Abstract: A reinforced support mat includes a plurality of vertically oriented individual wood members adhesively bonded to each other, and having wide faces oriented parallel to a direction of an applied load. A plurality of corrugated protective edge members is positioned against, and attached to, each opposing wide face of the reinforced support mat, and a resilient belting corner member is mounted to opposing wide face of the reinforced support mat adjacent the longitudinal ends of the corrugated protective edge members. A plurality of rigid fasteners extending through and connecting pairs of the corrugated protective edge members on opposite sides of the reinforced support mat, and inboard ends of pairs of the resilient edge members, to the wide faces of the support mat. A lag bolt attaches an outboard end of each resilient belting corner member to a wide face of the support mat.

Abstract: A cryogenic liquid heat exchanger system has a subatmospheric pressure reservoir, a tube, and an initial fluid ejector. The sub-atmospheric pressure reservoir has a vacuum exhaust. The tube extends through the reservoir. The initial fluid ejector has a suction chamber inlet that is functionally connected to the reservoir vacuum exhaust. The system may have a plurality of fluid ejectors connected to one or more exhausts either in series or parallel. The initial fluid ejector may receive one or more pressurized fluid streams, and the streams may be steam. A process for generating sub-atmospheric pressures in a cryogenic fluid heat exchanger reservoir includes the step of discharging an initial fluid stream into an initial fluid ejector having a suction chamber functionally connected to an exhaust of the reservoir. A process for generating sub-atmospheric pressures in a cryogenic fluid heat exchanger reservoir includes the step of using a fluid ejector to reduce the pressure in the reservoir.

Abstract: A system and method for cooling a first cryogenic liquid in a vessel comprises the steps of directing a second cryogenic into the first cryogenic fluid and releasing gas from the vessel. The first cryogenic fluid has a boiling point that is higher than the boiling point of the second cryogenic fluid. Directing the second cryogenic fluid into the first cryogenic fluid results in the second fluid cooling the first fluid and the second fluid vaporizing. The vaporized fluid is released as a gas from the vessel. The vessel may be a propellant tank for a space vehicle. The first and second cryogenic fluids are delivered from supplies located outside of the vehicle. The first cryogenic liquid may be oxygen and the second cryogenic liquid may be nitrogen, neon, or helium. In another aspect of the invention, the first cryogenic liquid may be hydrogen and the second cryogenic liquid may be helium.

Abstract: Slush is made from a liquid using slush making systems or according to slush making processes. A jacketed vessel of the processes and the systems has an interior wall that defines an interior space. The interior space comprises a top and a bottom. The interior space has an average overall cross-sectional area taken through a vertical axis extending generally between the top and the bottom. The interior space also has a collection portion having an average collection portion cross-sectional area taken through the vertical axis that is less than the average overall cross-sectional area. The liquid is placed into the interior space and the interior walls are cooled. Slush forms on the interior walls and migrates to the collection portion. The collection portion is located at the interior space bottom when the slush density is higher than the liquid density and the collection portion is located at the interior space top when slush density is less than the liquid density.

Abstract: A cryogenic propellant tank system and process for densifying cryogenic liquid propellant comprises a tank with a combined manifold, a combined manifold line, a pressurizing gas line, and a vent line. The combined manifold is located in the tank. The combined manifold line functionally connects the combined manifold to a chilling system. The pressurizing gas line and the vent line are also functionally connected to the combined manifold line. The tank may be disposed in a vehicle. The manifold is disposed proximate the top of the tank. The chilling system may be a heat exchanger/filling system. The process for filling the tank comprises the steps of charging the tank with cryogenic liquid propellant, venting gases in the tank, densifying the cryogenic liquid propellant, and pressurizing the tank. The tank is charged with the cryogenic liquid propellant such that the orifices in the combined manifold are submerged. The gases in the tank are vented through the combined manifold and out of the tank.

Abstract: A new Solo Seesaw Device for allowing a single child the fun of riding a seesaw. The inventive device includes the inventive device includes a seesaw body adapted to be supported at a point between a seat lever arm and a counterweight lever arm both included on the seesaw body. A counterweight assembly is included on the counterweight lever arm providing counterweight to an individual using the Solo Seesaw Device. The Solo Seesaw Device is pivotably and rotatably mounted to a base providing an upstanding vertical support by means of a pivot arrangement.

Abstract: The compound 7-amino-4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan is prepared by reacting 2,3,4,6-tetranitroaniline in a solvent with aqueous sodium azide under controlled exotherm conditions.

Abstract: Provided herein are the compounds 4,4-dinitro-1-butanol, 4-azido-4,4-dinitro-1-butyl acetate and methods for preparing each compound.4,4-dinitro-1-butanol is prepared by reacting trinitromethane with acrolein, reducing the resulting trinitroaldehyde to provide the corresponding alcohol and reducing the alcohol.4-azido-4,4-dinitro-1-butyl acetate is prepared by reacting 4,4-dinitro-1-butanol with acetyl chloride to yield the corresponding acetate and reacting the acetate with an alkali metal azide in an electrolysis cell.

Abstract: There is provided the compound 4-azido-4,4-dinitro-1-butanol (ADNBOH) and a method for making same which comprises reacting trinitromethane and acrolein at a reduced temperature to provide 4,4,4-trinitro-butyraldehyde (TNBAl), reducing the TNBSl to provide 4,4-trinitro-1-butanol (TNBOH) which is further reduced to provide 4,4-dinitro-1-butanol (DNBOH), reacting the DNBOH with acetyl chloride to provide 4,4-dinitro-1-butyl acetate (DNBAc), reacting the DNBAc with an alkali metal azide in an electrolysis cell to provide 4-azido-4,4-dinitro-1-butyl acetate (ADNBAc) and reacting the ADNBAc with a lower alcohol and recovering the 4-azido-4,4-dinitro-1-butanol (ADNBOH).Also provided are several azidodinitro derivatives of 4-azido-4,4-dinitro-1-butanol and methods for making same.