tech talk

January 2008

Novel Breathing System Offers Safer Alternative

Edited by Robert H. Williams

A start-up company in Boise, Idaho, is offering a hybrid breathing system which relies on non-corrosive chemicals to provide oxygen and scrub carbon dioxide from expelled breath.

Unlike other existing products, this system is non-pressurized, non-flammable and not explosive, says the manufacturer.

OXON Medical LifeSystems Inc. developed the breathing systems for the military and mining industry. The self-contained, self-rescue units provide life giving air and a hybrid filter component offers ambient air cleansing.

The units are dockable and rechargeable which means they can sustain users for long periods.

High Grade Flashlights Tagged for Cops

The U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal S.A. of Belgium is producing six-volt, all weather xenon flashlights that crank out 150 peak lumens. They are powered by lithium CR123 three-volt batteries.

The flashlights are aimed at the law enforcement, military and sportsman markets.

FNH USA of McLean, Va., is offering two models -- the Viper X-11 and the Striker 6 -- which are made from aircraft grade aluminum and steel bar stock. The rugged torches come with a heavy duty belt clip and lanyard bores among other features, says a company spokesman.

Protective Shield Gives Shooters Panoramic View

Law enforcement and military personnel recently field tested hand-held ballistic shields that feature a full range of vision and a contoured design that allows straighter arm positions for shooting.

Marketed in three sizes, the shields are produced by Composiflex of Erie, Pa. Company officials say their products weigh in at about 17 lbs. and are fabricated of aramid ballistic materials.

Temporary Camouflage Features Easy Removal

The United Kingdom’s Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings is fabricating a range of high performance paints for military equipment. Among these offerings is a “peelable” camouflage coating that also can be removed by pressurized water.

This, and other coatings, also offer asset protection and reflective properties ranging from near infrared to far infrared.

Terrorist Swimmers: Don’t Go Near the Water

The Navy and Kaman Aerospace have developed a “programmable” grenade that is specifically designed to kill hostile swimmers who seek to place bombs on the hulls of friendly ships. The new device is called the anti-swimmer grenade.

The research effort was spurred by the Navy’s program executive office for integrated weapon systems which was looking for a more potent weapon than the MK3A2 concussion grenade that is designed for use on land.

The detonation depth of the anti-swimmer grenade can be set at 10-foot increments, up to 100 feet, and relies on safe-arm technology. As for its blast potential, the Navy says, it has three times the power of the currently used concussion grenade.

Assuming funding is made available, the maritime services, including the Coast Guard, could start acquiring anti-swimmer grenades in less than two years.

Concrete Pads and Walls Are Light and Eco-Friendly

Training facilities at the Army’s National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., are being constructed at a record pace thanks to a technology that was developed by Ecolite Concrete USA of Los Angeles. The company has come up with an environmentally friendly, lightweight, precast wall system that is composed of up to 50 percent recycled materials.

The product has integral steel framing and cellular concrete cladding, notes a spokesman.

Air bubbles in the concrete give it both increased insulation and reduced weight. And four-person crews armed with a forklift can erect complete structures in a single shift.

Lamps Reduce Vehicle’s Electro-Magnetic Signature

A light emitting diode retrofit kit for humvee military trucks offers quick replacement of incandescent lighting systems.

Grote Technologies of Madison, Ind., is manufacturing the kits which operate with on-board lighting control electronics, including flashers and turn signals.

They will replace less efficient lights that are easier for enemies to spot, a company spokesman says.

Besides lasting longer and consuming far less energy than conventional lights, the blackout front and rear LED lamps allow drivers to see farther down the road. Officials note that peripheral vision also is enhanced.

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