Energy-Absorption Device

Soldiers frequently fall victim to the fatal effects of mine blasts underneath armored vehicles. The T-PEAS (Total Protection Energy Absorbing Seat) uses crushable hollow aluminum tubes and honeycomb structures to safeguard the occupant against mine blasts in any direction through plastic work dissipation of incident energy.

Beached Whale Rescue

M. Morris, Chicago, IL

This invention uses long, slim bladders that are pulled by ropes underneath a beached whale and laid out until the other end reaches deep water. The bladders are then staked down and inflated, applying a uniform and consistent lifting pressure on the beach side of the whale, forcing it to slide down the bladders to the sea.

Modular Space Exploration Vehicles (MSEVs)

Leonid Zaychik, Milwaukee, WI

This invention combines the designs of the Apollo spacecraft and the Space Shuttle orbiter to create a modular space exploration vehicle (MSEV) in two models: a half-size ship for delivery of small amounts of cargo to orbital stations and for rescue missions, and a full-size ship for delivery of large amounts of cargo.

Oil Spill Reclaimer

Graeme Scott-Dodd, Falkirk, Scotland

A floating boom encircles and contains an oil spill at sea, and a system reclaims the oil. When in use, one-third of the boom should be above the surface, and two-thirds below. Towards the rear of the boom is a pump system that sucks the surface of the water and the oil from inside the boom.

Foot-Free Furrow

Michael Pilotti, Highland, MI

The Free Stand combines a shovel or posthole digger, an auto body dent puller (slide hammer), and a kickstand to create a virtually foot- and leg-free shovel that can be used just with the hands. It pivots as the shovel drives into the ground, while holding the shovel in place.

Road Record

Bill Hanson, Plainfield,
Sturgeon Bay, WI

The Road Record is a castable section of concrete with grooves spaced like the grooves on a record. When car tires roll over the grooves, the grooves play back a casted message, such as “slow down” or “turn ahead,” just like the needle on a record.

Tubular Screw

Joaquim Santos, Mafra,
Lisbon, Portugal

Tubular screws with an inner threading provide greater fastening power. A circular tip like a hole saw makes drilling and screwing more stable, avoids flying screw tips, and self-drilling/ threading could become the norm for a larger group of materials and fastening depths.

Motorized Pulley

Gerrot van der Graaf, Veenhaen,
Zwartsluis, Netherlands

A motorized pulley features a power supply and a gearbox design that consists of only one stage. The electric motor drives the gearbox, which drives the outer shell. The shell drives a conveyor belt and is supported by two bearings located on the station shafts, one at each side of the conveyor frame and clamped on the square flats.