Abstract: The present invention provides a hemostatic bone graft product and method. Hemostatic bone grafts may include demineralized bone matrix in combination with additives. In one embodiment, the graft comprises demineralized bone and polyethylene glycol. Methods for producing the hemostatic bone graft may include mixing demineralized bone with additives to facilitate protein precipitation, surface tension reduction in blood, and/or a cytolytic effect on cells at a bleeding site.

Abstract: A fuse that allows for additional connections to be made. The fuse includes a housing with a body and a pair of sides. A pair of terminals may be mounted to and extend from each of the sides. At least one fusible link may be mounted inside the housing to prevent excessive current flow. A terminal is connected to each end of each of the fusible link. A light emitting diode can be mounted to the housing to indicate a positive terminal.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a brake release system for a towed vehicle. The towed vehicle has a braking device that is positioned within the towed vehicle and is configured to depress a brake pedal of the towed vehicle. The braking device includes a brake actuator that is configured to controllably press on the towed vehicle's brake pedal. The brake release system is in communication with the brake actuator. The brake release system is configured to monitor when the brake pedal has been depressed for a predetermined period of time and when the brake release system determines that the predetermined period of time has been exceeded; the brake release system deactivates the brake actuator.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing a systemic or autoimmune disorder and methods for treating the same by inducing the production of or otherwise providing an autoantibody that recognizes a skin basement membrane component.

Abstract: A braking device is disclosed wherein the braking device is configured to aid in slowing down a towed vehicle. The braking device includes a brake actuator, which is preferably configured to controllably press on the towed vehicle's brake pedal; a controller, which is preferably configured to control the brake actuator; and, a voltage regulator system, which is preferably configured to monitor the energy level of the towed vehicle battery. When the voltage regulator system detects the energy level of the towed vehicle battery to have reached a predetermined energy level, the voltage regulator system is preferably configured to save the towed vehicle battery's remaining energy by substantially preventing the towed vehicle battery from supplying energy to the brake actuator. When the voltage detector receives a signal from the controller to supply the brake actuator with energy, the voltage regulator system is preferably configured to allow the brake actuator to use the remaining energy.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a brake monitoring system. The monitoring system includes an auxiliary braking device, the auxiliary braking device configured to activate a braking system of a towed vehicle. The monitoring system also includes a transmitter unit including a transmitter, the transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicating that the braking system of the towed vehicle has been activated. A receiver unit is also included. The receiver unit includes a receiver, the receiver configured to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter. The monitoring system also includes an indicator in communication with the receiver unit. Activation of the indicator informs a driver of a towing vehicle that the braking system of the towed vehicle has been activated.

Abstract: A rotary machine has a stationary component with circumferential grooves and a rotatable component, as well as annular packing or sealing ring segments movable toward and away from the rotating component. To prevent circumferential displacement of the lower side packing ring segments by gravity forces and enable the lowermost segment in the lower housing to be moved radially inwardly, the side segments of the lower housing are supported adjacent the casing midline in a manner preventing downward movement and enabling horizontal movement. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower side packing ring segment is elongated so as to extend above the horizontal joint of the housing and a key bar extends from a key bar groove in the housing to engage a corresponding groove in the segment. The key bar may be disposed to define a seal key for the horizontal joint.

Abstract: A rotary machine has a stationary component with circumferential grooves and a rotatable component, as well as annular packing or sealing ring segments movable toward and away from the rotating component. To prevent circumferential displacement of the lower side packing ring segments by gravity forces and enable the lowermost segment in the lower housing to be moved radially inwardly, the side segments of the lower housing are supported adjacent the casing midline in a manner preventing downward movement and enabling horizontal movement. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower side packing ring segment is elongated so as to extend above the horizontal joint of the housing and a key bar extends from a key bar groove in the housing to engage a corresponding groove in the segment. The key bar may be disposed to define a seal key for the horizontal joint.

Abstract: A balance weight has first and second margins at right angles to one another with the second margin larger than the first margin. A balance weight groove in a rotor has outer and inner wall portions, with the outer wall portions spaced a distance less than the spacing between the inner wall portions. The balance weight has a central threaded opening receiving a screw and a driving slot in the upper face of the weight. An insertion tool is threaded to the balance weight to insert the balance weight through a turbomachinery access opening into the groove. The tool is rotated to locate the second margins below the outer wall portions of the groove. By inserting a driving tool through the insertion tool, the screw is rotated to lock the balance weight to the rotor and in the groove. Upon removal of the insertion and driving tools, a staking tool is inserted through turbine access opening to stake the balance weight and rotor and the screw and balance weight.

Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.

Abstract: A diaphragm has an annular groove formed of deep and shallow grooves with the deep groove opening into the shallow groove. A combination spill strip/brush seal is disposed in the groove. The brush seal comprises a pair of flexible bars secured to the proximal ends of the brush bristles by welding and is received in the shallow groove and a recess in an axial face of the spill strip. The spill strip has base portions extending into the deep groove. The combination spill strip/brush seal is secured in the annular groove by peening material of the diaphragm into the spill strip/brush seal combination. The brush seal may be used with different diameters of spill strips and diaphragm grooves.

Abstract: A diaphragm has an annular groove formed of deep and shallow grooves with the deep groove opening into the shallow groove. A combination spill strip/brush seal is disposed in the groove. The brush seal comprises a pair of flexible bars secured to the proximal ends of the brush bristles by welding and is received in the shallow groove and a recess in an axial face of the spill strip. The spill strip has base portions extending into the deep groove. The combination spill strip/brush seal is secured in the annular groove by peening material of the diaphragm into the spill strip/brush seal combination. The brush seal may be used with different diameters of spill strips and diaphragm grooves.

Abstract: A seal arrangement for a rotary machine, such as a turbine, includes a main seal segment such as a labyrinth seal segment, a brush seal segment disposed in a slot in the main seal segment and having a layer of bristles secured between upstream and downstream plates of the brush seal segment, and at least one passage radially formed through the main seal segment to communicate a balancing pressure from a pressure source located exteriorly of an outer periphery of the main seal segment to a cavity defined in the downstream plate of the brush seal segment at a downstream side of the layer of bristles of the brush seal segment.

Abstract: A balance weight has first and second margins at right angles to one another with the second margin larger than the first margin. A balance weight groove in a rotor has outer and inner wall portions, with the outer wall portions spaced a distance less than the spacing between the inner wall portions. The balance weight has a central threaded opening receiving a screw and a driving slot in the upper face of the weight. An insertion tool is threaded to the balance weight to insert the balance weight through a turbomachinery access opening into the groove. The tool is rotated to locate the second margins below the outer wall portions of the groove. By inserting a driving tool through the insertion tool, the screw is rotated to lock the balance weight to the rotor and in the groove. Upon removal of the insertion and driving tools, a staking tool is inserted through turbine access opening to stake the balance weight and rotor and the screw and balance weight.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the cleaning of solubly marked laminated sheets. A laminated sheet is fed over a cleaning surface along which are disposed a plurality of solvent-carrying wipers. The solvent-carrying wipers will wipe the markings from the sheet and the sheet feeder will then deposit the wiped sheet at the other end of the apparatus. Drying means could wipe excess solvent from the sheet following its passage over the wipers. The device will be of particular assistance in the gaming industry, where reusable gaming cards might be substituted for disposable paper cards currently employed for substantial economic savings.

Abstract: A balance weight has first and second margins at right angles to one another with the second margin larger than the first margin. A balance weight groove in a rotor has outer and inner wall portions, with the outer wall portions spaced a distance less than the spacing between the inner wall portions. The balance weight has a central threaded opening receiving a screw and a driving slot in the upper face of the weight. An insertion tool is threaded to the balance weight to insert the balance weight through a turbomachinery access opening into the groove. The tool is rotated to locate the second margins below the outer wall portions of the groove. By inserting a driving tool through the insertion tool, the screw is rotated to lock the balance weight to the rotor and in the groove. Upon removal of the insertion and driving tools, a staking tool is inserted through turbine access opening to stake the balance weight and rotor and the screw and balance weight.

Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.

Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.

Abstract: Brush seals are retrofitted into existing turbine labyrinth seal rings to create a fail-safe seal design at locations wherever labyrinth seals are currently used, including interstage shaft seals, rotor end seals, bucket (or blade) tip seals and spill strips. Brush seals, per se, when used in place of labyrinth seals, can result in considerable span reductions of steam turbines, or machines with more turbine stages for a given span. Application to end packings results in the potential elimination of gland sealing/exhauster systems. Brush seal life can be improved by retrofitting brush segments to labyrinth seal segments that are either spring-backed, or use pressure loads to obtain design clearances only after steady state operating conditions are achieved. The brush seals are provided with backing plates shaped like labyrinth teeth, resulting in a fail-safe design.

Abstract: A brush seal segment useful, when circumferentially arrayed with other such segments, to seal the gap between a rotor and a surrounding casing of a rotary machine such as a steam turbine. An annular backing plate has a rim radially-inwardly bounding together upstream-facing and downstream-facing surfaces. Canted bristles abut the upstream-facing surface. The rim is designed to allow the bristles to recover from a rotor rub. In one design, the rim acts as a labyrinth-seal tooth and is shaped to deform, under a radial force, longitudinally away from the upstream-facing surface. In another design, the rim has a more-inwardly projecting second portion near a radially-aligned edge, and only this second portion acts as a labyrinth-seal tooth.