Abstract: There is provided a variable pressure roller system for installing a preform having contact surfaces onto a configuration of a mold surface by applying pressure thereon. The roller system of the present invention comprises a roller carriage. A grasping handle may be mounted to the roller carriage. Moreover, the roller system may further comprise a plurality of rollers, wherein each respective one of the plurality of rollers is defined by a weight to generate a specific pressure corresponding thereto. Furthermore, each respective one of the plurality of rollers may be removably engageable to the roller carriage. Each respective one of the plurality of rollers may be adapted to uniformly distribute the specific pressure corresponding thereto on the contact surfaces for conforming the preform to the configuration of the mold surface when engaged to the roller carriage.

Abstract: A reusable vacuum bag is configured for application of at least one sealant bead for providing vacuum tight sealing of the reusable vacuum bag to a forming tool during fabrication of a composite part. The reusable vacuum bag comprises at least one elastomeric layer and a fluoroelastomeric strip. The elastomeric layer is sealable to the forming tool and has a sealing flange extending peripherally thereabout. The fluoroelastomeric strip extends substantially along the sealing flange and has first and second surfaces. The elastomeric layer and the fluoroelastomeric strip each have polymers and a peroxide curative. The peroxide curative initiates vulcanization wherein the polymers of each material cross-link at an elevated temperature to form double-oxygen bonds such that a permanent bond is formed between the sealing flange and the fluoroelastomeric strip at the first surface. The fluoroelastomeric strip is releaseably adhered at the second surface to the sealant bead.

Abstract: A modular prefabricated deck system which includes a plurality of rectangular flooring modules. Each module may include a plurality of laminations, such as a decorative upper element, and a lower support element for supporting the module upon the underlying joist structure of the deck. Additionally, each module may include interlocking structure for engaging adjacent modules upon installation.

Abstract: Methods of forming shaped adhesive fillets are disclosed. The adhesive fillets may be made by stacking multiple layers of adhesive sheets, consolidating the stacked layers, cutting strips from the consolidated layers, and forming the strips into adhesive fillets having desired cross sectional shapes. The fillets may be formed by feeding the strips through an apparatus comprising opposing rollers and a catcher, which facilitates release of the adhesive fillets from the rollers. The formed adhesive fillets are useful for applications such as stiffened panels for aircraft.

Abstract: A reusable vacuum bag is configured for application of at least one sealant bead for providing vacuum tight sealing of the reusable vacuum bag to a forming tool during fabrication of a composite part. The reusable vacuum bag comprises at least one elastomeric layer and a fluoroelastomeric strip. The elastomeric layer is sealable to the forming tool and has a sealing flange extending peripherally thereabout. The fluoroelastomeric strip extends substantially along the sealing flange and has first and second surfaces. The elastomeric layer and the fluoroelastomeric strip each have polymers and a peroxide curative. The peroxide curative initiates vulcanization wherein the polymers of each material cross-link at an elevated temperature to form double-oxygen bonds such that a permanent bond is formed between the sealing flange and the fluoroelastomeric strip at the first surface. The fluoroelastomeric strip is releaseably adhered at the second surface to the sealant bead.

Abstract: A modular prefabricated deck system which includes a plurality of rectangular flooring modules. Each module may include a plurality of laminations, such as a decorative upper element, and a lower support element for supporting the module upon the underlying joist structure of the deck. Additionally, each module may include interlocking structure for engaging adjacent modules upon installation.

Abstract: A coating method for a hollow substrate including: (a) forming a seamed extended substrate unit composed of a substrate extension device and the substrate, and employing a chuck assembly to internally grip the substrate; (b) dip coating the extended substrate unit while the chuck assembly internally grips the substrate to deposit a layer first on the substrate extension device and then on the substrate; and (c) separating, subsequent to the dip coating the extended substrate unit, the substrate extension device from the substrate.

Abstract: A coating method for a hollow substrate including: (a) forming a seamed extended substrate unit composed of a substrate extension device and the substrate, and employing a chuck assembly to internally grip the substrate; (b) dip coating the extended substrate unit while the chuck assembly internally grips the substrate to deposit a layer first on the substrate extension device and then on the substrate; and (c) separating, subsequent to the dip coating the extended substrate unit, the substrate extension device from the substrate.

Abstract: A coating method for a hollow substrate including: (a) forming a seamed extended substrate unit composed of a substrate extension device and the substrate, and employing a chuck assembly to internally grip the substrate; (b) dip coating the extended substrate unit while the chuck assembly internally grips the substrate to deposit a layer first on the substrate extension device and then on the substrate; and (c) separating, subsequent to the dip coating the extended substrate unit, the substrate extension device from the substrate.

Abstract: A comprehensive and searchable network of on-line directories of service providers and a method for a user to use this network is disclosed. The network enables a user to obtain or market products and services on the Internet. The system includes the following software architecture and system design components: Network Data Sharing, Geographic Radius Searching, and Partner Web Site Branding.

Abstract: A novel catalyst comprising a Pt--M alloy wherein M is one or more metals selected from the transition metal elements or from Groups IIIA or IVA of the Periodic Table in "Handbook of Chemistry and Physics" 64th Edition, CRC Press, and Y wherein Y is a bronze forming element or an oxide thereof, characterised in that the Pt--M alloy is in intimate contact with Y, and provided that M is not Ru if Y is WO.sub.3 is disclosed and which may be used as a poison tolerant catalyst for use in fuel cells, specifically as the anode of a PEM fuel cell.

Abstract: A pipe cutter having an over-center feature which facilitates automatic charging of a spring to which a cutter is mounted.

Abstract: A wrist-mounted terminal for use in electro-optically reading bar code symbols, includes a main body having a display, and a strap for securing the body on and around a wrist of an operator. The terminal includes a detector for detecting light reflected off a symbol. A keypad is mounted on the body for movement between a concealed position in which manually depressible keys are hidden by the body, and an exposed position in which the keys are accessible. The keypad is preferably slidingly received within the body, or hinged to the body.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for maintaining the levelness of a crucible having a first end and a second end during thermal expansion of the crucible comprising: providing a continuous pulling force on the first end in a direction parallel to the length of the crucible during heating of the crucible.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for effecting glow discharge comprising an elongated electrically conductive glow bar electrode, means for applying a potential to the glow bar electrode, thereby generating ions, means for creating a flow of ions from the glow bar electrode to a second electrode, and a shield situated to block partially the flow of ions between the glow bar electrode and the second electrode, said shield having a plurality of apertures through which ions can flow between the glow bar electrode and the second electrode, each aperture having associated therewith at least one shutter, said shutters being capable of at least partially blocking the flow of ions through the apertures, each shutter individually movable to a plurality of positions to adjust the flow of ions through the apertures.

Abstract: A continuous speech recognition system includes a plurality of processors doing template comparisons of speech data. Each processor has an associated memory shared with the other processors by direct memory access (DMA) through a shared data bus. The DMA circuitry is distributed between the processors to eliminate redundancy, since if each processor had a full DMA circuit, one of the circuits would be idle when the processors communicated.