| GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20160139651 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FULL RANGE CONTROL OF DUAL ACTIVE BRIDGE - A power converter includes primary and secondary bridges, a transformer, and a controller configured to generate a switching mode map that correlates each of a plurality of switching modes to a respective set of value ranges of system parameters of the power converter. The sets of system parameter value ranges are contiguous and non-overlapping across the switching mode map, each of the plurality of switching modes includes gate trigger voltage timings for commuting at least one of the primary and secondary bridges. The controller is configured to obtain a plurality of measured system parameter values, select from the switching mode map one of the plurality of switching modes that correlates to the set of system parameter values containing the plurality of measured system parameter values, and adjust gate trigger voltage timings of at least one of the primary and secondary bridges, according to the selected switching mode. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160136725 | METHOD FOR INDUCTION STIRRED, ULTRASONICALLY MODIFIED INVESTMENT CASTINGS - A method for making an equiaxed investment casting. The method utilizes an ultrasonic generator to send an ultrasonic pulse into molten metal in an investment casting mold. The investment casting mold is positioned within a working zone of furnace having low output induction coils for generating a convection current in molten metal. The ultrasonic pulse separates dendrites growing from the face of the mold inward into the molten metal. Instead, equiaxed grains can nucleate within the molten metal. In addition, the ultrasonic pulse and the low output induction coils circulate the molten metal as solute is rejected from solidifying equiaxed grains. The mixing reduces the effects of segregation in the solidifying alloy and assists in nucleating equiaxed grains. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160135884 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF POTENTIAL EQUALIZATION MONITORING FOR MEDICAL DEVICES - A method of potential equalization monitoring includes connecting a plurality of electrical devices to a patient, electrically connecting each of the plurality of electrical devices to a common equipotential grounding hub, the equipotential grounding hub defining a ground, monitoring a flow of current to the ground from at least one of the plurality of electrical devices, detecting a change in the balance of electrical charge between the plurality of devices, and identifying a source of the change in the balance of electrical charge. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160135878 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NERVOUS SYSTEM MODULATION - A method for nervous system modulation includes operatively connecting an ECG cable having a plurality of surface electrodes to a body of a patient, introducing a catheter having a plurality of catheter electrodes into a blood vessel of the patient, probing a target location within the patient with the catheter to identify nerve tissue with maximum signal propagation in real-time, and reducing signal propagation in the identified nerve tissue. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160131595 | MINIATURE AIR GAP INSPECTION CRAWLER - A system for inspecting a dynamoelectric machine is provided. The dynamoelectric machine includes a rotor, a stator and a radial gap existing between the rotor and the stator. The system includes a sled configured for insertion into the radial gap between the rotor and the stator. The sled is configured to transport an optical device along the radial gap. The optical device obtains an image of the radial gap, a portion of the rotor and a portion of the stator. The sled is configured for attachment to a push rod and the push rod is used to move the sled and optical device along the radial gap. The system is configured for entry into a single end of the dynamoelectric machine. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160126195 | NON-MAGNETIC PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - A non-magnetic hermetic package includes walls that surround an open cavity, with a generally planar non-magnetic and metallic seal ring disposed in a continuous loop around upper edges of the walls; a sensitive component that is bonded within the cavity; and a non-magnetic lid that is sealed to the seal ring to close the cavity by a metallic seal. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160123528 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ATTACHING A DEVICE TO A ROTATING SHAFT - A system for attaching a device to a rotating shaft is provided herein. The system may include a rotating shaft, a telemetry transmitter positioned about the rotating shaft, and a housing positioned about the telemetry transmitter. The telemetry transmitter may be trapped by the housing. The system also may include a connector configured to connect the housing to the rotating shaft. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160122183 | LID AND METHOD FOR SEALING A NON-MAGNETIC PACKAGE - A non-magnetic lid for sealing a hermetic package. The lid includes a molybdenum substrate having a sputtered adhesion layer and a copper seed layer. The lid also includes a plated palladium solder base layer, and has gold/tin solder preforms attached to a sealing surface of the lid. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160121070 | System and Method of Controlling the Delivery of Medical Gases to a Patient - A system for controlling the delivery of medical gases includes a digital signal processor that receives at least one ventilation parameter value change, calculates a fresh oxygen flow rate, total fresh gas flow rate into the breathing circuit, and a reference oxygen flow rate representative of a predetermined oxygen concentration delivered to a patient. A graphical display presents the calculated fresh oxygen flow rate, total fresh gas flow rate, and reference oxygen flow rate. A method of controlling the delivery of medical gases to a patient includes calculating a total fresh gas flow rate into the breathing circuit, calculating a fresh oxygen flow rate into the breathing circuit, calculating a reference oxygen flow rate representative of a predetermined oxygen concentration delivered to the patient and presenting the total fresh gas flow rate, the fresh oxygen flow rate, and reference oxygen flow rate on a graphical display. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160120406 | System and Method of Workflow Management - Wireless systems and methods include a plurality of peripheral electronic devices each having a wireless communication system. A processor is configured to establish an association confidence level indicative of a likelihood that a peripheral electronic device is associated to a monitored subject for each peripheral electronic device based on association criteria. Indicators are configured to communicate the association the association confidence level. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160118828 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING ENERGY BETWEEN VEHICLES - An embodiment of the present invention relates to a vehicle. The vehicle includes an energy storage device and a traction motor electrically connected to the energy storage device. The traction motor is configured to convert electrical energy supplied by the energy storage device into a mechanical output to propel the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a vehicle connecting mechanism electrically coupled to the energy storage device and being configured for electrical coupling with a second vehicle connecting mechanism of a second vehicle to establish an electrical interface between the vehicle and the second vehicle. The electrical interface enables the transfer of electric power between the vehicle and the second vehicle. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160115941 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE ROTOR IMBALANCE CONTROL - A control system for a wind turbine includes a detecting system configured to determine at least one of a rotor load, a wind shear, a wind speed, and a load imbalance due to wind shear. An adjusting system is configured to adjust a shaft moment set point correction value based on at least one of the rotor load, the wind shear, the wind speed, and the load imbalance. A compensating system is configured to compute a shaft moment correction command based on the shaft moment set point correction value output from the adjusting system. A pitch system is configured to adjust a pitch of at least one blade of the wind turbine based on the shaft moment set point correction command, or a yaw system is configured to adjust the yaw position of a rotor based on the shaft moment set point correction command. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160114678 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MATERIAL TRANSFER AND TRANSPORT - An embodiment of the present invention relates to a system. The system includes a first vehicle, a second vehicle, and an interface between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The interface is configured to enable the transfer of mechanical power from the second vehicle to the first vehicle when the first vehicle and the second vehicle are stationary. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160113607 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TOMOSYNTHESIS IMAGE ACQUISITION - A method for image acquisition includes selectively concealing and exposing an x-ray source to a target object while the x-ray source travels along a first path and moving an x-ray detector along a second path in a first direction while the x-ray source is exposed to the target object. The method further includes moving the x-ray detector along the second path in a second direction generally opposite the first direction while the x-ray source is concealed from the target object. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160108895 | METHOD FOR MACHINING A SHAFT AND APPARATUS MADE THEREBY - A method for machining a shaft includes the step of machining a compound radius into the shaft at a junction between a radial surface of the shaft and an axial facing flange portion of the shaft. The compound radius has a curved surface with at least two different radii. The curved surface extends circumferentially around the shaft. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160108510 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR THERMAL SPRAYING A HERMETIC RARE EARTH ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER COATING - A rare earth silicate-based hermetic layer includes a thermal sprayed coating including a rare earth silicate having a hermetic microstructure. An environmental barrier coating includes a bond coat layer including silicon; and at least one rare earth silicate-based hermetic layer deposited on the bond coat layer by thermal spraying. The rare earth silicate-based hermetic layer includes a thermal sprayed coating including a rare earth silicate having a hermetic microstructure. An article for service in extreme environments may be provided with such an environmental barrier coating. A thermal spray feedstock for producing a rare earth silicate-based hermetic layer. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160107663 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING AND UPDATING WAYSIDE DEVICES - Methods and systems relate to establishing a communication link with a wayside device, determining whether or not to at least one of update or configure the wayside device in dependence upon at least one update parameter, and when it is determined to update or configure the wayside device, updating or configuring the wayside device from a remote location. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160104555 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRIC FIELD DISTRIBUTION IN A HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT CABLE - A method for improving the electric field distribution in a high voltage direct current cable includes providing a cable that includes a conductor, a protective jacket, a shield layer disposed inside the jacket, and an insulation layer disposed inside the shield layer, surrounding the conductor. The insulation layer includes ethylene-propylene rubber, talc, and montmorillonite. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160101699 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION IN A VEHICLE - A drive system includes an engine, an alternator coupled to the engine, the alternator being configured to power at least one auxiliary load, a traction motor system operatively coupled to drive wheels of the vehicle, the traction motor system being configured for receiving primary electrical power from the alternator and for propelling the vehicle in response to the primary electrical power, and a motor electrically connected to the traction motor system and mechanically coupled to the engine. The motor is configured to receive electrical power from the traction motor system in a dynamic braking mode of operation of the traction motor system and to communicate power to the engine during the dynamic braking mode. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160100823 | CINE-LOOP ADJUSMENT - Techniques for imaging adjusting a cine-loop are described herein. A cine-loop may be generated, and it may be identified whether the cine-loop has a stitching artifact. The cine-loop may be played, and the length of the cine-loop may be adjusted while the cine-loop is playing until the stitching artifact is substantially removed. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160100503 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COOLING A PROBE DISPOSED ABOUT A HOT GAS PATH - A system for cooling a probe disposed about a hot gas path is disclosed herein. The system may include a probe holder having a main body including an inner passage, an intermediate passage, and an outer passage. The intermediate passage and the outer passage may be in fluid communication. The probe may be disposed within the inner passage of the probe holder. The probe may include an internal passage. The system also may include a first cooling circuit in fluid communication with internal passage of the probe. Moreover, the system may include a second cooling circuit having an inlet in fluid communication with the intermediate passage and an outlet in fluid communication with the outer passage. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160095998 | Informative Accessories - An optimized system for providing medical support to a patient is disclosed. The system has a plurality of modular components that may be assembled to create a connection between a support machine and the patient wherein at least one of the modular components comprises an information tag for the storage of data and at least one of the modular components comprises an information sensor for the reading and transmission of the data. Once read and transmitted by the sensor, the data may be used to optimize the operation of the support machine. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160089692 | TURBINE COMPONENT COATING PROCESSES AND TURBINE COMPONENTS - Turbine component coating processes include applying a malleable masking material to one or more apertures of one or more fluid flow passages within a turbine component surface and then applying a first coating over the malleable masking material and on the turbine component surface. The turbine component coating processes further include locally applying a local masking material to the one or more apertures of the one or more fluid flow passages and then applying a second coating over the local masking material and on the first coating. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160084736 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ATTACHING A PROBE TO A CASING OF A GAS TURBINE ENGINE - A system for attaching a probe to a casing of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The system may include a probe receptacle attachable to the casing. The probe receptacle may include an internal bore, a bayonet slot, a spring disposed within the internal bore adjacent to the bayonet slot, and a sealing surface within the internal bore. The system also may include a probe attachment assembly disposed about the probe and configured to engage the probe receptacle. The probe attachment assembly may include at least one bayonet positionable within the bayonet slot and a seal positionable adjacent to the sealing surface within the internal bore. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160081863 | INFANT PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICE WITH VAPOR BARRIER - A patient transfer device is utilized to transport infant patients between locations within a hospital environment. The patient transfer device includes a center support section and a pair of side sections that can be moved into contact with each other to surround the infant patient. The first and second side sections each include a handle that can be brought into close proximity to each other and can be grasped by a single hand of a clinician. The patient transfer device includes an integrated vapor barrier that can be positioned to at least partially surround the infant when the infant is received on the patient transfer device to reduce evaporative cooling of the infant. The vapor barrier includes a support structure to create a canopy that holds the vapor barrier out of contact with the infant. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160079301 | X-RAY DETECTOR - An X-ray detector has a layered structure that includes a substrate, a TFT array disposed on the substrate, a photodiode layer disposed on the TFT array, and a scintillator layer disposed on the photodiode layer. The scintillator layer comprises a particle-in-binder composite that contains a continuous parylene matrix having dispersed therein a plurality of particles that include a scintillator material that emits light in response to the absorption of X-rays. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160078016 | INTELLIGENT ONTOLOGY UPDATE TOOL - Systems, methods and computer program products to automate the process of ontology updates in radiology software are provided. In one aspect, the present disclosure analyzes the textual data describing the radiology exams and identifies terms that are not defined in the existing ontology. It then extracts various types of statistical patterns, such as neighboring concepts, from the textual data, and infers which concepts the unrecognized terms belong to. Finally it presents rank-ordered ontology updating suggestions to the user for final confirmation. The system, methods, and computer program products of the present disclosure are an effective way in updating ontologies, requiring the users to have little, or no prior experience in ontology management or understanding of the underlying ontology structure. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160076374 | LASER NET SHAPE MANUFACTURED COMPONENT USING AN ADAPTIVE TOOLPATH DEPOSITION METHOD - A laser net shape manufactured BLISK, compressor blade, turbine blade or turbine component including a plurality of overlapping predetermined variable bead widths of a material defining a first material layer, a plurality of overlapping predetermined variable bead widths of a material deposited on top of the first material layer, forming a second material layer; and additional material layers deposited on top of the first material layer and the second material layer. The variable bead width of the deposited material is controlled to maintain the approximately constant percent of bead width overlap. A first 2 to 100 deposited powder layers are deposited by a first laser power and the remaining powder layers are deposited by a laser power that is ramped down over the course of depositing the remaining powder layers. In addition, disclosed is A BLISK, compressor blade, turbine blade or turbine component formed by a method. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160074260 | INFANT PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICE WITH HEART RATE SENSOR - A patient transfer device is utilized to transport infant patients between locations within a hospital environment. The patient transfer device includes a center, support section and a pair of side sections that can be moved into contact with each other to surround the infant patient. The first and second side sections each include a handle that can be brought into close proximity to each other and can be grasped by a single hand of a clinician. The patient transfer device includes a heart rate sensor positioned to provide a heart rate measurement of the patient when the patient is received on the patient transfer device. The patient heart rate can be displayed on either an integrated display or wirelessly transmitted to an external display device. In this manner, the heart rate of the infant can be continuously monitored during transport. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160073889 | INFANT PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICE WITH TEMPERATURE SENSOR - A patient transfer device is utilized to transport infant patients between locations within a hospital environment. The patient transfer device includes a center, support section and a pair of side sections that can be moved into contact with each other to surround the infant patient. The first and second side sections each include a handle that can be brought into close proximity to each other and can be grasped by a single hand of a clinician. The patient transfer device includes a temperature sensor positioned to provide a temperature measurement of the patient when the patient is received on the patient transfer device. The patient temperature can be displayed on either an integrated display or wirelessly transmitted to an external display device. In this manner, the temperature of the infant can be continuously monitored during transport. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160069782 | METHODS OF ANALYZING AN H&E STAINED BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE - Methods comprising probing multiple targets in an H&E stained biological sample are provided. The methods include the steps of providing a hematoxylin and eosin stained biological sample containing multiple targets, optionally detecting H&E staining of the sample, removing the hematoxylin and eosin signals, and detecting additional features or targets in the biological sample. The detecting step may include performing the steps of binding at least one probe to one or more targets to the sample, detecting a signal from the probe and contacting the sample with a bleaching agent. The process of binding, detecting and bleaching may be iteratively repeated. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160069735 | INSTANT WEIGHT MODE FOR INFANT CARE DEVICE WITH IN-BED SCALE - A method and system for determining the weight of an infant when the infant is initially placed upon a support platform of an infant care device. Prior to placing an infant on the support platform, a control unit of the infant care device enters into an instant weight mode. In the instant weight mode, the control unit obtains one or more initial weight readings from one or more sensors positioned beneath the support platform to zero out the weight reading. When an infant is placed upon the support platform, the control unit calculates and displays the weight of the infant. A caregiver manually accepts the displayed weight as the initial weight of the infant and the control unit exits the instant weight mode. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160069672 | SURFACE ROUGHNESS MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A surface roughness measurement device that in one embodiment includes main and auxiliary emitting fibers, multiple collecting fibers, an optical housing, main and auxiliary reflective mirrors, and an external circuit. The optical housing includes the fibers and defines an aperture for optically contacting a surface of an object. The main reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the main emitting fiber to a detecting point of the aperture and reflected light by the object to the collecting fibers. The auxiliary reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the auxiliary emitting fiber to the detecting point. The external circuit is for generating a laser beam to the main and auxiliary emitting fibers, collecting the reflected light from the collecting fibers, and calculating the surface roughness of the object based on the collected reflected light. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160064835 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPLICING WIRES - A splicer device is disclosed herein. The splicer device includes a main body having an internal passage formed between a first end of the main body and a second end of the main body. The first end of the main body is configured to receive at least one first wire, and the second end of the main body is configured to receive at least one second wire. A window is disposed within the main body and in communication with the internal passage between the first end of the main body and the second end of the main body for accessing and splicing the at least one first wire and the at least one second wire. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160061638 | FITTING FOR POSITIONING A PROBE IN A HOT GAS PATH OF A GAS TURBINE ENGINE - A fitting for positioning a probe in a hot gas path within a casing of a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The fitting may include a main body attachable to the casing opposite the hot gas path. The main body may include an internal bore and one or more cooling holes in communication with the internal bore. A compliant seal may be positionable within the internal bore. In addition, a follower may be positionable within the internal bore adjacent to the compliant seal. Moreover, the fitting may include a fastener configured to mate with the main body. In this manner, the follower may deform the compliant seal about the probe within the main body to secure and seal the probe within the main body. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160059707 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL CURRENTS IN A VEHICLE - An embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus. The apparatus includes a head portion, a body portion having a distal end opposite the head portion, a brush extending from the distal end of the body portion. The brush is configured to electrically contact an axle shaft of a vehicle. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160058967 | Respiratory Support System and Patient Transfer Device Therefor - A patient transfer device is configured for use with at least one host device which is capable of providing respiratory support to a patient. The patient transfer device includes an inspiratory port and an expiratory port which are configured to pneumatically connect to the host. An inspiratory connection is pneumatically connected to the inspiratory port and an expiratory connection is pneumatically connected to the expiratory port. An inspiratory valve is coupled between the inspiratory port and the inspiratory connection and expiratory valve is coupled between the expiratory port and the expiratory connection. The inspiratory valve and the expiratory valve are operable between first configurations that permit flow there though and second configurations that occlude flow through the valves. The inspiratory valve and the expiratory valve are configured to operate in the second configuration when the patient transfer device is disconnected from the at least one host device. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160058346 | DETERMINATION OF ARTERIAL CO2 PARTIAL PRESSURE - A method of estimating the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood of a patient comprises determining an arterial oxygen saturation for a patient, determining a breathing gas carbon dioxide value, and determining breathing gas oxygen value. The method further includes calculating an arterial blood carbon dioxide partial pressure for the patient based on at least the arterial oxygen saturation value, the breathing gas carbon dioxide value, and the breathing gas oxygen value for the patient. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160056700 | INDEPENDENT MOTION ACTUATOR - Techniques for independent motion actuator are described herein. The techniques may include a first linear actuator, a first driven carriage to be driven by movement of the first linear actuator, and a first free carriage in line with the first linear actuator but being disengaged from the first linear actuator. The techniques may also include a second linear actuator substantially parallel to the first linear actuator. A second driven carriage is to be driven by movement of the second linear actuator, and a second free carriage in line with the second linear actuator but being disengaged from the second linear actuator and to be coupled to the first driven carriage. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160051208 | MOVING A COMPONENT OF AN IMAGING SYSTEM - Techniques for moving a component of an imaging system are described herein. The techniques may include an apparatus having a component bracket to attach to an imaging system component disposed within a gantry of the imaging system. The apparatus may include a platform bracket to attach to a movable platform of the imaging system, wherein the component bracket and the platform bracket are to be coupled to each other. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160049792 | MULTI-FARM WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A multi-farm wind power dispatch management system is provided which includes wind turbine dispatch controllers for controlling wind power dispatch of respective wind farm components and wind farm dispatch management systems for receiving respective wind farm component operating parameters and generating respective farm-level operating parameters. The system also includes group dispatch management systems for receiving the farm-level operating parameters and generating respective group level operating parameters. The system also includes a master dispatch management system for receiving the group-level operating parameters; computing a real time output power generated by the wind farm components; determining a difference between the real time output power and a committed output power; and generating reference commands, based on the difference, for controlling at least one of, the wind farm component operating parameters, the farm-level operating parameters, the group level operating parameters, or combinations thereof to reduce the difference and dispatch the committed output power. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160048125 | ONLINE FREQUENCY RESPONSE CHARACTERIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system may include a controller that may control operations of a device according to a control loop and characterize a frequency response of the device while the device is operating. The controller may characterize the frequency response by adding a perturbation signal to any signal in the control loop. The controller may then determine a first transformed signal by performing a first discrete Fourier transform on a first signal in the control loop at a frequency of the perturbation signal and determine a second transformed signal by performing a second discrete Fourier transform on a second signal in the control loop at the frequency of the perturbation signal. The controller may then determine the frequency response at the frequency by comparing a first amplitude and a first phase of the first transformed signal to a second amplitude and a second phase of the second transformed signal. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160047317 | FUEL INJECTOR ASSEMBLIES IN COMBUSTION TURBINE ENGINES - A downstream nozzle for use in a combustor that includes an inner radial wall defining a combustion zone downstream of a primary nozzle and an outer radial wall surrounding the inner radial wall so to form a flow annulus therebetween. The downstream nozzle may include: an injector tube extending between the outer radial wall and the inner radial wall; a first plenum adjacent to the injector tube, and, inboard of the ceiling, a floor disposed between the inner radial wall and the outer radial wall. A feed passage may connect the first plenum to an inlet formed outboard of the outer radial wall and impingement ports may be formed through the floor of the first plenum. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160047316 | SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS RELATING TO GAS TURBINE COMBUSTORS - A gas turbine engine having a combustor that includes: an inner radial wall defining axially stacked first and second interior chambers, wherein the first interior chamber extends axially from an end cover to a fuel nozzle, and the second interior chamber extends axially from the fuel nozzle to an inlet of the turbine; and an outer radial wall formed about the inner radial wall so to form a flow annulus therebetween. The flow annulus may include a flow conditioning section that has: conditioning passages defined therethrough for directing a flow from inlets formed at an upstream end to outlets formed at a downstream end of the flow conditioning section; and structure rigidly attaching the inner radial wall to the outer radial wall. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160047308 | MECHANICAL DRIVE ARCHITECTURES WITH LOW-LOSS LUBRICANT BEARINGS AND LOW-DENSITY MATERIALS - Mechanical drive architectures can include a gas turbine having a compressor section, a turbine section, and a combustor section. A load compressor is driven by the gas turbine. A rotor shaft extends through the gas turbine and the load compressor. At least one of the rotating components in one of the gas turbine and the load compressor includes a low-density material. Bearings support the rotor shaft within the gas turbine and the load compressor, at least one of the bearings being a low-loss lubricant bearing. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160047307 | POWER TRAIN ARCHITECTURES WITH LOW-LOSS LUBRICANT BEARINGS AND LOW-DENSITY MATERIALS - Power train architectures with low-loss lubricant bearings and low-density materials are disclosed. The gas turbine used in these architectures can include a compressor section, a turbine section, and a combustor section. A generator, coupled to the rotor shaft, is driven by the turbine section. The compressor section, the turbine section, and the generator each include rotating components, at least one of the rotating components in at least one of the compressor section, the turbine section, and the generator including a low-density material. Bearings support the rotor shaft within the compressor section, the turbine section and the generator, wherein at least one of the bearings is a low-loss bearing having a low-loss lubricant. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160047253 | SELECTIVE LOCALIZED COATING DEPOSITION METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TURBINE COMPONENTS - Methods for selective localized coating deposition for a turbine component include providing the turbine component comprising an exterior surface with one or more surface features and selectively coating at least a portion of the exterior surface using a localized coating deposition apparatus based on a location of at least one of the one or more surface features. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160045182 | Imaging Protocol Translation - Techniques for imaging protocol translation are described herein. The techniques may include data indicating a protocol for image capture of a first imaging device. The protocol includes parameters. The techniques may include translating the protocol of the first imaging device for use at a second imaging device by determining adjustments to be made to one or more of the parameters. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160043532 | SWITCHGEAR HOUSING INCLUDING A PRESSURE RELIEF MEMBER - A switchgear housing includes a busbar portion having a busbar enclosure. A first circuit breaker portion is coupled to the busbar portion. The first circuit breaker portion includes a first circuit breaker enclosure. A second circuit breaker portion includes a second circuit breaker enclosure. A first pressure relief member is arranged in the busbar portion. The first pressure relief member is configured and disposed to guide gases associated with an arcing event from the busbar portion upward through the busbar portion. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160039294 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARGING AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID-ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A system and method for electrical charging is disclosed. The electrical charging system comprises a first charging coil and an energy storage device coupled to the first charging coil. The energy charging system further comprises an energy charging station comprising a second charging coil disposed on a movable positioner, wherein the second charging coil is coupleable to an electrical energy source, at least one drive mechanism configured to translate the movable positioned, and a system controller. The system controller is configured to detect an event indicative of a proximity of the first charging coil to the energy charging station, translate the movable positioner such that the second charging coil is substantially aligned with, and closely spaced apart from, the first charging coil to form an electrical transformer, and initiate a charging cycle configured to transfer electrical energy to the at least one energy storage device via the electrical transformer. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160033134 | SEAL IN COMBUSTOR NOZZLE OF GAS TURBINE ENGINE - A nozzle for use in a combustor of a combustion turbine engine, the nozzle including: radial sections defined by sidewalls; a gap formed between opposing sidewalls of adjacent ones of the radial sections; a groove formed on each of the sidewalls that define the gap, the grooves positioned correspondingly so to together form a pocket; and a seal having a zigzagging profile disposed within the pocket. The pocket may intercept the gap over a seal length, and the seal may extend longitudinally within the pocket such that the zigzagging profile intersects the gap over the seal length. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160033133 | COMBUSTOR NOZZLES IN GAS TURBINE ENGINES - A micro-mixer nozzle for use in a combustor of a combustion turbine engine, the micro-mixer nozzle including: a fuel plenum defined by a shroud wall connecting a periphery of a forward tube sheet to a periphery of an aft tubesheet; a plurality of mixing tubes extending across the fuel plenum for mixing a supply of compressed air and fuel, each of the mixing tubes forming a passageway between an inlet formed through the forward tubesheet and an outlet formed through the aft tubesheet; and a wall mixing tube formed in the shroud wall. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160032766 | COMPONENTS WITH MICRO COOLED LASER DEPOSITED MATERIAL LAYER AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - A method of manufacture is provided. The manufacturing method includes using a laser deposition process to apply a laser deposited material on an outer surface of a substrate to form one or more grooves on the outer surface of a substrate. Each groove has a base and an opening and extends at least partially along the outer surface of the substrate, where the substrate has an inner surface that defines at least one hollow, interior space. The manufacturing method further includes disposing an additional material over the laser deposited material, to define one or more channels for cooling the component. The additional material may include additional laser deposited material layers or a coating. Other manufacturing methods and a component are also provided. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160032736 | COATING PROCESS AND COATED ARTICLE - A coating process and coated article are provided. The coating process includes providing a turbine component, applying a coating repellant to a predetermined region of the turbine component, and depositing a coating material on the turbine component. The coating repellant directs the coating material away from the predetermined region of the turbine component, to at least partially form a channel. A coating process for a hot gas path turbine component and coated article are also disclosed. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160031762 | SLURRIES FOR COMPOSITE MATERIALS - Slurry and tape compositions include particles of a precursor that converts to a ceramic material when heated to a firing temperature, at least one binder that is capable of adhering the particles of the ceramic precursor together to form a pliable prepreg tape, at least one liquid plasticizer, and at least one solvent in which the binder is dissolved. The solvent may be sufficiently volatile to evaporate from the slurry composition during formation of the tape, yet the tape may also be pliable as a result of the slurry composition containing a sufficient amount of the liquid plasticizer. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160031726 | MEMBRANE FILTRATION SYSTEM WITH CONCENTRATE STAGING AND CONCENTRATE RECIRCULATION, SWITCHABLE STAGES, OR BOTH - A membrane filtration system with reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) elements is adapted to provide high recovery from difficult wastewater. The system has a plurality of stages. The system is configured to provide concentrate staging. The last stage also has concentrate recirculation. The valves and pumps of the system are arranged such that the order of flow and a recirculation pump may be switched between the first stage and the last stage at some times. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160029990 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GATE SPECIFIC MR-BASED ATTENUATION CORRECTION OF TIMED-GATED PET STUDIES - A method for producing an attenuation-corrected time-gated PET image comprising includes obtaining a baseline MR image and a cine MR image of a structure; registering the baseline MR image to the cine MR image to create an image transform; and generating a corresponding cine ACF matrix using the image transform, and time-correlating the ACF matrix to a time-gated PET data set to produce an attenuation-corrected time-gated PET image. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160027847 | X-RAY DETECTORS SUPPORTED ON A SUBSTRATE HAVING A SURROUNDING METAL BARRIER - An X-ray detector assembly includes a polymeric substrate having a lower surface and an upper surface, and an X-ray detector disposed on the upper surface of the substrate. The X-ray detector includes a thin-film-transistor array disposed on the substrate, an organic photodiode disposed on the thin-film-transistor array, and a scintillator disposed on the organic photodiode. A metal barrier extends substantially over an upper surface of the scintillator, substantially over peripherally-extending edges of the scintillator, the organic photodiode, and the thin-film-transistor array, and substantially over the lower surface of the substrate. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160025353 | OVEN APPLIANCE WITH DUAL OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS - An oven appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chamber. A pair of doors is rotatably mounted to provide selective access to the chamber of the cabinet. The pair of doors is connected with a linkage assembly such that the doors rotate open and closed simultaneously. The linkage assembly includes a spur gear that engages another gear of the linkage assembly. The spur gear can hinder unwanted rotation of the pair of doors or compress the pair of doors against a seal. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160024962 | RECESSION RESISTANT CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES AND ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER COATINGS - The disclosure relates generally to recession resistant gas turbine engine articles that comprise a silicon containing substrate, and related coatings and methods. The present disclosure is directed, inter alia, to an engine article comprising a silicon substrate which is coated with a chemically stable porous oxide layer. The present disclosure also relates to articles comprising a substrate and a bond coat on top comprising a two phase layer of interconnected silicon and interconnected oxide, followed by a layer of silicon. The present disclosure further relates to a recession resistant article comprising an oxide in a silicon containing substrate, such that components of the silicon containing substrate is interconnected with oxides dispersed in the substrate and form the bulk of the recession resistant silicon containing article. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160022241 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE IN MAPPING A RADIATION DOSE APPLIED IN AN ANGIOGRAPHY IMAGING PROCEDURE OF A PATIENT - A system and method for use in mapping a radiation dose applied in an angiography imaging procedure is provided. The system can include an image acquisition system, a table in support of the patient, and a computer processor that calculates an angulation of a radiation beam to the patient in the angiography imaging procedure relative to the table; calculating an angulation of the table; calculating an intersection of the radiation beam relative to a two-dimensional grid; calculating the radiation dose applied at the intersection of the radiation beam to each of the predefined areas of the two-dimensional grid; calculating an orientation of the patient relative to the two-dimensional grid of predefined areas; and creating a graphic display illustrative of an aggregation of the radiation dose applied to each of the predefined areas of the two-dimensional grid for viewing by a user. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160004330 | HANDHELD MEDICAL IMAGING APPARATUS WITH CURSOR POINTER CONTROL - A handheld ultrasound imaging apparatus for capturing images of a subject is disclosed. The handheld ultrasound imaging apparatus includes a display for displaying a diagnostic ultrasound image and a plurality of user interface (UI) objects. A housing for holding the display. Further a user input interface is configured in at least one of the display and the housing. The user input interface is operable by a user to control a pointer for providing user input at points on the display to perform one or more activities. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160003103 | INTEGRAL SEGMENTED CMC SHROUD HANGER AND RETAINER SYSTEM - A shroud hanger with integral retainer assembly comprises a ceramic matrix composite shroud hanger a first wall and a second wall, the hanger having a support wall extending between the first and second walls, the support wall having a shoulder near circumferential ends, a retainer depending from the support wall having a first lower leg and a second lower leg extending in the circumferential direction, a first shroud supported by the first lower leg and a second shroud supported by the second lower leg. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160003063 | ARTICLES HAVING REDUCED EXPANSION AND HERMETIC ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER COATINGS AND METHODS FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE - Articles suitable for use as high-temperature machine components include a substrate and an environmental barrier coating disposed over the substrate, where the environmental barrier coating includes at least one hermetic self-sealing layer formed from a mixture including an alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate and a rare-earth silicate, and where the at least one hermetic self-sealing layer exhibits substantially no net remnant or residual expansion when subjected to high temperature heat treatment. The environmental barrier coating can further include a bondcoat disposed between the substrate and the hermetic self-sealing layer, a topcoat disposed over the hermetic self-sealing layer, and/or an intermediate layer disposed between the hermetic self-sealing layer and the bondcoat. The intermediate layer can include a barrier material that is substantially inert with respect to silica. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160002793 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INHIBITING CORROSION IN GAS TURBINE AIR COMPRESSORS - Methods and compositions are disclosed for inhibiting corrosion on metal surfaces of gas turbine air compressors. The methods comprise contacting the metal surfaces with a corrosion inhibiting composition comprising at least one filming amine. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160002083 | MICRO-SIEVE SEPARATION AND COD DIVERSION IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT - A wastewater treatment device is described in this specification having an aeration tank upstream of a micro-sieve. A process for treating wastewater comprises a step of treating wastewater by way of aeration with a hydraulic retention time of 6 hours or less, a solids retention time of 6 days or less, or both, to produce a first effluent. The first effluent is treated by way of a micro-sieve to produce a second effluent and a sludge. A portion of the sludge may be recycled to the aeration tank step. A portion of the sludge may be further treated in an anaerobic digester. The second effluent may be further treated, for example by way of one or more additional digestion steps or a further solid liquid separation step or both. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20150379221 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO SIMULATE MAINTENANCE OF A DEVICE - A system and method to virtually simulate maintenance of a medical device located in a defined space by a user is provided. The system can include a main interactive touchscreen; and a central controller connected in communication with the touchscreen monitor. The central controller can execute a series of computer-readable program instructions to perform comparing a detection of contact by the user at the touchscreen relative to a graphic representation of a virtual view of the component of the medical device relative to one of a series of predefined tasks associated with a maintenance procedure of the medical device stored in a database, and generating a display illustrative of a completion of the maintenance procedure upon calculating a completion of each of the plurality of predefined tasks. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20150377996 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SLAB SELECTION IN ULTRASHORT ECHO TIME 3-D MRI - A method for slab selection in ultrashort echo time three-dimensional MRI includes applying an excitation signal to a target under a polarizing field; applying a unipolar slab selection gradient pulse to the target, concurrent with the excitation signal; and applying a rewinder pulse to the target for less than about 30 μs, immediately after the slab selection gradient pulse, and still under the polarizing field. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20150377994 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE FOR FREQUENCY-OVERLAPPED 3-D MULTISPECTRAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES - A method for acquiring 3D multispectral MRI of a target includes scanning a spectrum of spectral windows with an MRI scanner, wherein each spectral window of the spectrum defines a continuously-differentiable distribution of frequencies around a scan frequency and adjacent scan frequencies are spaced apart by substantially uniform frequency offsets such that adjacent spectral windows substantially uniformly overlap, wherein selected adjacent spectral windows are scanned in consecutive passes, and nearest neighbor spectral windows within each pass are scanned at a maximum temporal spacing within the pass | 12-31-2015 |
| 20150375359 | COMPONENT SURFACE FINISHING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Methods for finishing a component include providing the component comprising one or more interior surfaces fluidly connected to one or more exterior surfaces, providing a plurality of magnetic particles, and applying a magnetic field so as to repeatedly move the magnetic particles against the interior surfaces and exterior surfaces of the component. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20150375340 | ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING METHODS AND SYSTEMS WITH FIBER REINFORCEMENT - Additive manufacturing methods for fabricating a fiber-reinforced composite objects include providing at least a first layer of powder material, disposing a fiber material adjacent the at least first layer of powder material to form a fiber reinforcement layer, and applying a laser energy to the at least first layer of powder material so as to fuse the powder material into at least a first laser fused material layer adjacent the fiber reinforcement layer of the fiber-reinforced composite object. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20150375322 | BRAZE METHODS AND COMPONENTS WITH HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS - 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. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20150375321 | FIBER REINFORCED BRAZED COMPONENTS AND METHODS - Methods of providing a fiber reinforced braze include providing a substrate, disposing at least a first fiber reinforcement layer on the substrate, wherein the at least first fiber reinforcement layer comprises a fiber material, disposing at least a first braze layer on the at least first fiber reinforcement layer, wherein a melt temperature of the braze layer is lower than a melt temperature of the fiber material, and heating the at least first fiber reinforcement layer and the at least first braze layer to bond the fiber reinforced braze to the substrate. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20150374318 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE FOR PET ATTENUATION CORRECTION UTILIZING MRI - A method for attenuation correcting a PET image of a target includes locating a radiopaque structure by MRI scan of the target; fitting a model of the radiopaque structure to the MRI scan image; and correcting attenuation of the PET image based on the fitted model. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20150371792 | ELECTRICAL TRANSFER SWITCH SYSTEM - A system including an automatic transfer switch configured to selectively route power from a first power source or a second power source to a load, comprising a switch configured to be moved between a first position and a second position, a first set of electrical contacts configured to route the power from the first power source when the switch is in the first position, a second set of electrical contacts configured to route the power from the second power source when the switch is in the second position, and a first arc chute housing configured to substantially enclose the first set of electrical contacts when the switch is in the first position. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150369209 | ROTOR BLADE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM - A transportation system for transporting rotor blades includes a rotor blade fixture configured to support one or more rotor blades. The rotor blade fixture has a first end, and a second end opposed to the first end. The first end is configured for mounting to a root end of a first rotor blade. The rotor blade fixture has a mid-span support located between about 50% and about 80% of a rotor blade span of the first rotor blade. The mid-span support is configured for supporting a mid-span portion of the rotor blade. The rotor blade fixture is configured to mount to a supporting surface so that a portion of the rotor blade fixture and the first rotor blade overhangs the supporting surface. The one or more rotor blades are supported at the root end and at a mid-span location located between about 50% and 80% of the rotor blade span. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150369068 | GAS TURBINE TRANSITION PIECE AFT FRAME ASSEMBLIES WITH COOLING CHANNELS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Aft frame assemblies for a gas turbine transition pieces include a body comprising an exterior surface and a plurality of interior surfaces, one or more exterior cooling holes disposed on the exterior surface of the body for capturing compressor discharge air outside of the transition piece, and a supplemental component bonded to at least one of the plurality of interior surfaces of the body. At least one cooling channel is at least partially defined by the supplemental component and the interior surface that the supplemental component is bonded to, wherein the at least one cooling channel fluidly connects at least one of the one or more exterior cooling holes to one or more interior cooling outlets that discharge the compressor discharge air captured from the at least one of the one or more exterior cooling holes. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150369053 | COMPONENTS WITH MICRO COOLED PATTERNED COATING LAYER AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - A manufacturing method includes providing a substrate with an outer surface and at least one interior space, selectively deposited a coating on a portion of the substrate to form a selectively deposited coating having one or more grooves formed therein. The method further includes processing at least a portion of the surface of the selectively deposited coating to plastically deform the selectively deposited coating in the vicinity of the top of a respective groove. An additional coating is applied over at least a portion of the surface of the selectively deposited coating. A component is disclosed and includes a substrate, a selectively deposited coating disposed on at least a portion of the substrate, and defining one or more grooves therein, and an additional coating disposed over the selectively deposited coating. The substrate, the selectively deposited coating and the additional coating defining one or more channels for cooling the component. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150367460 | METHODS OF FORMING COOLING CHANNELS USING BACKSTRIKE PROTECTION - A method of forming cooling channels in a component is provided. The component has a substrate having outer and inner surfaces. The inner surface defines at least one interior space, and a core is disposed within each interior space. The method includes forming at least one access hole in the substrate, while the core is disposed within the respective interior space, removing the core from the respective interior space, and forming at least one groove in the outer substrate surface (before or after the core is removed). Each access hole connects the groove in fluid communication with the respective interior space. The method further includes disposing a coating over at least a portion of the outer substrate surface, where the coating includes at least a structural coating that extends over the groove(s), such that the groove(s) and the structural coating together define one or more channels configured to convey a coolant from the respective interior space(s) for cooling the component. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150361961 | VENTILATION ARRANGEMENT - A ventilation arrangement for a wind turbine includes a manhole cover for covering a manhole of a rotor hub. The rotor hub is contained within the nose cone and spaced therefrom to form an internal space between an inner surface of the nose cone and an outer surface of the rotor hub. The manhole cover provides a vent opening for venting hot air from an interior space of the rotor hub into the internal space. A pipe extends from a forward internal space through the manhole cover and into the rotor hub. The pipe establishes fluid communication between the forward internal space and the interior space. A fan is mounted to the pipe, and draws air from the forward internal space. An exhaust, fluidly connected with the pipe, is located in the rotor hub and away from the manhole cover by 50% to 90% of a rotor hub axial length. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150361013 | USE OF ALIPHATIC NITROSO COMPOUNDS AS INHIBITORS OF RADICAL POLYMERIZATION OF ACTIVATED VINYL MONOMERS - Methods and compositions are provided for inhibiting the polymerization of a vinyl aromatic monomer, such as styrene monomer, during elevated temperature processing thereof or during storage or shipment of polymer containing product. The methods comprise adding from about 1-10,000 parts of an aliphatic nitroso compound (ANC) to the monomer, based upon one million parts of the monomer. The compositions comprise a combination of ANC (I) and dinitrophenol (II) and/or quinone methide (III) dissolved or dispersed in a liquid carrier. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150360284 | METALLIC STRUCTURE - A method of casting a truss structure having spaced face sheets connected by columnar structures, including forming a three-dimensional pattern (3D pattern) in the shape of the truss structure with the spaced face sheets and columnar structures, forming a mold core of the 3D pattern by surrounding the pattern with a liquid and letting the liquid harden about the 3D pattern, removing the 3D pattern from the mold core, filling the mold core with a liquid alloy to cast and directionally solidify the truss structure. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150357780 | BRUSH HOLDER APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - A brush holder system includes a stationary support member having at least one groove, and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove. The brush retainment member has a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. A radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag is mounted on the brush retainment member, and the RFID tag is configured to monitor brush wear and communicate brush wear status to a monitoring system. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150357779 | BRUSH HOLDER APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove, and a fork electrical connector. The stationary support member has a conductive bar configured to pass through a portion of the stationary support member's main body. The conductive bar is configured to provide electrical conductivity with a collector mount and the fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove, and a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150357778 | BRUSH HOLDER APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member has a brush restraint apparatus having a plunger brush restraint configured to restrain a brush from sliding within the brush retainment member by pressing it against the brush retainment member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove, and a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. The brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount, and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150357777 | BRUSH HOLDER APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove. The brush retainment member has a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150355054 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING ENGINE COMPONENTS AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH AN ENGINE - Diagnosing equipment coupled to a generator. A condition of the equipment is diagnosed based on information provided by signals from a generator operationally connected to the equipment or other signals associated with an engine. Different types of degradation are distinguished based on discerning characteristics within the information. Thus, a degraded equipment component can be identified in a manner that reduces service induced delay. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150354502 | ENGINE ARCHITECTURE WITH REVERSE ROTATION INTEGRAL DRIVE AND VANELESS TURBINE - A gas turbine engine comprises a fan, a compressor, a turbine having first stage blades and second stage blades, the first stage blades rotates in a first direction and the second stage blades rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first stage blades are directly adjacent to one another, a drive in operable input connection with the fan and in operable output connection with the first stage blades and the second stage blades, the first stage blades and the second stage blades driving the fan through the drive. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150354497 | PISTON ASSEMBLY FOR A RECIPROCATING ENGINE - A power cylinder system for a reciprocating engine includes a piston with a top-most groove extending circumferentially about the piston. The top-most groove includes one or more channels spaced apart circumferentially about the top-most groove and extending inward from an outer perimeter of the piston assembly. The system also includes a ring positioned in the top-most groove, the ring including a top face, a bottom face, an inner circumferential face, and an outer circumferential face that tapers between the top face and the bottom face. A space is defined between a portion of the top-most groove and the inner circumferential face of the ring, and the space is in fluid communication with the one or more radial channels. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150354496 | PISTON ASSEMBLY FOR A RECIPROCATING ENGINE - A power cylinder system for a reciprocating engine includes a piston configured to be disposed within a cylinder and to move in a reciprocating manner within the cylinder. The piston also includes a top-most groove extending circumferentially about the piston beneath a top land of the piston and a ring disposed within the top-most groove. A single channel is formed in the top land or the ring, and the single channel extends from an outer perimeter of the piston to a space between an inner surface of the top-most groove and an inner face of the ring. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150354495 | PISTON ASSEMBLY FOR A RECIPROCATING ENGINE - A power cylinder system for a reciprocating engine includes a cylinder with an inner annular wall and defining a cavity having a bore diameter. The system includes a piston assembly having a piston disposed within the cylinder and configured to move in a reciprocating manner. The piston and the inner annular wall of the cylinder are separated by a diametral cold clearance that is less than approximately 0.5 percent of the bore diameter. The piston assembly includes a top-most groove extending circumferentially about the piston beneath a top land of the piston and a ring disposed within the top-most groove. One or more channels are formed in the top land or an upper surface of the ring and are configured to enable combustion gases to flow from the cavity to a space between an inner surface of the top-most groove and an inner face of the ring. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150354394 | SHROUD ABRADABLE COATINGS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING - Methods of manufacturing turbine shrouds with an abradable coating that balance the apparently contradictory requirements of high flowpath solidity, low blade tip wear, and good durability in service may include forming an abradable coating on a surface of a coating system to form a substantially smooth flowpath surface. Forming the abradable coating includes forming a relatively porous, smooth abradable coating. The methods may also include machining the abradable so as to achieve a substantially smooth flowpath surface. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150354393 | METHODS OF MANUFACTURING A SHROUD ABRADABLE COATING - Methods of manufacturing turbine shrouds with an abradable coating that balance the apparently contradictory requirements of high flowpath solidity, low blade tip wear, and good durability in service. The methods include obtaining a shroud substrate. The methods may include obtaining a coating system on the shroud substrate. The methods include forming an abradable coating on a surface of the coating system so as to form a substantially smooth flowpath surface. Forming the abradable coating includes forming a relatively dense scaffold and relatively porous filler regions in-between the relatively dense abradable scaffold. The methods may also include machining the abradable so as to achieve a substantially smooth flowpath surface comprising a relatively porous abradable phase surrounded by a relatively dense, high-durability corrale phase. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150354392 | ABRADABLE COATINGS - Turbine shroud abradable coatings that balance the apparently contradictory requirements of high flowpath solidity, low blade tip wear, and good durability in service. The shrouds include a shroud substrate, a coating system, and an abradable coating. The coating system overlies at least a portion of an outer surface of the shroud substrate. The coating system includes a bond coat, a thermal barrier coating (TBC), and/or an environmental barrier coating (EBC). The abradable coating overlies at least a portion of the barrier coating. The abradable coating defines a substantially smooth continuous flowpath surface. The abradable coating includes a hybrid microstructure including a relatively dense, high-durability phase corralling relatively porous abradable phases. The second phases are relatively more abradable by the blades of a turbine than the second regions. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150352752 | AN AQUEOUS -SOLVENT BASED PROCESS FOR CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURING OF SUPPORTED ION SELECTIVE MEMBRANES - A membrane, for example an ion exchange membrane, is made by preparing a curable liquid using at least one aqueous solvent. The curable liquid is continuously cast onto a substrate to form a membrane precursor. The membrane precursor is continuously cured to form a membrane. Optionally, the curable liquid may be made by mixing a water soluble aliphatic sulfonic acid monomer with a pair of crosslinking monomers and a water soluble free-radical generating catalyst. Optionally, the method may include one or more steps of processing the membrane. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150350534 | SELECTABLE ENHANCEMENT WINDOW FOR INCREMENTAL MEASUREMENT ADJUSTMENT - A system includes an image capture device configured to capture an image of at least a portion of an industrial device or machinery. The system also includes a display configured to display the image. The system further includes a processor communicatively coupled to the image capture device and the display and configured to cause the display to display a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display, wherein the GUI comprises a first indicator located in user selectable first portion of the display and a window configured to display a portion of the image corresponding to a location of the first indicator, wherein the processor is configured to cause the first indicator to move to a second portion of the display in response to receiving an indication of a user interaction with the window. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150350212 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTHORIZING WEB SERVICE REQUESTS - Systems and methods for authorizing web service requests. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a web service request having an authorization header and business code, authenticating a Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) token included in the authorization header and constructing a security context based on attributes of the SAML token. The process also includes passing the security context to an authorization interceptor to interact with a policy information point (PIP) and a policy decision point (PDP), receiving a permit response, and then authorizing the web services request. In some implementations, the requested web service is then transmitted to the client computer that requested the web service. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150349696 | MAIN FIELD VOLTAGE LIMITER IN BRUSHLESS SYNCHRONOUS MACHINES - A brushless synchronous machine with a limiter for main field voltage and a method of limiting main field voltage in a brushless synchronous machine are described. The machine includes a regulator to use a field current to excite main field windings and generate the main field voltage. The machine also includes a limiter to limit the field current to maintain the main field voltage corresponding to the field current below a limit based on a transfer function. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150349502 | SWITCHGEAR INCLUDING A WITHDRAWABLE SWITCHGEAR UNIT HAVING A BLOCKING MECHANISM - A switchgear includes a housing having first and second side walls and at least one shelf member. The at least one shelf member includes a guide element. A withdrawable switchgear unit is slidingly supported on the at least one shelf member. A blocking mechanism is mounted to the withdrawable switchgear unit. The blocking mechanism includes a guide pin arranged in the guide element and a blocking pin operatively connected to the guide pin. The blocking pin selectively restricts movement of the withdrawable switchgear unit between at least two operational positions. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150348952 | INTERCONNECT DEVICES FOR ELECTRONIC PACKAGING ASSEMBLIES - An electronic packaging assembly having a semiconductor integrated circuit and a plurality of interconnect components is provided. The plurality of interconnect components is operatively coupled to the semiconductor integrated circuit. Further, one or more interconnect components include one or more support elements having a first surface and a second surface, and one or more spring elements having a first end and a second end, and wherein first ends of the one or more spring elements are coupled to the first surface or the second surface of a respective support element. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150348253 | REMOTE VISUAL INSPECTION IMAGE CAPTURE SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present disclosure describes an embodiment that provides a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of an endoscope. The instructions include instructions to capture, using an imager in the endoscope, a first plurality of images at a first brightness level while a live video based at least in part on the first plurality of images is displayed, generate, using the processor, a baseline image by averaging or summing the first plurality of images, capture, using the imager, a second plurality of images at a plurality of brightness levels, in which the plurality of brightness levels are different from the first brightness level, and generate, using the processor, a high dynamic range image based at least in part on the baseline image and the second plurality of images, in which the high dynamic range image comprises more unsaturated pixels than the baseline image. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150348216 | INFLUENCER ANALYZER PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA DOCUMENT AUTHORS - According to some embodiments, an influencer analyzer platform may access a document database storing documents associated with various social and traditional media sources, each document being associated with an author. A first influencer score may be calculated for a selected author based on a first algorithm and the documents in the document database. Similarly, a second influencer score may be calculated for the selected author based on a second algorithm, different than the first algorithm, and the documents in the document database. An overall influencer score may then be calculated based on the first influencer score adjusted by a first weighing value and the second influencer score adjusted by a second weighing value. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150347941 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPLEX DYNAMIC SUPPLY CHAIN SYSTEMS MODELING MANAGEMENT AND OPTIMIZATION - A system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium includes instructions that when executed by the processor perform a method. The method comprises receiving component data from a plurality of actors and determining a pre-optimization validation of a supply chain optimization model. The supply chain optimization model is created using a linear optimization technique when the pre-optimization validation indicates a valid supply chain optimization model where creating comprises executing an optimization algorithm. Results associated with a supply chain systems model are displayed. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150347570 | CONSOLIDATING VOCABULARY FOR AUTOMATED TEXT PROCESSING - A method includes providing a corpus of text, and using suffix manipulation to obtain a stem for at least some tokens in the corpus. The method also includes using the respective stem for each token of the at least some tokens to form groups of the at least some tokens. In addition, the method includes using the groups of tokens to select lemmas for at least some of the tokens in the groups of tokens. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150346305 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGE - A method for generating a magnetic resonance (MR) image includes applying a pulse sequence including a quadratic field gradient. A first k-space data set is acquired from each of a plurality of RF coils where each first k-space data set including uniformly undersampled data. A randomly undersampled k-space data set is generated for each RF coil from the first k-space data set. A compressed sensing reconstruction technique is applied to the randomly undersampled k-space data set of each RF coil to generate a second k-space data set for each RF coil where each second k-space data set including uniformly undersampled data. A phase scrambling reconstruction technique is applied to the second k-space data set of each RF coil to generate a low resolution coil image for each RF coil. A MR image is generated by applying a parallel imaging technique to the low resolution coil image and second k-space data set for each RF coil. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150346058 | METHODS FOR PRODUCING STRAIN SENSORS ON TURBINE COMPONENTS - Methods for manufacturing strain sensors on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface, and ablating at least a portion of the ceramic material to form a strain sensor comprising at least two reference points. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150346057 | METHODS FOR PRODUCING STRAIN SENSORS ON TURBINE COMPONENTS - Methods for manufacturing strain sensors on turbine components include providing a turbine component comprising an exterior surface, and, depositing a ceramic material onto a portion of the exterior surface to form a strain sensor comprising at least two reference points. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345799 | ASYMMETRICALLY FED STABILITY CHAMBER FOR A GAS BURNER - A gas burner assembly for an appliance has a gas stability chamber with a simmer flame port for providing a re-ignition source to primary burner ports positioned around the burner. The gas stability chamber has at least one primary stability chamber gas inlet and at least one secondary stability chamber gas inlet. The secondary stability chamber gas inlet is configured to provide a gas flow in the stability chamber with a velocity component that is offset from a radial direction of the gas burner assembly. This offset causes a flame at the simmer flame port to drift in the direction of an opposing side of the stability chamber from the secondary stability chamber gas inlet. As a result, the flamelet at the simmer flame port can more readily ignite the fuel exiting adjacent primary burner ports. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345794 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COHERENCE REDUCTION IN COMBUSTION SYSTEM - A system includes a gas turbine engine having a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first set of fuel nozzles and a first plurality of injection pegs. The first plurality of injection pegs are disposed in a first configuration upstream of the first set of fuel nozzles, along a first fuel path, and the first plurality of injection pegs are configured to route a fuel to the first set of fuel nozzles. The system further includes a second combustor having a second set of fuel nozzles and a second plurality of injection pegs. The second plurality of injection pegs are disposed in a second configuration upstream of the second set of fuel nozzles, along a second fuel path, and the second plurality of injection pegs are configured to route the fuel to the second set of fuel nozzles. The second configuration has at least one difference relative to the first configuration. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345782 | FEED INJECTOR SYSTEM - A system includes a feed injector that may supply a feedstock to a gasifier. The feed injector includes one or more conduits extending toward a tip portion having an outlet, cooling coil coupled to the tip portion, and a protective shell including a first protective shell portion coupled to a second protective shell portion. The protective shell surrounds the tip portion and at least portions of the one or more conduits and the cooling coil. The feed injector also includes one or more mounting structures disposed along an outer perimeter of the feed injector. The one or more mounting structures may facilitate coupling of the first protective shell portion, the second protective shell portion, and the feed injector. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345402 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VARIATION OF INJECTORS FOR COHERENCE REDUCTION IN COMBUSTION SYSTEM - A system includes a gas turbine engine having a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first fuel conduit having a first plurality of injectors. The first plurality of injectors are disposed in a first configuration within the first combustor along a first fuel path, and the first plurality of injectors are configured to route a fuel to a first combustion chamber. The system further includes a second combustor having a second fuel conduit having a second plurality of injectors. The second plurality of injectors are disposed in a second configuration within the second combustor along a second fuel path, and the second plurality of injectors are configured to route the fuel to a second combustion chamber. The second configuration has at least one difference relative to the first configuration. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345401 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREHEATING FUEL FOR GAS TURBINE ENGINES - Systems and methods for preheating fuel in a gas turbine engine are provided. In one embodiment, a system may include a gas turbine engine, a fuel line in fluid communication with the gas turbine engine, a gas turbine compartment disposed about the gas turbine engine, and a first conduit in fluid communication with the gas turbine compartment. The first conduit may include ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment. The system also may include a first heat exchanger in communication with the fuel line and the first conduit. The first heat exchanger may be configured to exchange heat between the fuel and the ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345393 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UTILIZING GAS TURBINE COMPARTMENT VENTILATION DISCHARGE AIR - Systems and methods for utilizing gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air. In one embodiment, a system may include a gas turbine engine having a compressor. The system also may include a gas turbine compartment disposed about the gas turbine engine. Moreover, the system may include an inlet bleed heat (IBH) manifold in fluid communication with the compressor. The gas turbine compartment may be in fluid communication with the IBH manifold for providing the IBH manifold with ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345390 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DE-ICING INLET SCREENS AND DEHUMIDIFYING INLET AIR FILTERS FOR GAS TURBINE ENGINES - Systems and methods for de-icing an inlet screen and dehumidifying an inlet air filter in a gas turbine engine are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method may include determining a current inlet screen temperature. The method also may include determining a desired inlet screen temperature. If the current inlet screen temperature is less than the desired inlet screen temperature, the method may further include determining a first amount of gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air necessary to achieve the desired inlet screen temperature, extracting the first amount of gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air, and conveying the first amount of gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air to the inlet screen. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345388 | GAS TURBINE COMPONENT AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING GAS TURBINE COMPONENT - A process of producing a ceramic matrix composite gas turbine component and a ceramic matrix composite gas turbine component are provided. The process includes modifying a surface of the ceramic matrix composite gas turbine component to produce a modified surface with a surface roughness of less than 6 micrometers. The modifying is selected from the group of techniques consisting of applying unreinforced matrix plies to the surface, vapor depositing silicon on the surface, honing the surface, applying braze paste to the surface, and combinations thereof. The component includes a modified surface including a surface roughness of less than 6 micrometers. The modified surface being selected from the group consisting of unreinforced matrix plies applied to a surface of the ceramic matrix composite gas turbine component, silicon vapor deposited on the surface, a honed surface, a braze paste applied to the surface, and combinations thereof. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345336 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AN INNER CASING OF A TURBOMACHINE - A support assembly for externally adjusting an inner casing with respect to an outer casing for a turbomachine includes a carrier plate, a carrier block that is fixedly connected to the carrier plate, a restrictor block fixedly connected to the carrier plate, a rod coupled to the carrier plate, and a plate threadably connected to the rod. The carrier block includes an inclined side and a carrier side. The restrictor block includes a restrictor side and an inclined side. The restrictor side is generally oriented towards the carrier side. A vertical gap for receiving a support arm of an inner turbine casing is defined between the restrictor side and the carrier side. The plate may be rotated about the rod to cause simultaneous movement of the rod, the carrier plate, the carrier block and the restrictor block, thus adjusting the inner casing with respect to the outer casing. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345332 | HORIZONTAL JOINT FOR A ROTARY MACHINE AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SAME - A horizontal joint of a rotary machine barrel includes first and second section mating surfaces that extend axially adjacent to the joint, and a plurality of gaps and a plurality of tangs disposed axially along the first and second section mating surfaces, respectively. Each tang has an axially extending tang aperture defined therethrough. Each gap is sized and axially spaced to receive a corresponding tang. Additionally, the joint includes a plurality of mating surface segments defined along the first section mating surface. Each segment extends axially between a corresponding pair of gaps and has an axially extending segment aperture defined therethrough. The tang apertures and segment apertures align to form a generally continuous axial pin aperture when the second section mating surface is positioned against the first section mating surface. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345318 | BRUSH SEAL FOR TURBINE - A brush seal for a turbine including an annular layer of filaments having a generally L-shape including an axial portion of the filaments and a radial portion of filaments, wherein a first end of the filaments is at an end of the radial portion and faces a rotating component of the turbine and a second end region of the filaments is at an end of the axial portion of the filaments and is fastened to a stationary component of the turbine. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345314 | TURBINE BUCKET ASSEMBLY AND TURBINE SYSTEM - A turbine bucket assembly and turbine system are disclosed. The turbine bucket assembly includes a single-lobe joint having an integral platform, the joint having a first axial length; a non-segmented airfoil having a root section and a tip section integral with the root section, the tip section having a tip end with a second axial length, the second axial length being less than the first axial length; and a turbine wheel having a receptacle with a geometry corresponding to the single-lobe joint and being coupled to the single-lobe joint. The turbine wheel includes a turbine wheel material and the single-lobe joint and the non-segmented airfoil include a turbine bucket material, the turbine bucket material having a higher heat resistance and a lower thermal expansion than the turbine wheel material. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345310 | TURBINE BUCKET ASSEMBLY AND TURBINE SYSTEM - A turbine bucket assembly and turbine system are disclosed. The assembly includes a single-lobe joint having an integral platform, the joint having a first axial length; a non-segmented airfoil extending radially outward from the integral platform and having a tip end with a second axial length, the second axial length being less than the first axial length; and a turbine wheel having a receptacle with a geometry corresponding to the single-lobe joint and being coupled to the single-lobe joint. The joint and the non-segmented airfoil include a turbine bucket material, and the turbine wheel includes a turbine wheel material, the turbine wheel material having a lower heat resistance and a higher thermal expansion than the turbine bucket material. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345309 | TURBINE BUCKET ASSEMBLY AND TURBINE SYSTEM - A turbine bucket assembly and turbine system are disclosed. The assembly includes a single-lobe joint having an integral platform, the joint having a first axial length; a segmented airfoil having a root segment extending radially outward from the platform and a tip segment coupled to the root segment, the tip segment having a second axial length being less than the first axial length; and a turbine wheel having a receptacle with a geometry corresponding to the single-lobe joint and being coupled to the single-lobe joint. The tip segment includes a tip segment material, the root segment includes a root segment material, and the turbine wheel includes a turbine wheel material having a lower heat resistance and a higher thermal expansion than the root segment material and the tip segment material. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345308 | TURBINE COMPONENT - A turbine component is disclosed. The turbine component includes an outer shroud and an inner shroud having a first hook region extending over a first portion of the outer shroud and a second hook region extending over a second portion of the outer shroud. A first hook gap, a second hook gap, a first radial gap, and a second radial gap are arranged and disposed to permit the inner shroud to deflect from the outer shroud under thermal loading. Additionally or alternatively, the inner shroud includes ceramic matrix composite fibers having a thermal conductivity of less than 200 W/m·k and greater than 10 W/m·k. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345307 | TURBINE BUCKET ASSEMBLY AND TURBINE SYSTEM - A turbine bucket assembly and turbine system are disclosed. The assembly includes a multi-lobe joint having an integral platform, the joint having a first axial length; a segmented airfoil having a root segment extending radially outward from the platform and a tip segment coupled to the root segment, the tip segment having a second axial length less than the first axial length; and a turbine wheel defining a receptacle with a geometry corresponding to the multi-lobe joint and being coupled to the multi-lobe joint. A tip segment material, a root segment material, and a turbine wheel material are selected, such that the turbine wheel material and the root segment material have a lower heat resistance and a higher thermal expansion than the tip segment material. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345306 | TURBOMACHINE BLADE TIP SHROUD - Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems including a turbomachine blade tip shroud having a pressure side portion and a suction side portion. The pressure side portion and the suction side portion are divided by a mean camber line of a turbomachine blade, and the pressure side portion has a greater surface area than the suction side portion. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345303 | ROTOR BLADE COOLING - A rotor blade includes a mounting portion comprising a mounting body that is formed to receive a coolant therein. An airfoil portion extends substantially radially outwardly from the mounting body and includes an airfoil body. The mounting body and the airfoil body define a plurality of primary cooling passages that extend substantially radially therein for routing the coolant through the airfoil body. Each of the primary cooling passages includes a cooling flow outlet that is formed along a tip portion of the airfoil body. The airfoil body further defines a plurality of trailing edge cooling passages, each having a coolant outlet that is formed along a trailing edge portion of the airfoil body. At least a portion of the trailing edge cooling passages are formed along a radially outer portion of the trailing edge proximate to the tip portion of the airfoil body. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345301 | ROTOR BLADE COOLING FLOW - A rotor blade includes and airfoil. The airfoil includes pressure and suction side walls which extend radially outwardly from a platform in span from a root to a tip and between a leading edge and a trialing edge. The tip includes a tip floor, a plurality of coolant outlets and a tip rail having a pressure side and suction side portions that extend radially outwardly from the tip floor. Cooling passages are circumscribed within the airfoil and are in fluid communication with one or more of the coolant outlets. A baffle extends radially outwardly from and transversely across the tip floor from the pressure side portion to the suction side portion to define first and second tip pockets. A slot is disposed along the suction side portion of the tip rail to provide for fluid communication out of one of the first or second tip pockets, thereby reducing pressure within the corresponding tip pocket. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345300 | COOLING STRUCTURE FOR STATIONARY BLADE - A cooling structure for a stationary blade is provided. The cooling structure may include a first chamber in an endwall of the stationary blade directing a first cooling fluid from the stationary blade to a first cooling circuit, and a second chamber in the endwall of the stationary blade directing a second cooling fluid from the stationary blade to a second cooling circuit different than the first cooling circuit. The first cooling fluid has a lower temperature than the second cooling fluid. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345296 | TURBINE BUCKET ASSEMBLY AND TURBINE SYSTEM - A turbine bucket assembly and turbine system are disclosed. The turbine bucket assembly includes a single-lobe joint having an integral platform, the joint having a first axial length; a segmented airfoil having a root segment extending radially outward from the platform and a tip segment coupled to the root segment, the tip segment having a second axial length, which is less than the first axial length; and a turbine wheel defining a receptacle with a geometry corresponding to the single-lobe joint and being coupled to the single-lobe joint. The tip segment includes a tip segment material, the root segment includes a root segment material, and the turbine wheel includes a turbine wheel material, the root segment material and the turbine wheel material having a lower heat resistance and a higher thermal expansion than the tip segment material. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345069 | DISPENSING APPARATUS WITH LABYRINTH SEAL - A fluid additive dispenser for a washing machine appliance is provided. The dispenser includes a housing, a dispenser drawer, and a plate. The housing and the plate form a seal to prevent water introduced into the dispenser from prematurely entering a compartment and to prevent a fluid additive in one compartment of the dispenser drawer from entering another compartment. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150344321 | WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY - A water filter assembly includes a first filter cartridge and a second filter cartridge mounted to a manifold. The first and second filter cartridges are plumbed into the manifold such that unfiltered water from an inlet of the manifold flows in parallel to the first and second filter cartridges. A third filter cartridge is also mounted to the manifold. The third filter cartridge is plumbed into the manifold such that filtered water from the first and second filter cartridges is directed into the third filter cartridge. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150344143 | AIRCRAFT AND METHOD OF MANAGING EVAPORATED CRYOGENIC FUEL - A method of managing evaporated cryogenic fuel in a storage tank of a cryogenic fuel system of an aircraft and an aircraft having at least one turbine engine providing propulsive force for the aircraft and a cryogenic fuel system including a passively cooled cryogenic fuel storage tank located within the aircraft, a pressure vent fluidly coupled to the cryogenic fuel storage tank and exhausting evaporated gas from the cryogenic fuel to define a natural gas vent stream, and a catalytic converter fluidly coupled to the pressure vent. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150344127 | AEROELASTICALLY TAILORED PROPELLERS FOR NOISE REDUCTION AND IMPROVED EFFICIENCY IN A TURBOMACHINE - Aeroelastically tailored propellers for noise reduction and improved efficiency in a turbomachine are provided including one or more upstream blades and one or more downstream blades disposed downstream relative to the one or more upstream blades. Each of the one or more upstream blades and the one or more downstream blades are aeroelastically tailored such that the one or more downstream blades include a greater degree of effective clipping during a second condition than at a first condition. Each blade among the one or more upstream blades comprises one or more geometric parameters. Each blade among the one or more downstream blades comprises one or more geometric parameters. In addition, an open rotor aircraft gas turbine engine assembly including the aeroelastically tailored propellers and a method of decreasing noise and improving efficiency in a turbomachine are disclosed. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150343385 | FLAT FILTRATION MODULE - Membranes are arranged in a stack with flat sheets of feed channel spacer and permeate carrier. Flat feed channels and permeate channels alternate through the thickness of the stack. Edges of the feed channels are sealed along the length of the stack. Edges of the permeate channels are sealed across the width of the stack. The stack may be more than 1.5 m long. Optionally, membranes may be sealed to each other without being folded. A filtration element comprises a stack and a shell. The shell has at least an inlet to the feed channels and a permeate outlet. Optionally, the element may be operated in a permeate side cross flow configuration. Parts of the stack may be pre-assembled, in some cases by an automated process. The filtration element may be used for reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, pressure retarded osmosis or nanofiltration. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150342088 | INTEGRATED COMPACT IMPINGEMENT ON EXTENDED HEAT SURFACE - A thermal management system that provides cooling to an electronic device is disclosed. The thermal management system includes a surface having a plurality of extended elements thermally coupled to the surface, a plurality of vibrator assemblies configured to generate a cooling flow across the surface, and a mounting structure disposed atop the plurality of extended elements of the surface to position the plurality of vibrator assemblies relative to the surface. The mounting structure is configured to orient each of the plurality of vibrator assemblies to the surface at an angel, such that the cooling flow generated by the plurality of vibrator assemblies impinges on the extended elements at an angle. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150342023 | THERMAL CLAMP APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS - An electronic device includes an outer case defining an internal volume, a circuit board positioned within the internal volume and having a first surface and a second surface, one or more active components mounted on the first surface of the circuit board, and a thermal management system to provide cooling for the active components. The thermal management system includes a first heat spreader in thermal contact with an active component, a second heat spreader in thermal contact with the second surface of the circuit board, thermal carriers coupled to the first and second heat spreaders to remove thermal energy therefrom, and a heat exchanger coupled to the thermal carriers to receive thermal energy therefrom and dissipate the thermal energy, wherein one thermal carrier is routed between the first heat spreader and the heat exchanger and the other thermal carrier is routed between the second heat spreader and the heat exchanger. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150341028 | GATE DRIVE UNIT AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A GATE DRIVE UNIT - A gate drive unit includes a charging device, a switch, and a timing module. The charging device is conductively coupled with an electrical energy source and a power switch between the electric energy source and the charging device. The switch closes to transfer electrical energy from the energy source to the charging device. The timing module is configured to close the switch to direct the electrical energy from the electrical energy source to the charging device for a designated charging time period in order to charge the charging device with the electrical energy while the power switch is in an OFF state. The timing module opens the switch to cause the electrical energy stored in the charging device to be transferred out of the charging device in the form of a trigger current that is conducted to a gate terminal of the power switch to activate the power switch to an ON state from the OFF state. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150340860 | SUBSEA POWER TRANSMISSION - A power transmission and distribution system includes a supplying side having a current source and a receiving side. The receiving side includes a modular converter with plurality of direct current (DC)-alternating current (AC) current source converters connected in series with the current source and a plurality of AC-DC rectifiers connected in parallel to supply power to a multiplicity of loads. Each of the DC-AC current source converters supply power to a corresponding AC-DC rectifier and includes a plurality of reverse blocking fully controllable switches having bidirectional voltage blocking capability. Furthermore, a current from the current source flows in at least one reverse blocking fully controllable switch at any instant. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150339810 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING A DAMAGED COMPONENT OF A MACHINE - A method and system for detecting a damaged machine component during operation of the machine are provided. The damaged machine component detection system includes one or more processors, one or more memory devices communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, an image capture device configured to generate a stream of temporally-spaced images of a scene including a machine component of interest, the images generated in real-time, and a grouping model configured to compare features of a current image of the stream of images to features of previously captured images sorted into a plurality of groups of images having similar features, generate an alert if predetermined features of the current image deviate from corresponding features of the grouped images by a predetermined amount, and update the groups with the current image if the predetermined features of the current image are similar to corresponding features of the grouped images by a predetermined amount. The system also includes an output device configured to output at least one of the alert and the current image. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150338848 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HANDLING MALFUNCTIONS - A method comprises receiving an alarm state from one or more inspection systems that inspects one or more components of a vehicle system. The method then identifies operational parameters of the vehicle system. The operational parameters represent at least one of a current location of the vehicle system, a current terrain over which the vehicle system is currently travelling, an upcoming terrain that the vehicle system is travelling toward, a current moving speed of the vehicle system, a position of one or more controls of the vehicle system, a state of a brake of the vehicle system or an identification of one or more vehicle units in the vehicle system. The method then selects and implements a mitigating action to implement from plural different mitigating actions based on the alarm state and the one or more parameters of the vehicle. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150338240 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MECHANICAL RUNOUT MEASUREMENT - A method of measuring mechanical runout including: mounting a work piece on a rotatable mount, wherein the mount is configured to rotate the work piece; placing a displacement sensor at a known position adjacent a surface of the work piece, the displacement sensor being configured to measure a radial dimension of the work piece; attaching a removable angle indicator to the surface of the work piece; rotating the work piece while mounted on the mount and collecting rotational data of the rotational position of the work piece during the rotation; collecting displacement data from the displacement sensor as the work piece rotates, wherein the displacement data indicates a radial distance from a rotational axis of the work piece to the surface of the work piece at points on the surface as the surface rotates with respect to the displacement sensor; analyzing the displacement data to detect data representing the angle indicator on the surface of the work piece; correlating the displacement data with the rotational data, and determining displacements of points on the surface of the work piece based on the correlated displacement data. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150338128 | Casing and Method for Assembling Casing for Water Heater Appliance - Casings for water heater appliance and methods for assembling such casings are provided. In one embodiment, a casing includes a wrapper extending generally along a vertical direction between a top edge and a bottom edge, the wrapper including an inner surface and an outer surface and defining an interior of the casing. The casing further includes a channel defined in the outer surface of the wrapper and extending generally peripherally about the wrapper adjacent to one of the top edge or the bottom edge. The casing further includes a cover coupled to the wrapper at one of the top edge or the bottom edge, the cover including a sidewall, the sidewall generally surrounding the channel. The casing further includes a fastener extending through the sidewall and the channel, the fastener coupling the wrapper and the cover together. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150338101 | TURBOMACHINE COMBUSTOR INCLUDING A COMBUSTOR SLEEVE BAFFLE - A turbomachine combustor includes a combustor body extending from a head end to a discharge end. The combustor body includes a combustor liner defining a combustion chamber. A combustor sleeve surrounds the combustor liner. The combustor sleeve is spaced from the combustor liner forming a passage. The combustor sleeve includes at least one opening. A baffle is arranged in the passage. The baffle includes a curvilinear surface extending from the combustor sleeve across the at least one opening toward the head end of the combustor body. The baffle is configured and disposed to compress a fluid flow passing through the passage toward the head end. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150337852 | Turbine Sealing System - A system for reducing leakage between static and rotating components within a turbine includes a static structure that is disposed radially outward from a tip of a rotating component. The static structure includes a seal assembly slot formed therein. A seal assembly includes a support block that is disposed within the seal assembly slot. A sealing material is disposed along a bottom portion of the support block and a tip slot is formed within the sealing material. The support block includes a forward portion that is slideably engaged with a forward inner surface of the seal assembly slot and an aft portion that is slideably engaged with an aft inner surface of the seal assembly slot. The system further includes a spring that extends axially between an aft wall of the seal assembly slot and an aft wall of the support block. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150337828 | VIBRATIONAL FLUID MOVER ACTIVE CONTROLLER - A vibrational fluid mover includes a housing having at least one actuator element positioned thereon that vibrates responsive to a wave shape voltage applied thereto, such that a volume of a chamber in the housing increases and decreases to entrain and eject fluid into/out from the chamber. A control system is operably connected to the actuator element to cause the voltage to be provided thereto so as to actively control the movement of the actuator element. The control system is programmed to set a baseline value for an operational parameter of the vibrational fluid mover generated responsive to a target voltage and frequency being provided, monitor operation of the vibrational fluid mover during operation at the target voltage and frequency, identify a deviation of the operational parameter from the baseline value, and modify the voltage and frequency provided to the actuator element based on any deviation of the operational parameter. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150337735 | METHOD OF PURGING A COMBUSTOR - A method of purging a combustor is provided. The method includes opening an isolation valve configured to regulate a flow rate of a fluid sent to at least one fuel nozzle of a combustor. The method also includes opening a control valve located upstream of the isolation valve after opening the isolation valve, wherein the isolation valve and the control valve are located within a fluid supply line. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150337733 | COOLING SUPPLY CIRCUIT FOR TURBOMACHINERY - Embodiments of the present disclosure include a cooling supply circuit within a turbine wheel, which may include: a substantially axial passage configured to communicate air along an axial length of the turbine wheel; a substantially radial inlet positioned within the turbine wheel between a hollow interior of the turbine wheel and the substantially axial passage, the inlet being configured to direct a rotor purge air into the substantially axial passage; and a substantially radial outlet positioned within the turbine wheel between the substantially axial passage and a cooled component coupled to a radial exterior of the turbine wheel, the outlet being configured to direct the rotor purge air towards the cooled component, wherein the outlet is axially displaced from the inlet. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150337483 | DRYER APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING A DRYER APPLIANCE - A dryer appliance is provided. The dryer appliance includes a filter assembly with a filter medium. A first portion of the filter medium is disposed within an exhaust conduit when the filter medium is in a first position. A second portion of the filter medium is disposed within the exhaust conduit when the filter medium is in a second position. A method for operating a dryer appliance is also provided. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150337478 | WASHING MACHINE APPLIANCE WITH A DAMPER - A washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance includes a cabinet and a tub disposed within the cabinet. The washing machine appliance also includes features for variably damping motion of the tub relative to the cabinet, such as a damper with a first, rigid piston and a second, compliant piston slidably received within a cylinder of the damper. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150336786 | REFRIGERATORS FOR PROVIDING DISPENSING IN RESPONSE TO VOICE COMMANDS - Generally the present disclosure is directed to refrigerators and other appliances configured to provide dispensing in response to a voice command. One example appliance includes a sensor configured to provide an output signal indicating whether a receptacle is present in a dispensing area of the appliance. The appliance includes a microphone for receiving a human speech signal. The appliance includes a speech-to-text module configured to convert the human speech signal into textual information. The appliance includes a feature processing module configured to determine one or more requested actions based on the textual information. When the one or more requested actions comprise dispensing, the appliance is configured to perform the dispensing only when the output signal from the sensor indicates that the receptacle is present in the dispensing area. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150335510 | System and Method of Infant Care Control and Workflow - An infant care system creates a microenvironment about an infant patient. An environmental control device is operable to change an environmental condition within the microenvironment. An auxiliary sensor is operable to intermittently obtain auxiliary data. A processor operates the environmental control device based upon at least the intermittently obtained auxiliary data. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150335316 | MRI SYSTEM FOR ROBOTICALLY ASSISTED BREAST BIOPSY - A breast biopsy system utilizing a needle biopsy device configured for guidance by a robotic guidance device into a treatment position wherein the needle tip is positioned adjacent target tissue in patient. The system including an MRI compatible device localization system adapted to track one or more points on the needle biopsy device and generate real-time device localization data. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system provides a multi-planar reference image data from the patient being treated. The MRI system is connected to the MRI compatible device localization system and operable to display an overlay image, reconstructed from the real-time device localization data, on the multi-planar reference image data which depicts the location of the needle biopsy device relative to the target tissue in the patient. A method of performing a breast biopsy utilizing the disclosed breast biopsy system is also provided | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150335223 | DISHWASHER APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING A DISHWASHER APPLIANCE - A dishwasher appliance is provided. The dishwasher appliance includes a first spray assembly and a second spray assembly. A pressure actuated valve is coupled to a supply conduit. The pressure actuated valve selectively permits wash fluid from the supply conduit to flow to the second spray assembly. A related method for operating a dishwasher appliance is also provided. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150333565 | PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM AND SOLAR PORT - Photovoltaic systems are presented. The photovoltaic system includes an array including a plurality of photovoltaic modules. At least one photovoltaic module in the array is movably coupled with an adjacent photovoltaic module and the array is configured to be slidably mounted on a plurality of support structures. A solar port is also presented. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150333499 | Systems and Methods to Protect an Energy Utility Meter from Overvoltage Events - A device may include a sensor. The sensor may detect usage of electric power. Additionally, the device may include a fusible surge resistor coupled in series with the sensor, and a thermal metal oxide varistor (MOV) coupled in parallel with the sensor. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150332829 | CRYOGENIC COOLING SYSTEM - A cryogen cooling system to cool a superconducting magnet is disclosed herein utilizing embedded vertical tubing with a large heat exchanging surface area. The tubing encompasses the magnet which is further surrounded by a 4 Kelvin thermal shield for extended ride-through. In one embodiment, the system is a hyperpolarizer having an internal high-pressure gas storage for quench gas and to initiate cool-down. Aspects of the invention utilize a minimal volume of pressurized gas, for example, four (4) liters of pressurized gaseous helium in a 150 mL liquid helium system. As such, the prior vent stack has been removed, along with the helium vessel and quench paths/ducts. The method of using the system is further simplified during ramping while the cool-down process utilizing liquids supplied from external dewars has been eliminated. Significant advantages include reducing the helium volume (and cost associated therewith) and allowing for a hermetically sealed vacuum system that is leak-proof. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150332584 | AUDIO SUBSYSTEM MONITORING MECHANISM FOR PATIENT MONITORS - A patient monitor that includes a system for testing the operation of a speaker included in the patient monitor is disclosed. The control unit of the patient monitor generates a low frequency test signal to the speaker. The speaker generates the test signal at a frequency that is below the normal audible range for a human ear. A current sensing device detects the current draw of the speaker during operation. The current draw is analyzed to determine whether the speaker is operating properly. A backup speaker is used to generate an audible alarm when the speaker is not working properly. A microphone can be included to detect the inaudible test signal. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150332485 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTINUOUS MOTION BREAST TOMOSYNTHESIS - A method of continuous motion digital tomosynthesis includes exposing an object to a programed intensity x-ray beam as an x-ray source travels a pre-determined path, accumulating a signal charge from the x-ray beam, recording the accumulated signal charge into a digital frame image representing raw baseline data, acquiring information on the source's and the detector's position when the recording occurs, compressing the raw baseline data into compressed views, where each respective compressed view is formed by combining the raw data readouts of the respective compressed view, and reconstructing a volumetric breast image by processing each respective compressed view with a reconstruction process function that incorporates the acquired position information and a spatial sampling corresponding to the compressed views. A system configured to implement the method and a computer-readable medium are also disclosed. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150331079 | CALIBRATION METHODS FOR VOLTAGE SENSING DEVICES - A calibration method for enhancing a measurement accuracy of one or more voltage sensing devices in presence of a plurality of conductors is provided. The method includes operatively coupling at least one voltage sensing device of the one or more voltage sensing devices to a respective conductor of the plurality of conductors and determining a sensed voltage value of the respective conductor using the at least one voltage sensing device The method further includes determining a calibration matrix having cross-coupling factors representative of cross-coupling between an antenna of the at least one voltage sensing device and other conductors of the plurality of conductors and determining a corrected voltage value of the respective conductor by deducting at least in part contributions of the cross-coupling from the sensed voltage value of the respective conductor using the calibration matrix. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150331017 | CONTACTLESS VOLTAGE SENSING DEVICES - A contactless voltage sensing device configured to measure a voltage value of a conductor is provided. The contactless voltage sensing device includes a first impedance element having a first impedance, where the first impedance element is configured to be operatively coupled to the conductor. Further, the contactless voltage sensing device includes an antenna operatively coupled to the first impedance element, a second impedance element having a second impedance, where the second impedance element is formed in part by the antenna and a parasitic impedance element, and where the parasitic impedance element includes a parasitic impedance, and measurement and communication circuitry coupled to the first impedance element to measure the voltage value of the conductor. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150330695 | ICE MAKING APPLIANCE - An ice making appliance is provided. The ice making appliance includes a first ice maker and a second ice maker. The first and second ice makers generate different types of ice. The ice making appliance also includes supply ducts for receiving chilled air from an evaporator and directing the chilled air to the first and second ice makers. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150330636 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROL OF COMBUSTION DYNAMICS IN COMBUSTION SYSTEM - A system includes a gas turbine engine that includes a first combustor and a second combustor. The first combustor includes a first fuel nozzle disposed in a first head end chamber of the first combustor. The first fuel nozzle includes a first orifice configured to inject fuel into a first combustion chamber of the first combustor. The second combustor includes a second fuel nozzle disposed in a second head end chamber of the second combustor. The second fuel nozzle includes a second orifice configured to inject the fuel into a second combustion chamber of the second combustor. The second combustor also includes a second orifice plate disposed in a fuel path upstream of the second orifice. The second orifice plate is configured to help reduce modal coupling between the first combustor and the second combustor. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150330444 | SYMMETRICAL ELECTROMAGNETIC ACTUATOR - A system includes a body having a rotational axis. The system also includes an electromagnetic actuator radially offset from the body and configured to support the body to rotate about the rotational axis. The electromagnetic actuator includes a radial pole assembly magnetically coupled to and cooperating with a radial actuator target to define a radial magnetic control circuit, a first axial pole assembly magnetically coupled to and cooperating with a first axial actuator target to define a first axial magnetic control circuit, and a second axial pole assembly magnetically coupled to and cooperating with a second axial actuator target to define a second axial magnetic control circuit. The structural arrangement of the radial pole assembly and the first and second axial pole assemblies is symmetrical about a radial midplane through the radial pole assembly, wherein the radial midplane is orthogonal with respect to the rotation axis of the body. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150330263 | COMBINED CYCLE POWER PLANT SYSTEM AND RELATED CONTROL SYSTEMS AND PROGRAM PRODUCTS - Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to monitor a combined-cycle (CC) power plant during a transient event by performing actions including: determining whether a change in an operating condition of a component of the CC power plant is unintentional, the determining including comparing control system instructions for the component of the CC power plant with a reference look-up table, the reference look-up table including correlation data for the control system instructions for the component and historical data about the operating condition of the component; and providing instructions to a control system of the CC power plant to modify the operating condition in the CC power plant in response to determining that the change in operating condition of the component is unintentional. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150330173 | METHOD FOR MONITORING A SEALING ELEMENT - Embodiments of a method for monitoring an annular packer are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for monitoring a sealing element of a blowout preventer may include providing a fluid to a chamber disposed within a blowout preventer to actuate a piston disposed within the chamber, wherein the actuation of the piston causes a reduction of an inner diameter of a sealing element; measuring one or more parameters of the fluid via a sensor; receiving data relating to the one or more parameters from the sensor; determining a stiffness of the sealing element utilizing the data relating to the one or more parameters; and determining an amount of degradation of the sealing element by comparing the determined stiffness of the sealing element to a known data profile. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150329358 | GASIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method includes providing a gasifier with a fuel source comprising a heavy oil, a light oil, and recovered soot. The gasifier may gasify the fuel source to generate a syngas and soot. The method also includes recovering the soot in a first separation unit that may receive a portion of the heavy oil and separate the soot from an extraction oil used to recover the soot. The first separation unit generates soot bottoms that include the portion of the heavy oil and the recovered soot. The method also includes flowing a first separation co-fractionate to a second separation unit. The first separation co-fractionate includes the extraction oil and the light oil. The second separation unit may separate the extraction oil and the light oil, and direct the light oil towards the first separation unit. The method further includes mixing the soot bottoms from the first separation unit with the light oil from the second separation unit to generate the fuel source and directing the fuel source to the gasifier for gasification. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150329347 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECEPTACLE AUTO FILL USING INDUCTIVE SENSING - Systems and methods for receptacle auto fill using inductive sensing are provided. One example system includes a dispensing system capable of dispensing liquid. The system includes a sensor. The sensor includes a coil positioned adjacent to a dispensing area of the dispensing system. The system includes a receptacle capable of holding a volume of liquid. The system includes a floating object positioned within the receptacle and permitted to move upwards and downwards based on a liquid fill level of the receptacle. The floating object includes a conductive strip providing a first impedance at a first vertical position of the strip and a second impedance at a second vertical position of the strip. The first impedance is different than the second impedance. The system includes a controller configured to control the dispensing system based at least in part on an amount of inductance exhibited between the coil and the conductive strip. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150329036 | TRANSPORTATION ASSEMBLY FOR ROTOR BLADE - Transportation assemblies for rotor blades are provided. A transportation assembly includes a protection cap including a nose portion and a plurality of sidewall portions extending from the nose portion, the protection cap having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The transportation assembly further includes a restraint assembly including a first protrusion and a second protrusion each extending from the protection cap, the first protrusion and the second protrusion spaced apart along a width of the protection cap. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150328729 | TURBOMACHINE COMPONENT DISPLACEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE - Various embodiments include apparatuses adapted to displace components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments an apparatus for displacing a component of a gas turbine from a first slot in a spacer disk includes a body including a mounting member configured to affixedly attach to a second slot of the spacer disk, a linear actuator coupled to the body and a displacement arm coupled to the linear actuator, the displacement arm actuatable in a first axial direction by the linear actuator to contact the component and displace the component relative to the first slot. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150328728 | TURBOMACHINE BUCKET DISPLACEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE - Various embodiments include apparatuses adapted to displace turbomachine components from a location within a turbomachine. In some embodiments apparatuses for displacing a turbine bucket from a turbomachine wheel slot include a body having at least two contacting portions for contacting the turbomachine wheel, a linear actuator coupled to the body, and an engagement arm for engaging the turbine bucket, the engagement arm coupled to the linear actuator and adapted to be actuated in a first axial direction by the linear actuator. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150328678 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR FORMATION OF CERAMIC ARTICLES - Compositions and methods useful for forming ceramic articles, such as, for instance, cores and shells for investment casting, are provided. The composition comprises a liquid that comprises a siloxane species; a plurality of particles, comprising a ceramic material, disposed within the liquid; a catalyst material disposed within the liquid; and a pore-forming agent disposed within the liquid. The pore-forming agent comprises a silicon-bearing agent that is substantially inert with respect to the liquid, and has an average molecular weight less than about 1300 grams per mole. The method comprises disposing any of the compositions described above in a desired shape; curing the siloxane species, and volatilizing the pore-forming agent to form a porous green body. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150328597 | ZWITTERION-FUNCTIONALIZED BLOCK COPOLYMER MEMBRANES AND ASSOCIATED BLOCK COPOLYMER COMPOSITION - A membrane including a block copolymer is presented. The block copolymer includes at least one block A including structural units having a formula (I), and at least one block B including structural units having a formula (II). A hollow-fiber membrane for hemodialysis or hemofiltration, and associated block copolymer are also presented. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150327831 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUBJECT SHAPE ESTIMATION - A medical imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The system can automatically adjust setup configuration and an imaging operation based on subject shape estimation information. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150327395 | APPARATUS FOR SECURING AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT - An apparatus for securing an electronic component to a heat sink or other support structure includes an insulative housing including a main body portion and a pair of opposed depending legs. The main body portion has a central recess formed therein. A pivot block or fulcrum is disposed in the recess. The apparatus also includes a load bar that is engageable with the pivot block to exert a compressive force upon the pivot block. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150325322 | X-RAY ANTI-SCATTER GRID - An X-ray anti-scatter grid assembly includes a boron-nitride substrate and X-ray absorbing septa coupled to the boron-nitride substrate. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150325060 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING PROTECTION DEVICES OF AN INDUSTRIAL MACHINE - A system includes a machinery protection monitoring system. The machinery protection monitoring system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of alarm escalation rules associated with an operational protection function of an industrial machine, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to utilize the plurality of alarm escalation rules. The processor is also configured to receive an indication that the operational protection of the industrial machine is at least partially suspended, compare the measurement of the one or more operational parameters to at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules, and generate an alarm signal based at least in part on whether the at least one of the plurality of alarm escalation rules is satisfied. The alarm signal includes an indication of an adverse operational condition of the machinery protection monitoring system. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150325018 | STANDALONE ANNOTATIONS OF AXIAL-VIEW SPINE IMAGES - Systems, methods and computer program products to annotate axial-view spine images with the desired characteristics of not requiring additional views of the spine or cross-referencing features are provided. In one aspect, the disclosed method does not require external training from a manually-labeled data set while being applicable to different imaging modalities and acquisition protocols. In one aspect, the disclosed method achieves near real-time results using integral kernels when implemented on a Graphics Processing Unit. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150324589 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLED DEVICE ACCESS - An industrial environment includes an industrial system device. The industrial system device includes a processor to receive a certificate describing a security policy of one or more access constraints for the industrial system device and to implement the security policy on the industrial system device. Accordingly, access to the device may be customizable based upon a particular job to be completed on the device, providing more appropriate device access. Further, the security policy certificate may be provided to the device without relying on an “always-on” server-based system, resulting in fewer points of failure for accessing the device. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150323680 | METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MEASURING THE INDIVIDUAL OUTPUTS OF PARTICLE DETECTORS IN AN ARRAY USING CHARGE DIVISION ELECTRONICS - A detector arrangement for detecting at least one of rays, ions and particles includes a plurality of detectors. Each detector has a respective anode output and the detectors are arranged with the respective anode outputs being in an electrical series. The arrangement includes a plurality of resistive elements interspersed in the electrical series. The arrangement includes a first measurement point at a first end of the electrical series and a second measurement point at a second end of the electrical series. The arrangement includes electrical circuitry, electrically connected to the first and second measurement points for receiving electrical signals/pulses from the first and second measurement points, and for using the electrical signals/pulses from the first and second measurement points to determine which of the plurality of detectors has detected the at least one of rays, ions and particles. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150323439 | METHOD FOR ELEMENTALLY DETECTING VARIATIONS IN DENSITY - A method and system are provided for elementally detecting variations in density. The method includes providing a computed tomography device, comprising a radiation source, a detector, and at least one grating between the radiation source and the detector, positioning the component between the radiation source and the detector, directing radiation from the radiation source to the detector to acquire information from the component, generating at least one phase contrast image and at least one dark field contrast image of the component corresponding to variations in density with the information from the component, correlating the variations in density to a foreign mass, and displaying foreign mass distribution within the component. The system includes a radiation source, a detector, a component, a first grating, a second grating, and an analysis device capable of determining total variation of density in response to radiation received by the detector, and correlating the variation of density to free element distribution in the component. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150323422 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND OPERATING DURATIONS - Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to a system and method for evaluating opportunities to extend operating durations. A system according to the present disclosure can include: a computing device in communication with a machine amongst a plurality of machines within a machine system, the machine being subject to a particular operating duration, wherein the computing device is configured to perform actions including: examining operating data for the machine; modeling future performance data for the machine; calculating an operating duration extension risk for the machine; determining whether the machine is eligible for an operating duration extension based on the examined operating data, the modeled future performance data, and the calculated operating duration extension risk; and calculating an extension readiness metric for the machine in response to the machine being eligible for the operating duration extension. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150323193 | APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING AN APPLIANCE - An appliance is provided. The appliance includes a cabinet that defines an air passage. An air handler has an impeller that is positioned proximate the air passage. The appliance also includes features for determining whether the impeller is rotating. When the impeller rotates, the impeller draws a flow of air through the air passage. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150322866 | Enhanced Turbine Cooling System Using a Blend of Compressor Bleed Air and Turbine Compartment Air - The present application provides a gas turbine engine for low turndown operations. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor with a compressor bleed air flow, a turbine compartment with a turbine compartment air flow, a turbine, and an eductor. The eductor blends the compressor bleed air flow and the turbine compartment air flow into a blended air flow for use in cooling the turbine. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150322865 | Turbine Cooling System Using an Enhanced Compressor Air Flow - The present application provides a gas turbine engine for low turndown operations. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor with a compressor bleed air flow, a turbine, and a compressor bleed air flow manifold. The compressor bleed air manifold directs a variable portion of the compressor bleed air flow to the turbine. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150322861 | Enhanced Turbine Cooling System Using a Blend of Compressor Bleed Air and Ambient Air - The present application provides a gas turbine engine for low turndown operations. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor with a compressor bleed air flow, an ambient air source with an ambient air flow, a turbine, and an eductor. The eductor blends the compressor bleed air flow and the ambient air flow into a blended air flow for use in cooling the turbine. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150322850 | TURBOCHARGER AND CASING - Various methods and systems are provided for a turbocharger comprising a turbine disc rotatable about a rotational axis of the turbocharger, a compressor wheel mechanically coupled to the turbine disc via a shaft, a compressor casing including an air inlet and a blower casing formed as one piece, the air inlet configured to admit air to the compressor wheel, and a turbine casing housing the turbine disc, the turbine casing including a shroud surrounding the turbine disc. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150322822 | SIMPLIFIED WATER INJECTION SYSTEM FOR COMBINED CYCLE POWER PLANT - In one or more of the inventive aspects, a boiler feedwater pump may provide feedwater to a heat recovery steam generator, and the heated feedwater may be used for liquid fuel heating in a liquid fuel heater. The feedwater from the boiler feedwater pump may also be used for water injection in a combustor. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150322813 | EMBEDDED WIRELESS SENSORS FOR TURBOMACHINE COMPONENT DEFECT MONITORING - Various embodiments include detection systems adapted to monitor at least one physical property of a component in a turbomachine. In some embodiments a detection system includes at least one sensor configured to be affixed to a component of a turbomachine, the at least one sensor for sensing information regarding at least one physical property of the turbomachine component during operation of the turbomachine, a signal converter communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and at least one RF communication device configured to be affixed to a stationary component of the turbomachine, the radio frequency communication device configured to communicate with the at least one signal converter via an RF antenna coupled to the signal converter. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150322802 | BLADE COOLING CIRCUIT FEED DUCT, EXHAUST DUCT, AND RELATED COOLING STRUCTURE - A blade cooling circuit feed and exhaust duct and related cooling structure are provided. The feed duct may include a feed chamber having a feed entrance fluidly coupled to a cooling fluid source and a feed exit to an elongate entrance to the cooling circuit, the feed exit including a ramped wall maintaining a flow velocity of the cooling fluid along the elongated entrance to the cooling circuit. The exhaust duct may include a substantially concave exhaust chamber including an exhaust entrance at a wider end of the exhaust chamber and in fluid communication with an elongated exit from the cooling circuit, and an exhaust exit at a narrower end of the exhaust chamber, the exhaust exit including an opening to an exhaust passageway from the exhaust chamber. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150322789 | REAL-TIME MONITORING OF GAS TURBINE LIFE - A system, method and computer-readable medium for monitoring a life of a gas turbine component is disclosed. A numerical model of the gas turbine component is created and parameter measurements are obtained in real-time for at least a portion of the gas turbine component. The parameter measurements are fused with a subset of the numerical model corresponding to the portion of the gas turbine component to obtain a subset of a fused parameter model corresponding to the portion of the gas turbine component. The subset of the fused parameter model is expanded to obtain the fused parameter model that corresponds to at least a location outside of the portion of the gas turbine component. The life of the gas turbine component is monitored using the fused temperature model. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150321767 | SYSTEM FOR TEMPERATURE AND ACTUATION CONTROL AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FLUID TEMPERATURES IN AN AIRCRAFT - A system for fluid temperature control and actuation control for an aircraft engine fueled by dual fuels. The system includes a first fuel system having a first fuel tank fluidly coupled to the engine, a second fuel system having a second fuel tank fluidly coupled to the engine, with the second fuel being different from the first fuel and having a different temperature than the first fuel, a fuel distribution unit (FDU) fluidly coupled to the first fuel tank of the first fuel system, and a fuel-to-fuel cooler (FFC) configured to transfer heat between the first fuel in the first fuel system and the second fuel in the second fuel system. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150321155 | FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A fuel delivery system is provided. The system includes a natural gas reformer configured to receive a flow of natural gas and a flow of air. The natural gas reformer combines the natural gas and the air in a reaction to produce a flow of reformate gas. The system also includes a mixing device coupled downstream from the natural gas reformer. The mixing device is configured to selectively mix amounts of the reformate gas, vaporized liquid fuel, and natural gas to produce a flow of mixed product fuel having predetermined operating parameters. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150320289 | DISHWASHER APPLIANCE HAVING IMPROVED VENTILATION APPARATUS - Dishwasher appliances are provided. A dishwasher appliance includes a chamber and a door. The door has an interior wall and an exterior wall, the interior wall and exterior wall defining a door interior therebetween, and a top and a bottom. The dishwasher appliance further includes a conduit disposed within the door, the conduit defining a passage extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defined in the interior wall for the egress of fluid from the chamber, the second end defined in the door for the egress of fluid from the conduit. The dishwasher appliance further includes a port defined in the conduit for the egress of fluid from the door interior, and an auxiliary conduit disposed within the door interior, the auxiliary conduit defining a passage extending between a first end and the port for flowing fluid from the door interior to the conduit. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150319830 | PACKAGING DESIGN FOR CT DETECTOR - A CT system includes a gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned, an x-ray tube attached to the gantry, and a detector assembly. The detector assembly is positioned to receive x-rays that pass through the object and includes a light-sealed enclosure formed by at least first and second rails, a back support, and a light seal structure, and a plurality of liquid-cooled modules positioned in the enclosure. Each module includes a digital cable that passes from inside the enclosure, and each module is configured to convert the x-rays to a digital signal and output the signal via a digital cable. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150318164 | METAL HALIDE LAMP HAVING IMPROVED LUMEN MAINTENANCE - A metal halide lamp having improved lumen maintenance due to improved wall cleaning through use of a wall cleaning tungsten halogen chemical cycle. Oxygen for the wall cleaning tungsten halogen cycle is provided by an oxidized electrode. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150318163 | OXIDIZED ELECTRODES AS OXYGEN DISPENSERS IN METAL HALIDE LAMPS - An electrode for dosing oxygen into a metal halide lamp, where the electrode supplies oxygen during lamp operation in an amount effective to maintain a wall cleaning tungsten halogen chemical cycle. Use of the oxygen dosing electrode increases the lumen maintenance of the lamp to 80% or higher at 6000 hours. A method for making an oxidized electrode for use as an oxygen dispenser into the discharge vessel of a metal halide lamp is also provided. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150317785 | METHOD OF GENERATING A MULTI-MODALITY ANATOMICAL ATLAS - Method of generating a multi-modality anatomical atlas. The method includes receiving first and second medical images of a region-of-interest (ROI) of a same individual. The first and second medical images are acquired by different first and second imaging modalities. The method includes generating first and second feature images based on the first and second medical images. The first and second feature images include a same designated anatomical feature of the ROI. The method includes determining a transformation function by registering the first and second feature images and applying the transformation function to the first and second medical images to register the medical images. The method includes generating a multi-modality anatomical atlas. The multi-modality atlas has the first and second medical images. The first and second medical images are first and second reference images. The multi-modality anatomical atlas includes an organ model that corresponds to an organ in the ROI. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150316032 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR REDUCING WIND TURBINE NOISE - A method for reducing noise generated by a wind turbine includes measuring a reference temperature of the wind turbine. The method also includes regulating a trailing edge surface temperature of a trailing edge portion of a rotor blade attached to the wind turbine. In addition, the method includes measuring the trailing edge surface temperature. Further, the method includes regulating the trailing edge surface temperature to maintain a predetermined temperature differential between the reference temperature and the trailing edge surface temperature. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150316026 | ROTOR BLADE JOINT ASSEMBLY WITH MULTI-COMPONENT SHEAR WEB - A wind turbine rotor blade joint assembly and method of manufacturing same is disclosed. The rotor blade includes an upper shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal face thereof and a lower shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal face thereof. A shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. The shear web includes first and second longitudinally aligned components that extend from and are integral with respective spar caps. A joint assembly is configured between facing transverse ends of the first and second components of the shear web. The joint assembly includes a connecting structure configured to receive the transverse ends of the first and second components. The connecting structure is infused and integral with the first component of the shear web and bonded with the second component of the shear web. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150315992 | METHODS AND SENSOR MODULE FOR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION EMISSION PARAMETERS IN A COMBUSTION SYSTEM - Methods and a sensor module for use in controlling operation of a gas turbine system are provided herein. The sensor module is coupled within a combustion system and is configured to obtain an aspirated exhaust sample of exhaust flowing through an exhaust duct. The exhaust is generated by the combustion system. The aspirated exhaust sample is analyzed to determine a plurality of exhaust parameters. The sensor module also controls at least one combustion system parameter in a closed loop emission control (CLEC) system based on at least one of the plurality of exhaust parameters. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150315981 | FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM - A fuel supply system includes a fuel line path configured to route a fuel to a combustion inlet region. Also included is a flow manipulation member disposed proximate the fuel line path, the flow manipulation member comprising a piezoelectric material configured to cyclically manipulate a mass flow pressure of the fuel being routed through the fuel line path. | 11-05-2015 |
