[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71125-71129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32882]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Grant of Exclusive License or Partially Exclusive Licenses
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
announces the general availability of exclusive, or partially exclusive
licenses under the following pending patents. Any license granted shall
comply with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR Part 404.
Serial Number: 09/197,438
Filing Date: 11/23/98
Title: Low Cost Time Domain Reflectometry System for Bridge Scour
Detection and Monitoring
Serial Number: 09/208,444
Filing Date: 12/10/98
Title: Derivative-a-limit Method for Correcting Imagery Distortion
Serial Number: 09/293,781
Filing Date: 04/19/99
Title: Scour Detection and Monitoring Apparatus for use in Lossy Soils
Serial Number: 09/293,771
Filing Date: 04/19/99
Title: Selected Components of water flow fields
Serial Number: 09/229,160
Filing Date: 01/13/99
Title: Vehicle Barrier Assembly
Serial Number: 09/197,437
Filing Date: 11/23/98
Title: Autonomous Upward-Looking Radar Snow Depth Gauge
Serial Number: 09/018,881
Filing Date: 02/05/98
Title: System for Detection of Radioactive Elements And Metals
Contaminates in Subsurface soil
Serial Number: 09/176,253
Filing Date: 10/21/98
Title: Low-Lead Leaching Foamed Concrete Bullet Barrier
Serial Number: 09/131,908
Filing Date: 08/10/98
Title: Multiple Pressure Gradient Sensor
Serial Number: 09/178,503
Filing Date: 10/26/98
Title: Telescoping Weir
Serial Number: 09/104,268
Filing Date: 06/25/98
Title: Transmission Line Reflectometer Using Frequency-Modulated
Continuous Wave
Serial Number: 09/134,531
Filing Date: 08/14/98
Title: Geocomposite Capillary Barrier Drain
Serial Number: 09/173,674
Filing Date: 10/16/98
Title: Noninvasive Mass Determination Stockpiled Materials
Serial Number: 09/087,801
Filing Date: 06/01/98
Title: Shock-Absorbing Block
Serial Number: 08/929,979
Filing Date: 09/15/97
Title: Foam Controller
Serial Number: 08/929,975
Filing Date: 09/15/97
Title: Helical Optical Fiber Strain Sensor
Serial Number: 08/929,255
Filing Date: 09/15/97
Title: System for Monitoring and Controlling the Level of a Liquid in a
Closed Container
Serial Number: 09/105,010
Filing Date: 06/26/98
Title: Self-Aligning Vortez Snow Fence
Serial Number: 09/019,422
Filing Date: 02/05/98
Title: Time Domain Reflectometry System for Real-Time Bridge Scour
Detection and Monitoring
Serial Number: 09/131,909
Filing Date: 08/10/98
Title: Method and Apparatus for Treating Volatile Organic Compound Voc
and Odor-in Air Emissions
Serial Number: 09/017,728
Filing Date: 02/03/98
Title: Camouflaged Erosion Control Mat
Serial Number: 09/131,897
Filing Date: 08/10/98
Title: Shielded Thermocouple Assembly
Serial Number: 09/131,896
Filing Date: 08/10/98
Title: Polychromic Multi spectral Electrochromic Camouflage Device
Serial Number: 09/132,551
Filing Date: 08/11/98
Title: Large Area Tonedown
Serial Number: 09/131,906
Filing Date: 08/10/98
Title: Method of Producing Artificial Guano
Serial Number: 09/042,503
Filing Date: 03/17/98
Title: Remote Site Monitoring With Digital Image Archiving
Serial Number: 09/181,897
Filing Date: 08/10/98
Title: Shielded Thermocouple Assembly
Serial Number: 09/018,968
Filing Date: 02/05/98
Title: Constant Stress Diffusion Cell With Controllable Moisture
Content
DATES: Applications for an exclusive or partially exclusive license may
be submitted at any time from the date of this notice. However, no
exclusive or partially exclusive license shall be granted until 90 days
from the date of this notice.
[[Page 71126]]
ADDRESSES: Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity, Office of
Counsel, 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22315-3860.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia L. Howland (703) 428-6672.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Low Cost Time Domain Reflectometry System
for Bridge Scour Detection and Monitoring. An apparatus for detecting
and monitoring scouring around a structural member uses time-domain
reflectometry (TDR) to measure the level of sediment around a submerged
portion of the structural member such as a bridge pier, dock, utility
crossing, or similar structure. The apparatus includes a time domain
reflectometer which transmits a series of electrical pulses, a sensor
which is connected with said time-domain reflectometer, and a signal
analyzer which receives and interprets the portion of the electrical
pulses reflected back to the source from an interface, such as water/
air or water/gravel, to calculate the position of the interface along
the sensor. Knowledge of the position of the interfaces before and
after a scouring event and of the dielectric constant of the
surrounding media allows the user to detect and monitor the level of
erosion caused by scouring.
Derivative-a-limit Method for Correcting Imagery Distortion. The
present invention is directed to a technique and apparatus for
correcting imagery distortion in an optical detector matrix. This class
of algorithms attempts to capture, rather than eliminate aspects of
non-uniformities intrinsic to the objects being imaged. The derivative
as limit algorithms emulate the process of determining a derivative of
the iradiance normalized for an optimal (zero) instantaneous field of
view for calculating an accurate value of radiance undistorted by
nonuniform illumination Scour Detection and Monitoring Apparatus for
use in Lossy Soils. A sensor for detecting and monitoring scour in
sediment positioned beneath a body of water, which includes a probe at
least partially embedded in the sediment. Sensor electronics are
superimposed on the probe. Such electronics include a reflectometer, a
battery supply and a telemetry transmitter to display an interface
boundary between the water and the transmitter. The sensor is
particularly well adapted for use in lossy soils.
Title: Selected Components of Water Flow Fields. A method for
determining the probable response of aquatic species to selected
components of water flow fields, comprising the steps of obtaining data
for identifying travel and quantitatively describing behavior of real
fish constituting member of a selected aquatic species in a flow field,
determining passive transport trajectories of the members of the
aquatic species in the flow field to establish a basis from which to
determine swim path selections, developing postulated behavioral
response of members of the aquatic species to at least one of hydraulic
and acoustic stimuli, using statistical rules, and developing a
computer utilizing the travel behavior data, the passive transport
trajectories, and the postulated behavioral response, to provide a
virtual fish. The method further includes the steps of obtaining data
on at least one selected hydraulic flow field component to generate a
virtual hydraulic flow field, generating a simulative application of a
multiplicity of virtual fish to the virtual hydraulic flow field, and
tracking and monitoring the virtual fish through the virtual flow
field, and summarizing results as to the numbers of virtual fish
entering and exiting the virtual flow field, whereby to determine
probable efficiency of real fish passage through the real hydraulic
flow field.
Autonomous Upward-Looking Radar Snow Depth Gauge. The present
invention comprises a flush-with-the-surface, upward-looking
autonomous, telemetered microwave radar system which can automatically
provide snow depth and stratigraphy (layering in the snowpack)
information from a remote field site to a centralized receiver, data
acquisition, and storage system. The system comprises an FM-CW radar
system provided with a horn antenna aimed upward through a radome. As
snow accumulates over the radome, a reflection is produced at the
boundary between the snow and the outside air. A difference signal
produced by mixing the transmitted and received signals will produce a
component whose frequency is proportional to snow depth. Other
reflections may be produced at boundaries between snow layers. Data
from the system may be telemetered to a centralized collection station.
Data may then be processed, along with data from other radar snow
gauges, to produce an accurate model of snow pack for a given area.
Vehicle Barrier Assembly. A Vehicle barrier assembly for stopping
or restraining a moving vehicle includes a flexible barrier for
positioning across a selected terrain and anchoring barriers made of
compacted soil, timber, used telephone poles and a concrete wall. An
impact absorbing assembly, made of used vehicle tires, is positioned
behind the anchoring barrier for absorbing the impact of a moving
vehicle.
Method and Apparatus for Repairing Stator Connections On Electrical
Generators. A tool for repairing a field pole connection in an
electrical generator which includes first and second generally
longitudinal major arms each having proximate and distal ends and each
having respectively first and second proximate and distal pivot pins.
First and second generally longitudinal terminal arms connected
respectively to the first and second base arms at the first and second
distal pivot pins. An opposed punch and punch receiving recess are
positioned respectively on the first and second terminal arms. There is
a piston and cylinder combination for laterally moving the first and
second proximate pivot pins. A method for using this tool is also
disclosed.
Method for Attaching Fabric and Floor Covering Materials to
Concrete. A method of attaching a covering material, such as carpeting,
to a concrete surface, includes applying a first adhesive over a
concrete surface, providing a steel barrier including a plurality of
projections extending from the bottom surface thereof, pressing the
steel barrier over the adhesive such that the projections are embedded
therein, and bonding the covering material over the barrier. The
moisture-proof barrier construction of the present invention includes a
concrete layer, a steel barrier, which is adhesively mounted to the
concrete layer and includes a plurality of projections extending from
the bottom surface thereof that are embedded into an adhesive between
the concrete layer and the steel barrier. The barrier includes a
covering material which is adhesively mounted on the steel barrier. The
invention provides an effective technique for attaching a covering
material, such as carpeting to a concrete surface, that prevents
failing of the adhesive bonding between the covering material and the
concrete surface.
System for Detection of Radioactive Elements And Metals
Contaminates in Subsurface Soil. A system for detection of radioactive
matter and metal contaminants in subsurface media includes a
penetrometer adapted gamma detection module for detection of
radioactive matter, and x-radiation detection module for detection of
the metal contaminants, and a grout injection module. The system
includes a surface station comprising a gamma power supply, and x-
radiation acquisition and processing facility, and a grout pumping
assembly. An umbilical cable interconnects the
[[Page 71127]]
gamma detection module and the gamma power supply, the x-radiation
power supply, electronic signal conditioning equipment, a data
acquisition and processing facility, and a grout pumping assembly. An
umbilical cable interconnects the gamma detection module and the gamma
power supply, the x-radiation detection module and the x-radiation
power supply, the grout injection module and the grout pumping
assembly, and the gamma detection module and the x-radiation detection
module with the data acquisition and processing facility. The latter is
adapted to integrate and parallel process data from the gamma detection
module and the x-radiation detection module to provide a realtime, co-
registered with depth, identification of the radioactive matter and the
metal contaminants.
Low-Lead Leaching Foamed Concrete Bullet Barrier. A method of
forming low lead leaching foamed concrete is provided. The method
includes the step of dry mixing cement with a suspending agent to form
a dry mixture. Water is mixed with a fine aggregate to form an aqueous
mixture. The dry mixture is mixed into the aqueous mixture to form a
slurry. Calcium phosphate is mixed into the slurry until all
constituents are throughly distributed throughout the resulting
mixture. The density of the resulting mixture is determined and an
aqueous foam is added to the resulting mixture until the density of the
resulting mixture is reduced to a desired level. Fibers are mixed into
the resulting mixture until the fiber is distributed throughout the
final mixture. The final mixture is placed into a mold. The mixture is
allowed to harden and cure.
Multiple Pressure Gradient Sensor. Apparatus for studying the
variations in hydrodynamic pressure for correlation with fish movement
towards and away from zones of danger comprises a hollow winged section
having mounted on the surface thereof, piezoelectric sensors, and an
accelerometer mounted within the apparatus, for generating electrical
signals that are precessed and interpreted by remote electric means.
Telescoping Weir. A telescoping weir for the controlled drainage of
contaminated bodies of water, such as confined disposal facilities
(CDF), which selectively releases only the relatively clean water while
leaving behind a contaminated portion. The weir includes a foundation
that is anchored to the bottom of the body of water and connected with
a discharge pipe, a cylindrical telescoping portion connected with the
discharge pipe and extending upwardly from the foundation and
terminating adjacent to the surface of the body of water, and set of
mechanical jacks for selectively extending and retracting the upper end
of the telescoping portion above and below the water surface in order
to selectively drain a top layer of clean decant water therefrom.
Title: Transmission Line Reflectometer Using Frequency-Modulated
Continuous Wave. The invention provides apparatus for and a method of
locally or remotely monitoring a number of geophysical and other
variables related to the refractive index of materials, e.g., soil and
pavement moisture content; the moisture content of bulk food products
such as grains and beans; liquid levels in storage tanks; interface
levels between water and floating layers of oil; the thickness of ice
layers; the water/ice interface in partially frozen ground; the
location of liquid and gas leaks on roofs, in landfill liners,
geosynthetic membranes, and pipelines; and the cables. The detection
technique is their propagation along transmission line probes embedded
in the material being tested.
Geocomposite Capillary Barrier Drain. A geotechnical structure that
includes a first body of soil having a first unsaturated concentration
of moisture. There is also a second body of soil, which includes a
second unsaturated concentration of moisture that is different from the
first concentration. A moisture barrier is interposed between the first
body of soil and the second body of soil. The moisture barrier includes
an upper and lower layer that draw water laterally. A medial capillary
barrier layer prevents transverse moisture migration between the first
and second bodies of soil. Moisture migration both upwardly and
downwardly is thus prevented, and water in the first and second bodies
of unsaturated soil is drained laterally to reduce pore water pressures
in the first and second bodies of soil.
Noninvasive Mass Determination Stockpiled Materials. The mass of
stockpiled material is determined from detailed measurements of the
elevation of the surface of the material at many points and the
determination of the gravitational field along several profile lines
across the surface of stockpiled material. These measurements allow the
calculation of the volume and the bulk density an hence, the mass of
stockpiled material.
Shock-Absorbing Block. Shock-absorbing blocks for bullet stops at
firing ranges and for traffic control are made by encasing scrap rubber
tires in concrete. To ensure firm attachment of the tires to the
concrete, reinforcement such as wire loops are fastened to the tire. To
prevent the formation of air pockets during the pouring of the concrete
mixture into a mold holding the tire, vent holes are punched into the
side walls of the tire. To allow the concrete mixture to flow under the
tire in the mold, the tire is propped up with support blocks. Wires may
be strung across the top of the tire and attached to the side walls of
the mold to prevent movement of the tire while the concrete is being
poured into the mold. The concrete mixture may contain an aqueous foam
additive, a stabilizer, and fiber reinforcements such as steel or
organic polymers.
Foam Controller. A system for automatically delivering an anti-
foaming agent to a biological waste treatment system includes a sensor
for monitoring the amount of foam present in the system, a pump for
pumping a predetermined quantity of anti-foaming agent into the system,
and controller for initiating the pumping sequence when the quantity of
foam in the system reaches a preselected level. The controller includes
two relays. The first relay controls the length of time the pump is on,
thereby controlling the amount of anti-foam injected into the system,
and the second relay establishes a period of time following the pumping
period when the pump cannot be activated, thereby providing a period of
time for the anti-foam to break down the foam before additional anti-
foam can be added.
Helical Optical Fiber Strain Sensor. Strain in concrete is sensed
by a helical optical fiber embedded in the concrete and connected at
one end to an external light source, and at other end to a light
detector, providing a signal output to an information processor, which
provides a display of the strain in the concrete.
System for Monitoring and Controlling the Level of a Liquid in a
Closed Container. A system for monitoring and controlling the level of
liquid in a closed container includes a block for mounting at an upper
end of the container, a lower level electrode for extending from the
block vertically into the container, and upper level electrode for
extending from the block vertically into the container and shorter than
the lower level electrode, a valve for venting gas from the container,
and a motor for driving the valve. Electric circuitry is responsive to
liquid in the container rising to a free end of the upper level
electrode, a valve for venting gas from the container, and motor for
driving the valve. Electric circuitry is responsive to liquid in the
container rising to a free end of the upper level electrode to activate
the motor to close the valve to
[[Page 71128]]
increase gas pressure in the container to force lowering of the level
of liquid, and further electrical circuitry is responsive to the liquid
in the container dropping below a free end of the lower level electrode
to activate the motor to open the valve to vent the container and
reduce gas pressure therein to permit rising of the liquid level.
Self-Aligning Vortez Snow Fence. The invention relates to a passive
snow removal system which deliberately forms vortices from a passing
airflow and directs the vortices into scouring contact with snow
accumulation on a target surface. The apparatus includes a base and a
vortex producing plate rotatably mounted at an inclined angle relative
to an upper portion of the base near the plate's center of mass. The
geometry of the plate, which is preferably triangular, is used to
aerodynamically form vortices from a passing airflow and direct the
vortices onto a target surface. Once the vortices are in scouring
contact with the target surface, they act upon the surface to dislodge
and carry away any acculated snow in the direction of the airflow and
redeposit it downwind, thus removing the snow from the target surface.
Time Domain Reflectometry System for Real-Time Bridge Scour
Detection and Monitoring. An apparatus for detecting and monitoring
scouring of a bed of sediment beneath a body of water uses time-domain
reflectometry (TDR) to measure the level of sediment adjacent to
underwater sensors. The apparatus includes and electrical pulse
generator which produces and intermittently transmits a series of
electrical pulses along a permanent transmission line arranged adjacent
to the area of concern, a timer to measure the travel time of the
pulses within the transmission lines, a transmitter for transmitting a
radio signal corresponding to the travel times of the pulses, a
receiver for receiving the signal, and a signal analyzer which
interprets the signal to determine a measurement of scouring. Knowledge
of the position of the interfaces before and after a scouring event and
the dielectric constants of the surrounding media allows the user to
detect and monitor the level of erosion caused by scouring.
Method and Apparatus for Treating Volatile Organic Compound Voc and
Odor-in Air Emissions. An air emissions treatment system is
characterized by a moving biomass filter element is in the form of one
or more endless loops which are conveyed within an enclosed housing. As
a section of the filter element passes through the air, it withdraws
pollutants therefrom. When the filter passes through the liquid, it
receives moisture and nutrients and releases the pollutants into the
liquid.
Camouflaged Erosion Control Mat. A mat for covering soil comprising
a lower fabric layer, an upper fabric layer superimposed over the lower
fabric layer, and a water absorbing material interposed between said
lower fabric layer and upper fabric layer. The mat contains tubular
segments containing fabric and hydraulically setting cement. The cover,
when wetted, becomes ballasted by the absorbed water and the tubular
elements harden to form rigid ribs that hold the mat in conformity with
the surface of the underlying soil.
Shielded Thermocouple Assembly. A shielded thermocouple assembly
includes a mounting pipe having a flange at a first end thereof and
extending outwardly therefrom, and a mounting plug having a first end
connected to a second end of the mounting pipe, the mounting plug
having a recess in a second end thereof defined in part by a circular
side wall having at least one opening therein. A fine-wire thermocouple
is fixed in the mounting plug and extends into the recess. A rigid
shield pipe is disposed concentrically around and space from the
mounting pipe, the shield pipe closed by a shield plate proximate the
mounting plug second end. An inlet extends through a side wall of the
shield pipe in alignment with a side wall of the mounting plug recess,
and an outlet extends through the side wall of the shield pipe and is
in axial alignment with the inlet. The inlet directs incoming air
against a curved portion of the mounting plug which directs the
incoming air around the mounting plug past the opening, from whence the
air flows to the outlet and out of the assembly. Thus, the incoming air
flows past the thermocouple to permit the thermocouple to sense a
temperature of the incoming air, but fragments and particles carried by
the incoming air are substantially routed away from contact with the
thermocouple.
Polychromic Multi-spectral Electrochromic Camouflage Device. An
electrochromic camouflage device that includes a first layer of a
transition metal oxide material or other suitable conductive material.
A second layer of a transition metal oxide material positioned in
spaced relation to said first layer of a transition metal oxide
material. A layer of an electrochromic polymer is interposed between
the first and second layers of transition metal oxide material and is
positioned directly adjacent the first transition metal oxide layer.
Large Area Tonedown. A method and composition for multispectral
surface treatment includes predetermined proportions of a hydrophilic
polymer, hydrophilic fibers and water. The composition is placed in a
water vessel, mechanically agitated, pumped through a hose and sprayed
out through a nozzle coming to rest against a surface to be treated.
Method of Producing Artificial Guano. High-nitrogen, high-
phosphorus fertilizer is produced from animal waste by mixing the waste
with water and soft-burned dolomite, recovering ammonia that is
liberated with an aqueous acidic medium, neutralizing the mixture,
combining the ammonium salt recovered earlier with the mixture, the
adding guano-forming bacteria to mixture, and allowing the mixture to
ferment.
Remote Site Monitoring With Digital Image Archiving. A camera is
used to generate digital pictures of a site to be monitored. The
digital pictures are transmitted over the Internet to a remote database
server for retrieval and archiving. Users remote from both the site to
be monitored and the database server can access the pictures and, if
authorized, issue commands to pan and zoom the camera.
Shielded Thermocouple Assembly. A shielded thermocouple assembly
includes a mounting pipe having a flange at a first end thereof and
extending outwardly therefrom, and a mounting plug having a first end
connected to a second end of the mounting pipe, the mounting plug
having a recess in a second end thereof defined in part by a circular
side wall having at least one opening therein. A fine-wire thermocouple
is fixed in the mounting plug and extends into the recess. A rigid
shield pipe is disposed concentrically around and spaced from the
mounting pipe, the shield pipe begin closed by a shield plate proximate
the mounting plug second end. An inlet extends through a side wall of
the shield pipe in alignment with a side wall of the mounting plug
recess, and an outlet extends through the side wall of the shield pipe
and is in axial alignment with the inlet. The inlet directs incoming
air against a curved portion of the mounting plug which directs the
incoming air around the mounting plug past the opening, from whence the
air flows to the outlet and out of the assembly. Thus, the incoming air
flows past the thermocouple to permit the thermocouple to sense a
temperature of the incoming air, but fragments and particles carried by
the incoming air are substantially routed away from contact with the
thermocouple.
Constant Stress Diffusion Cell With Controllable Moisture Content.
A device
[[Page 71129]]
for measuring the concentration changes of a vapor as it diffuses
through a porous media comprising a porous central housing having a
central space; an outer housing for containment of the central housing
and positioned in outward spaced relation from the central housing to
form a medial space between said external housing and said internal
housing; a first fluid conveying line extending into the central space
of the central housing; and a second fluid conveying line extending to
the medial space.
Pursuant to 37 CFR 404, 7 (a) (1) (I), any interested party may
file a written objection to this exclusive, or partially exclusive
licenses agreements.
Richard L. Frenette,
Counsel.
[FR Doc. 99-32882 Filed 12-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-P
