Abstract: A plasma antenna generator includes an ionizable material, an explosive charge capable of projecting the ionizable material upon detonation, and a detonator coupled with the explosive charge. An electromagnetic pulse transmitting system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator and a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator. A method includes providing an explosive device comprising an ionizable material, detonating the explosive device to propel the ionizable material, and ionizing the ionizable material to form at least one plasma trail. A sensing system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator, a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator, and a sensing system capable of receiving and analyzing at least a portion of the electromagnetic pulse after being reflected from an interface.

Abstract: A fluorine gas generating material composition comprises a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing material releasing fluorine gas at a first temperature, and a coruscative material, a reaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greater than the first temperature. In some embodiments, the fluorine bearing material is a nickel-based alloy and the coruscative material includes an element from Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table or a transition metal and a carbon-based material. The fluorine gas generating material composition can be incorporated into a product such as a munition, a flare, a shape charge or an impulse device. The disclosed fluorine gas generating material composition can be used to produce work in applications and methods that include point delivery of fluorine gas, explosives related applications, aerospace applications, and applications in the fields of mining and drilling.

Abstract: An electromagnetic impulse transmission system includes a plasma antenna generator, an electromagnetic impulse generator electrically coupled with the plasma antenna generator, and a ground plane structure operably associated with the plasma antenna generator. An electromagnetic impulse transmission system includes a plasma antenna, an electromagnetic impulse generator electrically coupled with the plasma antenna, and a ground plane operably associated with the plasma antenna. A method includes the steps of providing a plasma antenna generator, an electromagnetic impulse generator, and a ground plane structure; generating a plasma antenna with the plasma antenna generator; and transmitting an electromagnetic impulse from the electromagnetic impulse generator to the plasma antenna. The method further includes radiating the electromagnetic impulse from the plasma antenna such that at least a portion of the electromagnetic impulse is reflected by the ground plane structure.

Abstract: A fluorine gas generating material composition comprises a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing material releasing fluorine gas at a first temperature, and a coruscative material, a reaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greater than the first temperature. In some embodiments, the fluorine bearing material is a nickel-based alloy and the coruscative material includes an element from Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table or a transition metal and a carbon-based material. The fluorine gas generating material composition can be incorporated into a product such as a munition, a flare, a shape charge or an impulse device. The disclosed fluorine gas generating material composition can be used to produce work in applications and methods that include point delivery of fluorine gas, explosives related applications, aerospace applications, and applications in the fields of mining and drilling.

Abstract: A cigarette and cigar holder and preserver comprises a tubular portion made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as copper or other appropriate metal with at least one end closed to contain a cigarette or cigar therein. The diameter of the tubular portion is selected to easily contain the cigarette or cigar within while easily allowing the cigarette or cigar to be removed for later use. Another end cap is provided to prevent the cigarette or cigar from accidentally falling out. In one embodiment, an eyehook is provided for attachment to a key chain. Another embodiment includes a clip for use in a pocket.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for providing a plasma conduit maintaining ionized particles within a perforation hole in a body, and a power source configured to provide electrical power through the plasma conduit. Methods are disclosed for detonating a plasma generator, the detonation forming a plasma conduit within a body perforation hole, and connecting a power source to the plasma conduit, the power source configured to provide electrical power through the plasma conduit. Systems are also disclosed for generating a plasma conduit. The system includes two or more explosive devices containing ionizable material, and the explosive devices are adapted to, upon detonation, form a plasma conduit in a body by generating intersecting perforation holes including plasma for conducting electrical energy from a power source.

Abstract: A fluid antenna generator includes a first source of electrically conductive fluid and a second source of electrically conductive fluid. The first source and the second source are oriented such that, when the first source and the second source are operated, the electrically conductive fluid generated by the first source intersects the electrically conductive fluid generated by the second source. A method for generating a fluid antenna includes generating a first electrically conductive fluid portion and generating a second electrically conductive fluid portion, such that the first electrically conductive fluid portion and the second electrically conductive fluid portion intersect.

Abstract: A plasma antenna generator includes an ionizable material, an explosive charge capable of projecting the ionizable material upon detonation, and a detonator coupled with the explosive charge. An electromagnetic pulse transmitting system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator and a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator. A method includes providing an explosive device comprising an ionizable material, detonating the explosive device to propel the ionizable material, and ionizing the ionizable material to form at least one plasma trail. A sensing system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator, a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator, and a sensing system capable of receiving and analyzing at least a portion of the electromagnetic pulse after being reflected from an interface.

Abstract: A plasma antenna generator includes an ionizable material, an explosive charge capable of projecting the ionizable material upon detonation, and a detonator coupled with the explosive charge. An electromagnetic pulse transmitting system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator and a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator. A method includes providing an explosive device comprising an ionizable material, detonating the explosive device to propel the ionizable material, and ionizing the ionizable material to form at least one plasma trail. A sensing system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator, a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator, and a sensing system capable of receiving and analyzing at least a portion of the electromagnetic pulse after being reflected from an interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stretching a pulse, shaping a stretched pulse, and modeling a stretched and/or shaped pulse are disclosed. An etalon has a port, a partially reflective surface, and a fully reflective surface. A base pulse is introduced into the etalon, and a plurality of portions of the base pulse propagating from the etalon are collected. The collected portions are then combined to generate a stretched pulse whose width is proportional to the width of the base pulse. This can be modeled by assigning a transmission factor value to each one of a plurality of taps and a reflection factor value to each one of the taps, excepting only one tap. A transport delay for is assigned to each tap to which a reflection factor value was assigned, wherein the transport delay is proportional to the width of a base pulse.

Abstract: A plasma antenna generator includes an ionizable material, an explosive charge capable of projecting the ionizable material upon detonation, and a detonator coupled with the explosive charge. An electromagnetic pulse transmitting system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator and a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator. A method includes providing an explosive device comprising an ionizable material, detonating the explosive device to propel the ionizable material, and ionizing the ionizable material to form at least one plasma trail. A sensing system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator, a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator, and a sensing system capable of receiving and analyzing at least a portion of the electromagnetic pulse after being reflected from an interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stretching a pulse, shaping a stretched pulse, and modeling a stretched and/or shaped pulse are disclosed. An etalon comprises a port, a partially reflective surface, and a fully reflective surface. A base pulse is introduced into the etalon, and a plurality of portions of the base pulse propagating from the etalon are collected. The collected portions are then combined to generate a stretched pulse whose width is proportional to the width of the base pulse. This can be modeled by assigning a transmission factor value to each one of a plurality of taps and a reflection factor value to each one of the taps, excepting only one tap. A transport delay for is assigned to each tap to which a reflection factor value was assigned, wherein the transport delay is proportional to the width of a base pulse.

Abstract: A system for automatically controlling a lawn watering system responsive to the moisture content of the soil includes at least one moisture sensor which supplies a signal to a moisture controller to actuate a water supply valve. The moisture sensor has a casing containing two electrodes and an insulating body of synthetic fibers which provide a path to transfer water from the soil to the electrodes.

Abstract: A machine, for holding signatures and delivering them to a pocket in an inserter unit that forms part of a binding machine, has three conveyors, namely a feed conveyor, a spreading conveyor, and a pocket conveyor arranged in that order between a loading position and the pocket of the inserter unit. All three of the conveyors have table belts and side belts with the spacing between the side belts being less than the width of the signatures, so that the signatures bow forwardly when standing on edge in the conveyors. The belts of the spreading and pocket conveyors advance the signatures more rapidly then the belts of the feed conveyor, so that the signatures are less consolidated on the spreading and pocket conveyors. The table belts of the pocket conveyor are inclined downwardly away from the table belts of the spreading conveyor, but a supporting surface exists at the center of the pocket conveyor as an extension of the table belts in the spreading conveyor.

Abstract: Flexible square bottom bags which include side gusset panels having central inwardly oriented fin seams and which are sealed adjacent their lowermost corners to portions of the front and rear panels of the bags and wherein the entire width of the lowermost edges of the front and rear panels are sealed to thereby form bags having bottoms reinforced by triangular gusset seals at each corner and which have an outwardly oriented transverse bottom fin seam when erected.

Abstract: A machine for converting a group of marginally registered signatures into a shingled stream which is fed to the hopper of a binding machine includes a main frame and several conveyors located in succession along the frame. The first is a feed conveyor having driven side belts which are arranged to allow one's hand to move along the conveyor and install stacks of signatures with the signatures being in an edge standing condition on the feed conveyor. Next comes a spreading conveyor which separates the signatures as they move in the edge standing condition between side belts which impart a slight bow to the signatures. Constricting gates exist between the feed and spreading conveyors and they sense the force with which the signatures are introduced into the feed conveyor. Then comes a lifting conveyor which lifts the signatures from the spreading conveyor in a shingled condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high speed pouch or bag making from thin, extensible heat-sensitive thermoplastic film webs in which the method is applied to a continuously moving web and sealing is achieved at temperatures below the softening temperatures of the film or sealing interfaces. The method of forming an open pouch comprising the steps of continuously pulling an elongated web of pouch forming material at a constant speed along a pouch making path which extends continuously through a web slitting station, a web coating station, a web collating station, an Electron Beam curing station and a web cutting station. An elongated web is slit into first and second webs at the slitting station, a pattern of E.B. curable adhesive is applied to a first surface of the first web as it is pulled continuously through the web coating station to render the first surface bondable at a seal pattern and non-bondable in the area of the storage compartment when subjected to Electron Beam radiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high speed pouch or bag making from thin, extensible heat-sensitive thermoplastic film webs or multiple webs of paper, film and foil in which the seal pattern may be simple or complex sealing and in which the method is applied to a continuously moving web and sealing is achieved at temperatures below the softening temperatures of the film or the sealing interfaces. A method of forming an open pouch comprising the steps of continuously pulling an elongated web of pouch forming material at a constant speed along a pouch making path which extends continuously through a web coating station, a web collating station, an Electron Beam curing station and a web cutting station. A pattern of E.B.