Abstract: A filter rod for a cigarette or other smoking article comprising a filter plug having a plurality of threads extending through at least part of the filter plug, and an apparatus and method for manufacturing such a filter rod.

Abstract: A system for adaptively machining a shroud of a blade used in a turbomachine is provided. The system may include a computer system including a module(s) configured to: extract geometric location data from a 3D model of the shroud after use in the turbomachine, the 3D model created by digitizing using a digitizing device. The geometric location data includes geometric location data of a hard face plane of the shroud exposed to wear during turbomachine operation and of a non-worn surface adjacent to the hard face plane substantially unexposed to wear during turbomachine operation. Comparing the geometric location data of the non-worn surface from the three-dimensional model to a manufacturing model of the blade determines a change in position of the non-worn surface from use of the blade in the turbomachine. The change in position is used to modify a machining instruction used by a machining device to repair the hard face plane.

Abstract: A filter rod for a cigarette or other smoking article comprising a filter plug having a a plurality of threads extending though at least part of the filter plug, and an apparatus and method for manufacturing such a filter rod.

Abstract: A Method for modifying a plurality of cooling holes of a turbine component includes disposing a recess-shaped modification in a recess of the component comprising a plurality of cooling hole outlets, wherein the recess-shaped modification is formed to substantially fill the recess and comprising a plurality of modified cooling holes passing there through. The method further includes aligning the plurality of modified cooling holes of the recess-shaped modification with the plurality of cooling hole outlets of the component, inserting at least one alignment pin into at least one of aligned pair of holes and hole outlets, bonding the recess-shaped modification disposed in the recess to the component, and removing the at least one alignment pin after bonding, wherein the plurality of modified cooling holes of the recess-shaped modification is fluidly connected with the plurality of cooling holes of the component.

Abstract: A turbomachine bucket may include an airfoil, a shank coupled to the airfoil, and an angel wing coupled to the shank, the angel wing having an axially extending tip sized to seal with a plurality of discouragers, each discourager having a different axial extent. Various methods for modifying an angel wing to accommodate different sized discouragers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for adaptively machining a shroud of a blade used in a turbomachine is provided. The system may include a computer system including a module(s) configured to: extract geometric location data from a 3D model of the shroud after use in the turbomachine, the 3D model created by digitizing using a digitizing device. The geometric location data includes geometric location data of a hard face plane of the shroud exposed to wear during turbomachine operation and of a non-worn surface adjacent to the hard face plane substantially unexposed to wear during turbomachine operation. Comparing the geometric location data of the non-worn surface from the three-dimensional model to a manufacturing model of the blade determines a change in position of the non-worn surface from use of the blade in the turbomachine. The change in position is used to modify a machining instruction used by a machining device to repair the hard face plane.

Abstract: Braze methods include providing a substrate comprising a pre-sintered preform disposed thereon, wherein the pre-sintered preform comprises a mixture comprising a base alloy comprising about 30 weight percent to about 90 weight percent of the mixture and a second alloy comprising a sufficient amount of melting point depressant to have a lower melting temperature than the base alloy. Braze methods further include at least partially covering the pre-sintered preform with a heat resistant material, wherein a melt temperature of the heat resistant material is higher than a melt temperature of the pre-sintered preform, and heating the pre-sintered preform on the substrate.

Abstract: A filter rod for a cigarette or other smoking article comprising a filter plug having a plurality of threads extending though at least part of the filter plug, and an apparatus and method for manufacturing such a filter rod.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the measurement and dimensional analysis of an object and, more particularly, to the correction of distortion in volumetric data of the object using dimensional data of the object. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of analyzing an object, the method comprising: acquiring volumetric data of an object using an X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging system; acquiring dimensional data of the object using a vision-based system; determining whether the volumetric data include a distortion; and in the case that the volumetric data are determined to include a distortion, correcting the distortion in the volumetric data using the dimensional data.

Abstract: Braze methods for turbine buckets include providing the turbine bucket comprising a modification surface, wherein the modification surface comprises a non-z-notch contact surface, disposing a pre-sintered preform on the modification surface and, heating the pre-sintered preform on the modification surface to bond the pre-sintered preform to the turbine bucket at the modification surface.

Abstract: Braze methods include providing a substrate comprising a pre-sintered preform disposed thereon, wherein the pre-sintered preform comprises a mixture comprising a base alloy comprising about 30 weight percent to about 90 weight percent of the mixture and a second alloy comprising a sufficient amount of melting point depressant to have a lower melting temperature than the base alloy. Braze methods further include at least partially covering the pre-sintered preform with a heat resistant material, wherein a melt temperature of the heat resistant material is higher than a melt temperature of the pre-sintered preform, and heating the pre-sintered preform on the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the measurement and dimensional analysis of an object and, more particularly, to the correction of distortion in volumetric data of the object using dimensional data of the object. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of analyzing an object, the method comprising: acquiring volumetric data of an object using an X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging system; acquiring dimensional data of the object using a vision-based system; determining whether the volumetric data include a distortion; and in the case that the volumetric data are determined to include a distortion, correcting the distortion in the volumetric data using the dimensional data.

Abstract: A repair method is provided and includes deriving, from a model of a component, drilling vectors respectively associated with fluid flow passages of the component, obtaining location data of each of the fluid flow passages at least partially from a source other than the model and relying upon the derived drilling vectors and the obtained location data of each of the fluid flow passages to position a tool configured to modify each of the fluid flow passages.

Abstract: A filter rod for a cigarette or other smoking article comprising a filter plug having a plurality of threads extending through at least part of the filter plug, and an apparatus and method for manufacturing such a filter rod.

Abstract: A turbomachine bucket may include an airfoil, a shank coupled to the airfoil, and an angel wing coupled to the shank, the angel wing having an axially extending tip sized to seal with a plurality of discouragers, each discourager having a different axial extent. Various methods for modifying an angel wing to accommodate different sized discouragers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for modifying a plurality of cooling holes of a component include disposing a recess-shaped modification in a recess of the component comprising a plurality of cooling hole outlets, wherein the recess-shaped modification is formed to substantially fill the recess and comprising a plurality of modified cooling holes passing there through. The method further includes aligning the plurality of modified cooling holes of the recess-shaped modification with the plurality of cooling hole outlets of the component, and, bonding the recess-shaped modification disposed in the recess to the component, wherein the plurality of modified cooling holes of the recess-shaped modification is fluidly connected with the plurality of cooling holes of the component.

Abstract: Recoating process and recoated turbine blade are disclosed. The recoating process includes providing a coated turbine blade, then removing a portion of the thermal barrier coating system to form a partially-stripped turbine blade, then applying a bond recoat to the stripped region of the partially-stripped turbine blade; and then applying a thermal barrier recoat to the bond recoat to form a recoated turbine blade. The recoated turbine blade comprises the bond coating portion abutting the bond recoat, the thermal barrier coating portion abutting the thermal barrier recoat, and the stepped configuration. The coated turbine blade has a thermal barrier coating system positioned on a substrate. The partially-stripped turbine blade has a stripped region, a bond coating portion, a thermal barrier coating portion, and a stepped configuration.

Abstract: A filter element having a longitudinally extending core and a wrapper (8) engaged around the core, wherein the core comprise filtration material (6) and optionally a particulate material (7) interspersed in the filtration material, and the wrapper (8) comprises a particulate material (9) adhered to two or more portions of said wrapper (8) wherein at least one of said two or more portions extends over the full longitudinal length of said wrapper. Also taught herein is a smoking article comprising said filter element and/or filter comprising said filter element.

Abstract: A guide nozzle (112) for use with an apparatus (110) for the manufacture of filter rods for smoking articles. The guide nozzle comprises a support member (130) configured to be fixed relative to said apparatus for the manufacture of filter rods, a funnel (120) through which loose filter material is propelled, mounted to the support member and, an adjuster (140) mounted between the support member and the funnel to enable the relative position of the funnel and the support member to be adjusted to control the direction of flow of loose filter material propelled through the funnel. An apparatus for the manufacture of filter rods for smoking articles having such a guide nozzle, and a method of manufacturing a filter rod using the same.

Abstract: This invention relates to a material application system for applying material to a wrapper. The material application system comprises a material applicator means and an electronic application control means. Also provided is a rod making machine comprising a rod making section and the material application system. The invention also provides a method of applying material to a wrapper used in the tobacco industry comprising supplying a wrapper and applying a material to the wrapper using a material applicator and an electronic applicator control means therefore, which electronic applicator control means ensures accurate location of material application in an electronically adjustable variable manner.