Abstract: A hydrostatic weight sensor incorporates a load distributor to prevent the bladder of the hydrostatic weight sensor from bottoming out under the influence of applied loads of sufficient concentration and magnitude. The load distributor comprises a flexible mat proximate a load bearing surface of the hydrostatic weight sensor, wherein the flexible mat may be constructed from slitted, punched, pierced, or expanded semi-rigid sheet, a multi-layer plurality of such sheets, or a woven assembly of a plurality of semi-rigid strips. The load distributor is sufficiently flexible to not interfere with seating comfort, yet sufficiently stiff to prevent the bladder of the hydrostatic weight sensor from bottoming out as a result of concentrated loading.

Abstract: A turbojet engine one-shot start system utilizes ignition and fuel delivery system components capable of pneumatic actuation and pressurization to initiate the engine start sequence thereby obviating the need for expensive shielded electrical controls and pumps.

Abstract: A solid propellant gas generator incorporates staged gas cooling and filtration so as to generate cool, clean gases having a composition suitable for use in an automobile airbag inflator. Carbon yarn is used as a lightweight primary heat sink within the filter thereby increasing the dimensional stability of the gas generator.

Abstract: A Villari effect sensor comprises a sensing rod constructed from a magnetostrictive material. An alternating current signal applied to an overlapping drive coil is inductively coupled by the sensing rod to the sensing coils and generates a signal thereon, responsive to the permeability of the magnetostrictive sensing rod which decreases responsive to the applied load. The sensing rod comprises one or more sections, each having a distinct cross-sectional area, and a sensing coil is associated with each section. A signal processor calculates the magnitude of the applied force from either the maximum flux density, or by differencing the first and third harmonics of the signal from the sensing coil. The weight of an occupant on a vehicle seat is measured by either incorporating a tensile force measuring Villari effect sensor in series with the seat springs, or incorporating a compressive force measuring Villari effect sensor in series with seat posts.

Abstract: A method for the abatement of contaminant-laden process emissions produced by various wood manufacturing processes comprises the step of flowing the emissions through an oxidation catalyst located in a regenerative catalytic oxidizer to remove volatile organic compounds (VOC's), methanol, formaldehyde, resins, binders, and hazardous air pollutants (HAP's) at lower peak temperatures than the temperatures encountered in regenerative thermal oxidizers. The oxidation catalyst allows the overall abatement process to operate at lower peak combustion temperatures. By reducing the peak combustion temperatures during the abatement of emissions, the present invention precludes potassium and/or sodium in the emissions from reacting with silica in the heat recovery media and ceramic fiber insulation of the regenerative thermal oxidizer. This reaction has heretofore destroyed the desired properties of the wood product and compromised the quality of the product.

Abstract: An accelerometer (10) features a housing (12) having an passage (14) of rectangular cross-section formed therein, and one embodiment the width dimension gradually increases with increasing displacement along a central longitudinal axis (16) away from a first end (24) of the passage. A puck-shaped magnetic sensing mass (26) is located within the passage and oriented so that its magnetic axis extends in a direction normal to a basal surface (18) of the passage. A pair of magnetically-permeable pole pieces (22) extend from a coil (21) parallel to the passage (14) to magnetically-interact with the sensing mass so as to bias the sensing mass towards a first position within the passage. A pair of electrically-conductive nonmagnetic plates (32) on the housing magnetically interact with the sensing mass to damp the movement thereof within the passage. The coil (21) provides both test and reconfiguration functions.

Abstract: Methods for semisolid manufacturing of precision parts, turbine rotors for example, comprised of a plurality of high melting point alloys are given. Generally, a semisolid/thixotropic process is operated under vacuum utilizing a heated mold. The process preferably comprises a vacuum chamber, inductive heaters to bring two or more high melting point slugs to a either a solid or thixotropic phase, and a plunger that accelerates and injects a high melting point slug into the heated mold containing one or more solid or thixotropic slugs. The semisolid solution is eliminated as the completed forged assembly cools. Thixotropic forging of a multi-alloy assembly tailors its mechanical properties to achieve optimized properties in specific locations of the final product.

Abstract: A method and improvement for extracting free or "tramp" oil from an oil contaminated fluid wherein oil contaminated fluid entering an oil separator is injected with a fraction of free oil. Coalescence of minute oil globules within the inlet stream is significantly enhanced thereby improving oil separation.

Abstract: A system for the abatement of industrial process emissions comprises a horizontal regenerative catalytic oxidizer (RCO). The system utilizes at least two regenerative chambers and at least two catalytic chambers in a controlled abatement process. Pollutants injected into the RCO from the process emissions are catalytically oxidized. The horizontal configuration of the RCO reduces the size of the RCO per cubic foot of emissions treated, and also simplifies maintenance requirements in removing and replacing, or regenerating, the catalyst. Chutes and valves situated above and below the catalyst provide maintenance means without the associated contamination concerns typically caused by catalytic migration throughout vertically configured RCOs.

Abstract: An occupant position sensing system (10) incorporates first (12) and second (42) position sensors, wherein the first position sensor (12) senses the distance to the surface of an object and the second position sensor (42) senses the electric-field-influencing properties of the object for purposes of controlling the activation of a safety restraint system (38). In an exemplary system, the first position sensor (12) incorporates either an infrared beam or an ultrasonic beam as the sensing element, and the second position sensor senses the capacitance of a plurality of electrodes (46) for either disabling an air bag inflator (38) if the combination of the first and second position measurements of an occupant (24) is within a threshold, or for controlling a controllable air bag inflator (38).

Abstract: High nitrogen nonazide gas compositions, useful in inflating passenger restraint gas inflator bags, comprise an amine salt of triazole or tetrazole fuel, and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) as an oxidizer. The combination of the amine azole salt and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate results in gas generants that are relatively more stable and less explosive, have improved ignitability and burn rates, and generate more gas and less solids than known gas generant compositions.

Abstract: A system for the abatement of industrial process gases utilizes a rotary regenerative oxidizer comprised of one or more heat exchange beds, each bed comprised of a parallel, axial, and longitudinal array of heat regenerative channels that thermally and/or catalytically oxidize contaminated gases. Utilizing a rotary regenerative oxidizer, and if desired, a plurality of heat regenerative beds incorporated therein, facilitates the use of regenerative technology at lower gas flow rates, increases thermal efficiency, and significantly reduces the floor space normally required when implementing fixed-bed nonrotary regenerative oxidizers. The heat exchange channels may be catalytically treated to enhance oxidation of the pollutants at a lower temperature.

Abstract: A diagnosable seat belt latch system for use in a vehicle seat belt system provides a latch assembly incorporating a force sensitive sensor interposed between a latch housing and a pressure distribution bushing. A pivoting latch arm having a latch tab at one end for engaging an orifice of a seat belt buckle transfers a compressive load to the force distribution bushing and thereby to the force sensor. A signal processor diagnoses the force sensor to determine whether the seat belt is latched and generates a signal to a vehicle safety restraint system based on the determination.

Abstract: A portable, electronic imaging system (100) includes a compact housing (102) extending across and beyond the eyes of the user, a wide field of view binocular viewfinder imaging subsystem (104) operating on an image produced by an electronic display subsystem (104) located within the housing, speakers (106) integrally mounted with the housing, an internal, interactive electronic control subsystem (108) to control the functions of the system, and an external input/output interface (110) to facilitate connection with a plurality of optional external devices and/or modules. The housing may further provide for modular mounting and removal of a plurality of optional system modules such as the electronic camera (120), a video tape record and playback device and battery (122), the electronic display (118), a night vision camera, a television tuner, a video game electronic system, a head orientation and position tracking device, or a means for mounting the system on the user's head.

Abstract: Methods for semisolid manufacturing of precision parts, turbine rotors for example, comprised of high melting point alloys are given. Generally, a semisolid/thixotropic process is operated under vacuum utilizing a removable mold. The process preferably comprises a vacuum chamber, an inductive heater to bring a high melting point alloy to a thixotropic phase, a supercooled mold comprised of a low melting point alloy or metal, and a plunger that accelerates and injects the high melting point alloy into the low melting point mold. As the formed part cools, the supercooled low melting point mold heats up to its melting point upon which separation from the formed part occurs. Supercooling of the removable mold permits the use of thixotropic methods for high melting point alloys.

Abstract: A relatively permanent and indestructible covering (10) utilizes a plurality of single ply tiles (12) which are bonded to a base floor surface (14) and provided with a protective coating in a single step by applying at least one protective bonding coating, such as an epoxy coating, over the top of plurality of tiles. To facilitate bonding to base floor surface, each of the plurality of tiles (12) are formed with a plurality of holes passing through the surface thereof. A color finish coating can also be provided over the top of the array of tiles by utilizing a protective bonding coating having a paint or paint-like quality. In a preferred embodiment, the tiles (12) are formed from a metal such as aluminum.

Abstract: Method of placing and extracting raw materials or modules in such a way that a minimum area capable of accommodating the modules can be systematically searched for. The placement of the modules is started with drawing rightwardly upward oblique lines and rightwardly downward oblique lines. The number of the oblique lines of each kind is equal to the number of the modules. The modules are placed at the intersections of the oblique lines such that only one module is placed on each one of the oblique lines. Those modules which are located to the right of an arbitrary module are defined to be located on the right side. In this way, vertical or horizontal positional relations among all the modules are determined. Then, the left sides of those modules which have no other modules on their left sides are placed on a vertical baseline. The lower sides of those modules which have no other modules on their lower sides are placed on a horizontal baseline.

Abstract: A filter for an air bag inflator has multiple layers of pierced sheet metal including a vacant plenum therebetween followed by an expanded metallic mesh filter.