Abstract: A system including a primary evaporator facilitating heat transfer by evaporating liquid to obtain vapor is disclosed. The primary evaporator receives a liquid from a liquid line and outputs the vapor to a vapor line. The primary evaporator also outputs excess liquid received from the liquid line to an excess fluid line. A condensing system receives the vapor from the vapor line, and outputs the liquid and excess liquid to the liquid line. The excess liquid is obtained at least partially from a reservoir. A primary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, and the vapor line, and provides a heat transfer path. Similarly, a secondary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, the vapor line, and the excess fluid line. The secondary loop provides a venting path for removing undesired vapor within the liquid or excess liquid from the primary evaporator.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for detecting and analyzing forensic evidence. A digital image is taken of background radiation from a suspected-evidence area suspected to contain evidence. The suspected-evidence area is exposed to a high-intensity pulse of ultraviolet radiation. Another digital image is taken of fluorescence within the exposed suspected-evidence area. The digital images are processed to create a composite digital image showing regions of evidence. The composite digital image is analyzed to determine the wavelength of fluorescent radiation emitted by the regions of evidence. Composite evidence image and the analysis results are displayed. The present invention also comprises a forensic evidence detection and analysis system that includes a digital camera, an ultraviolet light source, a computer and display, and a computer program installed on the computer.

Abstract: An insulation material comprising a low-density EPDM polymer, at least one flame-retardant, and an organic filler. The insulation material is used in an insulation layer of a rocket motor. The organic filler is a polymeric, organic filler such as polyvinyl chloride. A rocket motor comprising an insulation material is also disclosed. The insulation material comprises a low-density EPDM polymer, at least one flame-retardant, and a polymeric, organic filler and is applied between an inner surface of a case of the rocket motor and a propellant. A method of insulating a rocket motor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A radar system includes at least one transmit array comprising a plurality of metamaterial elements. The radar system further includes at least one near-field stimulator for inputting electromagnetic signal to the transmit array so that a sub-wavelength target is illuminated with an electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a shotshell comprises a casing defining an internal chamber, a plurality of first shot pellets within the internal chamber and a plurality of second shot pellets within the internal chamber. The first shot pellets comprise a first shape and the second shot pellets comprise a second shape that is different from the first shape.

Abstract: A separation column assembly for a gas chromatograph and the like is provided. The assembly is a self contained unit which allows very rapid heating and cooling of the column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming elongated composite structural members with a desired cross-sectional geometry as taken transverse to the length of the member. An apparatus may include a base with a substantially elongated mandrel mounted thereon. One or more rollers configured to at least partially complementarily engage the mandrel are configured to roll over and press one or more plies of composite material onto the mandrel. The mandrel may be disposed on a rotary table and configured to exhibit a curved elongated geometry to form at least partially curved or arcuate elongated members. The present invention enables the formation of elongated structural members from resin impregnated materials while maintaining the materials in a substantially uncured state. The formed members may then be cocured with a skin or other composite structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides cyclic nitro compound, pharmaceutical compositions of cyclic nitro compounds and methods of using cyclic nitro compounds and/or pharmaceutical compositions thereof to treat or prevent diseases or disorders characterized by abnormal cell proliferation, such as cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disease.

Abstract: A thermal conductivity detector comprises a housing having an internal cavity, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first bore and a second bore. The thermal conductivity detector further comprises a thermistor having a first electrical lead and a second electrical lead, a first contact pin in electrical communication with said first electrical lead and a second contact pin in electrical communication with said second electrical lead. The first contact pin is oriented within the first bore, the second contact pin is oriented within the second bore and the thermistor is suspended within the gas analysis chamber.

Abstract: Flares include grain assemblies comprising a combustible grain and a reactive foil positioned at least proximate to the grain and configured to ignite combustion of the grain upon ignition of the reactive foil. The reactive foil may include alternating layers of reactive materials. Methods of fabricating flares include at least partially covering an exterior surface of a combustible grain with a reactive foil to form a grain assembly, and inserting the grain assembly at least partially into a casing. The reactive foil may include alternating layers of reactive materials that are configured to react with one another in an exothermic chemical reaction upon ignition. Furthermore, methods of igniting a flare grain include initiating an exothermic chemical reaction between alternating layers of reactive materials in a reactive foil located proximate to the flare grain.

Abstract: A fiber redirect system for use with a multi-axis robotic wrist and fiber placement system and methods of using the same are provided. The fiber redirect system may include one or more redirect mechanisms configured to alter the path of one or more fiber tows fed from a creel assembly to a fiber placement head. The redirect mechanism may be located and configured so as to be centered about either the intersection of the pitch and yaw axes of the robotic wrist or the intersection of the yaw and roll axes of the robotic wrist. In one exemplary embodiment, a first redirect mechanism is centered about the intersection of the pitch and yaw axes, a second redirect mechanism is centered about the intersection of the yaw and roll axes and a third redirect mechanism may be centered about the roll axis.

Abstract: An insulation material comprising a low-density EPDM polymer, at least one flame-retardant, and an organic filler. The insulation material is used in an insulation layer of a rocket motor. The organic filler is a polymeric, organic filler such as polyvinyl chloride. A rocket motor comprising an insulation material is also disclosed. The insulation material comprises a low-density EPDM polymer, at least one flame-retardant, and a polymeric, organic filler and is applied between an inner surface of a case of the rocket motor and a propellant. A method of insulating a rocket motor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid pyrotechnic composition having a flame temperature and exhibiting ballistic performance comparable to that of black powder, but which does not contain charcoal or sulfur, is provided, as is a method for making such composition. A solid pyrotechnic composition, and method for making the same, which has a flame temperature and exhibits ballistic performance comparable to that of boron/potassium nitrate and that is preferably free of boron is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming laminate composite structures. At least two laminae, each containing electrically conductive reinforcing fibers, are placed upon each other in contacting relationship to form a generally layered structure. The layered structure may be subjected to heat to conductively transfer heat through the layered structure and thereby improve the surface contact between the two laminae. The layered structure is volumetrically heated by inductively transferring energy to the electrically conductive reinforcing fibers. The heated, layered structure is consolidated, such as by applying pressure and reducing the temperature of the layered structure. The consolidated structure is then quenched by rapidly cooling the consolidated structure in a directionally controlled manner about a midplane thereof.

Abstract: A three-dimensional FSS fabrication system is described. FSS elements are pre-mapped in two-dimensional form and constructed on a flat FSS panel that is then formed into a desired three-dimensional shape. The 2-D flat surface of the designed FSS is mapped into a desired three-dimensional curvature so that when formed from 2-D into the 3-D shape, the FSS elements are moved into a desired position and/or orientation. In one embodiment, the mapping from 2-D to 3-D is performed using the elastic properties of a desired substrate material. In one embodiment, one or more flat FSS panels are constructed on a formable or thermo-formable substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate includes a thermoplastic. In one embodiment, the substrate includes a thermoplastic material with fiber reinforcement. The FSS elements can be created by printing, deposition, photo-etching, etc. The flat FSS layers are thermoformed or chemically formed over a tool having the desired shape.

Abstract: This method permits manufacturing EPDM rocket motor insulation in which carbon fibers are dispersed and immobilized in the EPDM polymeric matrix but are not excessively fractured or fragmentized, i.e., broken into smaller fragments, when encountering degrees of shear necessary to homogeneously or otherwise distribute or disperse the carbon fibers in the EPDM polymeric matrix. The method is substantially solvent free and is performed via distributive/reduced shear mixing to distribute the fragile carbon fibers into a rubber matrix without excessive damage. According to one embodiment, at least about 50% of the elastomer composition introduced into the mixing apparatus is liquid EPDM terpolymer having sufficiently low molecular weight and high diene content to permit dispersion of the carbon fibers in the EPDM without substantial fragmentation of the fibers.

Abstract: A light-sensing module and arrays of two or more light-sensing modules are described. Each light-sensing module comprises a mounting support structure that may include an air vehicle guidance section and an optical element adapted to direct incident light to a detector array that comprises an array of photodiodes and is attached to the mounting support structure. The detector array is adapted to receive the directed light and convert the received light to a set of electrical pulses via a plurality of photodetectors each of which is operatively coupled to an amplifier and a threshold circuit adapted to output a detection to a memory store adapted to associate a detection with a time-of-arrival. The light-sensing module may be adapted to output the associated detection and time-of-arrival. Air vehicles including the light-sensing modules are also disclosed.

Abstract: A non-contacting deviation measurement system projects a first line and a second line upon a surface of an object. The projections of the first line and second line are arranged to overlap at an intersection line oriented at a nominal location such that when the surface is oriented at the nominal location, the intersection line appears on the surface. As the location of the surface deviates from the nominal location, the first line and second line as projected upon the surface move away from one another. The distance between the lines may be used to calculate the deviation from the nominal location. The deviation calculated may be compared to a predetermined maximum allowable deviation.

Abstract: A safety and arming apparatus for arming a fuze of a smart weapon comprise a release sensor and a verification maneuver sensor in cooperative electronic communication with each other, such that when the release sensor senses that the weapon has been released and the verification maneuver sensor detects a predetermined verification maneuver of the weapon in flight, the fuze is armed.

Abstract: A novel and improved EPDM formulation for a solid propellant rocket motor is described wherein hexadiene EPDM monomer components are replaced by alkylidene norbornene components, and, with appropriate adjustment of curing and other additives, functionally required rheological and physical characteristics are achieved with the desired compatibility with any one of a plurality of solid filler materials, e.g., powder silica, carbon fibers or aramid fibers, and with appropriate adhesion and extended storage or shelf-life characteristics.