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Magician Harry Houdini patented a "Diver's Suit" enabling the wearer to "quickly divest himself of the suit while being submerged and to safely escape and reach the surface of the water."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8182842 | Physico-chemical-managed killing of penicillin-resistant static and growing gram-positive and gram-negative vegetative bacteria Systems and methods for the use of compounds from the Hofmeister series coupled with specific pH and temperature to provide rapid physico-chemical-managed killing of penicillin-resistant static and growing Gram-positive and Gram-negative vegetative bacteria. The sys... | 05/22/2012 |
| 8169620 | Sub-pixel spatial resolution wavefront phase imaging A phase imaging method for an optical wavefront acquires a plurality of phase images of the optical wavefront using a phase imager. Each phase image is unique and is shifted with respect to another of the phase images by a known/controlled amount that is less than t... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8132961 | Flow plug with length-to-hole size uniformity for use in flow conditioning and flow metering A flow plug of varying thickness has a plurality of holes formed therethrough. The plug fits in a conduit such that a fluid flow in the conduit passes through the plug's holes. Each hole is defined by a parameter indicative of size in terms of the cross-sectional ar... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8132772 | Linear and/or curvilinear rail mount system One or more linear and/or curvilinear mounting rails are coupled to a structure. Each mounting rail defines a channel and at least one cartridge assembly is engaged in the channel. Each cartridge assembly includes a housing that slides within the channel. The housin... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8127977 | Thermal stir welder A welding apparatus is provided for forming a weld joint between first and second elements of a workpiece. The apparatus heats the first and second elements to form an interface of material in a plasticized or melted state interface between the elements. The interfa... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8098794 | Moving-article X-ray imaging system and method for 3-D image generation An x-ray imaging system and method for a moving article are provided for an article moved along a linear direction of travel while the article is exposed to non-overlapping x-ray beams. A plurality of parallel linear sensor arrays are disposed in the x-ray beams aft... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8098060 | Systems, methods and apparatus for position sensor digital conditioning electronics Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations determine the amplitude of an amplitude modulated signal, modulated by the position of an object being sensed. In some aspects, the apparatus accepts an excitation signal and the ampli... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8090484 | Orientation control method and system for object in motion An object in motion has a force applied thereto at a point of application. By moving the point of application such that the distance between the object's center-of-mass and the point of application is changed, the object's orientation can be changed/adjusted. ... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8052860 | Electrochemical and mechanical polishing and shaping method and system A method and system are provided for the shaping and polishing of the surface of a material selected from the group consisting of electrically semi-conductive materials and conductive materials. An electrically non-conductive polishing lap incorporates a conductive ... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8004364 | High power RF solid state power amplifier system A high power, high frequency, solid state power amplifier system includes a plurality of input multiple port splitters for receiving a high-frequency input and for dividing the input into a plurality of outputs and a plurality of solid state amplifier units. Each am... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7980449 | Thermal stir welding apparatus A welding method and apparatus are provided for forming a weld joint between first and second elements of a workpiece. The method includes heating the first and second elements to form an interface of material in a plasticized or melted state interface between the e... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7929144 | Optical system and method for gas detection and monitoring A free-space optical path of an optical interferometer is disposed in an environment of interest. A light beam is guided to the optical interferometer using a single-mode optical fiber. The light beam traverses the interferometer's optical path. The light beam guide... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7911174 | Position sensing for rotor in hybrid stepper motor A method and system are provided for sensing the position of a rotor in a hybrid stepper motor. First and second Hall sensors are positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with the first and second armatures of the rotor such that the first and second Hall sensors g... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7908079 | Portable runway intersection display and monitoring system Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which an apparatus located on an airfield provides information to pilots in aircraft on the ground and simultaneously gathers information on the motion and position of the aircraft for controllers. ... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7900436 | Gas-generator augmented expander cycle rocket engine An augmented expander cycle rocket engine includes first and second turbopumps for respectively pumping fuel and oxidizer. A gas-generator receives a first portion of fuel output from the first turbopump and a first portion of oxidizer output from the second turbopu... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7848606 | Eliminating crystals in non-oxide optical fiber preforms and optical fibers A method is provided for eliminating crystals in non-oxide optical fiber preforms as well as optical fibers drawn therefrom. The optical-fiber-drawing axis of the preform is aligned with the force of gravity. A magnetic field is applied to the preform as it is heate... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7867589 | Hybrid cryogenic tank construction and method of manufacture therefor A lightweight, high-pressure cryogenic tank construction includes an inner layer comprising a matrix of fiber and resin suitable for cryogenic use. An outer layer in intimate contact with the inner layer provides support of the inner layer, and is made of resin comp... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7855157 | Multi-functional layered structure having structural and radiation shielding attributes A cosmic and solar radiation shielding structure that also has structural attributes is comprised of three layers. The first layer is 30-42 percent by volume of ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene fibers, 18-30 percent by volume of graphite fibers, and a... | 12/21/2010 |
| 7831225 | Radio frequency power load and associated method A radio frequency power load and associated method. A radio frequency power load apparatus includes a container and a fluid having an ion source therein, the fluid being contained in the container. Two conductors are immersed in the fluid. A radio frequency transmis... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7808353 | Coil system for plasmoid thruster A coil system for a plasmoid thruster includes a bias coil, a drive coil and field coils. The bias and drive coils are interleaved with one another as they are helically wound about a conical region. A first field coil defines a first passage at one end of the conic... | 10/05/2010 |
| 7807097 | Orbital fabrication of aluminum foam and apparatus therefore A process for producing foamed aluminum in space comprising the steps of: heating aluminum until it is molten; applying the force of gravity to the molten aluminum; injecting gas into the molten aluminum to produce molten foamed aluminum; and allowing the molten foa... | 10/05/2010 |
| 7804600 | Ring-laser gyroscope system using dispersive element(s) A ring-laser gyroscope system includes a ring-laser gyroscope (RLG) and at least one dispersive element optically coupled to the RLG's ring-shaped optical path. Each dispersive element has a resonant frequency that is approximately equal to the RLG's lasing frequenc... | 09/28/2010 |
| 7802799 | Method of joining metallic and composite components A method is provided for joining a metallic member to a structure made of a composite matrix material. One or more surfaces of a portion of the metallic member that is to be joined to the composite matrix structure is provided with a plurality of outwardly projectin... | 09/28/2010 |
| 7738084 | Fiber optic liquid mass flow sensor and method A method and apparatus are provided for sensing the mass flow rate of a fluid flowing through a pipe. A light beam containing plural individual wavelengths is projected from one side of the pipe across the width of the pipe so as to pass through the fluid under test... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7735265 | Foam rigidized inflatable structural assemblies An inflatable and rigidizable structure for use as a habitat or a load bearing structure is disclosed. The structure consists of an outer wall and an inner wall defining a containment member and a bladder. The bladder is pressurized to erect the structure from an in... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7686202 | Gimbaled-shoulder friction stir welding tool A gimbaled-shoulder friction stir welding tool includes a pin and first and second annular shoulders coupled to the pin. At least one of the annular shoulders is coupled to the pin for gimbaled motion with respect thereto as the tool is rotated by a friction stir we... | 03/30/2010 |
| 7641949 | Pressure vessel with improved impact resistance and method of making the same A composite overwrapped pressure vessel is provided which includes a composite overwrapping material including fibers disposed in a resin matrix. At least first and second kinds of fibers are used. These fibers typically have characteristics of high strength and hig... | 01/05/2010 |
| 7623621 | Method and system for identifying and authenticating an object An object has a taggant placed in a first portion thereof and has a visible symbol placed on a second portion thereof. When the object is to be identified and authenticated, the taggant is made to radiate with a specific energy signature. The energy signature and at... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7621670 | Unbalanced-flow, fluid-mixing plug with metering capabilities A fluid mixer plug has holes formed therethrough such that a remaining portion is closed to fluid flow. The plug's inlet face defines a central circuit region and a ring-shaped region with the ring-shaped region including at least some of the plug's remaining portio... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7595841 | Video image stabilization and registration—plus A method of stabilizing a video image displayed in multiple video fields of a video sequence includes the steps of: subdividing a selected area of a first video field into nested pixel blocks; determining horizontal and vertical translation of each of the pixel bloc... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7594530 | Orbital foamed material extruder This invention is a process for producing foamed material in space comprising the steps of: rotating the material to simulate the force of gravity; heating the rotating material until it is molten; extruding the rotating, molten material; injecting gas into the extr... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7568608 | Ultrasonic stir welding process and apparatus An ultrasonic stir welding device provides a method and apparatus for elevating the temperature of a work piece utilizing at least one ultrasonic heater. Instead of relying on a rotating shoulder to provide heat to a workpiece an ultrasonic heater is utilized to pro... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7542885 | Method and apparatus for predicting unsteady pressure and flow rate distribution in a fluid network A method and apparatus for analyzing steady state and transient flow in a complex fluid network, modeling phase changes, compressibility, mixture thermodynamics, external body forces such as gravity and centrifugal force and conjugate heat transfer. In some embodime... | 06/02/2009 |
| 7540143 | Boiler and pressure balls monopropellant thermal rocket engine The proposed technology is a rocket engine cycle utilizing as the propulsive fluid a low molecular weight, cryogenic fluid, typically liquid hydrogen, pressure driven, heated, and expelled through a nozzle to generate high velocity and high specific impulse discharg... | 06/02/2009 |
| 7515257 | Short-range/long-range integrated target (SLIT) for video guidance sensor rendezvous and docking A laser target reflector assembly for mounting upon spacecraft having a long-range reflector array formed from a plurality of unfiltered light reflectors embedded in an array pattern upon a hemispherical reflector disposed upon a mounting plate. The reflector assemb... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7469878 | Magnetostrictive valve assembly A magnetostrictive valve assembly includes a housing that defines a passage with a seat being formed therein. A magnetically-biased and axially-compressed magnetostrictive assembly slidingly fitted in the passage is configured as a hollow and open-ended conduit adap... | 12/30/2008 |
| 7446860 | Laser fresnel distance measuring system and method A method and system for determining range to a target are provided. A beam of electromagnetic energy is transmitted through an aperture in an opaque screen such that a portion of the beam passes through the aperture to generate a region of diffraction that varies as... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7418814 | Dual expander cycle rocket engine with an intermediate, closed-cycle heat exchanger A dual expander cycle (DEC) rocket engine with an intermediate closed-cycle heat exchanger is provided. A conventional DEC rocket engine has a closed-cycle heat exchanger terhamlly coupled thereto. The heat exchanger utilizes heat extracted from the engine's fuel ci... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7409875 | System and method for determining velocity of electrically conductive fluid A flowing electrically-conductive fluid is controlled between an upstream and downstream location thereof to insure that a convection timescale of the flowing fluid is less than a thermal diffusion timescale of the flowing fluid. First and second nodes of a current-... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7375801 | Video sensor with range measurement capability A video sensor device is provided which incorporates a rangefinder function. The device includes a single video camera and a fixed laser spaced a predetermined distance from the camera for, when activated, producing a laser beam. A diffractive optic element divides ... | 05/20/2008 |
