Abstract: A holdback system is provided which allows additional rotation of a shaft following actuation of an associated holdback device. That additional rotation of a shaft permits other associated holdbacks to actuate. This additional rotation of a rotatable shaft, such as a shaft of a speed reducer, is accomplished by providing a helical gear of a speed reducer mechanism in gear mesh relation with a helical gear of a speed reducer and, in addition, allowing the driven helical gear of the holdback mechanism to move axially after the holdback mechanism is actuated. This axial movement permits the driving helical gear of the speed reducer to rotate by a preselected amount and allow the entire system to move a slight degree in the reverse direction. This reverse movement permits other later actuated holdbacks to actuate and share the overall load with the earliest actuating holdback.

Abstract: A motor driven compressor is provided with a means through which the internal portion of the motor is maintained at a pressure below atmospheric pressure when the compressor is operating. This reduced pressure within the motor reduces the windage losses of the motor and reduces the noise generated which as a result emanates from the motor. The present invention is most suitable for use in association with a variable reluctance motor connected in torque provided relation with a screw compressor, wherein the screw compressor is utilized as a vacuum pump. The internal portion of the motor is connected in fluid communication with the suction port of the vacuum pump and this association reduces the pressure within the motor and reduces both the windage losses and the noise emanating from the motor.

Abstract: A combination of a variable reluctance motor and a screw compressor is provided with a fluid management system that directs a portion of the lubricant flow through the variable reluctance motor to cool its stator laminations and windings. Another portion of the lubricant flow is caused to pass directly from a heat exchanger to the screw compressor. The first portion of flow, which passes through the variable reluctance motor, is then directed into fluid communication with the inlet of the screw compressor to lubricate the screw compressor and provide cooling for the compressor. The portion of lubricant flow passing directly through the heat exchanger to the compressor also provides lubrication for the compressor and is used to further cool the moving parts of the screw compressor.

Abstract: A lubricant delivering coupling adapted to interconnect a power transfer unit and a load having a rotary input. The coupling is comprised of a pair of concentrically disposed inner and outer hollow members. The outer member is in a torque transmitting relationship between the power transfer unit and the load. The inner hollow member is secured at both ends to an inner surface of the outer member and is adapted to receive lubricant from a lubricant source within the transfer device for delivery to and through the hollow inner member.The inner and outer members each have intermediate the respective ends thereof a shear section. Upon overloading of the outer member and the shearing failure thereof, the inner member continues to twist until rupture at the inner member shear section.

Abstract: An independent test sight is described for a pilot's head-up display (HUD). In one embodiment, the independent test site comprises a collimator assembly and an aligned periscope assembly. The collimator assembly comprises a source of light, a reticle, and a lens for projecting the image of the reticle. The periscope assembly comprises a rhomboid prism housed within the chassis of the HUD in such a manner that it can be pivoted from a stowed position to an erect position where it projects a reticle pattern in the field of view of the HUD combiner.

Abstract: The invention provides independent guidance and monitoring to be integrated into an MLS landing system and also provides a scaled-down MLS landing guidance system useable at small airports. In both cases an added fixed beam precision guidance system is integrated into the MLS time sequence format. The fixed beam guidance system is based upon the concept of using paired fixed overlapping beams, sequentially radiated by different fixed antennas. One pair is oriented to left and right of the centerline of the runway, and the other pair is oriented above and below the desired glideslope. The first set of paired beams overlap at the centerline of the runway in such a manner that an aircraft approaching exactly on centerline will intercept equal signal intensities to indicate an on-course approach.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compact, lightweight and inexpensive hydrostatic transmission which in the preferred form has a variable displacement and reversible pump placed in side-by-side relationship with a fluid motor and wherein the transmission has a multisection housing with a uniform width center section forming both the pump chamber and the motor chamber. The fluid capacity of the pump and the fluid capacity of the motor are proportional to their widths and the ratio of the fluid capacity remains constant as various width center sections are used.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a unitary cage assembly annularly positioning a plurality of rollers in a pair of roller bearings supporting a cradle swashplate. By utilizing the unitary cage assembly, a parallel relationship between the rollers is assured and, furthermore, only a single locating mechanism for the unitary cage assembly is required.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the installation of transducers such as accelerometers in a larger system, each transducer is provided with a memory circuit which is physically attached to the transducer and contains data reflecting the operating characteristics of that particular transducer. The data stored in the memory can be in the form of coefficients for polynomial equations that describe the operation of the transducer as the function of a variable such as temperature. Provision is made for transmitting this data along with the signal output from the transducer to the larger system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a motor control circuit for a permanent magnet motor having a rotor and motor windings. A motor winding transformer circuit is coupled to motor windings and provides an output signal representative of the magnitude and direction of the real current present in the motor windings. A rotor speed/position sensing circuit provides an output signal representative of the motor speed and direction.

Abstract: In order to provide timely aircraft performance data from an aircraft flight data recorder in a useful format, a flight data display system is provided: with a data storage unit; an interface circuit for reformatting flight data from the flight data recorder; a central processor for converting selected portions of the reformatted data into engineering units and storing the converted data into the storage unit; and a video display unit including a keyboard for selecting the desired portions of the reformatted flight data for display on the video display unit. The video display unit provides for the multicolor display of flight data in either graphical form or in a cockpit instrument form on a cathode ray tube.

Abstract: Inertial measurement of the angular rotation and translational motion of a structure can be provided by a pair of vibrating accelerometers aligned in a side-by-side arrangement with their force sensing axes in the same direction and vibrated to and away from each other along an axis normal to their force sensing axes.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring inertial specific force and angular rate of moving body by means of a plurality of accelerometers mounted on mutually perpendicular axes, each accelerometer being mounted for vibratory movement along its respective axis. The apparatus further includes a drive for vibrating each accelerometer to produce output signals and a signal processor for deriving from the accelerometer output signals the specific force and angular rate for the respective axes. Enhanced performance is achieved by utilizing pairs of accelerometers vibrating along each axis combined with a preseparation circuit that separates the components of the accelerometer output signal having specific force information from components having angular rate information.

Abstract: The age old problem of monitoring a liquid level in a reservoir has continued to cause problems. If the level is too low, the component will malfunction due to lack of lubricant; on the other hand, if the level is too high, the component can overheat. The present system overcomes the problem of the level being too high by providing an automatic vent for draining excess liquid from the reservoir. When the engine is in the nonoperating mode, the spring moves the spool of the valve to the open position. In the open position, excess liquid is vented from the reservoir establishing the predetermined liquid level. When the engine is operating, a portion of the air from the compressor enters the chamber forcing the spool to the closed position preventing liquid from being vented from the reservoir. In the closed position, contaminants are also prevented from entering the reservoir.

Abstract: The invention relates to a swashplate leveling and holddown mechanism wherein an axially sliding leveling mechanism is biased into engagement with a swashplate of an axial piston variable displacement hydraulic unit to position the swashplate in a zero displacement position when there is no control input to the hydraulic unit. The leveling mechanism has a pair of contact points, one positioned on each side of the swashplate tilt axis in a manner that both contact points positively engage the swashplate when it is centered to its zero displacement position. Such mechanism requires no spring adjustment and has no backlash. Furthermore, the axial bias on the leveling mechanism helps seat the swashplate in its support bearings. Utilized in conjunction with the leveling mechanism is an axially biased control input which operates on the opposite side of the swashplate to further hold the swashplate in its support bearings.

Abstract: A method of making a segmented externally finned tube with at least one fin free area for use in a heat exchanger. The method includes the steps of providing a tape of thermally conductive material with spaced reliefs along one longitudinal edge thereof and slitting the tape from that edge partially across its length between the reliefs. The slit portions of the tape are bent to form an angle with respect to the remainder of the tape which is then used to helically wrap a thermally conductive tube. The area of the reliefs provide fin free areas.

Abstract: This invention relates to a compact high efficiency furnace having a cylindrical combustion chamber and a fin and tube type heat exchanger substantially parallel, transverse to the furnace air flow, and closely spaced in the air flow direction with no other major heat exchange being utilized. Condensation of fluids from the combustion gases occurs at the fin and tube type heat exchanger, whereby a high efficiency furnace results. The fins and tubes of the heat exchanger are of different materials, requiring that the combustion gas temperature at the heat exchanger inlet be limited.

Abstract: A thin valve plate for use in an axial piston hydraulic unit wherein valve plate ports are provided with slot shaped extensions passing through the valve plate to provide limited initial fluid communication between cylinder block ports and valve plate ports and wherein the thickness of the valve plate is no greater than one half the width of the slots. Furthermore, such valve plate facilitates economical manufacture wherein the slots and valve plate ports can be stamped in a hardened steel disk.

Abstract: An electromotive machine has a stator provided with multiple sets of windings, each independently, electrically coupled to an electrical means, to establish separate power channels between the windings and the electrical means that allow for the simultaneous independent transmission of power through the channels when the machine is in operation. The electromotive machine may take either the form of a motor or a generator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a motor control system for a brushless DC motor having an inverter responsively coupled to the motor control system and in power transmitting relationship to the motor. The motor control system includes a motor rotor speed detecting unit that provides a pulsed waveform signal proportional to rotor speed. This pulsed waveform signal is delivered to the inverter to thereby cause an inverter fundamental current waveform output to the motor to be switched at a rate proportional to said rotor speed. In addition, the fundamental current waveform is also pulse width modulated at a rate proportional to the rotor speed.A fundamental current waveform phase advance circuit is controllingly coupled to the inverter.