Abstract: Disclosed herein are various forms of hybrid baseball bats comprising a wood shell having a radial wall and an outer radial surface profile defining a baseball bat. The wood shell having a central core with a central surface thereon extending from a distal end of the bat. The central surface being profiled with a taper that in some embodiments extends entirely through to the proximal end. A fibrous construct is housed in the central core and infiltrated with an epoxy resin. In some forms, the fibrous construct is in the form of a sleeve. Disclosed are various manufacturing techniques for manufacturing hybrid baseball bats including a low pressure bladder method, a high pressure bladder method, and a centrifugal force method.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various forms of hybrid baseball bats comprising a wood shell having a radial wall and an outer radial surface profile defining a baseball bat. The wood shell having a central core with a central surface thereon extending from a distal end of the bat. The central surface being profiled with a taper that in some embodiments extends entirely through to the proximal end. A fibrous construct is housed in the central core and infiltrated with an epoxy resin. In some forms, the fibrous construct is in the form of a sleeve. Disclosed are various manufacturing techniques for manufacturing hybrid baseball bats including a low pressure bladder method, a high pressure bladder method, and a centrifugal force method.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various forms of hybrid baseball bats comprising a wood shell having a radial wall and an outer radial surface profile defining a baseball bat. The wood shell having a central core with a central surface thereon extending from a distal end of the bat. The central surface being profiled with a taper that in some embodiments extends entirely through to the proximal end. A fibrous construct is housed in the central core and infiltrated with an epoxy resin. In some forms, the fibrous construct is in the form of a sleeve. Disclosed are various manufacturing techniques for manufacturing hybrid baseball bats including a low pressure bladder method, a high pressure bladder method, and a centrifugal force method.

Abstract: A fire suppression and annunciation system using a flexible conduit and a wire rope is provided. The wire rope may be connected to a knob assembly at a universal pull station and to a release mechanism of the fire suppression system. An operator may pull a handle of the knob assembly at the universal pull station, thereby activating the release mechanism to release fire suppression agent. A flexible conduit may house the wire rope along at least a part of the connection from the universal pull station to the release mechanism. A material on the liner of the flexible conduit and/or on the wire rope may be used to reduce the coefficient of friction of wire rope in the flexible conduit. The fire suppression system may further include a pulley block system connected to the universal pull station. The pulley block system may comprise bearings, and may lower the force necessary to activate the release mechanism.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) heating panel system comprising a thermally and electrically insulating substrate, a power buss, an at least one substrate supported IR heating element electrically coupled to the power buss, and a return element electrically coupled to the power buss and IR heating element. A printed shield substantially covers the IR heating element(s). The heating panel emits radiation when an electrical current is passed therethrough. The printed shielding layer is electrically coupled to a low impedance grounding matrix and configured to harness and shunt electrical field charges emitted by the IR heating element. Some embodiments include two or more IR heating panels coupled in an electrical parallel configuration supplied by one twisted and shielded power feed wire. Twisted two-wire shielded plus ground conductors are soldered to the corresponding IR heater solder points while simultaneously maintaining the twisted wire configuration for EMR cancellation and EF grounding shield conductivity.

Abstract: A fire suppression and annunciation system using a flexible conduit and a wire rope is provided. The wire rope may be connected to a knob assembly at a universal pull station and to a release mechanism of the fire suppression system. An operator may pull a handle of the knob assembly at the universal pull station, thereby activating the release mechanism to release fire suppression agent. A flexible conduit may house the wire rope along at least a part of the connection from the universal pull station to the release mechanism. A material on the liner of the flexible conduit and/or on the wire rope may be used to reduce the coefficient of friction of wire rope in the flexible conduit. The fire suppression system may further include a pulley block system connected to the universal pull station. The pulley block system may comprise bearings, and may lower the force necessary to activate the release mechanism.

Abstract: A fire suppression and annunciation system using a flexible conduit and a wire rope is provided. The wire rope may be connected to a knob assembly at a universal pull station and to a release mechanism of the fire suppression system. An operator may pull a handle of the knob assembly at the universal pull station, thereby activating the release mechanism to release fire suppression agent. A flexible conduit may house the wire rope along at least a part of the connection from the universal pull station to the release mechanism. A material on the liner of the flexible conduit and/or on the wire rope may be used to reduce the coefficient of friction of wire rope in the flexible conduit. The fire suppression system may further include a pulley block system connected to the universal pull station. The pulley block system may comprise bearings, and may lower the force necessary to activate the release mechanism.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) heating panel system comprising a thermally and electrically insulating substrate, a power buss, an at least one substrate supported IR heating element electrically coupled to the power buss, and a return element electrically coupled to the power buss and IR heating element. A printed shield substantially covers the IR heating element(s). The heating panel emits radiation when an electrical current is passed therethrough. The printed shielding layer is electrically coupled to a low impedance grounding matrix and configured to harness and shunt electrical field charges emitted by the IR heating element. Some embodiments include two or more IR heating panels coupled in an electrical parallel configuration supplied by one twisted and shielded power feed wire. Twisted two-wire shielded plus ground conductors are soldered to the corresponding IR heater solder points while simultaneously maintaining the twisted wire configuration for EMR cancellation and EF grounding shield conductivity.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) heating panel for a sauna, including a thermally and electrically insulating substrate, a power buss, at least one IR heating element electrically coupled to the power buss and supported by the substrate, at least one return element electrically coupled to the power buss and the at least one IR heating element, and a shielding layer substantially covering the at least one IR heating element. The at least one IR heating element is configured to emit IR radiation when an electrical current is passed there through, and the shielding layer is arranged such that the at least one IR heating element is disposed between the shielding layer and the substrate. The shielding layer is electrically coupled to ground and configured to harness and shunt electrical field charge emitted by the at least one IR heating element.

Abstract: A method of optical fiber manufacture involves the writing of a grating on the fiber using a laser. A first laser beam is directed on a first locality of the fiber having a circumference. A second laser beam is then directed on a second locality circumferentially displaced from the first locality. The first laser beam may be the second laser beam. In this way, a grating is formed on the fiber. The fiber may have a core and a cladding layer. The fiber may also comprise two gratings to form an interferometer.

Abstract: A fire suppression and annunciation system using a flexible conduit and a wire rope is provided. The wire rope may be connected to a knob assembly at a universal pull station and to a release mechanism of the fire suppression system. An operator may pull a handle of the knob assembly at the universal pull station, thereby activating the release mechanism to release fire suppression agent. A flexible conduit may house the wire rope along at least a part of the connection from the universal pull station to the release mechanism. A material on the liner of the flexible conduit and/or on the wire rope may be used to reduce the coefficient of friction of wire rope in the flexible conduit. The fire suppression system may further include a pulley block system connected to the universal pull station. The pulley block system may comprise bearings, and may lower the force necessary to activate the release mechanism.

Abstract: A method of optical fiber manufacture involves the writing of a grating on the fiber using a laser. A first laser beam is directed on a first locality of the fiber having a circumference. A second laser beam is then directed on a second locality circumferentially displaced from the first locality. The first laser beam may be the second laser beam. In this way, a grating is formed on the fiber. The fiber may have a core and a cladding layer. The fiber may also comprise two gratings to form an interferometer.

Abstract: A method of optical fiber manufacture involves the writing of a grating on the fiber using a laser. A first laser beam is directed on a first locality of the fiber having a circumference. A second laser beam is then directed on a second locality circumferentially displaced from the first locality. The first laser beam may be the second laser beam. In this way, a grating is formed on the fiber. The fiber may have a core and a cladding layer. The fiber may also comprise two gratings to form an interferometer.

Abstract: A method of optical fiber manufacture involves the writing of a grating on the fiber using a laser. A first laser beam is directed on a first locality of the fiber having a circumference. A second laser beam is then directed on a second locality circumferentially displaced from the first locality. The first laser beam may be the second laser beam. In this way, a grating is formed on the fiber. The fiber may have a core and a cladding layer. The fiber may also comprise two gratings to form an interferometer.

Abstract: The present invention is a method which customizes the penetration depth of a heat-fusible powder used in solid freeform fabrication process such as laser sintering. The penetration depth of the heat-fusible powder is customized by combining opaque and transparent powders at a ratio which ensures that the beam contacts a portion of powder beneath its surface, thereby promoting complete layer sintering as well as adherence to previously sintered layers.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled laser sintering system includes a laser beam 12 which is focussed onto a sintering bed 38 by a focussing mirror 26 and a set of scanning mirrors 32, 34. Thermal radiation 114 emitted from the sintering bed 38 are imaged to the scanning mirrors and to a dichroic beamsplitter 110 which reflects such radiation but passes the wavelength of the laser beam 12. The radiation 118 is focussed onto an optical detector 126 which provides a signal on a line 128 to a power control circuit 104. The power control circuit 104 controls a modulator 100 which modulates the power of the laser beam 112 so as to maintain the thermal radiation emission 114 (and thus the temperature at the sintering location) at a substantially constant level.

Abstract: A multiple beam laser sintering device includes a sintering beam 64 having a focal point at a powder bed 68 and at least one defocussed laser beam 116 incident on a region near the focal point of the focussed beam 64. The sintering beam 64 raises the temperature of the powder 84 to the sintering temperature. The defocussed beam 116 raises the temperature of the material surrounding the sintering beam 64 to a level below the sintering temperature, thereby reducing the temperature gradient between the sintering location and the surrounding material. Thermal radiation may be measured from one or both beams and used to control the power of one or both beams and the power of one or both beams may be controlled to maintain the temperature at a desired level. Alternatively, a plurality of defocussed beams may be used to provide either a plurality of thermal gradient steps, or to control the temperature of each region around the sintering point independently.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled laser sintering system includes a laser beam 12 which is focussed onto a sintering bed 38 by a focussing mirror 26 and a set of scanning mirrors 32,34. Thermal radiation 114 emitted from the sintering bed 38 are imaged to the scanning mirrors and to a dichroic beamsplitter 110 which reflects such radiation but passes the wavelength of the laser beam 12. The radiation 118 is focussed onto an optical detector 126 which provides a signal on a line 128 to a power control circuit 104. The power control circuit 104 controls a modulator 100 which modulates the power of the laser beam 112 so as to maintain the thermal radiation emission 114 (and thus the temperature at the sintering location) at a substantially constant level.

Abstract: A multiple beam laser sintering device includes a sintering beam 64 having a focal point at a powder bed 68 and at least one defocussed laser beam 116 incident on a region near the focal point of the focussed beam 64. The sintering beam 64 raises the temperature of the powder 84 to the sintering temperature. The defocussed beam 116 raises the temperature of the material surrounding the sintering beam 64 to a level below the sintering temperature, thereby reducing the temperature gradient between the sintering location and the surrounding material. Thermal radiation may be measured from one or both beams and used to control the power of one or both beams and the power of one or both beams may be controlled to maintain the temperature at a desired level. Alternatively, a plurality of defocussed beams may be used to provide either a plurality of thermal gradient steps, or to control the temperature of each region around the sintering point independently.

Abstract: A coupled multiple output ring laser system having a plurality of ring lasers 100,200 that are coupled together, each ring laser having separate output beams 159,280 and separate suppressor mirrors 228,282, is provided with two optical trombones 250,252 mounted on a common phase shifter 268, which changes the optical path length to the suppressor mirror 228 in the laser 100 and changes the optical path length of the mutual coupling path between the laser 100 and the laser 200 in an equal and opposite direction, thereby changing the phase of the output beam 159 of the laser 100 with respect to the output beam of the laser 200, without changing the phase of the output beam 280 from the laser 200. The invention works for any number of lasers and works equally well with reverse-to-forward coupling or forward-to-reverse coupling schemes.