Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling turbine guide vane positions. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for controlling at least one turbine guide vane. The method includes receiving a reference signal associated with the at least one turbine guide vane, measuring an actuator position and an angular position associated with the at least one turbine guide vane, generating a deadband signal based at least in part on the angular position, and manipulating the at least one turbine guide vane based at least in part on the deadband signal and the reference signal.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling turbine guide vane positions. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for controlling at least one turbine guide vane. The method includes receiving a reference signal associated with the at least one turbine guide vane, measuring an actuator position and an angular position associated with the at least one turbine guide vane, generating a deadband signal based at least in part on the angular position, and manipulating the at least one turbine guide vane based at least in part on the deadband signal and the reference signal.

Abstract: A turbine or compressor blade assembly includes a blade fixed to a dovetail section attachable to a wheel. The dovetail section has a dovetail shaped to fit in a correspondingly shaped slot in the wheel. A dovetail platform serves as an interface between the blade and the dovetail. An undercut fillet radius is formed at an intersection of the dovetail platform and a dovetail pressure surface, where the undercut radius has a multi-part profile shape configured to attenuate edge of contact stresses. An additional feature is the area where the undercut radius transitions into the P-cut area at the forward end (leading edge) of the dovetail.

Abstract: A turbine or compressor blade assembly includes a blade fixed to a dovetail section attachable to a wheel. The dovetail section has a dovetail shaped to fit in a correspondingly shaped slot in the wheel. A dovetail platform serves as an interface between the blade and the dovetail. An undercut fillet radius is formed at an intersection of the dovetail platform and a dovetail pressure surface, where the undercut radius has a multi-part profile shape configured to attenuate edge of contact stresses. An additional feature is the area where the undercut radius transitions into the P-cut area at the forward end (leading edge) of the dovetail.

Abstract: The attachment for securing the stator vanes to the outer compressor case includes hooks strategically located with one set in the center of a segment and one set each at either end of each segment. The segments are assembled end to end to form a ring of an array of rows of airfoils for directing air to the compressor blades of a gas turbine engine. Each assembled segment may include three rows of vanes. The axial gap between the structure of the upstream stage of the compressor, the axial and circumferential gap of radially extending pins attached to the "floating" lug-nuts assembled in each pair of hooks and the tight fit of the pins in the center pair of hooks allow for axial and circumferential thermal expansion and the bolted lug-nuts and outer case provide radial restraint, all of which combine to reduce stresses on the airfoil during engine transient conditions.

Abstract: A "dog bone" in cross section shaped seal mounted in adjacent grooves of segmented stator vanes span the axial extent covering a single casted three rows of vanes. The outer diameter shroud of the stator vane defines a portion of an enclosed cavity subjected to leakage flow in and out of the gas path where the flow reverses at some axial extent of the seal such that the forces acting at different locations on the seal reverses. In a preferred embodiment, the bulbous ends of the "dog bone" are solid coated metallic material.

Abstract: A protector for a feed tube of a food processor comprises a feed tube protector hingedly mounted to a bowl cover by means of elongated hinge members such that the feed tube protector can be pivotally moved between a closed position over the feed tube and an opened position retracted from the feed tube. The elongated hinge members can be squeezed and deformed toward one another to permit hinge pins on their outer surfaces to be inserted into hinge brackets on the bowl cover for removably mounting the protector. A finger is formed on the forward extremity of each of the elongated hinge members and a corresponding aperture is formed into the upper surface of the bowl cover for receiving the fingers when the protector is in the closed position to prevent removal of the feed tube protector from an operating food processor.