Abstract:
A method of refurbishing vane or blade components. Used turbine vanes or blades are cleaned, annealed and in some cases slotted adjacent their ends, after which any cooling passages (in the case of vanes) are welded closed and all cracks welded over, on both leading and trailing edges. The trailing edge, for a vane or blade component having a short chord, is built up by welding along its full length with an alloy wire, after which any slots that were cut adjacent the ends are closed, also by welding. Then the worn surfaces of the vane or blade are built-up by a plasma spray process, using a metal powder with added silica, to a thickness which can be as great as 30 to 40 thousandths of an inch. The built-up vane or blade is then sintered and thereafter surface finished to conform to the original contour of the component when new. Any cooling holes are finally recut, and the vane or blade polished as required and inspected.
Abstract:
A system and method for administering a group benefits plan having a processor configured to receive data for enrolling a participant in a group benefits plan self-administered by an employer, receive a claim submission for the participant, transmit the claim submission to a plan supervisor terminal for review, and receive electronic notification to deny or reimburse the participant's claim submission.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for modifying facsimile data transfer rates based upon varying bit rates of a transport medium. The apparatus includes a channel quality monitor adapted to monitor channel quality of an asynchronous link, and a rate modifier adapted to dynamically modify a maximum data transfer rate between the originating facsimile machine and the terminating facsimile machine in response to the channel quality.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed for preventing an originating facsimile machine from going on hook prior to call completion due to setup delays. The originating facsimile machine includes a start connect timer having a predetermined time duration. The method and apparatus include detecting a facsimile call origination from the originating facsimile machine, anticipating expiration of the start connect timer, and sending a benign signal to the originating facsimile machine prior to expiration of the start connect timer, wherein the benign signal allows the originating facsimile machine to receive a digital identification signal message from a terminating facsimile machine prior to expiration of the start connect timer.
Abstract:
A minimal pin package for a mixed signal integrated circuit for a mixed signal processor based integrated circuit includes a semiconductor chip having a plurality of bond pads disposed thereon with a digital processor digitally interfaceable with at least one of the bond pads. An analog circuit block is provided and interfaceable with at least one of the bond pads. A die pad is provided on which the chip is mounted and N terminals on the package are interfaced to the exterior of the package, one of which is integral with the die pad. Bond wires interface select ones of the bond pads to a supply designated one of the terminals, a ground one of the terminals and the die pad associated with one of the terminals, the rest of the N-3 terminals interfaced to remaining functionality of the chip.
Abstract:
An embodiment of a weight system for use with a buoyancy compensator device includes a rigid plate, a weight pouch attached to the rigid plate, and an indicator device fixedly interfaced with the rigid plate. The indicator device further includes a freely moving floatation device that floats within a restrained range upward from the rigid plate in response to the weight pouch being separate from the buoyancy compensator device.