Abstract: A decking system is made up of a variety of decking boards and other components are disclosed. In some aspects, the decking boards are connectable to each other so that adjacent boards will provide a water barrier and a drainage channel. Some versions of the boards may have a hollow region to accept the provision of heating elements or other accessory structures. A connector piece is disclosed in various embodiments span the gap between the butt ends of the boards to provide a water barrier at the butt ends of the boards. A gutter and downspout system is disclosed, as well as structures for protecting the ends or sides of the deck structure.

Abstract: The multi-layered ballistics armor includes one or more containment layers covering at least a portion of an impact absorbing layer formed of a fragmenting material to minimize and contain fragmentation of the impact absorbing layer. The one or more containment layers may include one or more primary containment envelopes, and the fragmenting material may be a ceramic such as silicon carbide, carbon/carbon composites, carbon/carbon/silicon carbide composites, boron carbide, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide particulate/aluminum metal matrix composites, or combinations thereof. The multi-layered armor may include one or more adhesive layers over the impact absorbing layer, one or more composite backing layers, an energy absorbing layer, and a flame resistant layer. A secondary containment envelope can be provided over the one or more primary containment envelopes, composite backing layers, and energy absorbing layer.

Abstract: A process for making a lightweight laminated panel material for construction of cargo containers includes providing a high performance fabric layer, placing film adhesive layers over both sides of the high performance fabric layer, placing protective surface film layers over the film adhesive layers to form a pre-lamination stack, and placing release layers over the protective surface film layers. The pre-lamination stack is heated, compressed, and maintained at the temperature and under pressure to form a lamination stack. The lamination stack is cooled to an intermediate temperature and released from pressure, cooled further, and the release layers are removed.

Abstract: A composite structural element and a method for making same are provided. The element includes a polymer foam core and at least one fibrous layer adhered to the polymer foam core by epoxy. Nano-particles are suspended in the epoxy prior to curing; preferably they are mixed with the hardener before it is mixed with the resin. The polymer foam core is preferably an exothermic foam such as polyurethane, and heat generated by the exothermic foam cures the epoxy, thereby causing the fibrous layer to adhere to the foam core. The nano-particles may be made from at least one of carbon, a ceramic, tungsten, a carbide, titanium, zircon, aluminum, silver, or boron. When carbon nano-particles are used, the strength of the composite is greatly increased, and the curing time of the heat-curable epoxy is significantly reduced. Ceramic nano-particles can be used to increase penetration resistance and provide increased ballistic protection.

Abstract: The method and system for rapid press forming and consolidation of a sheet of thermoformable material provides for molding of articles with complex shapes. The sheet of thermoformable material is suspended on a movable frame and transferred on a track to a preheating and preconsolidation station, where it is heated, and rapidly transferred suspended on the movable frame via the track to a molding and consolidation station for rapid press forming and consolidation with a hydraulic punch that applies pressure uniformly in all directions, to substantially eliminate wrinkles in the formed product.

Abstract: A composite structural element and a method for making same are provided. The element includes a polymer foam core and at least one fibrous layer adhered to the polymer foam core by epoxy. Nano-particles are suspended in the epoxy prior to curing; preferably they are mixed with the hardener before it is mixed with the resin. The polymer foam core is preferably an exothermic foam such as polyurethane, and heat generated by the exothermic foam cures the epoxy, thereby causing the fibrous layer to adhere to the foam core. The nano-particles may be made from at least one of carbon, a ceramic, tungsten, a carbide, titanium, zircon, aluminum, silver, or boron. When carbon nano-particles are used, the strength of the composite is greatly increased, and the curing time of the heat-curable epoxy is significantly reduced. Ceramic nano-particles can be used to increase penetration resistance and provide increased ballistic protection.

Abstract: Trays for positioning of an object within an imaging coil for imaging procedures. Tray embodiments include a body having sides, ends, an object-supporting wall between the sides and at least one protrusion extending laterally outward from each side of the body. The protrusions cooperate with the structure of the particular imaging coil to locate the tray at a proper imaging position within the imaging coil. Patient-immobilization devices and object-holding devices may be associated with the trays. The trays enable off-the-shelf imaging coils to be adapted for use with an expanded number of patient-immobilization devices and object-holding devices.

Abstract: A prosthetic foot device with variable stiffness response includes a variable energy transfer mechanism or variable resistance cell disposed between first and second foot members to transfer a variable amount of energy from the second member to the first member during use. The energy transfer mechanism or variable resistance cell includes a variable orifice with variable size to variably resist flow of fluid therethrough, and thus variably transfers energy between the first and second members to vary stiffness of the prosthetic foot device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing solid composite panels utilizes an exothermic foam-forming resin to simultaneously consolidate and cure the heat activated resin of the composite panel without forming a foam-filled part. According to the method, composite fabric layers are laid up on the interior surface of a mold half that conforms to the surface configuration of the finished panel. Once the composite fabric layers are laid up, a flexible bladder is placed over the composite layup and the mold closed. The exothermic foam-forming resin is injected into the bladder within the mold cavity, which generates heat to cure the resin impregnated fabric layers above the cure temperature while simultaneously generating pressure within the cavity to consolidate the fabric layers into a substantially solid void-free composite panel.

Abstract: A method for the compression molding of a plastic article is provided. The method includes the steps of loading plastic material, that is preferably unheated, into a two piece molding chamber having at least one heating element, closing the molding chamber, and heating the plastic element. The method further includes the step of injecting fluid, for example air, into the plastic material to create at least one cavity within the plastic material. The air may be injected directly into the plastic material, or it may be injected along an upper surface of the chamber. Upon injection of air into the at least one cavity, a portion of the plastic material is forced to exit the chamber.

Abstract: A pressure vessel designed to hold a plurality of cylindrical cartridges in the form of cross-flow semipermeable membrane filtration elements having central permeate tubes that are interconnected to form a composite permeate passageway that extends axially of the pressure vessel. Several constructions are shown for compensating for assembly clearance and potential pressure vessel growth and uniquely biasing the column of cartridges towards the downstream end of the pressure vessel to prevent axial shuttling movement that could cause wear and deterioration of seals which would result in leakage and deterioration of product while providing for absorption of shock potentially promulgated from the downstream end should feed pressure be suddenly lost.

Abstract: A cable reel assembly (20) includes plastic flanges (22, 24) fabricated from a thermoplastic and wood composite material comprising a discontinuous lignocellulose wood fiber filler in combination with a thermoplastic compound and a coupling agent.

Abstract: A polymer concrete composition preparable by combining components comprising: a resin blend comprising at least one unsaturated vinyl ester resin and at least one unsaturated polyester resin; at least about 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition, of extremely filler material having an average particle size of less than about 500 microns; and at least about 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition, of fine filler material having an average particle size of about 500-1000 microns.

Abstract: The within invention is directed at a composite material comprising a product of a combination of materials. The combination of materials comprises an organic filler comprised of cellulosic material, a thermoplastic polymer having a melt temperature of less than the char temperature of the organic filler and a coupling agent comprised of at least one fatty acid having at least 16 carbon atoms and at least one rosin acid having at least 16 carbon atoms. The within invention is further directed at a process for producing the composite material comprising the step of combining the organic filler, the thermoplastic polymer and the coupling agent at a temperature of greater than or equal to the melt temperature of the thermoplastic polymer and less than the char temperature of the organic filler.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for repairing a worn helicopter rotor blade made of composite materials by adhesively securing a supplemental leading edge abrasion wear strip made of nickel to the leading edge of the rotor blade. The periphery of the bonding surface of the leading edge of the rotor blade is masked. The bonding surfaces of the supplemental leading edge strip and the rotor blade are cleaned with a medium-grit scrubbing pad, grit-blasted with aluminum oxide and then rinsed with DI water. A strip of a structural adhesive film is hot bonded to the bonding surface of the supplemental leading edge strip using vacuum and a high temperature oven cure. The side of the structural adhesive film bonding surface which will be secured directly to the rotor blade bonding surface is first abraded and then wiped with a solvent. An epoxy adhesive mix is applied to the bonding surfaces of the rotor blade and the structural adhesive film of the supplemental leading edge strip.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a composite material comprising a product of a combination of materials. The combination of materials comprises an inorganic filler comprised of ceramic cenospheres, a thermoplastic polymer and a coupling agent comprised of at least one fatty acid having at least 16 carbon atoms and at least one rosin acid having at least 16 carbon atoms. The combination may further comprise an organic filler comprised of cellulosic material and wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a melt temperature of less than the char temperature of the organic filler. The invention is further directed at a process for producing the composite material comprising the step of combining the components at a temperature of greater than or equal to the melt temperature of the thermoplastic polymer. Where the components include the organic filler, the process temperature is less than the char temperature of the organic filler.

Abstract: A wheelchair includes a chassis having a pair of side frame assemblies that are rigidly connected to each other by a seat pan. Mounted on each side frame assembly is an interchangeable axle receiving platform for orienting drive wheels at a desired camber angle. One end of a seat member is pivotally attached to a foot member for adjustment of the seating angle. By moving an opposite end of the seat member along a curved portion of a bottom member of each side frame assembly, the seat angle is changed. A one piece caster assembly is disposed forward of the drivewheels on the chassis. Through the one-piece caster assembly, each caster can be simultaneously adjusted to a particular location along the frame.

Abstract: A wheelchair frame assembly is provided with a foot rest mounting assembly and a caster mounting assembly that are mounted on side frame assemblies. The foot rest mounting assembly includes two foot plate mounting bars connected to respective side frame assemblies for mounting a foot plate. The foot plate mounting bars are positioned such that they angle inwardly towards one another to provide support for the lower portions of the legs and to allow easier movement into tight spaces. A foot plate is mounted to the end of each foot plate mounting bar in a manner that compensates for the obliquely downwardly extending and inwardly tapered nature of the foot plate mounting bar. The caster mounting assembly includes a fork that is provided with a plurality of holes for mounting casters of progressively greater diameter and for providing greater trail for progressively greater diameter casters.