Abstract: A patient support and software evaluate spinal instability by controlled isocentric rotation of the spine and measurement of rotation among vertebra to detect damaged vertebra having disproportionately large rotations. The patient support comprises a first support, adapted to support the shoulders of a patient, and a second rotatable support adapted to support the hips and legs of the patient.

Abstract: A trailer illumination system test device and method of use are disclosed. In one form, a device for testing the functionality of a trailer lighting system is disclosed. The device includes an in-series connection port operable to receive a trailer lighting system plug and a series of trailer light switches operable to simulate an operating condition of a trailer in tow. The device further includes an external power source connection operable to couple an external power source to provide power to simulate the operating condition.

Abstract: The method for separating ferrate salts from a solution comprising providing contact between the solution of essentially of aqueous hydroxide and the ferrate salts and a surface having a magnetic attraction, magnetically securing the ferrate salts to the surface; and eliminating contact between the solution and the surface. Contact is provided by immersing the surface in the solution, passing the liquid ferrate mixture over the surface, or combinations thereof. The magnetic attraction may be induced by permanent magnets, electromagnets, and combinations thereof. The apparatus for ferrate production comprises an electrochemical cell having an iron-containing anode, cathode, and an aqueous hydroxide solution in fluid communication with both the anode and the cathode, and a magnetic separator in fluid communication with the aqueous hydroxide solution for separating ferrate salts from the aqueous hydroxide solution.

Abstract: Composite coating compositions, composite metallic coatings derived from these compositions, and methods of forming the composite coating compositions and composite metallic coatings, wherein the compositions and coatings comprise particles of at least one quasicrystalline metal alloy and at least one elemental metal. The methods include electrocodepositing suspended quasicrystalline metal alloy particles and dissolved metal ions onto a substrate. Preferably, the substrate is disposed in an aqueous bath containing at least one dissolved metal ion species and at least one suspended quasicrystalline metal alloy powder species. The compositions and coatings enhance the wear, friction, hardness, corrosion, and non-stick characteristics of the substrate.

Abstract: Wet-chemical methods involving the use of water-soluble hydrolytically stable metal-ion chelate precursors and the use of a nonmetal-ion-containing strong base can be used in a coprecipitation procedure for the preparation of ceramic powders. Examples of the precipitants used include tetraalkylammonium hydroxides. A composition-modified barium titanate is one of the ceramic powders that can be produced. Certain metal-ion chelates can be prepared from 2-hydroxypropanoic acid and ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: A trailer illumination system test device and method of use are disclosed. In one form, a device for testing the functionality of a trailer lighting system is disclosed. The device includes an in-series connection port operable to receive a trailer lighting system plug and a series of trailer light switches operable to simulate an operating condition of a trailer in tow. The device further includes an external power source connection operable to couple an external power source to provide power to simulate the operating condition.

Abstract: A conductive adhesive composition is provided and articles that include the adhesive composition as a component thereof. The conductive adhesive composition comprises: (a) pressure sensitive adhesive; (b) electrolyte comprising water soluble or water dispersible organic chloride; and (c) humectant. In some embodiments, the conductive adhesive composition is a bicontinuous composition comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, and the bicontinuous composition may be derived from a polymerizable microemulsion composition, the microemulsion composition comprising: an aqueous phase comprising one or more hydrophilic monomers or oligomers and/or one or more amphiphilic monomers or oligomers in water, the water-soluble or water-dispersible organic chloride, surfactant and humectant; and an oil phase comprising one or more hydrophobic monomers or oligomers. Biomedical articles such as biomedical electrodes, may incorporate the foregoing adhesive as a component.

Abstract: An improved method for separating materials is provided, using colloidal, magnetizable aggregates, optionally silanized, and coated with a one or more layers of novel polysaccharide derivatives. Materials separated by the aggregates of the invention include inorganic and organic molecules, viruses, organelles, and cells. The invention also relates to a kit for separating such materials. The separated materials are useful in analytical and preparative or in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.

Abstract: A detonation timing apparatus and method of determining a detonation time is disclosed. The detonation timing apparatus comprises an initiation sensor, at least one impact sensor, and at least one controller. The at least one controller may be configured for sensing an initiation event associated with the initiation sensor and sensing an impact event associated with the at least one impact sensor. The at least one controller is further configured for determining an impact velocity estimate proportional to a temporal difference between the initiation event and the impact event, using the impact velocity estimate to determine the detonation delay, and generating the detonation event at the detonation delay after the impact event. The timing apparatus and method of determining a detonation time may be incorporated in a fuze, which may be incorporated in an explosive projectile.

Abstract: A patient support and software evaluate spinal instability by controlled isocentric rotation of the spine and measurement of rotation among vertebra to detect damaged vertebra having disproportionately large rotations.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a motorized belt track directly or indirectly connected to a frame. The belt track frictionally contacts a drive surface on which the vehicle moves, such as any form of road or off-road surface. The belt track moves forward and backward in a direction parallel to a centerline of the belt track to move the vehicle backward and forward along the drive surface. A steering appendage is also directly or indirectly connected to the frame. The steering appendage is also adapted to frictionally contact the drive surface. The steering appendage is off the centerline of the belt track. The steering appendage causes the vehicle to turn from the centerline of the belt track when in contact with the drive surface.

Abstract: An electrical-energy-storage unit (EESU) has as a basis material a high-permittivity composition-modified barium titanate ceramic powder. This powder is double coated with the first coating being aluminum oxide and the second coating calcium magnesium aluminosilicate glass. The components of the EESU are manufactured with the use of classical ceramic fabrication techniques which include screen printing alternating multilayers of nickel electrodes and high-permittivitiy composition-modified barium titanate powder, sintering to a closed-pore porous body, followed by hot-isostatic pressing to a void-free body. The components are configured into a multilayer array with the use of a solder-bump technique as the enabling technology so as to provide a parallel configuration of components that has the capability to store electrical energy in the range of 52 kW·h. The total weight of an EESU with this range of electrical energy storage is about 336 pounds.

Abstract: A detonation timing apparatus and method of determining a detonation time is disclosed. The detonation timing apparatus comprises an initiation sensor, at least one impact sensor, and at least one controller. The at least one controller may be configured for sensing an initiation event associated with the initiation sensor and sensing an impact event associated with the at least one impact sensor. The at least one controller is further configured for determining an impact velocity estimate proportional to a temporal difference between the initiation event and the impact event, using the impact velocity estimate to determine the detonation delay, and generating the detonation event at the detonation delay after the impact event. The timing apparatus and method of determining a detonation time may be incorporated in a fuze, which may be incorporated in an explosive projectile.

Abstract: A battery housing for use with a night vision device. The housing is arranged to carry a single, easily replaceable battery and is carried by an electronic device such as a night vision device.

Abstract: A method for the electrochemical production of ferrate salts in an aqueous electrolyte solution comprising one or more hydroxide components. Dramatically increased yields of ferrate salts are obtained from using a mixture of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Preferably, both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are present in concentrations greater than 5 molar, most preferably at least 10 molar, i.e., 10 M NaOH and 10 M KOH. The anode is preferably a sacrificial anode made out of an iron-containing material to supply the iron necessary for the ferrate production reaction.

Abstract: A method employing oxide film conversion coatings prepared using ferrate (VI) as the oxidizing agent is disclosed. Metal substrates or surfaces, such as aluminum, aluminum alloys or other metals, are contacted with an aqueous solution comprising ferrate (VI) anions to form a corrosion resistant conversion coating on the surface thereof. The ferrate anion concentration is preferably between about 0.0166% and about 1.66% by weight. The coating process is carried out by dipping, spraying, or painting at temperatures ranging from 25° C. to 100° C. for a period of time ranging from about 1 second to about 5 minutes.

Abstract: An expendable metal detector system for facilitating the detection of improved explosive devices (IED) where the metal detector is launched toward the suspected IED and using either magnetic field sensors in a passive mode to detect magnetic anomalies or current pulses through a loop antenna in an active mode to detect eddy currents, or using both modes sequentially, detects the ferrous material in the IED. In the active mode, the loop antenna is deployed automatically after launch and impact. The signals are transmitted from the metal detector to the operator who can then take appropriate steps to neutralize the IED.

Abstract: A pulse induction metal detector includes a pulse transmitter coil for generating and transmitting a first electromagnetic signal and a receiver coil for detecting and amplifying a second electromagnetic signal emitted by a nearby metal target due to eddy currents generated in response to the first electromagnetic signal. The receiver coil is a coil of wire having multiple loops. At least one switch is coupled with the coil of wire such that when the switch is in its open position, the coil of wire is a broken circuit. In this condition, the inductive properties of the receiver coil are minimized during abrupt transmitter coil turn off. The number of switches per coil loop can be varied to achieve varying levels of sensitivity.

Abstract: A device in which the receiver coil of a pulse inductive metal detector is capable of switching between a differential configuration (i.e., gradiometer configuration) to a non-differential or summing configuration under control of the operator or computer.

Abstract: A pulse inductive metal detector that includes a variable resistor for controlling coil characteristics for both transmitter and receiver modes of operation. A coil coupled with an electronic switch is charged with current from the power source in a transmitter mode such that when the electronic switch is abruptly switched closed the coil emits a magnetic field that induces eddy currents in a metal target. Once the transmitter magnetic fields have decayed enough, the coil can be operated in a receiver mode to detect a magnetic field resulting from eddy currents in the metal target. The variable resistor is coupled across the coil for varying the resistance across the coil to optimize the pulse inductive metal detector sensitivity to the metal target.