Abstract: Systems and methods for making and using sliding counterbalanced C-arm positioning devices are described. In such systems and methods, each C-arm positioning device includes a C-arm X-ray device, a linear bearing rail, a linear bearing block, and a counterbalance mechanism. Generally, the C-arm is connected to the linear bearing block, which, in turn, is slidably coupled to the bearing rail to allow the bearing block and C-arm to slide up and down on the rail. The counterbalance mechanism can apply a force to the bearing block to counterbalance the weight of the C-arm and the bearing block. Thus, the described C-arm positioning device can allow a user to easily raise or lower the C-arm with relatively little effort. While some implementations of the C-arm positioning device are connected to mobile support structure, other implementations of the C-arm positioning device are mounted to a fixed support structure. Other implementations are also described.

Abstract: A method of determining a steam quality of a wet steam located in an interior of a steam turbine includes emitting from an optical probe a plurality of wavelengths through the wet steam, measuring with the optical probe a wet steam intensity corresponding to each of the plurality of wavelengths emitted through the wet steam, determining an intensity ratio vector by dividing the wet steam intensity by a corresponding dry steam intensity for each of the plurality of wavelengths, successively applying scaling factors to the intensity ratio vector to obtain a scaled intensity ratio vector, calculating a suitable value for each of the scaling factors to obtain a plurality of residuals, determining a minimum residual of the plurality of residuals, determining a droplet size distribution by calculating the droplet number density corresponding to the minimum residual, and determining the steam quality based on the droplet size distribution.

Abstract: A method of scheduling the movement of trains using the creation and the pre-allocation of virtual resources in order to develop an optimized schedule of actual train movement.

Abstract: A data processing technique is provided. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes accessing reference deviation maps for a plurality of disease types. The reference deviation maps may include subsets of maps associated with severity levels of respective disease types, and a disease severity score may be associated with each severity level. The method may include selecting patient severity levels for multiple disease types based on the subsets of reference deviation maps. Also, the method may include automatically calculating a combined patient disease severity score based at least in part on the disease severity scores associated with the selected patient severity levels, and may include outputting a report based at least in part on the combined patient disease severity score. Additional methods, systems, and manufactures are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an engine that includes a combustion chamber and a viewing port into the combustion chamber. The engine also includes a camera configured to obtain an image of a flame in the combustion chamber through the viewing port and a controller configured to adjust a parameter of the engine based on the image of the flame.

Abstract: An adhesive includes an epoxy resin and a hardener. The hardener includes trioxdiamine, diaminodicyclohexylmethane, toluene diamine, and bisphenol-A dianhydride.

Abstract: Compact, high-pressure exhaust muffling devices are disclosed. Some example muffling devices may include an inner flow conditioner including an inlet configured to convey a pressurized fluid flow into an inner flow conditioner interior. The inner flow conditioner may include a plurality of inner flow conditioner holes. The muffling device may include an exhaust can disposed substantially around the inner flow conditioner and arranged to receive the pressurized fluid flow via the inner flow conditioner holes into an exhaust can interior. The exhaust can may include a plurality of exhaust screen holes arranged to discharge the pressurized fluid flow from the exhaust can interior. The exhaust can interior may be substantially devoid of flow obstructions between the plurality of inner flow conditioner holes and the exhaust screen holes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hula seal for use with a combustor. The hula seal includes a number of legs that define a number of slots. The slots may include a number of expansion slots.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an optical monitoring system configured to optically communicate with an interior of a rotary machine. The optical monitoring system is configured to redirect a field of view toward different regions of a component within the interior of the rotary machine while the rotary machine is in operation, and to capture an image of each region.

Abstract: A fuel injector is provided, including a fuel injector body, a plurality of fuel vanes, and a plurality of fuel pegs. The injector body includes a manifold and an inlet. The manifold is configured for receiving fuel, and the inlet is configured for receiving air. The fuel vanes are located within the injector body and are positioned in a direction that is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the injector body to orient the air flowing from the inlet. The plurality of fuel pegs are fluidly connected to the manifold and are arranged within the plurality of fuel vanes. The plurality of fuel pegs are each spaced at a distance that is about equal between each of the plurality of fuel pegs.

Abstract: A system for automated water drainage in a fuel system includes a fuel-water separator, a water sensor, first and second drain valves, a drain pressure sensor, and a control system, which is operably connected to the first and second drain valves, the water sensor, and the drain pressure sensor. The water sensor is disposed in the fuel-water separator for detecting the presence of water. The first drain valve is in fluid communication with the fuel-water separator, and the second drain valve is in fluid communication with the first drain valve; a fluid duct connects the first and second drain valves. The drain pressure sensor is positioned in the fluid duct, for detecting pressure levels in the fluid duct. The control system automatically operates the first and second drain valves, for removing purge liquid from the fuel-water separator, based on signal outputs of the water sensor and the drain pressure sensor.

Abstract: A system and method of ultrasound imaging includes a beamformer including a plurality of channels, a two-dimensional transducer array including a plurality of elements, and a plurality of signal pathways linking the plurality of elements to the plurality of channels. The system and method also include a plurality of switches positioned along the plurality of signal pathways. The plurality of switches being configured to actively connect a subset of the plurality of elements to the plurality of channels in order to form a receive aperture. The plurality of switches are further configured to control an aspect ratio of the receive aperture by changing which of the plurality of elements are actively connected to the plurality of channels.

Abstract: A stator ring for use in a compressor of a gas turbine engine and a method of assembling the stator ring are provided. The stator ring includes a first plurality of segments that includes a first segment including a first circumferential end formed with a first cut and a second circumferential end formed with a second cut that is complementary to the first cut, wherein the first plurality of segments are configured to be circumferentially-coupled together, and a second plurality of segments that includes a second segment including a first circumferential end with a third cut and a second circumferential end with a fourth cut that is complementary to the third cut, wherein the second plurality of segments are configured to be circumferentially-coupled together.

Abstract: A device for measuring the physical characteristics of a flow within a pipe is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the device comprises a hollow ring having an outer wall fixably attached to a meter flange that is inserted between two sections of pipe, and an inner wall on which a sensor is mounted to facilitate accurate flow measurements.

Abstract: A system and method for pitching a rotor blade in a wind turbine are disclosed. The method includes collecting in an individual pitch controller for the rotor blade a pitch offset angle relative to a collective pitch angle. The method further includes determining a synchronized pitch offset angle. The method further includes, after an emergency condition occurs, pitching the rotor blade towards the synchronized pitch offset angle.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in determining a plurality of characteristics of a multiphase flow within a pipe is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises first and second constrictions, a sheltered zone between the first and second constrictions, a sensing device coupled to an interior wall of the pipe, and a sheltered device coupled to the interior wall of the pipe and located within the sheltered zone. A first characteristic of the plurality of characteristics is determinable from data generated by the sensing device. A second characteristic of the plurality of characteristics is determinable from data generated by the sheltered device. In one exemplary embodiment, the first characteristic is a gas fraction, and the sensing device is a plurality of pressure sensors. In another exemplary embodiment, the second characteristic is a phase fraction, and the sheltered device is a plurality of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) electrodes.

Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments of a method of configuring rules for SCADA data of a wind farm are described. One embodiment comprises receiving supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) data for a wind farm comprised of one or more wind turbines. The SCADA data includes parameters for the wind farm. At least a portion of the SCADA data for a selected group of the wind farm parameters is dynamically configured using a graphical user interface (GUI) that interfaces with a rules engine. The SCADA data is configured using one or more operators. At least a portion of the dynamically configured data is output.

Abstract: A method of providing weather information for an aircraft trajectory to a flight management system (FMS) includes selecting a unique subset of temperature data points from weather data points along an aircraft trajectory and sending corresponding weather data points to the FMS.

Abstract: Combustion systems having reduced nitrogen oxide emissions and methods of using the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a combustion system is provided. The combustion system includes a combustion zone, which includes a burner for converting a fuel, under fuel rich conditions, to a flue gas. An intermediate staged air inlet is downstream from the combustion zone, for supplying intermediate staged air to the flue gas and producing fuel lean conditions. A reburn zone is downstream from the intermediate staged air inlet for receiving the flue gas. A process for using the combustion system and a method of reducing NOX flowing into the reburn zone of a combustion system are also described herein.