Abstract:
A pressure-compensated cutter assembly for a tunnel boring machine includes a shaft a cutter ring assembly rotatably mounted on the shaft, and first and second end retainers non-rotatably attached to the shaft. Rotary seal groups, immersed in lubricant, provide a moving seal between the rotating cutter ring assembly and the end retainers. A movable piston member is exposed to ambient pressures, and contacts the lubricant, such that increasing ambient pressure will increase the lubricant pressure, thereby keeping the pressure differential across the seal small. In one embodiment, the piston is a floating retainer portion. In another embodiment, the piston is an annular piston, and in another embodiment, the piston is a plurality of smaller pistons disposed in the first retainer.
Abstract:
A glass-to-metal compression sealed lead-in structure for electronic devices. The structure is constituted by an outer metal case having a high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), a lead-in conductor extending through the opening in the case and having a relatively low CTE, and a glass seal filling the space between the conductor and the case and having a relatively low or intermediate CTE. The conductor is fabricated of a machinable metal whose normal CTE is higher than required, the surface of the metal after the conductor is machined to specification, being treated with a substance that acts to reduce the CTE of the conductor to render it compatible with the CTE of the glass seal.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a monitoring module configured to send an indicator representing that performance of a virtual resource satisfies a threshold condition. The apparatus can also include a management module configured to move a set of virtual resources including the virtual resource from a first portion of data center hardware resources to a second portion of data center hardware resources mutually exclusive from the first portion of data center hardware resources in response to the indicator. The management module can be configured to define the set of virtual resources based on an operational relationship between the virtual resource and the remaining virtual resources included in the set of virtual resources.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a memory configured to store a first hypervisor message and a second hypervisor message. The apparatus can further include a hypervisor interface module. The hypervisor interface module can retrieve, from the memory, the first hypervisor message and the second hypervisor message. The hypervisor interface module can define a first signal, the first signal being based at least in part on the first hypervisor message and having a first format associated with a first hypervisor platform. The hypervisor interface module can define a second signal, the second signal being based at least in part on the second hypervisor message and having a second format associated with a second hypervisor platform. The hypervisor interface module can send the first signal to a first virtual machine instantiated according to the first hypervisor platform. The hypervisor interface module can send the second signal to a second virtual machine instantiated according to the second hypervisor platform.
Abstract:
A transmission system that is used in conjunction with a microturbine engine for propelling an aircraft body, such as a propeller-based fixed-wing aircraft or a rotor-based vertical lift aircraft, or for a wide variety of other applications. The output shaft of the microturbine engine preferably operates at a rotational speed in a range between 72,000 RPM and 150,000 RPM with an output power between 150 HP and 5 HP (and most preferably operates in an extended range between 50,000 RPM and 200,000 RPM with an output power between 200 HP and 5 HP). The two reduction stages provide a reduction ratio preferably having a value of at least 19, and most preferably greater than 24. The 1 transmission system is of small-size preferably having a maximum diameter less than twelve inches. The two stages of the transmission system may comprise any one (or parts of) of a number of configurations, including an in-line lay shaft configuration, an in-line star-star configuration an offset star-spur configuration, an offset compound idler configuration, an inline traction-internal gear configuration, and an inline traction planetary gear configuration. Preferably, the input stage of the transmission system is self-equilibrating such that first shaft can be supported without bearings and is operably coupled to the output shaft of the microturbine engine by an outside diameter piloted spline coupling mechanism. For vertical lift applications, a single traction stage along with a bevel gear assembly or other shaft transmission mechanism can be used to provide the necessary RPM reduction.
Abstract:
This invention relates to oil burner installations which include a storage tank for the oil and a pump for delivering oil from the storage tank to a burner. When the storage tank is refilled with oil, sediment at the bottom of the tank is stirred up and placed in suspension. If the pump is operated while such sediment remains in suspension, the sediment may be drawn into the fuel line. Upon reaching the burner, such sediment may disable the oil burner installation by clogging the burner orifices.By preventing the oil pump from operating for a predetermined period of time after commencing to transfer oil into the oil storage tank, sediment is allowed to settle once again to the bottom of the tank. After the predetermined interval of time has elapsed, the pump and burner are once again permitted to operate, and the system then draws sediment-free oil into the fuel line and thence to the burner.