Abstract: A medical instrument includes a housing, an RF generation circuit activation button coupled to an activation button lever supported by the housing. The activation button lever includes a top surface, the activation button lever rotatable about an activation button pivot point. A cutting blade is operably coupled to a sheath. A control lever is supported by the housing and pivotally coupled to a trigger lever including a projection to engage the top surface of the activation button lever and to control the actuation of the cutting blade by actuating the sheath in a distal direction by rotatably moving the control lever proximally about a trigger pivot point. The top surface of the activation button lever and the projection of the trigger lever remain engaged to prevent actuation of the cutting blade until the activation button is fully rotatably moved proximally about the activation button pivot.

Abstract: A gas turbine ring segment (10) for use in gas turbine engines made from a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material is disclosed. The ring segment includes a stacked multiplicity of CMC thin-sheet lamellae (25a, 25b) each comprising a peripheral surface collectively defining a cross-section profile of the ring segment. The lamellae collectively define a channel (11) formed in the center thereof for receiving a bow-tie member (27). The bow-tie member is disposed in the channel for holding together the stacked lamellae in a through thickness direction, and the in-plane strength of the bow-tie member is perpendicular to the in-plane strength of the lamellae. A stem portion (33) of the assembly may be further secured with a wrap (38) of CMC ribbon.

Abstract: A method of bonding an insulation layer (26) to a CMC layer (22) by applying a compliant joining layer (24) between them in a series of steps (52-70) effective to bond the layers (22, 24, 26) with reduced differential shrinkage stresses during firing and reduced residual stresses. The CMC layer (22) and the compliant layer (24) may each be fired to an intermediate stage prior to applying the next layer (24 and 26 respectively), such that the compliant layer (24) has a remaining amount of curing shrinkage between that of the CMC layer (22) and the insulating layer (26) during a final firing stage. The insulation layer (26) may be a friable graded insulation (26F) cast as a composite of hollow ceramic spheres (26S) in a ceramic matrix (26M). The compliant layer (24) may form a checkerboard of cracks (72) oriented generally perpendicular to the layer surface that function to relax stress.

Abstract: A gas turbine ring segment (10) for use in gas turbine engines made from a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material is disclosed. The ring segment includes a stacked multiplicity of CMC thin-sheet lamellae (25a, 25b) each comprising a peripheral surface collectively defining a cross-section profile of the ring segment. The lamellae collectively define a channel (11) formed in the center thereof for receiving a bow-tie member (27). The bow-tie member is disposed in the channel for holding together the stacked lamellae in a through thickness direction, and the in-plane strength of the bow-tie member is perpendicular to the in-plane strength of the lamellae. A stem portion (33) of the assembly may be further secured with a wrap (38) of CMC ribbon.

Abstract: A method of bonding an insulation layer (26) to a CMC layer (22) by applying a compliant joining layer (24) between them in a series of steps (52-70) effective to bond the layers (22, 24, 26) with reduced differential shrinkage stresses during firing and reduced residual stresses. The CMC layer (22) and the compliant layer (24) may each be fired to an intermediate stage prior to applying the next layer (24 and 26 respectively), such that the compliant layer (24) has a remaining amount of curing shrinkage between that of the CMC layer (22) and the insulating layer (26) during a final firing stage. The insulation layer (26) may be a friable graded insulation (26F) cast as a composite of hollow ceramic spheres (26S) in a ceramic matrix (26M). The compliant layer (24) may form a checkerboard of cracks (72) oriented generally perpendicular to the layer surface that function to relax stress.

Abstract: A sink assembly of a type including an enclosing cabinet (14) for supporting a sink bowl (16) from a floor (24) includes a liquid-impervious cabinet liner (22) supported by the cabinet (14) within an enclosed space (32) below the sink bowl (16) and its drain pipe (20) for catching water dripping from leaks and condensations. The sink liner (22) communicates with a second drain pipe (52) which exhausts water from the sink liner (22). The sink liner (22) is constructed so that its drain pan (42) is raised above a cabinet floor (40), with the drain pan (42) having tapered surfaces for accelerating flow toward the second drain pipe (52).