Abstract: Dredging apparatus (10) is provided with a flow conduit (18), a first pump (28), a second pump (30), and two valves (34, 44). The flow conduit (18) comprises a first leg (20) extending downwardly to a lower portion (22) and a second leg (24) extending upwardly from the lower portion (22). A fluidizing nozzle (32) is carried by the first leg (20). An intake aperture (26) is provided on the lower portion (22) and is directed downwardly. The dredging apparatus (10) may be used to dredge up material when the material is in a water suspension (48), and to probe through material by scattering material. The valves (34, 44) are operated to switch the apparatus between various modes of operation and to increase the effectiveness of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making an elastomeric mandrel for use in formation of parts from composite materials. The method of making includes providing a separable mold with an interior chamber shaped to provide a desired exterior mandrel size and shape; applying uncured elastomeric material to surfaces of the interior chamber of separated parts of the mold; joining the elastomeric material by assembling the mold parts prior to cure such that the material joins at seams and allowing the elastomeric material to cure into a shape of the desired flexible mandrel. The mandrel is provided with a fill opening such that it is fillable with a particulate solid media and evacuable to compact the media.

Abstract: The invention disclosed here is a dashboard accessory item in the form of an add-on housing that enables the repositioning of certain instrument panels closer to the driver, thereby making the instruments on such panels more accessible. In use, the instrument panels are first detached from a stock dashboard, and the housing is mounted to the dashboard over the location where the panels were originally located. The add-on housing projects forwardly of the dashboard, and the panels are remounted to its forward or frontal face. Such face angles toward the driver as it extends along the dashboard from the steering wheel toward the right-hand side of the cab. This repositions the panels much closer to the driver than they were when originally mounted to the stock dashboard.

Abstract: A high reliability cooling system for avionics provides a low-weight tertiary backup. A first source of cooling airflow (20) is directed through a first duct (28) to a first compartment (30, 32). A second source of cooling airflow (58) is directed through a second duct (68) to a second compartment (70, 74, 76, 78). A check valve (104) is located in the first duct (28) and permits airflow from said first source (20) to said first compartment (30, 32) and prevents a back-flow of air therethrough. An interconnecting duct (84) is provided between the first and second ducts (28, 68). The interconnecting duct (84) connects to the first duct (28) at a location between the check valve (104) and the first compartment (30). A shutoff valve (86) is located in the interconnecting duct (84) and is operable to open or close airflow therethrough. The invention provides three modes of operation. First, with the shutoff valve (86) closed, there are two separated avionic cooling systems.

Abstract: The invention disclosed here is a method for forming and curing an intricate structure of criss-crossing composite stringers and frames that are bonded to a skin panel. A structure constructed in accordance with the invention would be well-suited for use as a portion of an aircraft fuselage, a boat hull, or the like. The method is preferably practiced by applying uncured composite stringers to an uncured composite sheet panel. This is followed by placing cured frames crosswise over the stringers. The frames have openings at the locations where they intersect with the stringers which enables the frames to come into direct contact with the skin along most of their length. During the forming and curing process, the stringers are covered with a plurality of cauls, and the entire assembly of skin panel, stringers, frames and cauls is subjected to a vacuum bagging and curing process. The cauls serve to maintain both part shape and to control the flow of resin within the stringers as they are cured.

Abstract: A self-anchoring, artificial reef, and a self-anchoring beach stabilizer locatable to the bottom of a body of water, is provided from an assemblage (22, 22A, 22B) of used vehicle tires. Each vehicle tire (10) has sidewalls (16) and an interconnecting tread (12). At least some of the vehicle tires are radially severed completely through the sidewalls (16) and tread (12) to form opposite out ends (24), and partially severed substantially through the sidewalls (16) while maintaining an uncut tread portion (26). A plurality of cut tires (32) may be positioned together to form an assemblage (22, 22A, 22B). In the assemblage (22, 22A, 22B), the cut ends (24) of each severed tire (32) are oriented apart from each other. The configuration of the structure provides safe havens (14) for aquatic life when employed as a reef, and provides erosion stabilization characteristics when employed as a beach stabilizer.

Abstract: Material is removed from a panel (10) in the region surrounding an undesired opening (12) caused by damage or incorrect forming or wear of a fastener hole. The resulting prepared opening (21) has a bearing load transmitting sidewall surface that is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface (11) of the panel (10) and tapers slightly in an inward direction relative to the surface (11). The prepared opening (21) may extend all the way through the panel (10) or only part way through. A prefabricated insert (22) is positioned in the prepared opening (21) and bonded to the load transmitting surface. The bonding may be accomplished by applying an adhesive or using a fusing procedure. The insert (22) may have a constant angle of taper, preferably about two degrees, or may be concavely curved in the direction of taper. The insert (22) may be trimmed prior to and/or following the bonding procedure. A new fastener hole may be drilled through the bonded insert (22).

Abstract: The present invention is a tool for installing a restrictor plate 14 in a shock strut cylinder 10. It includes a first tool member 12 having an elongated handle 24 with proximal 22 and distal 38 ends and a longitudinal axis. The distal end 38 includes a controllable attachment 25 for providing an axially-centered locking grasp on a restrictor plate 14. A first control 36 which is operable by a user from the proximal end 22 controls the attachment 25. The distal end 38 includes a pivoting head 40 for movement of the restrictor plate 14 between a first position which is in axial alignment with the handle 24 and a second position which is transverse to the axis of the handle 24. A second control 20 is operable by a user from the proximal end 22 to control the position of the pivot head 40. A second tool member 28 has a hollow elongated handle 32 with proximal 114 and distal 116 ends and is sized to axially telescope over the elongated handle 24 of the first tool member 12.

Abstract: A dart board for use with soft or blunt-tipped safety darts. The dart board includes a rigid backboard, a foam layer of low density foamed polystyrene attached to a surface of the backboard and which presents a target surface. A mesh screen covers the target surface and has a plurality of openings therein sized to allow penetration of a dart tip for retention in said foam layer and sized to prevent dart tip penetration of a depth at which a dart tip would contact said backboard.

Abstract: A lightweight reciprocating floor conveyor characterized by a plurality of elongated floor members which are divided into sets and groups. Each set comprises at least two floor members in a common order and each group comprises one member from each set. The groups extend side-by-side across the conveyor. The floor members are supported on a conveyor frame, each for longitudinal back and forth movement, and a drive mechanism is provided for the floor members. Separate linear hydraulic drive motors are provided for each set of floor members. Each drive motor has a stationary portion and a movable portion, the stationary portion being connected to a stationary frame member and the movable portion being connected to a floor member of its set. A plurality of transverse drive beams are provided, one for each set of floor members. The drive beams are spaced longitudinally of the conveyor from the motors. All of the floor members of each set are connected to the drive beam for the set.

Abstract: A high pressure hydropneumatic shock absorber (10) includes a cylinder (12) with a piston (16) slidably positioned within the cylinder (12). The piston (16) and cylinder (12) are configured as a telescopic suspension unit. The piston (16) defines a first variable volume chamber (28) within the cylinder (12) and is filled with a working liquid. A reservoir (44) includes an interior movable barrier wall (62) defining first (60) and second (64) separated variable volume reservoir chambers. The first reservoir chamber (60) is filled with working liquid and the second reservoir chamber (64) is filled with a working gas. A flow-controlling damper valve (58) communicates the first cylinder chamber (28) with the first reservoir chamber (60).

Abstract: Side stick controllers with isolated pitch and roll control movement may be mechanically linked. A control stick mechanism includes a hand-operated control member (10, 10') movable to swing about two axes of rotation (12, 14). A first lever member (16, 16') on the control member (10, 10') moves in response to swinging movement of the control member (10, 10') about a first axis of rotation (12). A reciprocating member (20) has a first portion (22) pivotally attached to the control member (10, 10') at a location (24) spaced from the second axis of rotation (14). The reciprocating member (20) has an elongated second portion (26) axially movable along a line of reciprocation substantially co-axial with the first axis of rotation (12) in response to swinging movement of the control member (10, 10') about the second axis of rotation (14).

Abstract: An aircraft seat assembly (12) is convertible between a first, narrower configuration of three seats (RA, RN, RW) and a second, widened seat configuration which adds an even increase in space between armrests (18, 22, 24). A seat assembly (12) includes a tube-in-tube support frame for the seats which allows the conversion to be accomplished by a simple sliding movement of the aisle and middle seat frames (RA, RM) toward and away from the window seat frame (RW) which is fixed in position. Movement of the aisle and middle seat frames (RA, RM) automatically centers the middle seat frame (RM) between the aisle and window seat frames (RA, RW) and automatically changes the position of the two inside armrests (22, 24) to provide even spacing therebetween. A lock mechanism (124, 130) locks the seat frame parts together, both in the first, narrower configuration and in the second, widened configuration.

Abstract: A folding strut having upper and lower portions (14, 16/62, 64) are connected together by a pivotal joint (18, 66, 68) for folding movement relative to one another upon extension and retraction of the strut. The upper portion (14, 62) of the strut is pivotally mounted to the aircraft frame (52, 80). A locking brace (42, 44/84, 86) extends between the upper and lower strut portions (14, 16/62, 64) to brace the strut against folding. The upper and lower portions of the strut are axially aligned (C, F) when the strut is in a fully-deployed position and the locking brace (42, 44/84, 86) maintains the strut portions (14, 16/62, 64) in this axially-aligned position. The locking brace (42, 44/84, 86) is releasable to allow relative folding movement of the upper and lower portions (14, 16/62, 64) for retraction of the strut to a stowed position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reciprocating floor conveyor having a separable floor unit and power drive unit (24). The floor unit includes a bottom frame (38, 40, 42, 44) and at least three sets of elongated reciprocatable floor members (26, 28, 30) which are supported on the bottom frame for independent longitudinal reciprocation in a single plane between start and advanced positions. A separate transverse drive beam (32, 34, 36) for each set of floor members (26, 28, 30) is connected to the underside of its respective set of floor members (26, 28, 30). The power drive unit includes a separate drive leg (54, 56, 58) for each set of floor members (26, 28, 30). Each drive leg is detachably connectable to a separate transverse drive beam (32, 34, 36) to reciprocatably drive it and its set of floor member (26, 28, 30). Each drive leg (54, 56, 58) is mounted to swing forwardly and rearwardly about a pivot point (60, 62, 64).

Abstract: A crab trap having a bottom, top, and side walls substantially encloses a crab-trapping interior. An entryway is provided in a side wall and includes an upwardly and inwardly sloped ramp terminating at an inner edge which is spaced between the top and bottom walls. The side wall has a portion terminating at the lower edge which is spaced outwardly from and below said ramp's inner edge at the entryway such that crabs entering the trap will not be obstructed or deterred in any way but crabs seeking to exit the trap will be provided with an alternative platform within the trap, rather than exiting down the entryway ramp.

Abstract: A retractable wing-mounted landing gear (10) for a heavy airplane with an aft center of gravity includes a trunnion (12), an aftly-cantilevered strut member (26), a ground-contacting wheel assembly (44, 46), and a folding drag brace (30). The trunnion (12) is operably mounted to the wing (14) for pivotal movement about a substantially forward and aft axis of rotation. The trunnion (12) is rotatable to cause substantially lateral movement of the gear (10) between in-use and stored positions. The strut member (26) has upper and lower ends, the upper end being pivotally connected (28) to the trunnion (12) for relative forward and aft movement thereto. The pivotal connection (28) has an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to that of the trunnion (12). The ground-contacting wheel assembly (44, 46) is operably connected to the lower end (54) of the strut member (26).