Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc

Rolls-royce Corporation

Porvair Corporation

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing

Turbine Surface Technologies Limited

Pouvair Corporation

Gary R Pickrell

Anbo Wang

Taylor K Blair

Kenneth R Butcher

Michael Cybulsky

Daniel Kominsky

Ahmad Safaai-Jazi

Jeong I Kim

Roger Stolen

Romesh Batra

Raymond John Sinatra

Matthew R Gold

Chi Li Lin

Benjamin Joseph Zimmerman

Roy Peter McIntyre

Mark Hudson

Yuhong Duan

An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system performing a process possessing a plurality of process attributes, and a computing device including an acoustic data signal processing module configured to receive the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal, and transform the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal to a frequency-domain spectrum, wherein each process attribute of the plurality of process attributes is associated with at least one respective frequency band, and a correlation module configured to determine a process attribute of the plurality of process attributes by identifying at least one characteristic of the frequency-domain spectrum.

Thermal spray diagnostics

An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system performing a process associated with a plurality of process attributes. The example system includes a computing device including an acoustic data signal module and a control module. The acoustic data signal processing module may transform the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal to a frequency-domain spectrum. The control module may determine a process attribute of the plurality of process attributes that deviates from a predetermined operating range by identifying at least one characteristic of the frequency-domain spectrum, selecting at least one component of the thermal spray system based on the process attribute, and controlling the thermal spray system to adjust the process attribute toward the predetermined operating range by sending a control signal to the at least one component.

System control based on acoustic signals

A characteristic of a component having an engineered internal space can be analyzed by recording acoustic signals produced by fluid flow through the internal space at controlled flow rates, and determining one or more acoustic frequencies and acoustic intensities that are indicative of the characteristic of the component. A state and/or a source of the component can be predicted based on the results of such analysis.

Analysis of component having engineered internal space for fluid flow

An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system comprising a flowstream, a computing device, and an acoustic data signal processing module operable by the computing device to determine an ignition attribute of the thermal spray system by analyzing at least a pre-ignition window of the acoustic data signal received by the computing device.

Diagnosis of thermal spray gun ignition

A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.

Holey optical fiber with random pattern of holes and method for making same

Porous polymers are made by adding biologically active agent and growth substrates (e.g., yeast and sugar, preferably in the presence of water or other suitable fluid) to a polymer forming material, which may be a liquid. The yeast acts on the sugar, forming carbon dioxide gas bubbles. The material is then polymerized so that the gas bubbles create permanent pores within the polymeric material. The polymer can be an epoxy for example. The pores will contain residue of the yeast. Also, porous metals can be made by combining a metal powder with yeast, sugar, and water. The porous metal paste is then sintered. Porous ceramics and semiconductors can be made by combining the yeast and sugar with a ceramic forming liquid such as polysilazane. Polysilazane converts to silica when heated, which helps to bind the ceramic or semiconductor powder particles at a reduced temperature. Biological agents other than yeast (e.g. bacteria, enzymes), and growth substrates other than sugar can also be used.

Porous ceramic, polymer and metal materials with pores created by biological fermentation

A package for an optical fiber sensor having a metal jacket surrounding the sensor, and heat-shrink tubing surrounding the metal jacket. The metal jacket is made of a low melting point metal (e.g. lead, tin). The sensor can be disposed in a rigid tube (e.g. stainless steel or glass) that is surrounded by the metal jacket. The metal jacket provides a hermetic, or nearly hermetic seal for the sensor. The package is made by melting the metal jacket and heating the heat shrink tubing at the same time. As the heat-shrink tubing shrinks, it presses the low melting point metal against the sensor, and squeezes out the excess metal.

Method and apparatus for packaging optical fiber sensors for harsh environments

An improved porous article and a method for forming such porous article are provided. A mixture of ceramic or articles and pliable organic hollow spheres is prepared in a liquid typically as a suspension. The article is formed by pressing, slip casting, extruding or injection molding the mixture. The article is dried to remove the liquid, and then is fired so that the particles are bonded such as by sintering, and the organic spheres are eliminated, resulting in a strong porous article having uniformly spaced interconnected voids.

Porous articles and method for the manufacture thereof

An improved porous article and a method for forming such porous article are provided. A mixture of ceramic or metal particles and pliable organic hollow spheres is prepared in a liquid, typically as a suspension. The article is formed by pressing, slip casting, extruding or injection molding the mixture. The article is dried to remove the liquid, and then is fired so that the particles are bonded such as by sintering, and the organic spheres are eliminated, resulting in a strong porous article having uniformly spaced interconnected voids.

An improved porous ceramic article and a method for forming such porous ceramic article. A mixture of ceramic particles and pliable organic hollow spheres is prepared in a liquid, typically as a suspension. The article is formed by pressing, slip casting, extruding or injection molding the mixture. The article is dried to remove the liquid, and then is fired so that the ceramic particles are bonded such as by sintering, and the organic spheres are burned off, resulting in a strong porous ceramic article having uniformly spaced interconnected voids.

Growing community of inventors

Travelers Rest, SC, United States of America

Gary R Pickrell