Abstract:
A state machine has specific states to boot a microprocessor and retrieve data from the microprocessor's memories while the microprocessor is running, but with operation temporarily suspended under control of the state machine. The state machine is programmed after it is installed on a circuit board with the microprocessor. The state machine is connected to a standard bus and through its specific states provides an interface to the microprocessor as well as the instructions for booting the microprocessor when the microprocessor is powered up.
Abstract:
A reflective element (26), such as a Bragg grating, impressed in an optical fiber (24), has a reflection wavelength which is tuned by compressing the grating (26). Because an optical fiber is much stronger under compression than in tension, the grating (26) is tunable over a much broader range than conventional tension/stretching techniques.
Abstract:
A method and system is provided for repairing a resin-impregnated article having one or more dry spots or resin-depleted areas. A mold release is used to coat all surfaces of the defective article, except for the resin-depleted areas and a border area surrounding and contiguous to each resin-depleted area. The coated article is then placed within a mold cavity defined by a two-piece mold and corresponding in shape and size to the article. A plurality of shims are interposed in the parting line between the two halves of the mold, creating a first gap within the parting line and a second gap between the surfaces of the article and the walls defining the mold cavity. A gasket is also seated between the two halves of the mold to seal the mold cavity, and a vacuum pump is coupled to the mold cavity to evacuate the cavity to a negative pressure. Heated, substantially degassed resin is then injected into the mold cavity, which flows through the second gap over the coated surfaces of the article and into the resin-depleted areas to impregnate the depleted areas. The shims are then removed and the two halves of the mold are brought into engagement to substantially close the first and second gaps and squeeze excess resin from the mold cavity. The article is then heat treated within the mold cavity to cure the impregnated resin.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine (10) includes a plurality of rotor blades (24) having a root (33) and a tip (34) and a pressure side (32) and a suction side (30). The rotor blades (24) are enclosed in an engine case (11). A variable position engine case liner (50) is disposed radially inward of the engine case (11) and radially outward of the rotor blade tips (34). Biasing means (60), disposed between the liner (50) and the engine case (11), urge the liner (50) radially inward from the engine case (11). The tips (34) of the rotor blades (24) are angled with respect to the direction of rotation of the blades (24) on the pressure side (32) thereof to deflect pressurized air against the liner (50). The liner (50) adjusts its position to maintain a minimum tip clearance (70) between the liner (50) and the tips (34) of the rotor blades (24) during different operating conditions of the gas turbine engine (10).
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine (10) has a row of fan stator vanes (18) extending radially across a flow path (20) and joined to inner and outer cases (22 and 24). A vibration damping shroud (78) includes a radially extending chamber (84) for receiving one end of each stator vane in a primary vibration damping material (86). At least one pin receiving cavity (88), independent of the chamber, contains a secondary vibration damping material (92) which slidably engages a corresponding support pin (72) extending from the adjacent case (22) to anchor the vane to the case. The independence of the chamber and the cavity enables the use of different primary and secondary materials capable of satisfying conflicting performance requirements.
Abstract:
Acoustic noise resulting from the interaction of a periodic pressure and velocity fluctuation induced by a periodically passing blade wake interacting with a dowstream airfoil (10) is attenuated by locating an antisymmetric pressure wave generator (30) adjacent the leading edge (18) of the vane (10).
Abstract:
An electronic ignition system for a reciprocating engine includes a pre-ignition prevention control sub-system which acts as an independent monitor system to ensure the ignition system can only command a spark plug to fire when the next cylinder to fire is outside its pre-ignition zone. The pre-ignition prevention sub-system is independent from the circuitry which commands the spark plug to fire to ensure a single point failure of the system can not lead to a controller erroneously commanding a spark plug to fire in the pre-ignition zone. An advantage of the present invention is the increased safety the pre-ignition prevention sub-system provides to the engine by significantly reducing the likelihood that fuel/air mixture within a cylinder will be ignited prematurely.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a coating system for engine components which exhibits improved erosion resistance and a method for forming the coating system on the engine components. The coating system is formed by a fluororelastomeric material which is co-cured or bonded with the organic matrix material forming the engine component. The coating system is applied to the engine component by overlaying a thin sheet of the fluoroelastomeric material in a cured or uncured state over a preform of the engine component, placing the preform and the fluoroelastomeric material in a molding device, and heating the engine component preform and the fluoroelastomeric material to a temperature at or above about 340 DEG F to effect co-curing and/or bonding.
Abstract:
A coating for protection of airfoil surfaces from erosion caused by the impingement of particles in the incoming air stream of a gas turbine engine or on helicopter blades. The coating consists of an epoxy film toughened with hard particles to improve the erosion resistance and softer particles which impede the progression of cracks through the coating. A method for applying the coating is also described.
Abstract:
An improved combustor (10) is disclosed capable of averting engine flameout. This improved combustor comprises a combustion chamber (16), which comprises an outlet (18) for discharging heated combustion products. The combustor further comprises a primary injector (20) for injecting a fuel and compressed air into a primary zone of the combustion chamber such that the fuel is induced into a recirculation zone (29a) at a corner of the primary zone. Combustion means for combusting the fuel and the compressed air in the combustion chamber resulting in heated combustion products are also incorporated in the combustor. Moreover, the combustor comprises means for sensing the combustor to substantially detect a pre-flameout condition. To realize the advantages of the present invention, the combustor additionally comprises a pilot injector (30) for injecting a propellant into the recirculation zone in response to detecting said flameout condition by the sensing means, such that the propellant combusts as a diffusion flame.