Grant of Exclusive License or Partially Exclusive Licenses

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