Abstract: An optical-electronic package for an electronic device provides electrical connections to the electronic device and optical fiber connections to the electronic device. The package includes a high thermal conductivity base which has a pedestal to support and provide heat transfer connection to the electronic device. A seal band is formed on the base and a casing is bonded to the seal band. The casing has side feedthroughs for the electrical connections from the electronic device, and the casing has top feedthroughs or grooves for the optical fiber connections from the electronic device. A lid is hermetically sealed to the top of the casing. The lid has retractable means for forming a bend in the optical fibers to provide strain relief when the lid is placed on the casing. The retractable means for forming a bend in the optical fibers is retractable once the lid is sealed on the casing.

Abstract: A duplex focusing device is installed a duplex light transceiver module for transmitting light signals. The duplex focusing device comprises a ball lens assembly and a body. The ball lens assembly has a first lens and a second lens both being symmetrical half ball matching to each other. A layer of wavelength-division medium is placed between the first and second lens to ensure that light transmitted from a laser diode will transmit through the ball lens assembly. Thereby, the light transmitting into the ball lens assembly will have a part being reflected by the second lens. The body serves for receiving and fixing the ball lens. The body is formed to cause that both orientations of the first lens and the second lens are adjustable with respect to the body.

Abstract: Techniques are described for reducing splice loss by using an ultra-short bridge fiber to splice together a first fiber and a second fiber having different modefield diameters. The ultra-short bridge fiber has an intermediate modefield diameter between the modefield diameters of the first and second fibers. In one described technique, a first end of the ultra-short bridge fiber is spliced to a lead end of the first fiber at a first splice point. The bridge fiber is then cleaved at a predetermined distance away from the first splice point. A lead end of the second fiber is then spliced to cleaved end of the bridge fiber at a second splice point. A single protective splint is then installed that covers the bridge fiber and the first and second splice points. Further described is an optical fiber transmission line including an ultra-short bridge fiber.

Abstract: An automated fusion system includes a draw assembly for holding optical fibers and for applying a tension to the fibers. The fibers are held substantially parallel to each other in the draw assembly. The system also includes a removal station that etches or strips buffer material from the fibers after the fibers have been placed in the draw assembly, and a heater or torch assembly for heating the fibers as the draw assembly applies a tension to the fibers in a manner that causes the fibers to fuse together to form a coupler region. In addition, a packaging station is used to secure a substrate to the coupler region of the fibers to form the optical coupler.

Abstract: A compact disc transporter has been described that includes a two-step printer. The printer uses an intermediate transfer sheet to receive a print image that is subsequently transferred to a compact disc. The transporter allows parallel processing of image data and content data. A significant time reduction can be achieved by preprinting the image to a transfer sheet prior to transferring the image to a CD.

Abstract: A unitary ink sheet cartridge body has a pair of side plates, a partitioning plate, and a cover segment together defining a frame shape with an central open space. The partitioning plate has at least two recesses in an edge facing away from the open center. An ink sheet set is mounted in the ink sheet cartridge body.

Abstract: A carriage scanning period required for moving from completion position of printing of the preceding line to start position of printing of the next line is compared to a printing medium feeding period required for feeding a printing medium in a predetermined amount after printing in the preceding line. The carriage is temporarily decelerated and stopped after printing of the preceding line and maintained the carriage in stand-by state for a predetermined period so that scanning of carriage to the start position of printing of the next line after printing of the preceding line and feeding the printing medium for a predetermined amount are simultaneously completed when the carriage scanning period is less than the printing medium feeding period. The carriage is accelerated to reach the start position of printing of the next line at a predetermined speed. Thus, respective printing pattern can be printed at the minimum printing period.

Abstract: A refreshable display unit with a housing, a plurality of refreshable cells housed in the housing, the cells having a guide block with at least six holes, six motors each with a coupler which may be rotated by the motor, a pin fastened to each coupler and extending into engagement with one of the holes of the guide block, and a stop mounted on each coupler for engaging stop elements mounted on the housing for limiting the rotation of the coupler, the placement of the stop elements on the housing being such that it controls the height extension of the pin fastened to the coupler with respect to the guide block, the unit further having a connector for connecting the display unit to the electronic means of a computer. A unit may have a plurality of keys for inputting a character, including at least two sets of keys, a first set being used when the keyboard is oriented in a first direction and a second set being used when the keyboard is oriented in a second direction.

Abstract: An ergonomic keyboard. The keyboard includes a main body and first, second and third key groups disposed thereon. The third key group is arranged between the first key group and the second key group. The top surfaces of the keys of the first key group and the second key group are inclined to the third key group by a first angle, such that the keyboard can be more ergonomically sound.

Abstract: The present invention conducts printing by controlling the jobs previously input to the printer. The job for conducting printing by unifying a plurality of jobs reads the respective jobs previously input to the storage device and conducts printing on printing paper thereby. Further, the job for designating bookbinding processing such as binding printed matter with a staple performs bookbinding processing designated to printed matter to be output. Accordingly, after inputting individual jobs prepared with a variety of application software to the printer, the user may conduct printing by controlling such jobs.

Abstract: A transaction-based printer has a sheet drive for forwarding a sheet through a printing station to a cutting station where the sheet is severed from a spool by a rotary cutter. A kicker element is mounted in the cutting station. Movement of the kicker element is coordinated through the cutter drive with that of the rotary cutter so that the severed sheet is kicked into a bin located in the top cover of the printer. The printer can be, for example, an ink-jet, dot matrix, dye sublimation or thermal printer used to print tickets, vouchers, coupons or the like.

Abstract: In a cosmetic unit comprising two different cosmetic products and two different applicators, provision is made, with a view to cost-saving manufacture based on a minimum of components and simplicity of assembly, for a central sleeve; a threaded plug which is fixable in the central sleeve; a threaded spindle which reaches through a hole, with a female thread, of the threaded plug and on the outer end of which is provided a cup that houses a cartridge, the cup being mounted, via axial projections, non-rotatably, but axially displaceably in a protective guide section; an insert which is plugged into the central sleeve in the vicinity of the threaded spindle and which includes the protective guide section that is formed outside the central sleeve; an applicator handle which adjoins the inside end of the threaded spindle; and a helical spring which extends between the threaded plug and the inner front end of the applicator handle, forcing the applicator outwards against a cosmetic compound contained in the screw c

Abstract: A coating head assembly incorporating a replaceable breakaway link. The breakaway link connects two portions of the coating head assembly and has a sharp bend defining a weakened portion. In the event of a collision, the breakaway link will break to reduce the likelihood of breakage of any other part of the coating head assembly. Repair then only requires that the link be replaced, rather than the coating head assembly to be rebuilt. This invention reduces the coating head repair time from a fifteen-hour job of rebuilding the coating head assembly to a three-hour job of tooling a new link.

Abstract: An inner-lock foldable joint has two base plates. One side of each base plate is articulated with the other base plate by way of a hinge. When a user rotates a lever to lock the two base plates, a braking mechanism drives a latching block to move forward, and two flanges of the latching block are inserted into a groove within a depression on one or both of the base plates.

Abstract: Tubular body, especially for the joint eye of a piston-cylinder unit, where the tubular body is formed from a flat sheet-metal blank having at least two stamped sleeve parts connected to each other by a connecting web. In the final fabrication state, the sleeve parts are axially aligned, one next to each other, with their end surfaces facing each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a joining system (1) for fixedly joining at least two elements (2, 3), in particular girders, comprising at least one first element (2) which is adjacent at one of its ends to the other element (3) on a contact surface (14) and is attached to this element with a joining means (11) and at least one connecting part (7), in particular a shear connector made of a high-strength material, preferably metal, which is connected to one of the elements (2), in particular by being integrated into it. To permit an improved possibility for fastening the two elements, it is provided according to this invention that the connecting part (7), in particular the shear connector, is provided with a continuous recess (9), in particular with a borehole, and the joining means (11) extends through the recess (9), whereby the element (2) receiving the connecting part (7) is designed as a wooden component.

Abstract: A pavement system utilizing a plurality of individual pavement segments. The elevation of the individual pavement segments can be adjusted by pumping a flowable material below the pavement segments through preformed ports in the pavement segments.

Abstract: A left-turn driving support system for supporting a driver of a vehicle waiting to make a left turn at an intersection where vehicles travel on the right side of a road. The system includes a light-reflecting material which reflects light from blinking signals of a turn signal of a second oncoming vehicle following a forefront oncoming vehicle, which are about to enter the intersection. The light-reflecting material is installed continuously along the centerline of the road and is sufficient long to detect a left-turn signal of the second oncoming vehicle.

Abstract: A concrete float adjusting device is disclosed which enables a user to adjust the angle of a float coupled to the adjusting device so that the float does not gouge into the unset surface of freshly poured concrete. The adjusting device includes a base coupled to the float, and a shaft rotatable in a pivot bearing pivotally coupled to the base. The shaft is formed with a pair of spiral slots which define a path of travel for a pair of upper pivot shafts projecting into the slots and guiding a protective sleeve and an integral follower sleeve together for sliding movement on the shaft. A pair of shiftable link arms extend between the upper pivot shafts and a pair of lower pivot shafts pivotally coupling the base to the link arms. Rotation of the shaft causes linear sliding movement of the protective sleeve and follower sleeve along the shaft. This motion is transmitted by the shifting link arms to the base so as to change the angle of the float relative to the shaft.

Abstract: A controller is for a vehicle wetting system including a fluid supply and a delivery line having an inlet connected with the supply and an outlet located to direct fluid onto a compacting drum. The controller includes a regulator configured to adjust a fluid flow rate through the outlet. A speed sensor connected with the vehicle senses vehicle speed. Further, a logic circuit connected with the sensor and the regulator automatically operates the regulator such that the regulator adjusts the flow rate to be generally proportional to the vehicle speed. Alternatively, the logic circuit permits flow through the outlet for a predetermined drum displacement and alternately interrupts flow for a predetermined period of time. The regulator is either a shunt line and a valve adjusting flow through the shunt line to adjust flow through the outlet or a pump regulator controlling flow from a pump in the delivery line.

Abstract: A system for building up land in a water-covered or water-surrounded area has a plurality of floating boom segments connected end-to-end in an essentially closed shape, each boom segment having a sieve panel with a height approximately equal to the depth of the water in the water-covered area and made from water-permeable, fine-meshed material, and each sieve panel having an anchor segment attached to the lower portion of the sieve panel. The system also includes a sediment source depositing sediment inside the area essentially enclosed by the essentially closed shape formed by the boom segments. Preferably a wasteweir segment is disposed so as to close the essentially closed shape formed by the floating boom segments, the wasteweir segment having an essentially U-shaped orthogonal frame of a height at least about equal to the depth of the water in the water-covered area. The wasteweir segment also includes barriers that attach to the frame.

Abstract: An assembly for introducing a pipe liner into a sewer pipe includes a launcher defining a passageway through which a resin impregnated pipe liner and bladder tube assembly passes. An inflatable member mounted to the launcher assembly is actuatable between an inflatable condition and a deflated condition. The pipe liner and bladder tube are secured in place by expanding the inflatable member outward against the inner surface of the sewer pipe. Air pressure drives the bladder tube and pipe liner into the sewer pipe and the bladder tube remains in place until the pipe liner hardens.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wall that is easy to construct and is able to utilize the long-term design strength of a geosynthetic reinforcement connection or anchor. In accordance with one or more of the embodiments, the wall comprises a multifaceted rotatable locking bar in contact with one end of a geosynthetic reinforcement; a lower block with an edgeless surface section adjacent a receiving channel which accepts the locking bar and geosynthetic reinforcement; and, an upper block with a receiving channel which also accepts the locking bar and geosynthetic reinforcement. A force applied to an opposite end of the geosynthetic reinforcement is transferred, via the geosynthetic reinforcement, to the locking bar causing the bar to rotate and engage the geosynthetic reinforcement with at least one side of a receiving channel. In this manner, the reinforcement is engaged with the stacked blocks and the stacked blocks are united with the adjacent support or backfill.

Abstract: In a method of dynamic transporting of with a flow of object a carrying medium, action are applied to the carrying medium which are created in an action element during a process of conversion of an energy supplied to it, so that the flow of a carrying medium created thereby acts on the object for preforming a process of it transporting in a given direction, and a modulation of a value of the action is performed in the action element so that the flow of the carrying medium which is dynamically created moves with a given dynamic periodically changing sign-alternating acceleration during the process of transporting of the object.

Abstract: Vacuum pneumatic conveying apparatus and method are described to provide for a simple, economical, convenient (and preferably automatic) system for conveying ice on an as-required basis from a source such as an ice maker to one or more receptors at locations remote from that source. The system can be configured such that dispensing locations can be added or eliminated from the system or temporarily taken “off line” from the system without the need to change the basic system configuration or the central ice providing apparatus. The apparatus in various embodiments includes an ice source, a conveying conduit from the source to the receptor, a vacuum pump for moving the ice through the conduit by vacuum, and the receptor to collect the conveyed ice. The receptor may be an ice/beverage dispenser, an accumulator for retention and discharge to further devices, an intermediate storage dispenser, or an air lock device from where the ice can be projected over significant distances.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for in-situ milling includes a support and a pair of spaced apart rails attached to the support. The support and rails are mounted between a pair of opposed mill housing wear plate surfaces. A milling assembly is reversibly mounted on the rails in either of a first orientation and a second orientation. In the first orientation, the milling assembly mills one of the wear plate surfaces. The milling assembly is reverse mounted on the rails to the second orientation for milling the other of the wear plate surfaces. This permits the support and the rails to remain in one position between the wear plate surfaces requiring only the milling assembly to be moved to accomplish milling of each of the wear plate surfaces.

Abstract: A slidably retainable fastener assembly for securing loads to a track is provided with a retainer adapted to fit at least partly within a track slot and a member operating on the retainer, the member being positionable in at least a first position and a second position. When the member is positioned in the first position, the member causes the retainer to disengage the track slot thereby allowing the fastener to be movable within the track slot, and when the member is positioned in the second position, the member causes the retainer to engage the track slot thereby causing the fastener to remain stationary within the track slot.

Abstract: A bed rail (10) for attaching to a sidewall (12) of a motor vehicle (14), comprising a pair of elongate members (60) held in spaced-apart relation by a leading end cap (16, 30) and a trailing end cap (18, 30), the elongate members defining a space therebetween and an ornamental indicia-bearing panel (20) disposed in the space, for mounting with fasteners to a cap of a sidewall of the motor vehicle. In one aspect, the bed rail assembles by recesses in the elongate members (60) receiving tongues (42, 44) on the end caps (30). A channel (62) in the elongate members hold the edges of the panel. In another aspect, an integral bed rail (90) defines a longitudinal slot (102) through which the panel (20) passes into the space. A method of attaching a bed rail to a sidewall of a motor vehicle is disclosed.

Abstract: A cargo retainer device and method adapted for mounting within a cargo container having an end wall, an opposite parallel pivoted end wall defining a container length therebetween, two opposite parallel side walls defining a container width therebetween, and a floor. The cargo retainer device is adapted to be interposed between cargo in the container and either the end wall, sidewall, or the floor to inhibit movement of the cargo during transit. The cargo container includes a first extension member, a second extension member perpendicularly oriented to the first extension member, and screw threads to facilitate an increase in the first and second extension member lengths to contact against the respective container walls and floor. A lockable element secures the screw threads on the first extension member to restrict theft of the cargo retainer device from the container and addition of a cargo divider assembly can further prevent cargo movement.

Abstract: An air return bulkhead is disclosed which may be adapted to fit on differently-sized trailer walls around differently-sized trailer refrigeration units. The bulkhead includes an upper support panel with ridges or other discontinuities thereon. The discontinuities bound areas sized to accommodate standard refrigeration units, and a cutting tool may be easily guided along these discontinuities to form a space wherein the refrigerator may be fit when the bulkhead is mounted to the trailer wall. Also disclosed is a bulkhead which includes flutes and columns thereon wherein the ends of the flutes and columns may be removed by use of a cutting tool to allow the bulkhead installer to tailor the airflow into the refrigerator inlet as desired.

Abstract: A dowel bolt is formed of a bolt (1) and has at the trailing end an outer thread (2) and on the leading end an expansion head (3) expanding in the setting direction (S) and an expansion sleeve (4) that can be expanded by the expansion head (3). At the trailing end face (15) directed away from the setting direction of the bolt, the bolt has at least one peripheral recess (16) with a depth (t1) providing a setting control and that can be economically manufactured.

Abstract: A device for assembling two panels and formed by a male part (1) and a female part (2), designed to be inserted into bores provided in these panels, the female part being constituted by an elastically deformable clip (2) provided with a cap (20). The cap (2) is itself elastically deformable, so as to prevent any play between the panels.

Abstract: A weld nut has weld projections on both sides. The projections concentrate heat and melt when in contact with a component part, to form a lasting weld of the nut to the component part. Because there are weld projections on both sides of the nut, there is no risk that the nut will be placed against the component part upside down.

Abstract: A torque prevailing stud having a male component made of a shank with an outer wall that is threaded, a gripping component formed on the shank, and a wedge ramp rolled in a portion of the threaded outer wall. A female component having a body with a threaded bore that is used for engaging the male component. The threaded bore of the female component matingly engages a portion of the threaded outer wall and the wedge ramp when screwed thereon. The wedge ramp forces the threaded bore to conform to the shape of the wedge ramp thereby securing the male and female components together in a torque prevailing fit.

Abstract: A decorative fastener assembly including a nut insert and a decorative cap. The cap includes a flatted portion sleeved over a flatted portion of the nut insert and further includes a flange portion proximate its open lower end. An O-ring seal is compressed between the flange of the cap and the circular enlargement of the nut insert to preclude the entry of moisture between the cap and the nut insert. A top end wall portion of the cap is welded to an annular weld projection on the top end of the nut insert in surrounding relation to the central bore of the nut insert. As the weld projection is melted to perform the welding operation, the cap moves further downwardly on the nut insert to further compress the O-ring seal between the cap flange and the circular enlargement of the nut insert. The cap flange portion proximate its open lower end is then crimped over a circular enlargement of the nut insert.

Abstract: A power bridge rollout service system for removing and installing a power bridge, the power bridge having a housing with an external bus assembly. The power bridge rollout service system includes a roller assembly, an enclosure assembly, and a dolly assembly. The roller assembly is structured to support the power bridge and has a plurality of wheels. The enclosure assembly has a frame assembly structured to support the power bridge and has two wheel tracks. The dolly assembly has a frame assembly, a vertical lifting device, and a plurality of wheels. The vertical lifting device and wheels are coupled to the dolly frame assembly. The vertical lifting device acts upon a work platform such as a skid table assembly. The skid table assembly has a generally flat lifting plate. The skid table assembly may be raised so that the lifting plate is at the same general height as the frame assembly wheel tracks.

Abstract: An apparatus usable primarily with emergency vehicles wherein a ladder or other large piece of emergency equipment can be maintained in a horizontal orientation stored above the vehicle body and is movable to a lower access position to facilitate removal and replacement thereof. Power is provided by two hydraulic cylinders connected to an arm which drives a driveshaft connected to a lift arm. Once such support assembly is located in the forward portion of the vehicle body and another similar support assembly is located in the rear portion thereof. A longitudinal support extends between the lifting arms and includes a locking device thereon to facilitate securement of ladders or other longitudinal objects thereto. Positioning of the support assemblies at opposite ends of the vehicle body enhances access to the storage compartments located on the lateral sides of the vehicular body such as for fire trucks and the like.

Abstract: A platen packer assembly mounted in a refuse collection truck is disclosed. The refuse collection truck has a semi-cylindrical hopper, with a vertical axis and a horizontal radius, constructed to receive collected refuse and an enclosed body in communication with the hopper for receiving refuse from the hopper. The packer assembly includes a vertical mounting shaft extending within the hopper coaxial with the vertical axis of the hopper. A wedge-shaped platen has an end affixed to the shaft for rotation about the vertical axis and a refuse contacting major surface extending horizontally from the end slightly less than the radius of the hopper and slanted upwardly at an angle to the horizontal to provide an upward packing force component. The packer assembly is removably mounted through a removable portion of the floor for installation, repair, or replacement.

Abstract: A modular motorcycle stowing device for transporting a motorcycle in the bed of a pickup truck includes a collapsible base which is designed to fit on the floor of a pickup truck bed and a collapsible upper ramp which is hingedly connected to the base and provides a guiding channel for receiving the front and rear tires of the motorcycle to be stowed in the device. In order to span the elevation between the ground and the pickup truck bed, a detachable loading ramp is provided and arranged for a sliding interfit into the upper ramp. Connected to the loading ramp is a footboard for supporting an assisting individual. Connected to the upper ramp is a winch which is used to assist in pulling the motorcycle up into the stowing device and for more controlled unloading of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A suction control unit in a plate suction and lifting device that can suck and lift even the plate with process holes or the corrugated plate by finding the suckable flat part of the plate. A suction control unit 1 controls a plate suction and lifting device 2 for lifting a plate W by sucking the flat part of the plate W by a suction pad 4. The suction control unit 1 is equipped with a suction pressure detector 19 and a retry control unit 29. The retry control unit 29 detects the suction pressure of the suction pad 4. The retry control unit 29 sucks the plate again if the suction pressure of the suction pressure detector 19 does not reach the set pressure when the suction pad 4 sucks the plate W. This suction is implemented again by changing the flat part of the plate W sucked by the suction pad 4.

Abstract: An anti-inertia stacker for stacking products and especially suited for products which are prone to dislodgment on or from a substrate during processing movement is provided. The anti-inertia stacker comprises a traveling pallet which is mounted for movement. The traveling pallet receives a product or product laden substrate from a conveyor while traveling at substantially the same speed as the conveyor. The traveling pallet includes a moveable conveying surface. The conveying surface, moving in the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the product or product laden substrate, decelerates the received item. The product or product laden substrate can then be stacked.

Abstract: A modular frame assembly for a wafer fabrication system comprising at least one base casting and at least one upstanding pod door opening casting. The at least one base casting and at least one upstanding pod door opening casting are self registering and allow frames for wafer fabrication systems of any normally desired configuration to be produced out of a small number of cast modules. More specifically, in a preferred embodiment, frames configured to mate with one to four commercially available loaders may be readily assembled out of the aluminum castings.

Abstract: A stator and diffuser assembly is introduced between an engine cooling fan and engine. The stator acts increase the static efficiency per unit airflow of the axial fan by reducing the rotational component of air traveling through the fan and by directing the airflow in an axial direction towards the engine. The diffuser acts to increase the static efficiency per unit airflow of the axial fan used by decelerating the airflow, thereby providing more airflow to the engine at a given fan rotational speed. The stator and diffuser assembly thus decreases the amount of horsepower necessary to drive the fan at a given rotational speed and reduces noise.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine 10 includes an intermediate pressure compressor 14 connected to an intermediate pressure turbine 22 by a driveshaft 28. The driveshaft 28 comprises a downstream turbine shaft 34 attached to the intermediate pressure turbine 22 and an upstream compressor shaft 32 attached to the intermediate pressure compressor 14. The compressor shaft 32 and turbine shaft 34 are connected together by a splined connection 36 which allows the turbine shaft 34 to drive the compressor shaft 32. If the splined connected 36 should fail, so that it no longer transmits torque, a further splined connection 41 comes into operation to transmit torque between the turbine shaft 34 and compressor shaft 32. When this happens, torque is transmitted via a torsionally weakened, shear section 48 of the turbine shaft 34 which tends to break under certain engine conditions. The turbine shaft 34 is then released axially and turbine overspeed is restrained.

Abstract: A heat-dissipating module including a first fan unit, a second fan unit, and a connecting arrangement for connecting the first fan unit and the second fan unit in a serial manner. The first fan unit is located on an air inlet side and includes a casing and a fan wheel received in the casing of the first fan unit. The second fan unit is located on an air outlet side and includes a casing and a fan wheel received in the casing of the second fan unit. At least one side air inlet is defined between the casing of the first fan unit and the casing of the second fan unit for increasing an air inlet amount and an air outlet amount of the second fan unit.

Abstract: A vacuum pump adopts a positioning structure in which stator blades and spacers are arranged in the radial direction of a pump case by the contact between the outer peripheries portion of the stator blades and the inner periphery portion of the pump case and the contact between the outer periphery portions of the spacers and the inner periphery portion of the pump case. Accordingly, the spacer interposed between the upper and lower stator blades can have a simplified shape that serves a function of only setting the spacing between the stator blades to a prescribed length, thus decreasing the number of steps and costs of processing the spacer, and accordingly reducing the costs of the entire vacuum pump.

Abstract: A self-tuning impact damper is disclosed that absorbs and dissipates vibration energy in the blades of rotors in compressors and/or turbines thereby dramatically extending their service life and operational readiness. The self-tuning impact damper uses the rotor speed to tune the resonant frequency of a rattling mass to an engine order excitation frequency. The rattling mass dissipates energy through collisions between the rattling mass and the walls of a cavity of the self-tuning impact damper, as well as through friction between the rattling mass and the base of the cavity. In one embodiment, the self-tuning impact damper has a ball-in-trough configuration with tire ball serving as the rattling mass.

Abstract: A damper assembly including a spherical elastomer bearing member, wherein the spherical elastomer bearing member is operable for accommodating relative motion and/or vibration, and a flat elastomer bearing member, wherein the flat elastomer bearing member is operable for accommodating relative motion and/or vibration. The damper assembly also including a substantially rigid transition shim disposed between the spherical elastomer bearing member and the flat elastomer bearing member, wherein the substantially rigid transition shim is operable for coupling the spherical elastomer bearing member to the flat elastomer bearing member. The damper assembly further including a tension member attached to the substantially rigid transition shim, wherein the tension member is operable for precompressing the spherical elastomer bearing member and increasing the cocking stiffness of the damper assembly.

Abstract: Axial entry dovetails on buckets are installed axially into generally complementary-shaped female dovetails about the rim of the turbine wheel. The buckets include bucket covers having an interference fit such that upon installation, the buckets tend to rotate, which causes radial inward displacement of the buckets. To eliminate the bucket rotation and radial displacement, the male dovetails mount an anti-rotation key for reception in a generally complementary-shaped recess at the base of the female dovetail. The anti-rotation key in the slot eliminates rotation and radial displacement of the bucket, maintaining the buckets on radii and enables the bucket covers to be machined to proper diameters.

Abstract: A cooling fan includes a rotatable hub and a plurality of generally V-shaped impellers that are angularly displaced from each other and that extend outwardly from the hub. Each of the impellers has first and second impeller halves that extend outwardly from the hub and that are connected to each other so as to form cooperatively an angle therebetween.