Abstract: The present invention provides polyester/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 polyester oligomers.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to the formation of thick films having a biaxial molecular orientation. Such films are prepared in accordance with the present invention from rod-like extended chain aromatic-heterocyclic ordered polymers. Such films have high tensile strength, modulus, and environmental resistance characteristics. A preferred ordered polymer for use in the present invention is poly (para-phenylenebenzo bisthiazole), (PBT), a compound having the structure: ##STR1## The present invention is also directed to methods and apparatus suitable for producing biaxially oriented films, coatings, and like materials from ordered polymers, preferably PBT.

Abstract: A continuous intersecting braided composite preform including a first member with at least one ply of biased fibers and a second member also with at least one ply of biased fiber. The first member intersects with the second member and passes continuously through the second member such that the biased fibers of the first member are interstitially arranged with respect to the biased fibers of the second member at the intersection.

Abstract: The present invention is related to laminographic apparatus and method for imaging individual layers of a multilayer structure, for example the individual layers of a composite, with capabilities for imaging in multiple dimensions or along arbitrary surfaces within the space of the structure. A source of radiation and an areal detector are moved relative to a test specimen positioned therebetween such that a magnified two dimensional image of the test specimen is obtained at the detector. A single translational pass of the test specimen through the source/detector combination provides sensitivity to patterns in the test specimen which have small scale features lying in a direction parallel to the direction of the pass. An image with sensitivity to features in two perpendicular directions is obtained by taking passes in both directions, no mechanical registration between the perpendicular passes being required.

Abstract: An object classification and identification system including stored discriminator quantities indicative of the surface characteristics of known objects; an arm coupled to a detector which provides a voltage signal which varies relative to the surface characteristics of a detected object as the arm moves over the detected object; a computer programmed to calculate a plurality of discriminator quantities indicative of the surface characteristics of the detected object based on the voltage signal; and a neural network used for matching the calculated discriminator quantities of the detected object with the stored discriminator quantities indicative of the surface characteristics of known object.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to capacitors including one or more layers of dielectric material wherein at least one of the layers including a multiaxially oriented lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) film. The present invention also provides lyotropic LCPs films having less than 0.5% residual ionic contaminants and a method of preparing such films and capacitors including such films. In preferred embodiments, the invention further provides a capacitor wherein the liquid crystalline polymer film has less than 0.5% residual ionic contaminants.

Abstract: A ballistically deployed restraining net system including a cartridge receivable within a barrel, the cartridge having a base and an opposing open end. There is a restraining net packaged in the cartridge and a set of weights attached to the restraining net and packaged within the cartridge between the base of the cartridge and the restraining net. A deployment charge ejects the restraining net and the set of weights out of the barrel and out of the cartridge and a spreader charge deploys the weights after the net and the set of weight exit the cartridge so that the weights overtake the net in flight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles of manfacture, such as films, tubes, and coatings, comprising a multiaxially oriented film having a planar morphology, wherein the article of manfacture comprises at least one thermoplastic flexible polymer, at least one thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer, or a blend thereof. Recyclable articles of manufacture having improved barrier properties are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides polyester/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 polyester oligomers.

Abstract: A variety of optical components or nodes are provided which components are formed utilizing holographically polymerized polymer/liquid crystal composites, and which components include free space/unguided wave switches, guided wave switches, out/in couplers, reflection nodes/reflection filters and guided wave interconnect nodes. Selected ones of these nodes may be designed to operate either in a single wavelength mode or in a multiwavelength WDM mode. All of the components are switchable so as to able to modify the component output to which an optical signal received on a component input is applied as a function of an electric field applied across the component, and to vary the channel outputted on a given output for WDM operation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite turbine rotor in which blade coupons are fabricated from flat braided fabrics that have extending axial fibers. The extending axial fibers are then woven between the plies of polar woven fabric which make up the body of the rotor. This preform assembly is then impregnated with resin and cured. The blade coupons make up the blades of the rotor and can be made to have an airfoil shape, a curved shape, or a twisted shape by the use of blade formation tools designed for forming the rotor preform.

Abstract: An improved remotely-operated high-pressure water-jet sludge lancing system for removing sludge from the secondary side of steam generators, the system including an end effector and a deployment system. The end effector includes two diametrically opposed articulated nozzle heads having water jet nozzles attached thereto. The nozzle heads are pivotally mounted to respective pneumatic extension arm actuators that are accommodated in respective arms. The arms are attached in a collinear relation to opposing sides of a centrally located drive means, which allows for the rotational positioning of the nozzle heads. The deployment system for delivering and supporting the end effector includes a self-erecting load-bearing chain and a segmented support rail having a straight section and a curved section. The chain is suspended from the support rail by hangers and cylinder rollers.

Abstract: A braiding machine carrier having a frame; a fiber spool mount attached to the frame; a fiber take-up assembly including a spiral spring; gear train on the frame for mechanically connecting the take-up spring assembly to the fiber spool mount for winding the spiral spring as a spool on the mount rotates; and a magnetic clutch, coupled to the take-up spring assembly, for preventing overwinding of the spiral spring.

Abstract: A ballistically deployed restraining net system including a cartridge receivable within a barrel, the cartridge having a base and an opposing open end. There is a restraining net packaged in the cartridge and a set of weights attached to the restraining net and packaged within the cartridge between the base of the cartridge and the restraining net. A deployment charge ejects the restraining net and the set of weights out of the barrel and out of the cartridge and a spreader charge deploys the weights after the net and the set of weight exit the cartridge so that the weights overtake the net in flight.

Abstract: A self-powered powerline sensor includes a core layer for wrapping about an a.c. powerline; a winding layer, including of a plurality of windings to be energized by the a.c. powerline, disposed about the core layer; means for sensing a condition in or about the a.c. powerline; and means, powered by the windings, in communication with the means for sensing, for transmitting a signal representative of the sensed condition over the a.c. powerline.

Abstract: Coatings of multiaxially oriented Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymer (TLCP) are provided to elongated members. Suitable members include glass rods, glass fibers, pipes, beams, and other oval or polygonal members having an essentially regular cross-section. Members of ceramic, plastic, or metal can also be coated. This extrusion is performed using a die having inner and outer mandrels capable of rotating in opposite directions. Concentricity between inner and outer mandrels of the die is maintained to assure uniform coating thickness. In order to produce a high level of multiaxial orientation at lower die rotational speeds, the die design may include spiraling feed zones on one or both facing surfaces of the inner and outer mandrels. The application of the multiaxially oriented coating provides superior impermeability to water vapor and oxygen, and increased strength to the elongated member in the axial direction.

Abstract: A spectroanalytical system includes entrance aperture defining structure for receiving radiation to be analyzed along a first path; dispersion structure in the first path for spatially dispersing the radiation as a function of wavelength; exit aperture structure defining a non-elongate aperture for receiving radiation from the dispersion structure; detector aperture structure coupled to the exit aperture structure for detecting selected wavelengths of the dispersion radiation; and wedge-like conditioner structure disposed between the first path and between the dispersion structure and the entrance and exit aperture structures.

Abstract: A flat and nearly mechanically isotropic polymer film or sheet, or a tube, can be formed by laminating two or more films, preferably by coextrusion of a liquid crystal polymer film and a thermoplastic polymer film. A liquid crystal polymer layer may be combined with one or more thermoplastic polymer layer in various arrangements. The liquid crystal, and possibly the thermoplastic as well, may have a controlled molecular orientation. The film may also be formed by passing a polymer through a set of two or three tubular rotors which are concentric and have facing surfaces which define inner and outer annular polymer flow channels.

Abstract: The retortable multilayer container of the present invention includes a receptacle and lid having at least a barrier layer includes an LCP film and inner food contact layer comprising at least one thermoplastic material. The receptacle has a base portion and a sidewall portion extending from the base portion defining a storage compartment. The storage compartment has a filling volume from about 0.03 to about 20 liters. The receptacle may be in the form of a tray, cup, bowl, tub or bucket. The tray may be designed as a simple tray or a multi-compartment tray. The receptacle may further have a lip portion extending from the sidewall portion providing an area for the lid to rest.

Abstract: A non-contact spectroscopy system includes scanning head structure with transmitting optics for focusing radiation onto the surface of material to be analyzed, and receiving optics for collecting radiation reflected from the surface of the material and directing the reflected radiation onto optic fiber structure for transmission to spectroscopic analyzer structure.