CF6 jet engine diagnostics program. High pressure turbine roundness/clearance investigation

The effects of high pressure turbine clearance changes on engine and module performance was evaluated in addition to the measurement of CF6-50C high pressure turbine Stage 1 tip clearance and stator out-of-roundness during steady-state and transient operation. The results indicated a good correlation of the analytical model of round engine clearance response with measured data. The stator out-of-roundness measurements verified that the analytical technique for predicting the distortion effects of mechanical loads is accurate, whereas the technique for calculating the effects of certain circumferential thermal gradients requires some modifications. A potential for improvement in roundness was established in the order of 0.38 mm (0.015 in.), equivalent to 0.86 percent turbine efficiency which translates to a cruise SFC improvement of 0.36 percent. The HP turbine Stage 1 tip clearance performance derivative was established as 0.44 mm (17 mils) per percent of turbine efficiency at take-off power, somewhat smaller, therefore, more sensitive than predicted from previous investigations

CF6 jet engine performance improvement: High pressure turbine roundness

An improved high pressure turbine stator reducing fuel consumption in current CF6-50 turbofan engines was developed. The feasibility of the roundness and clearance response improvements was demonstrated. Application of these improvements will result in a cruise SFC reduction of 0.22 percent for new engines. For high time engines, the improved roundness and response characteristics results in an 0.5 percent reduction in cruise SFC. A basic life capability of the improved HP turbine stator in over 800 simulated flight cycles without any sign of significant distress is shown

Skeletal stressing method and apparatus Patent

Method and apparatus for applying compressional forces to skeletal structure of subject to simulate force during ambulatory condition

Weight simulator

Device applies compressive force to bone to minimize loss of bone calcium during weightlessness or bedrest. Force is applied through weights, or hydraulic, pneumatic or electrically actuated devices. Device is lightweight and easy to maintain and operate

Method and device for detecting voids in low density material Patent

Method and photodetector device for locating abnormal voids in low density material

A lightweight, high output soil sampler

Sampler is useful on or under earth's surface or on sea bottom. Larger sample amount is obtained relative to sampler size and weight and limited particle size sample material is continuously delivered. Silicone rubber linear in transport tube nearly eliminates grinding or particulate processing during sampling, and reduces required torque

Programmable physiological infusion

A programmable physiological infusion device and method are provided wherein a program source, such as a paper tape, is used to actuate an infusion pump in accordance with a desired program. The system is particularly applicable for dispensing calcium in a variety of waveforms

Programmed physiological infusion system

Infusion system delivers incremental volumes from a reservoir with a piston pump at a rate that varies in time and follows the envelope of a preprogrammed curve

HAT-P-30b: A Transiting Hot Jupiter on a Highly Oblique Orbit

We report the discovery of HAT-P-30b, a transiting exoplanet orbiting the V = 10.419 dwarf star GSC 0208-00722. The planet has a period P = 2.810595 ± 0.000005 days, transit epoch Tc = 2455456.46561 ± 0.00037 (BJD), and transit duration 0.0887 ± 0.0015 days. The host star has a mass of 1.24 ± 0.04 M_⊙, radius of 1.21 ± 0.05 R_⊙, effective temperature of 6304 ± 88 K, and metallicity [Fe/H] = +0.13 ± 0.08. The planetary companion has a mass of 0.711 ± 0.028 M J and radius of 1.340 ± 0.065 R J yielding a mean density of 0.37 ± 0.05 g cm^(–3). We also present radial velocity measurements that were obtained throughout a transit that exhibit the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect. By modeling this effect, we measure an angle of λ = 73.°5 ± 9.°0 between the sky projections of the planet's orbit normal and the star's spin axis. HAT-P-30b represents another example of a close-in planet on a highly tilted orbit, and conforms to the previously noted pattern that tilted orbits are more common around stars with T_(eff*) ≳ 6250 K

Determining the Mass of Kepler-78b With Nonparametric Gaussian Process Estimation

Kepler-78b is a transiting planet that is 1.2 times the radius of Earth and orbits a young, active K dwarf every 8 hours. The mass of Kepler-78b has been independently reported by two teams based on radial velocity measurements using the HIRES and HARPS-N spectrographs. Due to the active nature of the host star, a stellar activity model is required to distinguish and isolate the planetary signal in radial velocity data. Whereas previous studies tested parametric stellar activity models, we modeled this system using nonparametric Gaussian process (GP) regression. We produced a GP regression of relevant Kepler photometry. We then use the posterior parameter distribution for our photometric fit as a prior for our simultaneous GP + Keplerian orbit models of the radial velocity datasets. We tested three simple kernel functions for our GP regressions. Based on a Bayesian likelihood analysis, we selected a quasi-periodic kernel model with GP hyperparameters coupled between the two RV datasets, giving a Doppler amplitude of 1.86 $\pm$ 0.25 m s$^{-1}$ and supporting our belief that the correlated noise we are modeling is astrophysical. The corresponding mass of 1.87 $^{+0.27}_{-0.26}$ M$_{\oplus}$ is consistent with that measured in previous studies, and more robust due to our nonparametric signal estimation. Based on our mass and the radius measurement from transit photometry, Kepler-78b has a bulk density of 6.0$^{+1.9}_{-1.4}$ g cm$^{-3}$. We estimate that Kepler-78b is 32$\pm$26% iron using a two-component rock-iron model. This is consistent with an Earth-like composition, with uncertainty spanning Moon-like to Mercury-like compositions.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, accepted to ApJ 6/16/201