Abstract: A connector seal for use in a submersible connection apparatus may include a shell comprising an internal channel and a groove disposed on an external surface of shell. The connector seal may also include an annular seal member disposed in the groove of the shell. The annular seal member may be configured to hermetically piston seal the connector seal within the submersible connection apparatus. The connector seal may also include a first interconnect disposed within the internal channel at a first end of the shell, a second interconnect disposed within the internal channel at a second end of the shell, a conductive pin configured to make an electrical connection through the connector seal. The conductive pin may extend between and disposed within the first interconnect and the second interconnect.

Abstract: A connector seal for use in a submersible connection apparatus may include a shell comprising an internal channel and a groove disposed on an external surface of shell. The connector seal may also include an annular seal member disposed in the groove of the shell. The annular seal member may be configured to hermetically piston seal the connector seal within the submersible connection apparatus. The connector seal may also include a first interconnect disposed within the internal channel at a first end of the shell, a second interconnect disposed within the internal channel at a second end of the shell, a conductive pin configured to make an electrical connection through the connector seal. The conductive pin may extend between and disposed within the first interconnect and the second interconnect.

Abstract: A washer assembly includes a threaded fastener head engaging portion and a surface engaging portion. The threaded fastener head engaging portion includes a head engaging face configured to lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal length of a threaded fastener passed through an opening at an axial center of the threaded fastener head engaging portion. The surface engaging portion includes a slot and a surface engaging face. The slot extends through the surface engaging portion along a line extending through an axial center of the surface engaging portion. An adjustable interface is defined between the surface engaging portion and the threaded fastener head engaging portion to enable the slot to receive the threaded fastener such that the surface engaging face lies parallel to a surface that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the threaded fastener.

Abstract: A method of making an antifouling article includes providing a mold having a mold cavity and a mold surface for defining an article. The method also includes applying a mold release material to the mold surface. The method further includes coating the mold surface with a plurality of metallic powder particles comprising an antifouling agent. Still further, the method includes filling the mold with a curable polymeric material. Yet further, the method includes curing the polymeric material and forming an article having a surface defined by the mold surface, the surface of the article having the plurality of metallic powder particles disposed thereon and comprising an antifouling coating.

Abstract: A washer assembly includes a threaded fastener head engaging portion and a surface engaging portion. The threaded fastener head engaging portion includes a head engaging face configured to lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal length of a threaded fastener passed through an opening at an axial center of the threaded fastener head engaging portion. The surface engaging portion includes a slot and a surface engaging face. The slot extends through the surface engaging portion along a line extending through an axial center of the surface engaging portion. An adjustable interface is defined between the surface engaging portion and the threaded fastener head engaging portion to enable the slot to receive the threaded fastener such that the surface engaging face lies parallel to a surface that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the threaded fastener.

Abstract: A method of making an antifouling article includes providing a mold having a mold cavity and a mold surface for defining an article. The method also includes applying a mold release material to the mold surface. The method further includes coating the mold surface with a plurality of metallic powder particles comprising an antifouling agent. Still further, the method includes filling the mold with a curable polymeric material. Yet further, the method includes curing the polymeric material and forming an article having a surface defined by the mold surface, the surface of the article having the plurality of metallic powder particles disposed thereon and comprising an antifouling coating.

Abstract: A hydrophone unit comprising a resilient central wire; a conductive wire coiled around the resilient central wire, said conductive wire being coated with a piezo material for generating an electrical signal in response to the presence of an acoustic vibration, wherein the resilient central wire is fabricated from spring steel, the conductive wire is a copper wire, the piezo material includes polyvinylidene difluoride; a layer of conductive material deposited on the piezo material-coated conductive wire, wherein the layer of conductive material comprises a silver ink; and a jacket of polyurethane.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method for detecting environmental conditions is provided, the monitoring system including a sensing unit including a plurality of sensors for obtaining data related to environmental conditions, a controller interfaced with the sensing unit for receiving and encoding the data related to environmental conditions into a predetermined format using a base64 encoding scheme, and a communication device for receiving the data in the predetermined format from the controller, forming an e-mail message (which can be further encoded) including instructions on how to decode the email message and transmitting the e-mail message including the data in the predetermined format to at least one predetermined recipient.

Abstract: A hydrophone array includes an inflatable shaped housing enclosing an interior space and formable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, a framework of compliant material disposed within the interior of the inflatable housing, and a plurality of hydrophones attached to the compliant material at respective positions, wherein said hydrophones are arranged in a predetermined geometric array when the shaped housing is in the expanded configuration. Also provided herein is a system and method for deploying the hydrophone array.

Abstract: A hydrophone deployment system including a hydrophone assembly, a container for enclosing the hydrophone assembly body in a coiled configuration, means for ejecting the hydrophone assembly from the container, a signal processing module for processing the electrical signals from the hydrophone units, and a transmitter module for converting said processed electrical signals and transmitting said converted signals to a remote receiver.

Abstract: A hydrophone assembly includes at least four hydrophone units for converting an acoustic signal to an electrical signal, the hydrophone units being in a parallel, cylindrically symmetric spaced spatial relationship with each other, and at least one spacer element to maintain the hydrophone units fixed in the spatial relationship to each other, wherein the hydrophone units and spacer element are embedded in an encapsulant to form an elongated, flexible body.

Abstract: A hydrophone assembly includes at least four hydrophone units for converting an acoustic signal to an electrical signal, the hydrophone units being in a parallel, cylindrically symmetric spaced spatial relationship with each other, and at least one spacer element to maintain the hydrophone units fixed in the spatial relationship to each other, wherein the hydrophone units and spacer element are embedded in an encapsulant to form an elongated, flexible body.

Abstract: A hydrophone array includes an inflatable shaped housing enclosing an interior space and formable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, a framework of compliant material disposed within the interior of the inflatable housing, and a plurality of hydrophones attached to the compliant material at respective positions, wherein said hydrophones are arranged in a predetermined geometric array when the shaped housing is in the expanded configuration. Also provided herein is a system and method for deploying the hydrophone array.

Abstract: A hydrophone array includes an inflatable shaped housing enclosing an interior space and formable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, a framework of compliant material disposed within the interior of the inflatable housing, and a plurality of hydrophones attached to the compliant material at respective positions, wherein said hydrophones are arranged in a predetermined geometric array when the shaped housing is in the expanded configuration. Also provided herein is a system and method for deploying the hydrophone array.

Abstract: A hydrophone assembly includes at least four hydrophone units for converting an acoustic signal to an electrical signal, the hydrophone units being in a parallel, cylindrically symmetric spaced spatial relationship with each other, and at least one spacer element to maintain the hydrophone units fixed in the spatial relationship to each other, wherein the hydrophone units and spacer element are embedded in an encapsulant to form an elongated, flexible body.

Abstract: A portable ventilator for providing an air-recipient with compulsory respiration is provided with an outlet manifold and a single-expansion-chamber muffler configured so that airflow through an inhale outlet port of the muffler is pulse-free and a transmission loss, defined as the ratio of sound power generated by the at least one compressor and incident on the muffler to the sound power transmitted by the muffler, is sufficient to deaden the sound power of the compressor.

Abstract: An expandable sensor array including at least one expandable member movable between an unexpanded stowed state and an expanded deployed state and a plurality of sensors interconnected with the at least one inflatable member and operatively connected to form a sensor array.

Abstract: An expandable sensor array including at least one expandable member movable between an unexpanded stowed state and an expanded deployed state and a plurality of sensors interconnected with the at least one inflatable member and operatively connected to form a sensor array.

Abstract: A portable ventilator for providing an air-recipient with compulsory respiration is provided with an outlet manifold and a single-expansion-chamber muffler configured so that airflow through an inhale outlet port of the muffler is pulse-free and a transmission loss, defined as the ratio of sound power generated by the at least one compressor and incident on the muffler to the sound power transmitted by the muffler, is sufficient to deaden the sound power of the compressor.