Abstract: A plurality of polyurethane layers, some of which have a contrasting color with respect to an adjacent layer is formed into a laminate. During preparation, each layer is separately formed, as by spraying, and the contrasting color ensures that the preceding layer can be fully covered. The laminate can be utilized to cover areas or objects which are otherwise difficult to ensure that it has a continuous or complete coating. The invention is suitable for use as a coating and for the preparation of various in situ articles or enclosures, for example a fuel tank, such as commercial and military aircraft.

Abstract: An axial flow energy converter combining a tubular shroud defining a fluid pathway coaxial with the shroud, a rotational energy converter having a rotatable shaft mounted within the fluid pathway coaxial with the shroud, an impeller mounted to the shaft with the impeller having a hub having a face across the fluid pathway and having an edge at the radial perimeter of the hub and having a plurality of blades mounted radially to the edge of the hub and a set of guide vanes disposed axially with respect to the impeller and mounted within the fluid pathway. The hub has at least one face orifice in the face of the hub communicating with at least one edge orifice in the edge of the hub allowing fluid to flow through the hub, providing both axial fluid flow and hub fluid flow through the energy converter.

Abstract: A plurality of polyurethane layers, some of which have a contrasting color with respect to an adjacent layer is formed into a laminate. During preparation, each layer is separately formed, as by spraying, and the contrasting color ensures that the preceding layer can be fully covered. The laminate can be utilized to cover areas or objects which are otherwise difficult to ensure that it has a continuous or complete coating. The invention is suitable for use as a coating and for the preparation of various in situ articles or enclosures, for example a fuel tank, such as commercial and military aircraft.

Abstract: A high efficiency rigid or semi-rigid air filter cartridge for use in the helmet of a powered air respirator comprising a lightweight, open-topped, trough-shaped frame having an entrance at one end for attachment to an air discharge port of a fan motor housing assembly, filter media sealed about its periphery to close said frame, said frame and said filter media enclosing a contaminated air plenum bounded by the inside surfaces of the bottom and side walls of said frame and the under surface of said filter media, such that contaminated air from said air discharge port is channeled under pressure through said plenum and distributed under pressure to and through said filter media and provides purified air, is disclosed. The filter media may be a sorbent particle loaded web, an electrically charged filter, or pleated fiberglass paper. A high efficiency powered air respirator for providing filtered air to a wearer, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for assembling a hose unit consisting of a given length of hose having end couplings inserted respectively in each of its ends. The given length is measured and cut off, being inserted freely, longitudinally in a rigid tube without endwise restraint. The couplings are inserted simultaneously, the thrust applied being balanced as well as sufficient to compress the hose longitudinally, while the dimensions of the tube relative to the hose are such as to prevent buckling. The rigid tube moves perpendicularly of the length of hose, preferably about a common axis, stepwise to a series of stations. In one station the inserted couplings are secured to the respective ends by a commercial crimper-expander. The hose unit is then dropped or ejected to a container.

Abstract: A controlled sensitivity device for measuring the amount of a selected component in fluid mixture is disclosed. A collecting layer is disposed within a chamber into which the fluid mixture is allowed to diffuse. Sensitivity of the device is controlled by varying the ratio of the chamber entrance area to the frontal surface area of the collecting layer and the shape of the chamber to cause divergence of convergence of molecules within the chamber.

Abstract: A device and method for collecting selected components of a fluid mixture such as ambient air are disclosed. A chamber formed by wall members and having an open end contains a layer of collecting material on the bottom thereof and a porous layer covering the open end. After this device has been exposed to the fluid mixture for the prescribed time, a solid cap is placed over the open end of the chamber which facilitates introduction and removal of a elutant for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: A self-supporting durable flexible conformable low-pressure-drop porous sheet product that contains a uniform three-dimensional arrangement of discrete solid particles. This sheet product comprises, in addition to the particles, a web of melt-blown microfibers in which the particles are uniformly dispersed. The particles are physically held in the web, even though there is only point contact between the microfibers and the particles, whereby the full surface of the particles is available for interaction with a medium to which the sheet product is exposed. The sheet product is especially useful in respirators in which, for example, the sheet product is shaped as a cup-like member adapted to fit over the mouth and nose of a person.

Abstract: A device for measuring the presence or time-average amounts of at least one selected gas in a mixture thereof which comprises an enclosure having therewithin at least one substance which interacts with the gas to be monitored. Attenuating means associated with the enclosure regulate gas movement within said enclosure to insure that an essentially placid layer of gas exists between the attenuating means and the reactive substance insuring that the amount of selected gas available to react with the interactive substance is basically a function of the concentration of the gas or gases being measured and its diffusion through the placid layer. The amount of selected gas measured is substantially independent of the velocity and impinging angle of the gas mixture at the interface of the enclosure with the ambient gas mixture. The device is capable of controlling mass uptake and response time without losing velocity and angle independence.