Abstract: A floor slat member (10) having longitudinally extending first and second sidewalls (32, 34) of a reciprocating floor conveyor includes integrally formed first downwardly opening channel portion (36), having a top panel (40), laterally extending side flange (76) and the first sidewall (32), and an adjacent upwardly opening channel portion ( 38 ), having a channel wall (68) and second sidewall (34). The side flange (76) overhangs second sidewall (34) of an adjacent floor slat member (10'). An elongated seal member (72) carried by the second sidewall (34 ) in a channel ( 74 ) extends upwardly contacting a seal member receiving surface (78) on the first sidewall (32). An alternate embodiment has a seal receiving surface (78') on side flange (76).

Abstract: A corner bracket comprises a corner piece and an integrally attached pin. In one embodiment, the corner piece is a single, integrally-formed molded plastic piece having front and rear walls joined by sidewalls. The pin may be made from metal and be molded into the juncture between the sidewalls. The molded-in end of the pin extends inwardly nearly to the front face of the corner piece. The pin may also be molded plastic integrally molded with the corner piece. In either case, the pin projects from the rear face and terminates in a pointed end for attachment to a vertical surface. The corner piece defines a slot dimensioned to receive a corner portion of an object to be mounted, such as a mat frame. In another embodiment, the front and rear walls of the corner piece are attached to each other by a hinge. The walls and the hinge are preferably integrally molded from plastic. Edge portions of the front and rear walls are provided with snap-together interlocking portions.

Abstract: An automated wire stripper has a forward wire-gripping assembly, a rearward insulation-pulling assembly, and a rotatable knife hub assembly positioned intermediate of the forward and rearward assemblies. The knife hub assembly includes a pair of thermal knife elements which are spring-biased to normally close upon the end of a wire. Pneumatic actuators open the knife elements against the bias of the springs. The rearward assembly is operable to clamp and pull a section of outer jacket or insulation covering from the wire after the knife hub has cut around the its circumference of the jacket.

Abstract: A plastic floor slat for use in a reciprocating slat conveyor includes a lower bearing and a side bearing integrated into the slat body. The lower bearing is positioned to contact an upper surface of a guide beam on which the slat is mounted to directly and slidably support the slat on the beam. This enables the elimination of a bearing as a separate component. The side bearings contact seals carried by adjacent floor slats. At least the upper surface portion of the top of the slat is reinforced for providing a highly wear resistant upper load bearing surface. Preferably, all the portions of the slat except the seal are co-extruded to integrally form the slat body.

Abstract: A front shield extends across an end portion of a reciprocating floor conveyor above the conveyor slats. Each slat has a front end that rebiprocates longitudinally between first and second positions as the slat reciprocates. A multiplicity of bristles are carried by the shield and depend downwardly therefrom. The lower ends of the bristles contact a top surface of the slats rearwardly of the first and second positions. The bristles are bent by contact with the top surface to preload them into contact and maintain them in contact as the slats reciprocate. This prevents particles of material and debris from passing under the shield. The bristles are mounted on the shield via a carrier that is vertically adjustable relative to the shield to permit adjustment of the preload. The bristles are provided in a plurality of rows positioned one behind another in a longitudinal direction, with each row extending across the conveyor substantially continuously across each slat.

Abstract: The axial gap (30) between a turbofan section (18) in a turbofan aircraft engine (10) is enlarged so that foreign matter thrown radially outwardly by the fan blades (48) will travel vectors (52, 54) which are located forwardly of the forward boundary (28) of the splitter wall (26). This results in the foreign matter being expelled through the fan duct (14) the engine (10), preventing it from entering into the engine core (20). Forward extensions (56, 58) of the fan blades can also be used for shifting the vectors (52, 54) forwardly. Smaller forward extensions (56, 58) can be used in combination with a partially widened gap (30) for positioning the vectors (52, 54) forwardly of the splitter wall forward boundary (28).

Abstract: A plurality of drive motors are operated by fluid pressure for reciprocating the floor slats of a reciprocating floor conveyor. A switching valve alternately connects the forward and rear ends of the motors to pressure and return to reciprocate the slats. A forward and a rear control valve each has a closed position in which it blocks direct communication between the switching valve and all but one of the forward and rear ends, respectively. A four-way valve has ports communicating with pressure and return and with the pilot chambers of the control valves. The four-way valve connects one pilot chamber to pressure and the other to return to cause the conveyor to convey a load in a first direction. Reversal of the pressure and return to the pilot chambers causes a reversal of the conveying direction. At least one forward end and one rear end of the motors has an internal control valve positioned to open and close a connecting passageway between adjacent motor ends.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable extends into the housing of an induction heater and has a sensing end positioned to confront a part being heated. Infrared radiation from the part is transmitted by the cable to a transducer. The transducer converts the infrared energy into an electrical signal that is used by a control circuit to control the heating operation. The control circuit has an internal electronic timer that is used in normal operation and to detect certain failure conditions. In normal operation, electromagnetic pulses are provided to the heater at a predetermined power level until the part reaches a predetermined temperature. Then the control circuit adjusts the power level to hold the part at the temperature for a brief holding period. The timer is used by the control circuit to detect failure to reach a desired temperature after a maximum delay and to detect dropping of the temperature below a minimum level during the holding period. The control circuit also detects overheating of the workpiece.

Abstract: A work head (20) has a main housing (28) pivotably mountable on a boom (14) of a brush cutting machine. A cutter wheel (64) is rotatably mounted on the housing (28) to rotate about a vertical axis (X). A shroud (38) is pivotably mounted on the housing (28) to pivot about the same axis (X). The shroud (38) substantially surrounds the cutter wheel (64). The inner race (76) of an annular bearing (74) is secured to a bottom wall (36) of the housing (28). The outer race (80) of the bearing (74) is secured to the top wall (40) of the shroud (38). A hydraulic motor (88) mounted on the housing (28) carries a pinion gear (92) that engages teeth (84) on the outer race (80) to pivot the shroud (38). A fixed gripper jaw (46) depends downwardly from the housing (28) adjacent to the shroud (38). An upper jaw (50) is pivotably mounted on the housing (28) to cooperate with the fixed jaw (46) to grip cut brush and other debris.

Abstract: Parts having complexly curved, frequency selective surfaces can be manufactured with a high degree of precision using a three-dimensional conformal mask. The mask has a transparent substrate and a patterned opaque layer on the substrate. The layer may be patterned by laser ablation. Alternatively, the patterning of the opaque layer can be accomplished by applying a layer of photosensitive material over the opaque layer and then defining temporary and permanent areas thereof. The temporary areas of the photosensitive layer and the opaque layer are removed sequentially to define the transparent portions of the mask. Parts are made by intimately mating the mask and a part body to which a layer of metal and a layer of photosensitive material have been applied, and exposing the part to radiation through the mask. The exposed part is then chemically developed, the layer of metal is etched, and the remainder of the layer of photosensitive material is removed to complete the patterning of the part body surface.

Abstract: A drive frame assembly includes opposite transverse drive frame members (64), each of which includes a metal plate (66) with a central portion having a plurality of longitudinal corrugations (68). The central portion is stiffened by transverse beams (78, 80). A plurality of piston-cylinder drive units each have opposite ball ends (24, 26) which are secured to end portions of the corrugations by means of ball blocks (50, 52). Opposite side portions of the metal plate (66) are free to bend relative to the central portion to accommodate variations in vertical spacing of the drive units relative to portions of the main frame of a structure in which the conveyor is mounted.

Abstract: A new hinge fairing design for control surfaces such as ailerons, elevators, and rudders. By staggering the two curved hinge fairings, one mounted to the fixed airfoil and the other to the leading edge of the control surface, a curving load path is opened up that allows installation of hinge fittings and actuators without having to make cut-outs in the curved fairings. This principle makes it possible to keep the control surface faired and sealed over its entire span and during its entire motion range. This improves the effectiveness of the control surface. The principle of the present invention is applicable to trailing edge control surfaces of subsonic and supersonic airplanes and is of particular benefit for hinged leading edge flaps on a supersonic commercial transport.

Abstract: A plurality of latch pins are locked into a latch position by primary locks and secondary locks. Each primary lock mechanically blocks movement of its corresponding secondary lock into the secondary lock's locked position when the primary lock is out of its locked position. The secondary locks are ganged together to cause them to move together into and out from their locked positions. A follow-up switch senses movement of the ganging mechanism. A latch pin inhibitor blocks movement of the latch pin into the latch position and is moved away to permit latching by spreading of the wing tip. The inhibitor is linked to a valve to shift the valve and thereby cause hydraulic pressure to be supplied to extend the latch pin. When the locks are in their looked positions, the secondary locks mechanically block the primary locks from moving out of their locked positions. The secondary locks are biased into their locked positions. During flight, the latch pins and locks are isolated from hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A hinge arm (16) has opposite ends (18, 20) pivotably connected to an aircraft door (2) and a door frame (8). First and second sprockets (22, 26) are fixed to the door (2) and frame (8) adjacent to the ends (18, 20). A programming chain (30) extends around the sprockets (22, 26) and the arm (16). A linear motor (36) is mounted on the arm (16) in-line with the chain (30). When pressurized gas is supplied to the motor (36), it moves the chain (30) to open the door (2) and maintain it parallel to its closed position as it moves toward and into its fully open position. The door (2) may be opened manually without moving the motor piston (44) because the motor rod (52) slides freely through an axial opening (46) in the piston (44).

Abstract: A fastener element (2) has first and second body portions (10, 34) that are mechanically interlocked. The portions (10, 34) define an axial opening (12, 14) that opens onto a radial end surface (25) of the body (10, 34). One portion (10) has a radial shoulder (32) facing away from the end surface (25) and defining an increased width inner portion (14) of the axial opening. A floating member (56) positioned in the axial opening (12, 14) has an outer end (66) adjacent to the end surface (25) and an opposite inner end with a head (60) that is received in the inner portion (14) and abuts the shoulder (32) to transmit axial loads created by engagement of the member (56) by a fastener. Flow passageways (18) are formed around the element (2), which is molded in a core cavity (88) in a honeycomb panel (80) using potting material (96) .

Abstract: A collapsable, cylindrical, fabric mesh headnet for protecting a wearer's head from insects. The headnet includes an integral hoop located at mid height of the mesh tube. It keeps the mesh fabric away from the wearer's face when the tube is in place over the wearers head. The hoop is collapsable for storage by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric loop rings and layers of mesh fabric to substantially reduce the size of the head covering during storage. A drawstring is provided on the bottom edge of the covering to keep insects from entering there.

Abstract: Shown is a direction control valve (16) for use in a hydraulic control system having a source of hydraulic pressure (P) and a return passageway (50). The control valve includes a first hydraulic flow pathway (140, 142) and a second hydraulic flow pathway (144, 146). A two-position valve (38) includes four ports (48, 58, 64, 74). First and second pilot-operated poppets (88, 90) each have a pilot chamber (84, 86). When the valve (38) is in its first position, the source of hydraulic pressure (P) is provided to the pilot chamber (86) of the first poppet (88) and the pilot chamber (84) of the second poppet (90) is connected to the return pathway (50). As a result, one hydraulic flow pathway (140, 142) is open and the other hydraulic flow pathway (144, 146) is closed.

Abstract: The ball end (16) of the piston rod (14) of a linear motor (6) is mounted in a ball block (52). The block (52) has mating housing portions (54, 56) that abut along mating surfaces (64) that are substantially parallel to, but slope relative to, the motor axis (X). One housing portion includes an integral rear wall (70) through which the axis (X) extends and which defines a portion of a socket (58) that receives the ball end (16). The other housing portion has a flange (78) that projects into a space between the socket (58) and a sloping extension (74) of the wall (70). The outer surface (76) of the wall (70) is secured to a fixed support (84). The wall (70) transmits loads carried by operation of the motor (6) from the ball end (16) directly to the support (84) and minimizes loads on the fasteners (68) securing the housing portions (54, 56) together. The housing portion that includes the wall (70) is made from a material with a high load carrying capability.

Abstract: The ball end (16) of the piston rod (14) of a linear motor (6) is mounted in a ball block (52). The block (52) has mating housing portions (54, 56) that abut along mating surfaces (64) that are substantially parallel to, but slope relative to, the motor axis (X). One housing portion includes an integral rear wall (70) through which the axis (X) extends and which defines a portion of a socket (58) that receives the ball end (16). The other housing portion has a flange (78) that projects into a space between the socket (58) and a sloping extension (74) of the wall (70). The outer surface (76) of the wall (70) is secured to a fixed support (84). The wall (70) transmits loads carried by operation of the motor (6) from the ball end (16) directly to the support (84) and minimizes loads on the fasteners (68) securing the housing portions (54, 56) together. The housing portion that includes the wall (70) is made from a material with a high load carrying capability.

Abstract: A folding wing tip (14) on an aircraft (2) carries a lug (16) that moves into alignment with lugs (6, 10) on the inboard wing portion (4) as the wings spread. The lug (16) pivots an inhibitor (28) that is interconnected by linkage to a valve spool (122). The pivoting of the inhibitor (28) causes the spool (122) to shift its position so that a sense port is brought into communication with a return port. Return pressure in the sense port indicates a spread wing condition. When the wing tip (14) is folded, springs move the inhibitor (28) and the valve spool (122) back to their original positions. This communicates the sense port with a pressure port to indicate a folded wing condition. The spool (122) is preferably also biased into its original position by fluid pressure. In addition, the lug (16) has a cam (92) that engages a roller (84) carried by the inhibitor (28) when the wing tip (14) is moved into a folded position.