Abstract: There is provided a continuous molding method capable of varying a thickness of a prepreg molded article. A molding material 10 is prepared such that three plies, for example, of prepreg 31, 32, 33 are laminated with different end face positions on each face of a prepreg laminate 20 of a carbon fibre or the like, and prepreg peel plies 41, 42, 43 are arranged continuously to the respective plies of the prepreg 31, 32, 33. This molding material 10 is transformed into a sheet and continuously sent out to a hot press for molding, which is then heated in a post-curing oven for a prescribed period of time for thermosetting. After the molding, the prepreg peel ply 40 is peeled and removed so that a product whose sectional thickness varies can be obtained.

Abstract: In a continuous molding apparatus equipped with a long core 10 having a curvature disposed on a plane, a release film supplied from a lower release film feeder 20 is sent onto the core 10, and prepreg sheets supplied from a prepreg sheet feeder 30 are laminated thereon and preformed. A release film supplied from a release film feeder 40 is disposed on top of the laminated body, before the body is sent into a hot press 50. A puller 60 moves the laminated body without loading tension thereto. The laminated body enters a postcure device 70 in which thermosetting of the material is completed.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved automatic faucet for a lavatory unit of an aircraft. A body 110 of an automatic faucet 100 has on its lower left side (seen from the front) a liquid soap dispenser outlet 200, and the dispenser outlet 200 is connected to a liquid soap dispenser tank via a valve not shown. A reflective infrared sensor 210 for the liquid soap dispenser outlet and an LED light 230 for the liquid soap dispenser outlet are provided adjacent to the liquid soap dispenser outlet 200. When a user's hand is placed within the area of infrared waves 220, a predetermined amount of liquid soap is supplied over the user's hand. The LED light 230 is turned on to illuminate the user's hand. A water supply outlet 300 is provided at the lower right side of the body 110, which is connected to a water tank via a valve not shown. A reflective infrared sensor 310 for the water supply outlet and an LED light 330 for the water supply outlet are provided adjacent to the water supply outlet 300.

Abstract: A sandwich panel that has excellent practicality as an inner wall material used in aircraft, for example, whereby the abovementioned requirements of flexural strength, peel strength, and in-plane shear strength can be satisfied while having reduced weight.

Abstract: A latch device for detecting pressure reduction of a cockpit in an aircraft and releasing a bolt and a stopper device are provided so as to prevent a cockpit door from unexpectedly opening by an impact. A main latch device 100 of the cockpit door has a frame 112 fixed to a door panel, and a latch base 120 is mounted to the frame 112 capable of pivotal rotation with a pin 122 as a fulcrum. A bolt 132 is inserted into a catch in conjunction with a door handle 130. A holding/releasing portion 150 holds the latch base 120. When a pressure difference occurs between a cockpit 4 and a cabin 5, a pressure-sensing piston 160 is pushed in, a trigger 170 and a flapper 180 are rotated and the latch base 120 is released. A stopper device 190 regulates movement of the trigger 170 by movement of an inertial piston 192 when an impact force is applied from the cabin 5 side.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for forming a composite material mainly composed of carbon fiber. It is difficult to form an H-shaped structural member formed of a prepreg material having carbon fiber fabric impregnated with epoxy resin into a member having curvature. Thus, the structural member is divided into two bendable constructional elements 110 and 120, which are bent to given curvature then adhesively-bonded to form a structural member having curvature.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preforming a prepreg material impregnated with thermosetting resin continuously in an uncured state. Sheets of prepreg material are pulled out from rollers and laminated, which is then bent to a predetermined cross-sectional shape in a bending device. The prepreg material is formed into a long product continuously in a mold having a heater. The temperature and pressure applied to the prepreg material in the mold is selected so that the heating temperature is either room temperature or a heating temperature low enough to prevent the thermosetting resin from gelating, and so that the pressure is within a pressure range enabling the prepreg material to maintain its molded state.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved air chiller unit mounted on an aircraft for sending cooled air to service carts for serving meals. An air chiller unit is equipped with a refrigeration cycle unit disposed on a casing. The refrigeration cycle unit is equipped with a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and so on for a refrigerant, and the cooled air is sent via a blower device 60 to a galley etc. A housing 630 of the blower device 60 has an inlet and two outlets 650, 652 for cooled air. A duct member is inserted to one of the two outlets 650 and 652, and the other outlet is sealed. The casing 10 is formed of a honeycomb panel. Since the honeycomb panel has high flexural rigidity, the base plate can support the refrigeration cycle unit by itself. Further, since the panel has superior heat insulating property, the air cooling efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved air chiller unit mounted on an aircraft for sending cooled air to service carts used for serving meals. An air chiller unit 1 includes a refrigeration cycle unit housed in a casing 10. The refrigeration cycle unit comprises a compressor 20, a condenser 30 and an evaporator 40 for a refrigerant, and the cooled air is sent to a galley via a blower device 60. The casing 10 is formed of honeycomb panels. The compressor 20 is supported via a pair of vibration isolation mounting devices 26 on a base plate of the casing 10. The vibration isolation mounting device 26 is formed of a triangular prism-shaped bracket and an A-shaped vibration isolation rubber, which functions to isolate vibration at normal times, and when a large load is received, functions to support the compressor device 20 with high spring constant with the rubber vibration isolator compressed.

Abstract: A coffee maker 1 capable of being used normally and conveniently during use and downsized when not in use to provide working space, comprises a coffee maker body 2 equipped with an apparatus for brewing coffee, a holder 4 capable of mounting a coffee server 5, and folding arms 3 having plural arms 21, 22 linked to form a set of arms and connected revolvably between the coffee maker body 2 and the holder 4. The coffee server 5 can be mounted on the holder 4 when the arms 3 are extended. When the coffee maker 1 is not used, the holder 4 is elevated and folded to make space for other purposes. A lock mechanism can be provided to unlockably lock the elevated holder 4 to the body 2.

Abstract: An apparatus 1 for continuously forming an FRP square pipe comprises a long core 10 for laminating prepreg sheets, and to this core 10 are fed prepreg sheets from prepreg laminating devices 20, 30, 40 and 50 with a release film interposed between the core, so as to be laminated into square pipe form. The core 10 has an outer diameter size smaller than the inner diameter size of the square pipe to be formed. The outer circumference of the square pipe is wrapped with a tape-like film fed from a tape-like release film wrapping device 200 in spiral fashion, and the work is heated and pressed in a hot press 100. The work is then subjected to additional heating in a postcure furnace 110 to form the FRP square pipe. The square pipe is intermittently pulled by a puller 130 disposed downstream of a clamp 120. The pipe is then cut to predetermined lengths by a cutter not shown to be completed as a product.

Abstract: A manual trash compactor for a trash bin is disposed inside a lavatory unit of an aircraft. A trash bin disposed within a wash basin in a lavatory unit of an aircraft has a lid through which trash is thrown in disposed on an upper surface of the wash basin. Below the lid is equipped a container for trash. A trash compactor has a trash compressing member pivotably disposed via a shaft 154 on a frame. The trash compressing member is pivoted manually using a handle to compress and reduce the quantity of the trash inside the container.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved water heater and coffee maker for use in an aircraft. A water heater 1 of an aircraft has a water tank 20 to which water from a water tank 10 of the aircraft is fed via a solenoid valve 14 and a flowmeter 16. The water tank 20 is opened to the atmosphere, and it does not form a pressure vessel. The hot water heated by a rapid heating boiler 40 is sent to a coffee server 100, and sprinkled via a hot water shower head 170 into a coffee brewing cup 180. The brewed coffee is pooled in a coffee server 200. An electrostatic level sensor 260 senses the liquid surface level of the coffee, based on which power supply to the boiler is turned off and supply of hot water is stopped.

Abstract: In a continuous molding apparatus equipped with a long core 10 having a curvature disposed on a plane, a release film supplied from a lower release film feeder 20 is sent onto the core 10, and prepreg sheets supplied from a prepreg sheet feeder 30 are laminated thereon and preformed. A release film supplied from a release film feeder 40 is disposed on top of the laminated body, before the body is sent into a hot press 50. A puller 60 moves the laminated body without loading tension thereto. The laminated body enters a postcure device 70 in which thermosetting of the material is completed.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved drain valve for dew condensation in an air chiller unit mounted on an aircraft. The drain valve 160 attached to a drain of a drain pan in an air chiller unit is equipped with a valve seat member 162 having an opening 162a at the center and a valve member 164 disposed to contact the lower surface of the valve seat member 162. The valve member 164 is made of thin silicon rubber, and arms 164b created by slits formed thereto support a valve means 164e with extremely small spring constant. While the air chiller unit is operating, the valve means 164e is air tightly attached to the opening 162a of the valve seat by negative pressure, closing the drain valve. When the operation stops and dew drops gather on the valve means 164e, the valve means 164e is displaced by the weight and the valve is opened. When there are no dew drops, the valve is closed to prevent moisture from entering.

Abstract: The invention provides a catch device of a cockpit door of an aircraft with improved safety. A cockpit door 1 disposed between a cockpit 2 and a passenger cabin 3 in an aircraft comprises a door body 10 that opens toward the cockpit via a hinge 12. A latch device 100 for opening and closing the door is provided on the cockpit side, and a bolt 120 thereof engages with a catch device 200 provided on a wall adjacent to the door. The catch device 200 has a solenoid device which restrains the rotatably disposed catch device by electromagnetic force. When trouble occurs to the solenoid, the restrained status of the catch member is released and the cockpit door may be opened. In such case, a pit pin 300 is inserted to the catch device to restrict rotation of the catch member.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved air chiller unit mounted on an aircraft for sending cooled air to service carts used for serving meals. A compressor 20 of a refrigerant equipped in an air chiller unit has a motor 210 and a rotary compressor 220 disposed in a cylindrical housing 200. An oil separator unit 240 attached to the top portion of a drive shaft 214 of the motor has two disks 241 and 242 which define two labyrinth portions G1 and G2 for effectively separating lubricating oil from the refrigerant traveling toward a refrigerant exit 203.

Abstract: There is provided a highly safe steam oven capable of controlling the amount of steam generated appropriately. Water dripped from a water feeder to the inside of a cooking chamber is converted into steam by a heater in the cooking chamber. The thus generated steam in the cooking chamber is discharged through a steam channel which keeps the inside of the cooking chamber connected to the outside of the steam oven. The temperature of steam passing through the steam channel is measured by a steam temperature measuring device. The amount of water fed from the water feeder is controlled in response to the measured temperature.

Abstract: The present invention treats crushed pieces of a nonmetallic honeycomb panel together with a process water under high-temperature and high-pressure for a predetermined time so as to separate components. Water or alkali-added water is used as process water. The method comprises a first process for treating the crushed pieces for a predetermined time with the water heated and pressurized to a subcritical range to hydrolyze aromatic polyamide, and a second process for treating the same with the water heated and pressurized to a supercritical range, wherein the aromatic polyamide is hydrolyzed and separated in the first process, and dehalogenation is carried out in the second process.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved automatic faucet for a lavatory unit of an aircraft. A body 110 of an automatic faucet 100 has on its lower left side (seen from the front) a liquid soap dispenser outlet 200, and the dispenser outlet 200 is connected to a liquid soap dispenser tank via a valve not shown. A reflective infrared sensor 210 for the liquid soap dispenser outlet and an LED light 230 for the liquid soap dispenser outlet are provided adjacent to the liquid soap dispenser outlet 200. When a user's hand is placed within the area of infrared waves 220, a predetermined amount of liquid soap is supplied over the user's hand. The LED light 230 is turned on to illuminate the user's hand. A water supply outlet 300 is provided at the lower right side of the body 110, which is connected to a water tank via a valve not shown. A reflective infrared sensor 310 for the water supply outlet and an LED light 330 for the water supply outlet are provided adjacent to the water supply outlet 300.