Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy from a primary reactor coolant to a secondary coolant. The heat exchanger is formed with a hot flow channel, a cold flow channel, and a porous layer between the hot flow channel and the cold flow channel. The porous layer may be thermally insulative to reduce the efficiency of thermal energy transfer from the hot flow channel to the cold flow channel. The porous layer may have a control gas passed therethrough that can be tailored to control the thermal energy transfer through the porous layer. The control gas can be tested for leakage within the heat exchanger. The control gas may also be used to sequester fission or activation products.

Abstract: A water movement system and method configured to eradicate and/or control mosquito or insect populations that lay eggs in treated, stagnant water environments. The system is comprised of a water pump configured to function in cooperation with an underwater insect attractant device. The insect attractant device is suitably constructed to generate carbon dioxide for attracting insects to a water extermination zone or trap. In one embodiment, the underwater insect attractant device contains organisms such as mycelia for generating the carbon dioxide. Insects are attracted by the carbon dioxide generation device to reproduce in the water extermination zone, using the treated water to lay eggs, and grow larvae and pupae for the subject insects. A solar-powered water pump device is configured to direct the flow of water from the water extermination zone toward filters of the water pump device to trap and kill insect progeny including eggs, larvae, and pupae.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sealed circuit card assembly includes disposing a circuit card assembly within a volume defined by a housing and at least partially filling the volume with a curable liquid such that the curable liquid encapsulates at least a circuit card. The method may also include curing the curable liquid to form a potted circuit card assembly and, after at least partially filling the volume with the curable liquid and after curing the curable liquid, vacuum impregnating the potted circuit card assembly with a sealant to seal any exposed interfaces or cracks to form the sealed circuit card assembly. Accordingly, the sealed circuit card assembly may include a first cured material encapsulating the circuit card of the circuit card assembly and a second cured material disposed within, for example, a porosity of the first cured material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sealed circuit card assembly includes disposing a circuit card assembly within a volume defined by a housing and at least partially filling the volume with a curable liquid such that the curable liquid encapsulates at least a circuit card. The method may also include curing the curable liquid to form a potted circuit card assembly and, after at least partially filling the volume with the curable liquid and after curing the curable liquid, vacuum impregnating the potted circuit card assembly with a sealant to seal any exposed interfaces or cracks to form the sealed circuit card assembly. Accordingly, the sealed circuit card assembly may include a first cured material encapsulating the circuit card of the circuit card assembly and a second cured material disposed within, for example, a porosity of the first cured material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sealed circuit card assembly includes disposing a circuit card assembly within a volume defined by a housing and at least partially filling the volume with a curable liquid such that the curable liquid encapsulates at least a circuit card. The method may also include curing the curable liquid to form a potted circuit card assembly and, after at least partially filling the volume with the curable liquid and after curing the curable liquid, vacuum impregnating the potted circuit card assembly with a sealant to seal any exposed interfaces or cracks to form the sealed circuit card assembly. Accordingly, the sealed circuit card assembly may include a first cured material encapsulating the circuit card of the circuit card assembly and a second cured material disposed within, for example, a porosity of the first cured material.

Abstract: A portable solar powered water pumping system having plumbing parts manually coupled together to provide a water tight interference fit for allowing the pump to be assembled and disassembled without tools. The system includes a solar powered pump having an intake chamber and an outflow nozzle. The system also includes a discharge output assembly coupled to the outflow nozzle assembly for directing the water flow to a location selected by a user. The system further includes at least one solar powered connecter for connecting to at least one solar panel to directly power the pump with DC power generated from the solar panel.

Abstract: A thermally responsive fluid control valve includes a thermally responsive actuating assembly and a body having an inlet, at least one outlet, and a valve seat formed internally of the inlet. An axially translating sealing assembly is supported in a seated position against the valve seat by the thermally responsive actuating assembly and the sealing assembly has an unseated position upon operation of the actuating assembly. The sealing assembly includes a sealing member having an impact surface for redirecting fluid from the inlet to the at least one outlet and a rod member with an outer surface in a surface engagement with the opening of a cover plate and/or the actuating assembly to orient the sealing member such that the impact surface directs fluid flow to the outlets.

Abstract: A magazine assembly presents a pressure cartridge to a compressed gas powered device, such as a gun, wherein the magazine assembly has a cartridge support biased with respect to a magazine to urge the pressure cartridge to a short (or seated) position, wherein an interlock plate is biased to engage the cartridge support. The bias on the interlock plate is overcome during insertion of the magazine assembly into a magazine chamber, at which point the cartridge support moves relative to the magazine in response to a seated length of the pressure cartridge. The bias on the interlock plate then controls the positioning of the interlock plate to engage the cartridge support and retain the pressure cartridge relative to the magazine assembly. A lever connected to the gun then engages the magazine assembly to translate the magazine assembly relative to the gun and pierce the pressure cartridge.

Abstract: A magazine assembly presents a pressure cartridge to a compressed gas powered device, such as a gun, wherein the magazine assembly has a cartridge support biased with respect to a magazine to urge the pressure cartridge to a short (or seated) position, wherein an interlock plate is biased to engage the cartridge support. The bias on the interlock plate is overcome during insertion of the magazine assembly into a magazine chamber, at which point the cartridge support moves relative to the magazine in response to a seated length of the pressure cartridge. The bias on the interlock plate then controls the positioning of the interlock plate to engage the cartridge support and retain the pressure cartridge relative to the magazine assembly. A lever connected to the gun then engages the magazine assembly to translate the magazine assembly relative to the gun and pierce the pressure cartridge.

Abstract: Computer software for and a method of determining location of a target image within a two-dimensional input image by employing a three-dimensional reference image comprising determining object edge points in the input image; given estimated seeker line-of-sight orientation and range data, computing a two-dimensional reference image from the three-dimensional reference image; applying a weighted-direction-cross-product Hough Transform to the object edge points and points of the two-dimensional reference image; classifying the input image as containing a target image or not; if the image contains a target image, identifying a location of the target image within the two-dimensional input image; computing confidence measure as to the selected location of the target image; and in the case of sequential decision, also performing confidence accumulation through multi-frames or multi-looks.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is provided with a combustion shutoff system which precludes further combustion within the water heater's combustion chamber in response to a combustion temperature therein reaching a predetermined level correlated to and indicative of a predetermined, undesirably high concentration of carbon monoxide present in the combustion chamber. In various illustrated embodiments thereof, the combustion shutoff system is operative to terminate further combustion air inflow to the combustion chamber, or terminate further fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater has a combustion chamber with a bottom wall defined by a perforated flame arrestor plate forming a portion of a flow path through which combustion air may be supplied to a burner structure within the combustion chamber. During firing of the water heater a combustion air shutoff system having a heat-frangible temperature sensing structure disposed within the combustion chamber senses an undesirable temperature increase in the combustion chamber, caused by for example a partial blockage of the flow path, and responsively terminates further air flow into the combustion chamber, thereby shutting down the burner, prior to the creation in the combustion chamber of a predetermined elevated concentration of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A gun is provided with a loader and toggle link assembly for providing repeater action. The gun includes a frame, a barrel on the frame, and a forearm which is pivotally mounted on the frame. The loader is slidably mounted on the frame for movement between firing and loading positions. The toggle link is pivotally mounted on the frame and includes a first end portion which is connected to the loader and a second end portion which is engageable with the forearm. When the forearm closes, the toggle link pivots to move the loader to the firing position. When the forearm opens, a spring pivots the toggle link to move the loader to the loading position.