Abstract: A filter system including a housing with an intake and an outlet, a pleated carbon filter disposed between the intake and the outlet for filtering out vapors entering the intake, and a hydrophobic solution dispersed about the pleated carbon filter to inhibit adsorption of water thereby increasing the adsorption capacity of the pleated carbon filter especially in high relative humidity environments. The hydrophobic solution is selected so that it does not decrease the adsorption capacity of the carbon filter. Also disclosed is a method of making such a filter.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) is disclosed that is formed on a substrate composed of liquid crystal polymer (LCP). In one embodiment, the IMD can be an interconnection module for interconnecting an electrode array to an equipment module. The interconnecting module includes conductors disposed on the LCP substrate and coupled to the electrode array, and wherein the conductors are encapsulated using a silicone or LCP encapsulant. In another embodiment, the IMD is an electrode array and interconnect module disposed on an integral LCP substrate. An equipment module can be coupled to the interconnect module. Alternatively, a hybrid electronic circuit can be coupled to the interconnect module for signal processing and conditioning signals received from the electrode array or for providing stimulus signals to the electrode array. In this embodiment, all of the conductors and at least a portion of the electrodes in the electrode array are encapsulated using a silicone or LCP encapsulant.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fiber matrix composite structure including assembling a plurality of plies of fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix material on a mandrel; engaging an ultrasonic horn with the top surface of uppermost ply; and orienting the horn at an acute angle with respect to the top surface and energizing the horn to inducing a shear force in the plies to heat and consolidate the plies.

Abstract: An open-lattice, foldable, self-deployable structure with a number of spaced, bendable longitudinal members each having a curved cross section forming cells each bounded by a portion of two spaced longitudinal members and two spaced diagonal members. The diagonal members are joined to the longitudinal members at the cell boundary intersections of the diagonal members and the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members are made of a material which bends and flattens by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point and the diagonal members are made of a material which both bends and twists by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point so that the structure can be collapsed and then self resurrected.

Abstract: A deployment system for an upper bundle steam generator cleaning/inspection device, the deployment system including an elongated body feedable through an access in a steam generator shell proximate the tube sheet of the steam generator, the elongated body flexible in one configuration to bend into a position for extension up through flow slots in support plates of the interior of the steam generator, and rigid in another configuration for positioning and supporting cleaning/inspection devices up through the steam generator proximate the upper tube bundles of the steam generator; and a drive device for driving the elongated body up through the support plates and for retracting the elongated body back down through the support plates.

Abstract: A damping system is disclosed which includes a housing that receives vibrations, a mounting platform movably disposed with respect to the housing, at least one bearing surface on or attached to one of the housing and the platform, and at least one frictional member on or attached to the other of the housing and the platform in contact with the bearing surface. The system frictionally dampens vibrations received by the housing and isolates the platform from vibrations.

Abstract: A bi-directional device for ultrasonically consolidating a fiber reinforced composite structure including a horn which can be angled relative to the composite structure. The horn includes a tip at the distal end of the horn which terminates in a rounded face. The rounded face of the horn contacts the composite structure enabling the horn to be driven bi-directionally over the composite structure at an angle.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermosetting matrix, fiber reinforced composite structure wherein a stack of fiber reinforced thermosetting material plies are assembled; an ultrasonic horn is engaged with a top surface of the upper most ply, oriented at an acute angle with respect to the top surface, and energized to induce a shear wave in the plies to heat the plies. The horn is moved along the upper most ply to consolidate the plies and the energy level applied to the horn is sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the thermoset resin to the point where the plies can be debulked but not high enough to fully cross-link the resin so that another ply can still be fully cross-linked to the uppermost ply. Pressure is applied to the plies as the horn moves to debulk the plies.

Abstract: A protective coating, underwater applicator including a housing for receiving an underwater protective coating compound; a nozzle on a distal end of the housing having an end opening for applying the protective coating; a spatula extending from one portion of the end opening for spreading the protective coating; and a seal disposed about a substantial portion of the end opening for preventing the loss or coagulation of the protective coating.

Abstract: A foldable member in the shape of a tube with at least one predetermined hinge area along the length of the tube and opposing sets of elongated slots in the tube at the hinge area thereof forming separated longitudinal strips of tube material between the slots which fold when subjected to localized buckling forces, each slot of each set of elongated slots separated longitudinally along the length of the tube from each adjacent slot by a bridge element of tube material. A collapsible structure constructed of such foldable members.

Abstract: A tire defect detection system including a support structure for receiving a tire; an actuator disposed proximate the tire for impacting the tire; a microphone disposed proximate the actuator for receiving a sound wave generated when the actuator impacts the tire; and a computer responsive to the microphone, the computer programmed to calculate a number of discriminator quantities from the resulting sound wave and to compare the calculated discriminator quantities with stored discriminator quantities indicative of a defect to determine whether a defect is present in the tire.

Abstract: A foldable member in the shape of a tube with at least one predetermined hinge area along the length of the tube and opposing sets of elongated slots in the tube at the hinge area thereof forming separated longitudinal strips of tube material between the slots which fold when subjected to localized buckling forces, each slot of each set of elongated slots separated longitudinally along the length of the tube from each adjacent slot by a bridge element of tube material. A collapsible structure constructed of such foldable members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEMs) which include a porous polymer substrate interpenetrated with an ion-conducting material. SPEMs of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications, including fuel cells and electrodialysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides degradable curable resin compositions containing no or essentially no volatile organic components. Oligomers for forming the coating compositions of the present invention are vinyl dioxolane end-capped oligomers having an enzyme degradable segment.

Abstract: An open-lattice, foldable, self-deployable structure with a number of spaced, bendable longitudinal members forming cells each bounded by a portion of two spaced longitudinal members and two spaced diagonal members. The diagonal members are joined to the longitudinal members at the cell boundary intersections of the diagonal members and the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members are made of a material which bends by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point and the diagonal members are made of a material which both bends and twists by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point so that the structure can be collapsed and then self resurrected.

Abstract: A foldable member in the shape of a tube with at least one predetermined hinge area along the length of the tube, and a plurality of opposing elongated slots in the tube at the hinge area thereof forming separated longitudinal strips of tube material between the slots which fold when subjected to localized buckling forces. A collapsible structure constructed of such foldable members.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed package for at least one semiconductor chip is provided which is formed of a substrate having electrical interconnects thereon to which the semiconductor chips are selectively bonded, and a lid which preferably functions as a heat sink, with a hermetic seal being formed around the chips between the substrate and the heat sink. The substrate is either formed of or includes a layer of a thermoplastic material having low moisture permeability which material is preferably a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and is a multiaxially oriented LCP material for preferred embodiments. Where the lid is a heat sink, the heat sink is formed of a material having high thermal conductivity and preferably a coefficient of thermal expansion which substantially matches that of the chip. A hermetic bond is formed between the side of each chip opposite that connected to the substrate and the heat sink.

Abstract: The present invention provides polyester/polyurethane/vinyl dioxolane based coating compositions containing no or essentially no volatile organic components. Oligomers for forming the coating compositions of the present invention are vinyl dioxolane end-capped polyesters and polyurethane oligomers.

Abstract: A transmission cell apparatus for in-process spectroscopy comprising symmetric compound parabolic light concentrators (4, 5) terminating optical transmission fibers (8, 9) and abutting windows (2, 3) defining the sample cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEMs) which include a porous polymer substrate interpenetrated with an ion-conducting material. SPEMs of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications, including fuel cells and electrodialysis.