Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector for projecting acoustic energy through water is described. The acoustic projector includes a housing defining an internal cavity, a plurality of apertures in the housing that place the internal cavity in fluid communication with an external environment, an acoustic baffle disposed in the internal cavity at a first end that fluidly seals the first end of the internal cavity from the external environment, and a projector face that is disposed in the internal cavity at a second end of the internal cavity. The projector face includes a movable piston disposed between outer and inner diaphragms. A magnet is fixed within the internal cavity between the acoustic baffle and the projector face, and a moving coil is connected to the piston and arranged relative to the magnet so as to be driven by the magnet thereby driving the piston.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic projector for projecting acoustic energy through water is described. The acoustic projector includes a housing defining an internal cavity, a plurality of apertures in the housing that place the internal cavity in fluid communication with an external environment, an acoustic baffle disposed in the internal cavity at a first end that fluidly seals the first end of the internal cavity from the external environment, and a projector face that is disposed in the internal cavity at a second end of the internal cavity. The projector face includes a movable piston disposed between outer and inner diaphragms. A magnet is fixed within the internal cavity between the acoustic baffle and the projector face, and a moving coil is connected to the piston and arranged relative to the magnet so as to be driven by the magnet thereby driving the piston.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Moreover, wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.

Abstract: A safety element retention system having a reel upon which a safety element or strap may be wound, a spring return mechanism, for rewinding the reel and retrieving the safety strap, and further having at least one locking plate, connected integrally with the reel, with a locking hook associated with the reel, a ramp adjacent the hook, a locking dog adjacent to the hook and being swingable about a pivot axis, a damping device connected to said dog for slowing down movement a spring biassing the dog into a predetermined first position, and, a ramp follower member to contact the ramp on the locking plate, and cause the dog to move against the biassing force of the spring, into engagement with a hook on the locking plate, the biassing force of the spring causing swinging of the dog in the reverse direction, during normal operation, to remove the dog out from the path of the hook.

Abstract: A method for providing passenger accountability for airports and other mass transit facilities is disclosed. In operation, a check-in agent receives information identifying a passenger seeking to board a commercial carrier. The passenger is designated as checked-in, and then the present system may use a frequent flyer card or a boarding pass to monitor a location of the checked-in passenger prior to boarding the commercial carrier.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in general, to a chemical mechanical polishing pad comprising a polishing body and a backing material coupled to the polishing body. The polishing body comprising a compacted thermoplastic foam substrate, wherein the compacted thermoplastic foam substrate has a density that is as at least about 1.1 times greater than an uncompacted thermoplastic foam substrate density. Other aspects of the invention comprise a method for manufacturing the above-described chemical mechanical polishing pad and chemical mechanical polishing apparatus comprising the chemical mechanical polishing pad.

Abstract: A method for providing passenger accountability for airports and other mass transit facilities is disclosed. In operation, a check-in agent receives information identifying a passenger seeking to board a commercial carrier. The passenger is designated as checked-in, and then the present system may use a frequent flyer card or a boarding pass to monitor a location of the checked-in passenger prior to boarding the commercial carrier.

Abstract: A tethered-ball training device used for repetitive training exercises in a variety of sports. The tethered-ball trainer has a ball support means, a retraction means, and a ball. The retraction means is mounted on the support and the tether connects the retraction means to the ball. The retraction means, or tether-rewinding device, allows the tether to feed-out when a force is applied to the ball and provides for a controlled retraction when the force is removed. In alternate embodiments, the retraction means is a spring-wound cord reel and either one or more may be used. Various embodiments include one or multiple-tether devices, a sensor for determining the boundaries of ball travel and speed, completely collapsible support means, and length adjustment means for the support means.

Abstract: The present invention enables stereotactic surgery with a minimal structure present in order to facilitate surgery yet with enhanced accuracy in stereotactic imaging assistance to the surgeon. This device and method is known as "frameless" stereotaxis system, and uses coordinate referencing between the CT or MRI scans and a stereotactic referencing system which uses an electromagnetically driven system to determine the location of a stylus.

Abstract: A stackable storing and dispensing apparatus for reels of wire includes a pallet structure having reinforced corners posts with selected corner posts including complimentary engageable members mounted to the upper and lower ends of the corner posts and extending between selected corner posts. The complimentary engageable members mounted to the ends of the corner posts are structurally arranged to provide nesting and stacking of the dispensing apparatus when one pallet structure is positioned on top of another pallet structure. The dispensing apparatus includes a restraining member which locks the vertically orientated reels of wire within the pallet structure and which is movable to an open position which permits removal of the reels of wire from the apparatus.

Abstract: An expendable underwater vehicle for use in training naval forces in anti-submarine warfare in ocean waters, including shallow waters, is between about three to five feet in length and about five inches in diameter, and it includes various improvements which make successful operations in shallow ocean waters, and improved operation in all ocean waters, possible. The improvements include a one-piece nose cup which allows the expendable underwater vehicle to be air launched into shallow water, a scuttle plug which allows water to fill the expendable underwater vehicle after the vehicle is expended and drops to the bottom of the ocean, and rudders and elevators of increased surface area which improve controllability of the vehicle in the water.

Abstract: The present invention enables stereotactic surgery with a minimal structure present in order to facilitate surgery yet with enhanced accuracy in stereotactic imaging assistance to the surgeon. This device and method is known as "frameless" stereotaxis system, and uses coordinate referencing between the CT or MRI scans and a stereotactic referencing system which uses an electromagnetically driven system (transmitter and receiver) to determine the location of a stylus.Magnetic field distortion is reduced through the use of a low frequency magnetic field. The frame of reference through which this system operates is coordinate referenced to the coordinates of a composite image formed from a CT, MRI, or other system which are arranged and may be generated in two or three dimensional fashion in response to the position of a pointer as they are referenced to the orientation of a patient during an operation.