Abstract: A sealing system for isolating the environment inside a vitrification container from the outside environment comprises a vitrification container with a lid. The lid comprises two or more electrode seal assemblies through which two or more electrodes may be operatively positioned and extend down through the lid into the vitrification container. The electrodes may move axially up and down through the electrode seal assemblies or lock into place. The electrode seal assemblies each comprise a housing having two halves with recessed ring grooves. Sealing rings with a split may be placed into the grooves. Gas galleries may be machined or cast into the housing such that they are adjacent to the ring grooves. The gas galleries distribute gas onto the external faces of the sealing rings causing a change in pressure resulting in the sealing rings compressing onto the electrodes and forming a seal.

Abstract: A sealing system for isolating the environment inside a vitrification container from the outside environment comprises a vitrification container with a lid. The lid comprises two or more electrode seal assemblies through which two or more electrodes may be operatively positioned and extend down through the lid into the vitrification container. The electrodes may move axially up and down through the electrode seal assemblies or lock into place. The electrode seal assemblies each comprise a housing having two halves with recessed ring grooves. Sealing rings with a split may be placed into the grooves. Gas galleries may be machined or cast into the housing such that they are adjacent to the ring grooves. The gas galleries distribute gas onto the external faces of the sealing rings causing a change in pressure resulting in the sealing rings compressing onto the electrodes and forming a seal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a modular reconfigurable shielding system for one or more storage containers in temporary or long term storage. The system comprises shield panels which may be used to shield external faces of containers in a storage configuration to reduce the overall amount of shielding required in a storage facility. Reducing the amount of shielding reduces the storage footprint of each container thus increasing storage capacity and efficiency of the storage facility. The modularity of the shield panels allows storage containers to be easily added and removed from the storage configuration. Additionally, modular shielding allows the amount and type of shielding to be easily reconfigured for differing requirements and storage contents.

Abstract: A sealing system for isolating the environment inside a vitrification container from the outside environment comprises a vitrification container with a lid. The lid comprises two or more electrode seal assemblies through which two or more electrodes may be operatively positioned and extend down through the lid into the vitrification container. The electrodes may move axially up and down through the electrode seal assemblies or lock into place. The electrode seal assemblies each comprise a housing having two halves with recessed ring grooves. Sealing rings with a split may be placed into the grooves. Gas galleries may be machined or cast into the housing such that they are adjacent to the ring grooves. The gas galleries distribute gas onto the external faces of the sealing rings causing a change in pressure resulting in the sealing rings compressing onto the electrodes and forming a seal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a modular reconfigurable shielding system for one or more storage containers in temporary or long term storage. The system comprises shield panels which may be used to shield external faces of containers in a storage configuration to reduce the overall amount of shielding required in a storage facility. Reducing the amount of shielding reduces the storage footprint of each container thus increasing storage capacity and efficiency of the storage facility. The modularity of the shield panels allows storage containers to be easily added and removed from the storage configuration. Additionally, modular shielding allows the amount and type of shielding to be easily reconfigured for differing requirements and storage contents.

Abstract: A sealing system for isolating the environment inside a vitrification container from the outside environment comprises a vitrification container with a lid. The lid comprises two or more electrode seal assemblies through which two or more electrodes may be operatively positioned and extend down through the lid into the vitrification container. The electrodes may move axially up and down through the electrode seal assemblies or lock into place. The electrode seal assemblies each comprise a housing having two halves with recessed ring grooves. Sealing rings with a split may be placed into the grooves. Gas galleries may be machined or cast into the housing such that they are adjacent to the ring grooves. The gas galleries distribute gas onto the external faces of the sealing rings causing a change in pressure resulting in the sealing rings compressing onto the electrodes and forming a seal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a modular reconfigurable shielding system for one or more storage containers in temporary or long term storage. The system comprises shield panels which may be used to shield external faces of containers in a storage configuration to reduce the overall amount of shielding required in a storage facility. Reducing the amount of shielding reduces the storage footprint of each container thus increasing storage capacity and efficiency of the storage facility. The modularity of the shield panels allows storage containers to be easily added and removed from the storage configuration. Additionally, modular shielding allows the amount and type of shielding to be easily reconfigured for differing requirements and storage contents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a modular reconfigurable shielding system for one or more storage containers in temporary or long term storage. The system comprises shield panels which may be used to shield external faces of containers in a storage configuration to reduce the overall amount of shielding required in a storage facility. Reducing the amount of shielding reduces the storage footprint of each container thus increasing storage capacity and efficiency of the storage facility. The modularity of the shield panels allows storage containers to be easily added and removed from the storage configuration. Additionally, modular shielding allows the amount and type of shielding to be easily reconfigured for differing requirements and storage contents.

Abstract: A sealing system for isolating the environment inside a vitrification container from the outside environment comprises a vitrification container with a lid. The lid comprises two or more electrode seal assemblies through which two or more electrodes may be operatively positioned and extend down through the lid into the vitrification container. The electrodes may move axially up and down through the electrode seal assemblies or lock into place. The electrode seal assemblies each comprise a housing having two halves with recessed ring grooves. Sealing rings with a split may be placed into the grooves. Gas galleries may be machined or cast into the housing such that they are adjacent to the ring grooves. The gas galleries distribute gas onto the external faces of the sealing rings causing a change in pressure resulting in the sealing rings compressing onto the electrodes and forming a seal.

Abstract: A door handle for a door of an automotive vehicle having a first gasket attached at a distal end of the door handle and a second gasket attached at a proximate end of the door handle. The first gasket and second gasket have an inner surface facing the outer surface of the door and an outer surface facing the respective ends of the door handle. The first gasket and the second gasket also include a lip formed of a resilient material, which protrudes outwardly relative to the outer surface of gaskets and extends longitudinally along the edge of the gaskets to sealingly engage the ends of the door handle. The lip is embossed so that it is recessed relative to the inner surface of the gasket to accommodate compression of the lip as the handle is displaced towards the door. A flattened portion extends from an end of the lip on the first gasket to dampen noise due to impact between the distal end of the door handle and an outer surface of the door.

Abstract: A motor vehicle acoustic noise reduction system is provided. The acoustic noise reduction system particularly reduces or eliminates wind throb in a moving vehicle. The system includes a window sensor operable to sense when a first window of the motor vehicle is open. An air inlet is also included which is actuatable to let air into the motor vehicle when the air inlet is in an open position. An actuator associated with and operable to open or close the air inlet is provided and in communication with a controller. The controller is associated with tie sensor and can energize the actuator to place the air inlet in the open position and let air into the motor vehicle when the window sensor senses the first window is in the open position and communicates this information to the controller.

Abstract: A door handle for a door of an automotive vehicle having a first gasket attached at a distal end of the door handle and a second gasket attached at a proximate end of the door handle. The first gasket and second gasket have an inner surface facing the outer surface of the door and an outer surface facing the respective ends of the door handle. The first gasket and the second gasket also include a lip formed of a resilient material, which protrudes outwardly relative to the outer surface of gaskets and extends longitudinally along the edge of the gaskets to sealingly engage the ends of the door handle. The lip is embossed so that it is recessed relative to the inner surface of the gasket to accommodate compression of the lip as the handle is displaced towards the door. A flattened portion extends from an end of the lip on the first gasket to dampen noise due to impact between the distal end of the door handle and an outer surface of the door.

Abstract: A wind deflector noise reduction system is provided. The wind deflector noise reduction system particularly reduces or eliminates wind throb in a moving vehicle having a rear side window in an open position. The system includes a panel attached to the B-pillar of a motor vehicle and operable to move between a closed position and an open position. When the panel is in the open position, wind is deflected from entering the moving vehicle. An actuator associated with the panel and operable to move the panel between the closed and the open position can be energized by a controller. The controller can be activated by the user of the motor vehicle and/or by a sensor that detects the position of the rear side window.

Abstract: Laser scanners are used for determining deformation in vehicle bodies and the like, using a laser scanning apparatus in conjunction with a plurality of coded targets suspended from (or in known relationship to) known reference points on the vehicle to calculate three dimensional spatial coordinates defining the actual positions of the targets, and to compare such calculated positions with manufacturer-provided specification values. The present invention provides improved signal collection through the use of an independent synchronization circuit that uses a fiber optic cable for signal collection; improved component isolation through the use of a mounting plate and isolation mounts; improved component alignment through the use of easier and more reliable alignment mechanisms; and improved data collection and processing through the use of onboard data averaging and filtering.

Abstract: A wind deflector noise reduction system is provided. The wind deflector noise reduction system particularly reduces or eliminates wind throb in a moving vehicle having a rear side window in an open position. The system includes a panel attached to the B-pillar of a motor vehicle and operable to move between a closed position and an open position. When the panel is in the open position, wind is deflected from entering the moving vehicle. An actuator associated with the panel and operable to move the panel between the closed and the open position can be energized by a controller. The controller can be activated by the user of the motor vehicle and/or by a sensor that detects the position of the rear side window.

Abstract: A motor vehicle acoustic noise reduction system is provided. The acoustic noise reduction system particularly reduces or eliminates wind throb in a moving vehicle. The system includes a window sensor operable to sense when a first window of the motor vehicle is open. An air inlet is also included which is actuatable to let air into the motor vehicle when the air inlet is in an open position. An actuator associated with and operable to open or close the air inlet is provided and in communication with a controller. The controller is associated with tie sensor and can energize the actuator to place the air inlet in the open position and let air into the motor vehicle when the window sensor senses the first window is in the open position and communicates this information to the controller.

Abstract: A gasket is used for sealing an interface between an outer surface of a door and a door handle of an automotive vehicle. The gasket includes opposite inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surface of the gasket faces the door and the outer surface of the gasket faces the handle. The gasket also includes a lip that protrudes outwardly relative to the outer surface of the gasket and extends longitudinally along an edge of the gasket to sealingly engage the handle. The lip is embossed so that it is recessed relative to the inner surface of the gasket to accommodate compression of the lip as the handle is displaced toward the door. A flattened portion extends from an end of the lip to dampen noise due to impact between the handle and a door outer panel of the door.

Abstract: A liner system for in-container vitrification that can withstand high temperature is critical to the overall in-container vitrification process. A treatment vessel comprising a treatment vessel having an inner and outer wall wherein the inner wall defines a void therein. An insulation layer is deposited inside the void so as to create an annulus between the inner wall of the treatment vessel and the insulation layer to allow air or liquid to flow around the melt to facilitate the dissipation of the heat from the entire melting process. Next a layer of refractory material best suited to inhibit the transmission of heat from the melt is deposited within the insulation layer and is in thermal contact with the melt material.

Abstract: A method of making a packaged electrical device comprises the steps of (a) connecting one end of a wire to a first point (e.g., a first electrical node) in the package, and (b) connecting the other end of the wire to a second point (e.g., a second electrical node) in the package, characterized by (c) causing energy from an external source to heat at least one predetermined segment of the wire to a temperature that is below its melting point (MP) but not below its recrystallization temperature (RCT), and (d) cooling the heated segment to a temperature below its RCT [e.g., to room temperature (RT)], thereby to increase the stiffness modulus of the segment. In one embodiment, the external source is a laser whose optical output is absorbed by the segment. In another embodiment, the heated segment is rapidly cooled (i.e., quenched) to RT.