Abstract: A smokable rod for a smoking article, such as a cigarette, possesses a co-axial or concentric construction. A longitudinally extending inner core of tobacco cut filler is positioned within a smokable rod. The outer material that circumscribes the inner core in an annular fashion is composed of a tobacco material treated with a burn suppressing agent, and the outer material acts as a substrate for an aerosol forming material. In use, one end of the smokable rod is lit, and the tobacco cut filler of the inner core burns to yield tobacco smoke. The outer material smolders, and hence thermal decomposition products of the outer tobacco material and volatilized aerosol forming material are produced. When the opposite end of the smokable rod is drawn upon, an aerosol composed of tobacco smoke, thermal decomposition products of tobacco, and volatilized aerosol forming material, is provided.

Abstract: A cigarette is provided that includes a rod of smokable material circumscribed by an outer wrapping material and a filter element, which may include an adsorbent material such as activated carbon, attached to one end of the rod of smokable material. The smokable material includes at least about 5 percent by weight of a dark air-cured tobacco, based on the dry weight of the smokable material, blended with additional tobacco materials such as flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, Maryland tobacco, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A smoking article is provided including (a) a tobacco rod comprising a smokable filler material contained within a circumscribing outer wrapping material, wherein the smokable filler material comprises at least about 45% by weight flue-cured tobacco based on the total dry weight of the smokable filler material; (b) one or more inner wrapping strips positioned between the tobacco rod and the outer wrapping material and extending longitudinally along the tobacco rod and including a burley tobacco; and (c) a filter element connected to the tobacco rod, the filter element having an end proximal to the tobacco rod and an end distal from the tobacco rod, wherein the filter element includes at least one fibrous tow section of filter material, a general adsorbent, and an ion exchange resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for an adaptive machining and weld repair process useful for repairing airfoils, particularly damage to an airfoil leading edge and tip. The process first machines away damaged portions of the airfoil. Next, the actual profile of the airfoil subsequent to the removal of the damaged material is measured using a Coordinate Measuring Machine. The data is then used to generate a deformation profile. Filler material is then added to the machined area using the data of the deformation profile to produce an airfoil that approximates the ideal shape of a restored airfoil. At this point, the actual profile of the welded airfoil is measured using the Coordinate Measuring Machine. The data is then used to generate a deformation profile and the airfoil is machined using the date of the deformation profile to produce that shape. The adaptive technology minimizes the amount of stock on material that needs to be removed by hand.

Abstract: A dam is provided for localizing gas around an outer periphery of an impeller. In one embodiment, by way of example only, the dam includes a skirt, a flange, and a fastener. The skirt includes an inner section, an outer section, and an outer peripheral edge. The inner section is configured to be placed under the impeller, and the outer section extends radially outwardly of the impeller outer periphery to the skirt outer peripheral edge. The flange extends substantially perpendicular from the skirt outer section edge. The fastener is coupled to the skirt and configured to couple the dam to the impeller.

Abstract: An automated welding system is provided for welding a workpiece. The system includes a multiaxially movable arm, a fiber optic cable, a laser source, a focusing head, a focus lens, and a shield. The fiber optic cable is coupled to the arm. The laser source is coupled to the fiber optic cable and configured to supply laser light thereto. The focusing head includes a first end, a second end, and a passage extending therebetween. The shield has an inlet, an outlet and a cavity formed therebetween, and each of the inlet and the outlet has a diameter. The shield inlet is coupled to the focusing head and the shield inlet diameter is greater than the shield outlet diameter. The shield outlet diameter is sized to provide an opening through which the laser beam exits and prevents substantially all particles external to the focusing head passage from entering therein.

Abstract: A mask is provided for shielding a radially extending edge of an impeller vane during a weld repair process, where the impeller vane extends radially and axially outwardly from a shaft. The mask comprises a hub and a flange. The hub has an outer surface and an opening extending therethrough, and the opening is configured to allow the shaft to extend at least partially therethrough. The flange extends radially outwardly from the hub outer surface and is configured to shroud substantially all of the impeller vane radially extending edge.

Abstract: An improved substrate for use in smoking articles is produced by infusing aerosol forming material into tobacco. The infusion can take place in one or multiple steps. Preferably, about 10% to about 40% by weight of aerosol former, such as glycerin is infused into strip tobacco at elevated temperatures. The tobacco containing the aerosol former may then be dried, equilibrated to ambient conditions and/or blended with tobacco which does not have added aerosol former. Preferably the resulting material is again infused with an additional about 5% to about 15% by weight of aerosol former, at elevated temperatures. The new substrate material, and the method for making it, result in a substrate which has reduced migration of aerosol former and substantially improved manufacturing characteristics.