing the MCVD starting tube material from the collapsed MCVD rod by etching or mechanical grinding. Doped overcladding tubes are used to provide the outer segments of the refractive index profile thus making most effective use of the MCVD produced glass and allowing the production of significantly larger MCVD preforms than previously possible.

Abstract: Early stage detection of engine liquid cooling problems is provided with temperature, pressure and other sensors and associated logic circuits configured for detecting alarm conditions including below normal static coolant pressure coupled with an elevated coolant temperature, above normal static coolant pressure, below normal coolant pump pressure condition, coolant voids due to coolant loss or boiling, and external steam or liquid leakage from the cooling system. A gauge displays the difference between coolant pump output pressure and static coolant pressure.

Abstract: In a stud wall construction, a U-shaped bracket is fixed within a horizontal channel member and has, at its outer ends, a pair of flanges formed with pockets which receive the inturned flanges of a channel-section upright stud: the horizontal channel member is free to move vertically relative to the stud but the stud is restrained against moving sideways; because the sides of the bracket, between its base and its flanges, are fixed to the opposite sides of the channel member, the bracket effectively secures the two sides of the channel member against sideways deflection.

Abstract: A fiber optic fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer diaphragm sensor and method of measurement is provided. A fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer diaphragm sensor (12a, 12b, 12c) includes a base (54a, 54b, 54c) and a diaphragm (52a, 52b, 52c) with an optic fiber (30) coupled under tension between the base (54a, 54b, 54c) and the diaphragm (52a, 52b, 52c). A fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer element (40) is contained within the optic fiber (30) and operates to sense movement of the diaphragm (52a, 52b, 52c). In a particular embodiment, the diaphragm (52a) moves in response to a pressure (P) applied to the diaphragm (52a). In another embodiment, a proof mass (72) is coupled to the diaphragm (52b) such that the diaphragm (52b) moves in response to an acceleration (A). In yet another embodiment, a magnetic body (80) is coupled to the diaphragm (52c) such that the diaphragm (52c) moves in response to a magnetic field (M).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided with a non-intrusive, metal-embedded fiber optic pressure sensor. A Fabry-Perot Interferometer is arranged in a terminated, single mode fiber to function as a pressure gauge. The fiber Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FFPI) is embedded in a metal part which is disposed in the cylinder head of the engine. The metal part and FFPI experience a longitudinal compression in response to the pressure in the chamber. In another aspect of the invention, a non-intrusive fiber containing the FFPI is embedded in a hole drilled or otherwise provided in the metal housing of a spark plug. The spark plug is threaded into the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and is directly exposed to the combustion chamber pressure. Consequently, the spark plug housing and FFPI experience a longitudinal strain in response to the pressure in the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for measuring pressure in a pressure containing vessel with a non-intrusive, metal-embedded fiber optic pressure sensor. The pressure containing vessel may, for example, be the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A Fabry-Perot Interferometer is arranged in a terminated, single mode fiber to function as a strain gauge. The fiber Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FFPI) is embedded in a metal part which may be disposed in a wall of the pressure containing vessel. The metal part and FFPI experience a longitudinal strain in response to the pressure in the vessel. In another aspect of the invention, a non-intrusive fiber containing the FFPI may be embedded along the axis of a metal bolt. The bolt may be used to attach a part or structure, which is directly exposed to the pressure, to the wall of the vessel. Consequently, the bolt and FFPI experience a longitudinal strain in response to the pressure on the part or structure.

Abstract: Optical fibers are embedded in metal structures and components by using a pair of stress-relieving tubes at the air-metal interface of the optical fiber.