Abstract: A vehicle barrier (20) includes an upper barrier member (22), a lower barrier member (24), and a plurality of linking members (28A, 28B, 30A, 30B). The plurality of linking members extend between the upper and lower barrier members other than parallel to a median of the barrier, leaving one or more large gaps in the barrier effective so that a vehicle tire overriding the lower barrier member and any lower portion of any linking member will encounter such a gap and, thereby be unable to draw the barrier beneath the vehicle to drive over the barrier. The linking members may be disposed at angles between about thirty to about sixty degrees relative to the median as measured with the barrier in an unfurled condition. The vehicle barrier (20) may also include a median member (26) extending along the median of the barrier.

Abstract: A device for measuring the AC voltage drop across a series of connections under load with no direct electrical contact to the conductors. The presence of a substantial resistance at series contacts is indicative of a series arcing fault. The device comprises a capacitive probe for clamping to the outer insulation layer of the wire to sense a first voltage at a first node. The device further comprises a floating high-impedance meter having a ground reference coupled to the source of common-mode voltage at a second node, the floating high-impedance meter being adapted to measure a voltage difference between the two nodes and being further adapted to indicate the presence of the series fault when the measured voltage exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: A fire extinguisher includes a gas generator for pressurizing a suppressant. The generator includes an ignition cord within a flexible tube extending within an interior of an extinguisher bottle. Advantageously, there is additional generant between the tube and the ignition cord. The extinguisher may be manufactured as a retrofit of an existing hand-held supercharged extinguisher.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises apparatus for and method of managing and distributing power from a supply of limited power. A plurality of outlets is connected to a plurality of power units. In accordance with the present invention, an amount of power drawn by the outlets is measured and compared to a first predetermined electrical power level and a second predetermined electrical power level. When the amount of measured power being drawn exceeds the second predetermined maximum electrical power level, all outlets are disabled. When the amount of measured power being drawn is less than both the first predetermined electrical power level and the second predetermined electrical power level, all outlets are enabled. When the amount of measured power being drawn exceeds the first predetermined electrical power level, outlets currently in use by a power utilizing device are enabled while outlets not currently in use by a power utilizing device are disabled.

Abstract: A system for locating parallel arcing faults in a set of wires is described. The system includes three devices that can be used in combination or alone. A first device applies a current to a wire while grounding the remaining wires of the set of wires so as to cause the parallel arc, the first device being adapted to locate the parallel arcing fault using one or more leading edges of one or more electromagnetic waveforms being conducted on the wire under test. A second device comprises a controller and two or more receivers, each receiver being electrically coupled to the controller for receiving one or more leading edges of one or more electromagnetic waveforms being radiated by the parallel arcing fault. A third device senses one or more leading edges of one or more electromagnetic waveforms as well as the ultrasonic emissions emitted from the parallel arcing fault.

Abstract: An outlet unit for providing a supply voltage to the prongs of a plug comprising a housing having a plurality of electrically conductive plug channels for receiving the prongs of the plug, a shutter rotatably mounted to the housing and operative in one of a first and a second position, the shutter having openings for receiving the prongs of the plug wherein only when in the second position the openings of the shutter and the plug channels are aligned permitting axial displacement of the prongs into the housing, and a strike plate located between the housing and the shutter for preventing the rotation of the shutter to the second position absent axial displacement of the prongs sufficient to engage the strike plate.

Abstract: A device for detecting and locating arcs in a set of wires is discussed. The device comprises a probe for discharging controlled current to an exposed portion of a wire in the set of wires. The probe includes a handleable enclosure and an elongated structure which projects from the enclosure for conducting a gas and for enclosing a needle that has a tip. A suitable gas includes gases that have low electron attachment, such as helium. The device further comprises a control unit for communicating control signals as well as the gas to the probe. The control unit includes a controller, a valve being controllable by the controller and being capable of regulating the flow of the gas, and a high-voltage generator being controllable by the controller to generate a high-voltage signal, which can be communicated to the probe by the control unit.

Abstract: An outlet unit for providing a supply voltage to the prongs of a plug comprising a housing having a plurality of electrically conductive plug channels for receiving the prongs of the plug, a shutter rotatably mounted to the housing and operative in one of a first and a second position, the shutter having openings for receiving the prongs of the plug wherein only when in the second position the openings of the shutter and the plug channels are aligned permitting axial displacement of the prongs into the housing, and a strike plate located between the housing and the shutter for preventing the rotation of the shutter to the second position absent axial displacement of the prongs sufficient to engage the strike plate.

Abstract: A system for locating parallel arcing faults in a set of wires is described. The system includes three devices that can be used in combination or alone. A first device applies a current to a wire while grounding the remaining wires of the set of wires so as to cause the parallel arc, the first device being adapted to locate the parallel arcing fault using one or more leading edges of one or more electromagnetic waveforms being conducted on the wire under test. A second device comprises a controller and two or more receivers, each receiver being electrically coupled to the controller for receiving one or more leading edges of one or more electromagnetic waveforms being radiated by the parallel arcing fault. A third device senses one or more leading edges of one or more electromagnetic waveforms as well as the ultrasonic emissions emitted from the parallel arcing fault.

Abstract: A gas arrestor separates entrained gas from a liquid medium. The gas arrestor is a porous member, such as a woven mesh screen having pores of a size sufficiently small to enable liquid transport while inhibiting gas transport. Since the trapped gas has a tendency to accumulate on the porous member impeding continued liquid flow, a wick extends in an upstream direction from the porous member. When used in spacecraft to provide substantially gas-free liquid to a thruster, the gas arrestor is located between a tank of pressurized liquid propellant and a gas generator. Improved results are obtained by locating the gas arrestor between a pressure reducing liquid fluid resistor and the gas generator.

Abstract: A device for measuring the AC voltage drop across a series of connections under load with no direct electrical contact to the conductors. The presence of a substantial resistance at series contacts is indicative of a series arcing fault. The device comprises a capacitive probe for clamping to the outer insulation layer of the wire to sense a first voltage at a first node. The device further comprises a floating high-impedance meter having a ground reference coupled to the source of common-mode voltage at a second node, the floating high-impedance meter being adapted to measure a voltage difference between the two nodes and being further adapted to indicate the presence of the series fault when the measured voltage exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: Thermionic emission of electrons is utilized to initiate arc discharge in a pulsed plasma thruster.

Abstract: A gas arrestor separates entrained gas from a liquid medium. The gas arrestor is a porous member, such as a woven mesh screen having pores of a size sufficiently small to enable liquid transport while inhibiting gas transport. Since the trapped gas has a tendency to accumulate on the porous member impeding continued liquid flow, a wick extends in an upstream direction from the porous member. When used in spacecraft to provide substantially gas-free liquid to a thruster, the gas arrestor is located between a tank of pressurized liquid propellant and a gas generator. Improved results are obtained by locating the gas arrestor between a pressure reducing liquid fluid resistor and the gas generator.

Abstract: An aircraft data management system provides a passenger seated on the aircraft with a number of entertainment and productivity enhancing options. Such options include, without limitation, video, audio, internet, airplane systems data and power. Located proximate to each seat group is an integrated seat box that includes a network interface card that identifies a requesting passenger for proper directing of the required data and/or power from devices that interface with a network controller back to the requesting passenger. Both on-aircraft and off-aircraft devices may be accessed by the system. While particularly drawn to aircraft, the data management system is also applicable to other venues have identifiable seating locations such as buses, passenger ships, hotels and auditoriums.