| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20110015555 | PIEZOELECTRIC, MICRO-EXERCISE APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus and method for micro-exercise apply piezoelectric stress to cells of a bone mass by inducing voltages in the bone mass. Application of dynamic, electromagnetic fields passing through the conductive bone mass induce currents and voltages locally in and around cells or groups of cells. The cells respond to the combination of mechanical stress and strain by building themselves up as they would if they had been subjected to the stress and strain of conventional exercise. Thus, micro-exercise at a cellular level of the bone mass can be stimulated as if the stress and strain had been applied to the entire bone structure of which the smaller cellular portions are constituent parts. In combination with casts or splints, the sources of electromagnetic flux may be embedded in the frame or solid structure, the protective padding added for comfort, or both. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110144412 | PIEZOELECTRIC, MICRO-EXERCISE PAD APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus and method for micro-exercise apply piezoelectric stress to cells of a bone mass by inducing voltages in the bone mass. Application of dynamic, electromagnetic fields passing through the conductive bone mass induce currents and voltages locally in and around cells or groups of cells. The cells respond to the combination of mechanical stress and strain by building themselves up as they would if they had been subjected to the stress and strain of conventional exercise. Thus, micro-exercise at a cellular level of the bone mass can be stimulated as if the stress and strain had been applied to the entire bone structure of which the smaller cellular portions are constituent parts. In combination with casts or splints, the sources of electromagnetic flux may be embedded in the frame or solid structure, the protective padding added for comfort, or both. | 06-16-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090165988 | TURBINE AIRFOIL CASTING METHOD - A method for making a turbine airfoil includes: (a) providing a mold having: (i) a core; (ii) an outer shell surrounding the core such that the core and the outer shell cooperatively define a cavity in the shape of an airfoil having at least one outer wall; and (iii) a core support extending from the core to the outer shell through a portion of the cavity that defines the at least one sidewall; (b) introducing molten metal alloy into the cavity and surrounding the core support; (c) solidifying the alloy to form an airfoil casting having at least one outer wall which has at least one core support opening passing therethrough; (d) removing the mold so as to expose the airfoil; and (e) sealing the at least one core support opening in the airfoil with a metal alloy metallurgically bonded to the at least one outer wall. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090245999 | HYBRID IMPINGEMENT COOLED AIRFOIL - A turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine includes: (a) spaced-apart arcuate inner and outer bands; (b) a hollow, airfoil-shaped turbine vane extending between the inner and outer bands, the interior of the vane defining at least a forward cavity and a mid-cavity positioned aft of the forward cavity; (c) a hollow impingement insert received inside the mid-cavity, the impingement insert having walls which are pierced with at least one impingement cooling hole; (d) a passage in the turbine vane at a radially outer end of the forward cavity adapted to be coupled to a source of cooling air; and (e) a passage in the inner band in fluid communication with a radially inner end of the forward cavity and a radially inner end of the impingement insert. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20100024216 | ROTOR BLADE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - A method of fabricating a rotor blade is provided. The method includes forming at least one passageway within the rotor blade, wherein the passageway extends substantially radially from a root of the rotor blade to a tip of the rotor blade, and coupling a shroud to the tip of the rotor blade. The shroud includes at least one substantially radially-outward extending wall that at least partially defines an outer plenum that is radially outward from at least the shroud, wherein the outer plenum is in flow communication with the passageway. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100200189 | METHOD OF FABRICATING TURBINE AIRFOILS AND TIP STRUCTURES THEREFOR - A method for making a turbine airfoil includes providing a mold core and an outer shell which cooperatively define a cavity in the shape of a hollow airfoil having an outer wall, a root, and a tip. A tip portion of the core extends completely through the portion of the cavity defining the tip of the airfoil. The core is restrained to prevent movement between the core and outer shell. Molten metal is introduced into the cavity and solidified to form an airfoil having at least one outer wall which defines an open tip and a hollow interior. A metallic tip cap is formed on the outer wall which substantially closes off the open tip. The tip cap may be formed by packing the airfoil with metallic powder; and laser sintering the exposed powder so as to form a tip cap which is metallurgically bonded to the outer wall. | 08-12-2010 |