Foster-miller, Inc.

Thoratec Laboratories Corporation

Foster-miller Associates, Inc.

William A Ribich

Paul J Marinaccio

Bernard E Sawaf

Martin E Smirlock

Andrew Cecil Harvey

Hans A Hug

Robert Joseph Harvey

John M Dubowik

Philip Litwak

Alfred H Bellows

A survivability enhancement system includes first separable fastener structure fixed on the surface of the vehicle or system whose survivability is to be enhanced, and an array of armor tiles. The armor tiles provide a composite supplementary layer of armor that maintains attachment at effective levels even as armor tiles are subjected to large shear forces (for example, upon ballistic impact and shattering of an adjacent tile) and that has effective force dissipation characteristics. Each armor tile has opposed surfaces with second separable fastener structure complementary to the first separable fastener structure secured to one of its surfaces, one of the separable fastener structures having a multiplicity of projecting hooking elements and the cooperating fastener structure having complementary structure that is releasably interengageable with the hooking elements.

Survivability enhancement

A separable fastener system has a first separable member that includes a series of metal hook sheets disposed in stacked relation that defines an array of hook elements on its broad surface. Each hook sheet is a planar metal member of uniform thickness and has a body portion with a series of hook elements formed along one edge of the body. Each hook element includes a stem portion, a deflecting surface portion, and a latch portion. Metal spacer sheets are disposed between the hook sheets and may be varied in thickness and in number to control the density of the hook elements on the broad surface of the first fastener member. The hook and spacer sheets are secured together in stacked relation. A second fastener member has a surface of complementary engaging elements extending along its broad surface which are releasably interengageable with the hook elements of the first fastener member, the deflecting surfaces of the hook elements of the first fastener member tending to deflect hook engaging portions of the second fastener member and the latch portions of the hook elements of the first fastener member engaging portions of the second fastener member in fastening relation.

Separable fastening device

A closure band of water-vapor permeable, flexible, elastic plastic spans a cut in the flesh and holds the cut closed. Flesh-engaging penetrants such as hooks are partly embedded in or are part of the band and engage the flesh either side of the cut. Adhesive on the band also contacts the flesh and helps hold the penetrants embedded. A tear strip overlying openings through the band, when removed, allows inspection of the cut.

Wound closing device

An operator controlled roof bolter with a flexible shaft drill and a roof bolt inserter for drilling and inserting a roof bolt into an unsupported roof of a mine while the operator is positioned at an outby station under a supported roof. The flexible shaft roof drill is constrained to a frame of the roof bolter for pivoting movement between a rest position and a working position. The roof bolt inserter is mounted on a slide for linear movement and limited rotational movement between a retracted position and an extended position for positioning a roof bolt held by the inserter into registration with a hole drilled by the roof drill.

Roof bolter

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, MA, United States of America

William A Ribich