Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric metal complexes comprising metallic complexes covalently bound to conjugated polymers and luminescent materials containing such polymeric metal complexes. The invention further relates to electronic devices in which the active layer includes such polymeric metal complexes.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to luminescent lanthanide compounds with phosphine oxide, phosphine oxide-sulfide, pyridine N-oxide, and phosphine oxide-pyridine N-oxide ligands. It also relates to electronic devices in which the active layer includes a lanthanide complex.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric charge transport compositions. The invention further relates to electronic devices in which there is at least one active layer comprising such charge transport compositions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating nanoscale structural materials via the spontaneous organization of self-assembling proteins and the self-assembling proteins themselves. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the self-assembling proteins included at least one occurrence of the following recognition sequence: ##STR1## wherein Xaa is a charged residue selected from the group consisting of Glu, Lys, Arg and Asp, and the method comprises admixing proteins which include species of the aforementioned recognition sequence which are prone to dimerization, whereby the admixed proteins are caused to spontaneously organize into nanoscale structural materials via their respective recognition sequences.

Abstract: A blade de-icer for rotary wing aircraft comprises magnets placed around rotor mast and coils with laminated plates installed at the blade cuff of each rotor blade, in sufficient proximity to produce a high voltage, high current pulse every time a magnet and a coil pass each other while the rotor is turning. Electrically conductive cable or wire carries the current down each rotor blade to heating elements which melt any accreted ice on the blade. In one embodiment, magnetic metals are used. In another embodiment, electromagnets are used. In each embodiment, difficult switches for turning the de-icer on and off are provided.

Abstract: There is presented a time-temperature indicator method for determining lelity of high-temperature food processing using a capsule comprising a cylindrical tube having a closed end and an open end, a cap for connection to and removal from the open end to close and open the tube, and a solution in the tube which is reactive to accumulated temperature and time exposure to fluoresce proportionally to the accumulated temperature and time exposure. There is further presented a time-temperature indicator system including the above capsule, a pipetting device for removing the solution from the capsule, and a spectrofluorometer for indicating the fluorescence of the solution, said fluorescence being directly correlatable to the time-temperature integral F.sub.0 by linear regression. There is still further presented methods for determining when food processed under high temperature conditions attains a selected low level of microbial population, the methods utilizing, respectively, the above systems.

Abstract: A method for making body heating/cooling garment which utilizes fluid-carrying tubes and provides both air and vapor permeability to promote convective heat transfer while also providing conductive heat transfer.

Abstract: There is presented an indicator capsule for determining temperature and t exposure required for food processing comprising a cylindrical tube having a closed end and an open end, a cap for connection to and removal from the open end to close and open the tube, and a solution in the tube which is reactive to accumulated temperature and time exposure to fluoresce proportionally to the accumulated temperature and time exposure. There is further presented an indicator system for determining temperature and time exposure required for food processing including the above capsule, a pipetting device for removing the solution from the capsule, and a spectrofluorometer for indicating the fluorescence of the solution. There is still further presented an indicator capsule wherein the solution comprises bacterial spores; a system including the capsule, a pipetting device, and an agar plate for providing a count of the surviving spores to, in turn, provide an indication of the aggregate thermal effect on the solution.

Abstract: There is presented a time-temperature indicator capsule comprising a cyliical tube having a closed end and an open end, a cap for connection to and removal from the open end to close and open the tube, and a solution in the tube which is reactive to accumulated temperature and time exposure. There is presented an indicator capsule wherein the solution comprises bacterial spores; a system including the capsule, a pipetting device, and an agar plate for providing a count of the surviving spores to, in turn, provide an indication of the aggregate thermal effect on the solution. There is still further presented methods for determining when food processed under high temperature conditions attains a selected low level of microbial population, the methods utilizing, respectively, the above systems.

Abstract: Flameless chemical heaters based on the iron-promoted magnesium-water reaon (Mg+H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.Mg(OH).sub.2 +H.sub.2) are reliable and potentially useful. The major limitation to their widespread application is the cogeneration of flammable dihydrogen gas in this reaction. The invention is a new chemical composition that removes this drawback by producing a controlled surge of heat without the release of large quantities of dangerous dihydrogen gas. The release of H.sub.2 gas is avoided by completely or almost completely suppressing H.sub.2 creation rather than by removing H.sub.2 after it is created. The reagents that suppress dihydrogen gas generation react with and remove (i.e., scavenge) precursors of H.sub.2 such as aquated electrons and H-atoms. The overall heat-generating reactions of the invention, for example, Mg+CuCl.sub.2 .fwdarw.Mg.sup.2+ +2Cl.sup.- +Cu.sup.0 release more heat per unit weight of magnesium than the Mg-H.sub.2 O reaction; in this case, approximately 70% more heat.

Abstract: An air combat control head with an extension provides a head for a collece control stick wherein system control switches may be located for easy access by the operator and an extension comprising a phenolic coated hand grip and a bottom tube component. The hand grip is offset laterally and longitudinally from the bottom tube component, and the head is canted back toward the operator, making the system control switches workable by the operator's thumb while the rest of the operator's hand grips the stick and maintains control of the collective pitch of the main rotor blades. The collective control head of the invention provides a controller that is comfortable for an operator to use, even in extended flight operations, and that reduces fatigue, discomfort and distraction while making system control operations easy and effective.

Abstract: A non-destructive technique for examining the oxidative status of packaged, dry or intermediate moisture foods. In a preferred embodiment, the technique involves packaging the foods in an assembly comprising a container or pouch formed from a pair of sheets heat-sealed to one another along their peripheries. The sheets may each be a trilaminate comprising a polyethylene terephthalate outer layer, an aluminum foil middle layer and a polyolefin inner layer. One of the sheets is provided with a cut-out portion which serves as a light transmissive window. A device comprising a strip of polyethylene terephthalate which is coated on one side with a polyamide coating is mounted across the light transmissive window, with the polyamide coating facing in towards the interior of the pouch. The food within the pouch is stored within about 2 cm of the polyamide coating during oxidation.

Abstract: A tool for aligning modular flotation platform sections is lightweight and portable. Its principal components are a fulcrum lever arm, a link rod, and two adapters for gripping coupling means on adjacent flotation platforms. The fulcrum lever arm has a handle portion and a slotted head portion. The link rod is secured at one end in the slotted head portion by means which enable it to move pivotally and translationally in the slots. To the other end of the link rod and the end of the head portion of the fulcrum lever arm are secured the two gripping adapters. They are secured in such a way that they may pivot on the securing means. The adapters may be fabricated to mate with standard coupling means with which standardized flotation platform components are typically equipped.

Abstract: A tool for aligning modular flotation platform sections is lightweight and portable. Its principal components are a fulcrum lever arm, a link rod, and two adapters for gripping coupling means on adjacent flotation platforms. The fulcrum lever arm has a handle portion and a slotted head portion. The link rod is secured at one end in the slotted head portion by means which enable it to move pivotally and translationally in the slots. To the other end of the link rod and the end of the head portion of the fulcrum lever arm are secured the two gripping adapters. They are secured in such a way that they may pivot on the securing means. The adapters may be fabricated to mate with standard coupling means with which standardized flotation platform components are typically equipped.

Abstract: For a given set of dyes, chosen to match a target (standard) color, by combining the a priori percent reflectance and concentration data of primary (calibration) dyeings with that of one or more trial dyeings, a calculated formulation can be obtained which agrees with one of the trial formulations used, or the average, as precisely as desired. A match, color or spectral, to a target color, near to the color of the trial dyeing in color space, is obtained that is, for all practical purposes, as accurate as those dyes permit.

Abstract: A protective helmet has a fitting and retention system which allows for fing a variety of head sizes and shapes with a single helmet size and also allows for precision reproducible fitting for a repeat user. The protective helmet has an energy-attenuating liner comprising a brow pad, a crown pad and a floating occipital pusher plate. The pusher plate hangs from the rear of the helmet on adjustable straps which are tensioned to urge the wearer's head forward toward the front of the helmet. This ensures that weapon sighting/designation systems are consistently aligned each time the helmet is worn. This feature also allows the helmet to accommodate a variety of head sizes and shapes. Pusher plate movement is preferably controlled using a parallel arrangement of two horizontal straps in which the lower strap is adjusted as part of the chinstrap assembly while the upper strap routed through a slot in the helmet shell and coupled to a device which simultaneously tensions the pusher plate and the ear cups.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a main rotor collective pitch control assly for rotary wing aircraft. The assembly uses segmented rotor blades. The collective pitch of each movable segment may be independently varied, or may be adjusted in unison with one or more other segments on the same or different rotor blades. Control inputs may be made manually by the pilot or may be made by a computer which interprets data pertaining to the vibrational level and velocity of each rotor span. The pilot may override the computer in the event of system failure or if otherwise desired.

Abstract: A hard, semi-rigid cover for protecting vehicle surfaces from damage by esure to the elements or chemical warfare agents is disclosed. A typical surface to be protected by a cover of the invention is a helicopter transparent canopy. Key features of the invention are a seal that forms around the cover perimeter where it fits snugly against the vehicle's outer surface and an air gap that exists between the inside surface of the cover and the vehicle's exterior surface. The cover is made of a moldable polymer material.

Abstract: Main rotor pitch control rod assemblies on helicopters constitute means for ranslating an aviator's control impulses in the cockpit to the main rotor blades. Pitch control rod assemblies typically include means for locking the assembly into a predetermined attitude setting. The setting may be held by locking nuts. This invention provides a passive locking means using spring tension to maintain the desired setting if the locking nuts loosen due to stress loads or improper torquing during maintenance. The invention also provides passive means for maintaining expansive stress within the control rod to prevent distortion of the assembly under compressive loads.

Abstract: There is provided by the present invention an accumulator system for turb engine start-ups that has comparable weight and bulk to a conventional auxiliary power unit system but which has instantaneous second start capability.