Abstract: Composite laminates used in structural applications include an interlayer of soft material that provides damping action to reduce noise and vibration. The interlayer may comprise a viscoelastic material which deforms under stress caused by shock, noise or vibration. A reinforcement may be embedded in the viscoelastic material to maintain the mechanical strength and stiffness of the laminate. The reinforcement may include individual or woven fibers or ridged tubes that provide the interlayer with stiffness.

Abstract: Composite laminates used in structural applications include an interlayer of soft material that provides damping action to reduce noise and vibration. The interlayer may comprise a viscoelastic material which deforms under stress caused by shock, noise or vibration. A reinforcement may be embedded in the viscoelastic material to maintain the mechanical strength and stiffness of the laminate. The reinforcement may include individual or woven fibers or ridged tubes that provide the interlayer with stiffness.

Abstract: A gas separation method includes flowing a gas feed along a feed flow path within a housing directionally from a product end to a feed end of a gas separation membrane. After the feed flow path, the gas feed flows along a membrane flow path defined by the membrane from the feed end to the product end. The feed flow path is counter to the membrane flow path. Heat may be exchanged between the feed flow path and the membrane flow path and increase separation efficiency. Also, heat exchanged may compensate for some temperature drop in the membrane due to enthalpy of gas separation. A gas separation module includes a feed flow path within a housing extending directionally from a product end to a feed end of a membrane. The feed flow path is counter to a membrane flow path defined by the membrane.

Abstract: A gas separation module includes at least one inlet port, a plurality of outlet ports, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. Individual fibers have a feed end and a product end with a retentate interior side and a permeate exterior side. The module includes a feed tubesheet within the shell segregating the at least one inlet port and the permeate side of the fibers. The feed tubesheet includes a matrix and at least one segment joint. The segment joint separates segments of the feed tubesheet from one another. A formation method includes positioning a hollow fiber membrane material in association with at least one tubesheet segment joint and applying a matrix. The method includes forming a feed tubesheet from cured matrix and the segment joint and forming a plurality of hollow fiber membranes from the fiber material. The segment joint separates segments of the feed tubesheet from one another.

Abstract: A gas separation module includes at least one inlet port, a plurality of outlet ports, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. Individual fibers have a feed end and a product end with a retentate interior side and a permeate exterior side. The module includes a feed tubesheet within the shell segregating the at least one inlet port and the permeate side of the fibers. The feed tubesheet includes a matrix and at least one segment joint. The segment joint separates segments of the feed tubesheet from one another. A formation method includes positioning a hollow fiber membrane material in association with at least one tubesheet segment joint and applying a matrix. The method includes forming a feed tubesheet from cured matrix and the segment joint and forming a plurality of hollow fiber membranes from the fiber material. The segment joint separates segments of the feed tubesheet from one another.

Abstract: A gas separation module includes at least one inlet port, a plurality of outlet ports, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. Individual fibers have a feed end and a product end with a retentate interior side and a permeate exterior side. The module includes a feed tubesheet within the shell segregating the at least one inlet port and the permeate side of the fibers. The feed tubesheet includes a matrix and at least one segment joint. The segment joint separates segments of the feed tubesheet from one another. A formation method includes positioning a hollow fiber membrane material in association with at least one tubesheet segment joint and applying a matrix. The method includes forming a feed tubesheet from cured matrix and the segment joint and forming a plurality of hollow fiber membranes from the fiber material. The segment joint separates segments of the feed tubesheet from one another.

Abstract: Damping material is installed on a structure by moving a material placement head over the structure, and using the head to place the material on the structure.

Abstract: Damping material is installed on a structure by moving a material placement head over the structure, and using the head to place the material on the structure.

Abstract: An electronic controller (16) controls the operation of an electrochemical oxygen generating system (14) producing a desired gas. The product gas is fed to a storage unit (12) or a regulator (28) and pulsing valve (28) controlling the gas flow to a user. A two-stage system (180) combines a low pressure 100 and a high pressure (150) gas generating subsystems. The low pressure subsystem (100) uses IMAT's (106) to pump oxygen from ambient air to generate a low-pressure. The high pressure subsystem (150) uses IMAT's (160) to pump oxygen to high-pressure oxygen storage devices (194).

Abstract: An ionically conductive ceramic element (20) comprises a plurality of tubes (30) each having interior (24) and exterior (38) surfaces and closed (48) and open (50) ends. A tube support (14) receives open tube ends (50). A first electrically conductive coating (36) is formed on the exterior tube surfaces (38). A second coating (22) is formed on the interior tube surfaces (24). A bottom electrically conductive stripe (16) makes electrical connections between second coatings (22) on the interior tube surfaces (24). A top electrically conductive stripe (40) creates electrical connections between first coatings (36) on the exterior tube surfaces (38). The top and bottom stripes are connected such that at least one stripe (40) on the top is electrically connected to at least one stripe (16) on the bottom.

Abstract: Composite laminates used in structural applications include an interlayer of soft material that provides damping action to reduce noise and vibration. The interlayer may comprise a viscoelastic material which deforms under stress caused by shock, noise or vibration. A reinforcement may be embedded in the viscoelastic material to maintain the mechanical strength and stiffness of the laminate. The reinforcement may include individual or woven fibers or ridged tubes that provide the interlayer with stiffness.

Abstract: An over (10) for a gas generating system (C) of the type that includes an interior chamber (22), heating elements (12), at least one gas generating module (14) mounted within the interior chamber (22), an air inlet (26) providing an input source of air, and a product gas outlet (16) includes an air amplifier member (20) that is mounted within the interior chamber (22). The air amplified (20) generates an amplification of the air flow characteristics of the input source of air as the input air is introduced into the interior chamber (22) of the oven (10). The amplification promotes the oven air recirculation improving thermal uniformity and air distribution inside the oven (10).

Abstract: An oven (10) for a gas generating system (C) of the type that includes an interior chamber (22), heating elements (12), at least one gas generating module (14) mounted within the interior chamber (22), an air inlet (26) providing an input source of air, and a product gas outlet (16) includes an air amplifier member (2) that is mounted within the interior chamber (22). The air amplifier (20) generates an amplification of the air flow characteristics of the input source of air as the input air is introduced into the interior chamber (22) of the oven (10). The amplification promotes the oven air recirculation improving thermal uniformity and air distribution inside the oven (10).

Abstract: A gas cylinder charging system includes (1) at least two gas inlet ports and (2) at least two gas outlet ports, (3) a gas compressor having an input port and an output port, where the input port selectively receives gas from a gas inlet port and selectively transfers the gas to a gas outlet port, and (4) a controller, receiving status signals and transmitting control signals, and connected to and controlling the gas compressor. A method aspect of filling a gas cylinder using the described cylinder charging system further including an input/output selector valve for selecting one of the gasses to transfer to the gas cylinder, includes the following steps. A gas cylinder is connected to one of the cylinder connectors. A user manipulates the selector valve selecting the gas to be transferred to the gas cylinder and activates the cylinder charging system filling the gas cylinder with the selected gas.

Abstract: An oxygen concentrator system with altitude compensation includes at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system and a plenum subsystem. The at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces oxygen enriched product which is outputted to both the oxygen concentrator system output and to a plenum chamber within the plenum subsystem. The plenum chamber is trickle charged with the oxygen enriched product when the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces an excess amount of oxygen enriched product. Should the demand for oxygen enriched product exceed the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system, additional oxygen enriched product is provided by the plenum chamber until such time that the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system exceeds the demand for oxygen enriched product. At that time, oxygen enriched product is no longer provided by the plenum chamber but rather the plenum chamber is again trickle charged.

Abstract: An oxygen concentrator system includes at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system and a plenum subsystem. The at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces oxygen-enriched air which is outputted to both the oxygen concentrator system output and to a plenum chamber within the plenum subsystem. The plenum chamber is trickle charged with the oxygen-enriched air when the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces an excess amount of oxygen-enriched air. Should the demand for oxygen-enriched air exceed the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system, additional oxygen-enriched air is provided by the plenum chamber until such time that the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system exceeds the demand of oxygen-enriched air. At that time, oxygen-enriched air is no longer provided by the plenum chamber but rather the plenum chamber is again trickle charged.

Abstract: An oxygen concentrator system with altitude compensation includes at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system and a plenum subsystem. The at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces oxygen-enriched air which is outputted to both the oxygen concentrator system output and to a plenum chamber within the plenum subsystem. The plenum chamber is trickle charged with the oxygen-enriched air when the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces an excess amount of oxygen-enriched air. Should the demand for oxygen-enriched air exceed the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system, additional oxygen-enriched air is provided by the plenum chamber until such time that the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system exceeds the demand for oxygen-enriched air. At that time, oxygen-enriched air is no longer provided by the plenum chamber, but rather the plenum chamber is again trickle charged.

Abstract: An oxygen concentrator system includes at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system and a plenum subsystem. The at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces oxygen-enriched air which is outputted to both the oxygen concentrator system output and to a plenum chamber within the plenum subsystem. The plenum chamber is trickle charged with the oxygen-enriched air when the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces an excess amount of oxygen-enriched air. Should the demand for oxygen-enriched air exceed the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system, additional oxygen-enriched air is provided by the plenum chamber until such time that the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system exceeds the demand for oxygen-enriched air. At that time, oxygen-enriched air is no longer provided by the plenum chamber but rather the plenum chamber is again trickle charged.

Abstract: A gas cylinder charging system includes (1) at least two gas inlet ports and (2) at least two gas outlet ports, (3) a gas compressor having an input port and an output port, where the input port selectively receives gas from a gas inlet port and selectively transfers the gas to a gas outlet port, and (4) a controller, receiving status signals and transmitting control signals, and connected to and controlling the gas compressor. A method aspect of filling a gas cylinder using the described cylinder charging system further including an input/output selector valve for selecting one of the gasses to transfer to the gas cylinder, includes the following steps. A gas cylinder is connected to one of the cylinder connectors. A user manipulates the selector valve selecting the gas to be transferred to the gas cylinder and activates the cylinder charging system filling the gas cylinder with the selected gas.

Abstract: A surface treatment, especially for titanium and aluminum alloys, forms a Si—Y sol-gel film covalently bonded on the metal surface to produce strong, durable adhesive bonds between the metal and an organic adhesive without using toxic chemicals and while significantly reducing or eliminating rinse water requirements of traditional anodizing or etching processes. The sol should produce bonds in a single application comparable in strength and performance to standard anodize controls. Parameters affecting performance include the sol composition, the ratio of silicon to yttrium in the sol, the ratio of other sol ingredients, the concentration of the sol, the carrier solvent, solution age, catalysts, surface pretreatment, application method, curing process, and primer used.