February 2016 TIA Open Meeting

The February TIA meeting was an open meeting with presentations from several local inventors.

Bennie Williams discussed his Entry Clean invention. He invented a mechanical door mat.

Bill Bescript talked about his invention for a concert hall-sized subwoofer. His invention is a novel subwoofer enclosure supporting dual 24" drivers in isobaric configuration, and a concentric passive radiator diaphragm. The isobaric driver assembly and passive radiator will also be proprietary designs.  Presently, the only commercially available amplifier capable of powering this subwoofer to its full potential is the Powersoft K20, delivering 18,000 watts @ 4 ohms.  The enclosure is a unique hybrid of sorts because it incorporates a quarter-wave transmission line and a bass-reflex design coupled in a chamber that is similar to a venturi.  The prototype will be 3D-printed in carbon fiber reinforced plastic resin on the Cincinnati BAAM machine at the ORNL-MDF here in Knoxville, TN.  The empty enclosure itself will weigh about 1,700 lbs, and will be printed and assembled in three concentric segments.  It will be 50" in diameter and 80" in length.  Intended for permanent installation in large venues where a very high quality and seemingly effortless quantity of bass would be appreciated, this subwoofer is meant for commercial theaters, dance clubs, and indoor concert arenas, but perhaps also the homes of ambitious audiophiles with room to spare.

Bill also described another project. BESCRIPT Public-Platform Advanced Manufacturing is currently planning to open in Hardin Valley, on September of 2018, a brand new, 430,000 square foot facility fully equipped with tools, machinery, CAD workstations, and really everything that can be used to create practically anything someone can think of. We will be open access. Inventors, hobbyists, and entrepreneurs can start and operate product-based businesses entirely out of our facilities; other manufacturing companies from anywhere can use our facilities as an extension of their existing operations, as well as a training and recruiting resource; design, engineering and research professionals, who otherwise depend on contract manufacturers, may appreciate using our facilities for the control, freedom, and diversity of options we offer; and students will benefit from the hands-on learning experience outside of the classroom.