Abstract: A blast resistant container includes a rigid outer cylinder, a rigid inner cylinder and at least one pumice brick. The rigid inner cylinder has a longitudinal axis. The at least one pumice brick is within the interior of the rigid inner cylinder.

Abstract: A blast resistant container includes a rigid outer cylinder, a rigid inner cylinder and at least one pumice brick. The rigid inner cylinder has a longitudinal axis. The at least one pumice brick is within the interior of the rigid inner cylinder.

Abstract: A portable containment chamber for disposing of explosive threat devices comprises a cylindrical chamber body with a hinged interiorly convex outward-opening access door. The door closes against a tapered seat whereby explosion pressure enhances a gas-tight seal. In closed position the door is locked by interconnected expandable locking shoes which engage an annular locking channel in the mouth of the chamber with a simultaneous crank-and-piston linkage. The door is actuated by a pneumatic mechanism which first traverses laterally it into alignment with the chamber, then traverses it axially into sealing engagement with the chamber mouth, and then moves the expandable locking shoes into locked position. A first interlock prevents axial door movement when in standby position, and a second interlock inhibits detonation of a donor explosive charge within the chamber if the door locking shoes are not fully locked.

Abstract: A portable containment chamber for safely disposing of suspected explosive threat devices comprises a cylindrical chamber body and hinged outward-opening access door. The door seals against a tapered seat and extends convexly into the interior of the chamber, whereby blast pressure tends to expand the door into enhanced gas-tight sealing engagement. The mouth of the chamber has an annular locking channel with which the door is locked in closed position by an expandable interconnected locking shoes driven by a crank-and-piston linkage such that all shoes are simultaneously locked and unlocked by movement of a common crank. A two-stage door operating mechanism first moves the unlocked door axially out of sealed position, and then rotates it to one side to provide access to the interior of the chamber. For closing, the sequence of movements is reversed.

Abstract: A blast-attenuating container for public spaces comprising an outer metallic shell enclosing a plurality of belted automobile tires, preferably used, in a stacked array, thereby defining a cylindrical central space for holding a removable waste receptacle. Within each tire is a water-filled energy-absorbing bladder. The stacked tires may be further enclosed by a fragmentation-absorbing reinforcing band. A cover over the shell has a hinged door for receiving and directing waste into the removable waste receptacle. The cover is removable for access to the waste receptacle. The can and waste receptacle may be provided with a load cell and programmed microprocessor for detecting the insertion of a possible threat item and an RF transmitter for sending an alert to a central security station.

Abstract: A gauge is disclosed for indicating a level of a liquid in a tank including a display device and a control unit coupled thereto. The display device includes multiple light-emitting elements. The control unit receives a liquid level signal, measures a magnitude of the liquid level signal, and activates a number of the light-emitting elements dependent upon the magnitude. In one embodiment the control unit receives a reset signal and performs a calibration routine in response. The gauge may include a housing and a cap portion attached to the housing. The display device and the control unit may be positioned within the housing. The gauge may include conveying means (e.g., an array of light pipes) for conveying light emitted by each of the light-emitting elements through an outer side surface of the cap portion. A method is described for indicating a level of a liquid in a tank.

Abstract: A modular light for decorative use on light strips on motorcycles or similar vehicle has an outer lens or light transmitting housing that forms an interior chamber. The chamber has an open side, and a light transmitting wall is opposite from the open side through which light will be transmitted. A circuit board carrying a plurality of LEDs is shaped to close the open side of the chamber in the light transmitting housing. The circuit board supports a reflector that has openings through which the LEDs protrude. The circuit board is secured in place in the light transmitting housing to form a modular light that be used in a number of locations. The modular light fits into a support housing on a light support strip or similar structure that will mount the modular light in desired locations on a vehicle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle lighting system includes a master controller, a smart light, and a hot bus. The master controller is electrically couplable to a power supply and is adapted to receive an input signal corresponding to a left turn signal, a right turn signal, a run signal, or a brake signal. The master controller also includes a digital command signal output that is produced in response to the input signal. The smart light includes a light controller and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's). The light controller is adapted to control the LED's in response to the command signal. The hot bus electrically couples the master controller to the smart light. Power and the command signal are provided to the smart light over the hot bus.

Abstract: A motor vehicle lighting system includes a master controller, a smart light, and a hot bus. The master controller is electrically couplable to a power supply and is adapted to receive an input signal corresponding to a left turn signal, a right turn signal, a run signal, or a brake signal. The master controller also includes a digital command signal output that is produced in response to the input signal. The smart light includes a light controller and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's). The light controller is adapted to control the LED's in response to the command signal. The hot bus electrically couples the master controller to the smart light. Power and the command signal are provided to the smart light over the hot bus.

Abstract: A light carrying ring or ring segment is mounted onto a cover used over the rotor of a disc brake on a front wheel of a motorcycle. The ring has a plurality of windows or apertures there through, and has a flange adjacent the wheel. The flange carries a flexible circuit board with a pair of LEDs adjacent each of the windows, such that the LEDs closest to the windows can be a street legal color, and the LEDs spaced from the windows can be a variant color for reflecting light off the wheel of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A kit includes a self-contained muffler which attaches to the output exhaust system of a small two-cycle engine, such as a model engine that is in the range of 0.15 to 1.25 cubic inches displacement. The kit provides a low cost adaptation of existing engine manifolds to meet required sound reduction guidelines of below 90 Db at nine feed from the engine. The kit is easily adapted and installed on a wide variety of manifold-muffler adaptations, for example model engines using a mounting bolt which clamps the kit muffler to a portion of the existing engine muffler.

Abstract: A gas bearing designed for instantaneous 5-10 micro inch separation at startup due to regulated entry and activation of rarefield molecular gas particles. This bearing has two opposing bearing faces with carefully matched geometries. One surface having grooves with lands formed between the grooves that are designed for hydrodynamic operation. The other surface being smooth such as an optically flat plane. The lift-off occurs at startup through the friction-energized gas molecules increasing their volume, and forcing the slowly rotating bearing faces apart.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the calibration of hard disk substrate tester includes a calibrating micrometer moving a known surface to at least two distances from a non-contact detector in the hard disk surface tester and a known distance from each other, and further includes a piezoelectric transducer mounted to the known surface moved by the calibrating micrometer, and an oscillator oscillating the surface at predetermined frequencies and amplitudes.