Abstract: A supersonic compressor includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a fluid conduit extending therebetween, and a supersonic compressor rotor disposed within the fluid conduit. The rotor includes at least one rotor disk that includes a substantially cylindrical body extending between a radially inner and outer surface and a plurality of vanes coupled to the body that extend radially outward from the rotor disk and adjacent vanes form a pair of vanes. The rotor disk further includes a shroud extending about at least a portion of the rotor disk. The shroud is coupled to at least a portion of each of the plurality of vanes. The radially outer surface, the pair of adjacent vanes, and the shroud are oriented such that a fluid flow channel is defined therebetween. The rotor disk also includes a plurality of adjacent supersonic compression ramps positioned within the fluid flow channel.

Abstract: A supersonic compressor rotor that includes a rotor disk that includes a body that extends between a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. A plurality of vanes are coupled to the body. The vanes extend outwardly from the rotor disk. Adjacent vanes form a pair and are oriented such that a flow channel is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes. The flow channel extends between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. At least one supersonic compression ramp is positioned within the flow channel. The supersonic compression ramp is configured to condition a fluid being channeled through the flow channel such that the fluid includes a first velocity at the inlet opening and a second velocity at the outlet opening. Each of the first velocity and the second velocity being supersonic with respect to said rotor disk surfaces.

Abstract: A novel supersonic compressor is provided by the present invention. In one embodiment, the novel supersonic compressor comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and at least two counter rotary supersonic compressor rotors, said supersonic compressor rotors being configured in series such that an output from a first supersonic compressor rotor having a first direction of rotation is directed to a second supersonic compressor rotor configured to counter-rotate with respect to the first supersonic compressor rotor.

Abstract: A supersonic compressor rotor. The supersonic compressor rotor includes a rotor disk that includes an upstream surface, a downstream surface, and a radially outer surface that extends generally axially between the upstream surface and the downstream surface. The radially outer surface includes an inlet surface, an outlet surface, and a transition surface that extends between the inlet surface and the outlet surface. A plurality of vanes are coupled to the radially outer surface. Adjacent vanes form a pair and are oriented such that a flow channel is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes. The flow channel extends between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet surface defines an inlet plane that extends between the inlet opening and the transition surface. The outlet surface defines an outlet plane that extends between the outlet opening and the transition surface that is not parallel to the inlet plane.

Abstract: Methods and Apparatus to increase the efficiency of roll-forming and leveling systems are described herein. An example strip material processing apparatus are described herein includes a first drive system to drive a first plurality of workrolls and a second drive system to drive a second plurality of workrolls. A controller provides a first command reference to the first drive system. The controller measures a first output parameter of the first drive system when the first drive system operates at the first command reference. The controller determines a second command reference based on the first output parameter and the controller drives the second drive system based on the second command reference.

Abstract: A method for producing a mouth guard having an encapsulated sensor module. The method includes vacuum forming a first sheet of thermoplastic material using a mold to produce a first mouth guard layer, attaching a sensor module to the first mouth guard layer with a hot melt adhesive, vacuum forming a second sheet of thermoplastic material over the sensor module to produce a second mouth guard layer, storing a default threshold level in the sensor module, and calibrating the sensor module to account for sensor alignment. In an example embodiment, the first and second layers are formed such that they define an open area that allows a user's tongue to touch their upper palate after the mouth guard has been inserted and such that the layers define a channel for accepting a plurality of teeth, including the incisors of a user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a supersonic compressor comprising a supersonic compressor rotor comprising a clockable rotor disk allowing restriction or opening of portions of a fluid flow channel of the rotor in order to enhance performance of the rotor during different operational stages, for example rotor start-up or steady state. The supersonic compressor rotor comprises a first rotor disk, a second rotor disk and a third rotor disk which share a common axis of rotation. The first and second rotor disks are rotatably coupled, and the third rotor disk is disposed between them. The third rotor disk is independently rotatable relative to said first and second disks, and comprises a raised surface structure for restricting or opening a portion of the flow channel defined by the rotor disks and at least two vanes. The flow channel comprises a supersonic compression ramp and encompasses the raised surface structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel supersonic compressors comprising novel supersonic compressor rotors. The supersonic compressor rotors are designed to operate at very high rotational speed wherein the velocity of the gas entering the supersonic compressor rotor is greater than the local speed of sound in the gas, hence the descriptor “supersonic”. The new supersonic compressors comprise at least one supersonic compressor rotor defining an inner cylindrical cavity and an outer rotor rim and at least one radial flow channel allowing fluid communication between the inner cylindrical cavity and the outer rotor rim, said radial flow channel comprising a supersonic compression ramp. The novel supersonic compressor rotors are expected to enhance the performance of supersonic compressors comprising them, and to provide for greater design versatility in systems comprising such novel supersonic compressors.

Abstract: A novel supersonic compressor is provided by the present invention. In one embodiment, the novel supersonic compressor comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and at least two counter rotary supersonic compressor rotors, said supersonic compressor rotors being configured in series such that an output from a first supersonic compressor rotor having a first direction of rotation is directed to a second supersonic compressor rotor configured to counter-rotate with respect to the first supersonic compressor rotor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing an image of an object with a multi-slice imaging apparatus having a row of detectors are provided. The method includes generating a first partial image using projection data acquired at a first imaging position in a step-and-shoot imaging mode, generating a second partial image using projection data acquired at a second imaging position, and combining the partial images to form a final image.

Abstract: The invention provides a simulation process and method of utilizing it to time to better estimate when a component of a product is about to fail by tracking varying “environmental factors” related to the severity of conditions to which product is exposed over a period of time. The invention includes the steps of: (a) determining a distribution of mean times between failures or failure rate for each component of the product; (b) using statistical techniques to select a fail point for each component; (c) applying an aging factor for each component for conditions to which the product is subjected; and (d) calculating an estimated time for failure for a component using information comprising time periods the component was subjected to conditions, and aging factors relating to the conditions.