Abstract: An inflatable solar oven is comprised of two sheets of flexible material which are sealed at their edges to form an enclosure. The top sheet is clear and the bottom sheet has a reflective layer. The two sheets can be inflated to form a spherical enclosure by passing air through an edge opening that is also large enough to access a water or food holding receptacle which can be placed with the inflated enclosure. Extended portions of the sheets that form the opening can be rolled up to form a closure for it. The inflated enclosure can be secured to the ground in an appropriate position to receive the sun's rays which pass through the clear sheet and reflect from the bottom sheet to heat the receptacle therein.

Abstract: A mechanical coupling device for connecting together two aligned fiberglass reinforced plastic duct sections, each having a terminal end portion of equal diameter, so as to form a leak proof joint that is resistant to fire and also chemical corrosion from gases and/or condensate within the duct sections is disclosed. The device comprises elements that cover and seal the terminal end portion of each said duct section; a central gasket member that covers the end elements and extends around the terminal end portions of the duct sections; a flexible metal sleeve member that surrounds the central gasket member; and tightening devices on the sleeve which compress the central gasket member and hold the aligned adjoining duct sections together to provide a leak-proof joint. The tightening devices are spring driven so that if the bulk of the gasket member is reduced due to fire, the sleeve will maintain a firm non-slip hold on the duct joint.

Abstract: A method of producing high modulus and high strength products of polyethylene and other thermoplastic polymers by swelling with a suitable solvent a melt crystallized, or compacted powder morphology to form a pseudo-gel, drying the pseudo-gel, compressing it, and drawing it. The optimum process involves swelling the initial morphology in the form of a tape/ribbon/rod/monofilament/sheet/tube in a non-volatile solvent at temperatures near the polymer crystalline melting point, cooling the morphology under controlled conditions, lightly compressing it to remove the non-volatile solvent, extracting the non-volatile solvent by volatile solvent, removing the volatile solvent by evaporation or vacuum, compressing the morphology between rolls, and then stretching it at temperatures below the crystalline melting point of the polymer to obtain tapes, ribbons, monofilaments, sheets or tubes with improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: An electronic chassis is disclosed for supporting components such as a CRT device or flat panel display unit and adapted for installation through an opening in a cabinet without requiring access from within the cabinet to secure the chassis in place. The frontal end of the chassis has flange members on opposite sides which fit against the cabinet surface around its opening. One side of the chassis frontal end has a movable retainer means controlled by one or more drive screws that can be adjusted to grip one side of the cabinet opening. Continued actuation of the drive screws moves the chassis into locking contact with a fixed retainer means on the opposite side of the chassis. A bezel frame member attached to the frontal end of the chassis covers the drive screws but has access holes to facilitate their adjustment, and gaskets are provided on the bezel frame to prevent moisture from entering the chassis or the cabinet opening.

Abstract: A method of producing high modulus and high strength products of polyethylene and other thermoplastic polymers by swelling with a suitable solvent a melt crystallized, or compacted powder morphology to form a pseudo-gel, drying the pseudo-gel, compressing it, and drawing it. The optimum process involves swelling the initial morphology in the form of a tape/ribbon/rod/monofilament/sheet/tube in a non-volatile solvent at temperatures near the polymer crystalline melting point, cooling the morphology under controlled conditions, lightly compressing it to remove the non-volatile solvent, extracting the non-volatile solvent by volatile solvent, removing the volatile solvent by evaporation or vacuum, compressing the morphology between rolls, and then stretching it at temperatures below the crystalline melting point of the polymer to obtain tapes, ribbons, monofilaments, sheets or tubes with improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: A flow conditioner for providing a relatively ideal flow profile when used in a fluid conduit upstream from an orifice meter comprises a bundle of parallel tubes including a central tube having the largest diameter in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 times the conduit internal diameter. The central tube is surrounded by circular arrays of tubes each having a diameter smaller than the central tube so that the flow conditioner produces an orifice discharge coefficient that does not vary from a coefficient created by non swirling, fully developed ideal flow conditions.

Abstract: A composite plastic duct structure comprised of an outer layer of fabric material impregnated with a fire-resistant resin material and an inner liner layer of chemically corrosion resistant resin material impregnated with a fabric material. The invention includes a method wherein multiple wrappings of resin impregnated material are wound on a mandrel to form the inner and outer layers.

Abstract: An apparatus having a collet piece in a casing for attaching to a shock cord (or rubber or rubber composite cord or strap) anywhere along the length of the cord. The substantial change in width of a circular or flat shock cord as it is stretched is used to make the width of the cord narrow. When the cord is narrow it freely moves through a passage in the collet piece unit. When the cord is released to its fully relaxed width, the cord's width is wider than the greatest width of the passage through the collet piece and casing unit. The compression on the cord creates a frictional holding force between the collet piece, casing unit, and the shock cord. A tapered opening is provided in the casing so that when the cord is pulled in one direction while the casing is held, the frictional force causes the collet piece to slide along the tapered opening thereby reducing the width of the passage through the collet piece and casing unit to grip and hold the shock cord in the passage.

Abstract: A stimulus waveform is processed using a model of the human auditory system to provide a plurality of output waveforms. Each output waveform corresponds to excitation at different locations along the basilar membrane in the cochlea, and matches the narrow frequency bandwidth, short time response, and wave propagation characteristics of the human cochlea. Primary feature detection is achieved by comparing response waveforms and their spatial and time derivatives to predetermined stereotypes. Secondary feature detection is achieved by comparing spatial and temporal patterns of primary features with patterns stereotypical of human speech elements.