Abstract: A lightweight flexible patient litter includes, in one example, spaced compression longerons each foldable at spaced legs, a bed between the compression longerons, and a longitudinal truss structure on each side of the litter each including a longeron, its spaced legs, and one or more flexible tension members connected thereto. One or more lateral truss structures may each include opposing legs on each side of the litter and one or more flexible tension members connected thereto. A bed truss structure may include one or more tension members.

Abstract: A lightweight flexible patient litter includes, in one example, spaced compression longerons each foldable at spaced legs, a bed between the compression longerons, and a longitudinal truss structure on each side of the litter each including a longeron, its spaced legs, and one or more flexible tension members connected thereto. One or more lateral truss structures may each include opposing legs on each side of the litter and one or more flexible tension members connected thereto. A bed truss structure may include one or more tension members.

Abstract: A flexible hinge including a first set of plies and a second set of plies, and a hinge area where the first set of plies and the second set of plies bend. A damping material is disposed between plies of the first set and the second set at least at the hinge area thereof to control the deployment of the hinge.

Abstract: A deployable boom with adjacent panels hinged together typically in an end to end configuration. A first longeron is attached to at least two panels and a second longeron is also attached to at least two panels. Each longeron includes a self locking hinge between adjacent panels.

Abstract: A method of making a mirror structure includes assembling a supporting isogrid framework, assembling an isogrid back plane, interconnecting the supporting isogrid framework with the isogrid back plane by a truss core, and disposing an optical surface on the supporting isogrid framework.

Abstract: A non-explosive shockwave generator system for hydrodynamic pressure processing of food products, the generator including a volume of fluid about a food product, a piston in a cylinder arranged to strike the volume, and a subsystem for driving the piston to impact the volume of fluid to create a shockwave which travels through the food product.

Abstract: A foldable member including a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration and a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration. The second section is longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration. A hinged connection between the first and second structural sections allows the first structural section to be folded against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat.

Abstract: A flexure including a plurality of plies of composite material consolidated everywhere except at at least one predefined region where preselected adjacent plies are purposefully delaminated so they can move relative to each other when the flexure is bent.

Abstract: An open lattice mirror structure with an optical face sheet, a supporting isogrid framework supporting the optical face sheet, an isogrid back plane, and a truss core interconnecting the supporting isogrid framework and the isogrid back plane for transferring shear loads evenly between the face sheet and the isogrid back plane. Also disclosed are methods of making such a structure and a method of polishing the optical face sheet to prevent quilting.

Abstract: A flat folding tube including a first thin walled structure having a bottom end, a second thin walled structure having a top end, and hinge flexibly securing the bottom end of the first thin walled structure to the top end of the second thin walled structure. The first thin walled structure and the second thin walled structure both have at least two states: a first state wherein both thin walled structures are flat or substantially flat, and a second state wherein the bottom end of the first thin walled structure is curved inwardly and the top end of the second thin walled structure is also curved inwardly to lock the flexible hinge thereby producing a rigid tube in the second state, the rigid tube foldable flat in the first state.

Abstract: A foldable member including a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration and a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration. The second section is longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration. A hinged connection between the first and second structural sections allows the first structural section to be folded against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat.

Abstract: A flexure including a plurality of plies of composite material consolidated everywhere except at at least one predefined region where preselected adjacent plies are purposefully delaminated so they can move relative to each other when the flexure is bent.

Abstract: An open-lattice, foldable, self-deployable structure with a number of spaced, bendable longitudinal members each having a curved cross section forming cells each bounded by a portion of two spaced longitudinal members and two spaced diagonal members. The diagonal members are joined to the longitudinal members at the cell boundary intersections of the diagonal members and the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members are made of a material which bends and flattens by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point and the diagonal members are made of a material which both bends and twists by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point so that the structure can be collapsed and then self resurrected.

Abstract: A damping system is disclosed which includes a housing that receives vibrations, a mounting platform movably disposed with respect to the housing, at least one bearing surface on or attached to one of the housing and the platform, and at least one frictional member on or attached to the other of the housing and the platform in contact with the bearing surface. The system frictionally dampens vibrations received by the housing and isolates the platform from vibrations.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a foldable member. A plurality of C-section member plies are formed. First and second sets of the C-section member plies are assembled. Two sections of a tube are arranged in an end-to-end manner defining a gap therebetween. The first set of the C-section member plies is secured to one side of the two sections of the tube to bridge the gap therebetween and the second set of C-section member plies is secured to an opposing side of the two tube sections to also bridge the gap therebetween thus forming opposing elongated slots separated by longitudinal strips of material between the slots which fold when subjected to localized buckling forces and which unfold when released. A foldable member manufactured in accordance with this method is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a structure made of one or more such foldable members.

Abstract: An open-lattice, foldable, self-deployable structure with a number of spaced, bendable longitudinal members each having a curved cross section forming cells each bounded by a portion of two spaced longitudinal members and two spaced diagonal members. The diagonal members are joined to the longitudinal members at the cell boundary intersections of the diagonal members and the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members are made of a material which bends and flattens by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point and the diagonal members are made of a material which both bends and twists by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point so that the structure can be collapsed and then self resurrected.

Abstract: A foldable member in the shape of a tube with at least one predetermined hinge area along the length of the tube and opposing sets of elongated slots in the tube at the hinge area thereof forming separated longitudinal strips of tube material between the slots which fold when subjected to localized buckling forces, each slot of each set of elongated slots separated longitudinally along the length of the tube from each adjacent slot by a bridge element of tube material. A collapsible structure constructed of such foldable members.

Abstract: A foldable member in the shape of a tube with at least one predetermined hinge area along the length of the tube and opposing sets of elongated slots in the tube at the hinge area thereof forming separated longitudinal strips of tube material between the slots which fold when subjected to localized buckling forces, each slot of each set of elongated slots separated longitudinally along the length of the tube from each adjacent slot by a bridge element of tube material. A collapsible structure constructed of such foldable members.

Abstract: An open-lattice, foldable, self-deployable structure with a number of spaced, bendable longitudinal members forming cells each bounded by a portion of two spaced longitudinal members and two spaced diagonal members. The diagonal members are joined to the longitudinal members at the cell boundary intersections of the diagonal members and the longitudinal members. The longitudinal members are made of a material which bends by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point and the diagonal members are made of a material which both bends and twists by a predetermined amount below the material's yield point so that the structure can be collapsed and then self resurrected.

Abstract: A foldable member in the shape of a tube with at least one predetermined hinge area along the length of the tube, and a plurality of opposing elongated slots in the tube at the hinge area thereof forming separated longitudinal strips of tube material between the slots which fold when subjected to localized buckling forces. A collapsible structure constructed of such foldable members.