Abstract: A roll-on/roll-off, aircraft-borne sensor pod deployment system having an operator station and a sensor pallet system and method of using same. The operator station has a base platform, a shelter box mounted on the base platform for accommodating a human operator, and a computer installed inside the shelter box. The sensor pallet system has a base platform, a linear system mounted on the base platform, a rotational system mounted on the linear system, a mechanical arm attached to the rotational system, a sensor pod attached to the mechanical arm, and an electrical control system that provides power to the deployment system and controls movements of the sensor pallet system. In operation, the sensor pod can be retracted into a compact, stowing position, or extended out an opening in the aircraft for an unobstructed field of view. The deployment system optionally includes an apparatus and method for sealing the aircraft opening.

Abstract: A method and device for applying germicide solutions to a cattle teat or other item in a way that reduces the amount of waste that typically accompanies this process. The present invention provides a method for cleaning a teat which comprises the steps of dipping a teat into a quantity of a preselected germicidal solution so as to coat that teat, wiping excess material from that teat and collecting the removed excess material from the teat. The present invention also provides an improved germicide applicator for use in the invented method.

Abstract: A housing system related to the protective housing of a fishing rod and reel, particularly, a fly-fishing rod and reel, during transport. The system comprises a two-part housing adapted to separately compartmentalize the fishing rod and attached fishing reel. A specialized access slot allows easy installation into, and removal from, the housing. The specialized access slot also functions to fixably suspend the fishing reel in the housing interior, thus providing improved protection against damage during transport. A method of manufacture and sale is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for assembling spacecraft in space are provided. A modular spacecraft comprises a plurality of spacecraft modules, wherein each spacecraft module includes one or more of bonding posts and receiving plates mounted to an exterior surface each spacecraft module, wherein the one or more bonding posts and receiving plates are adapted to form one or more of, an electro-weld bond and an adhesive bond, with the one or more receiving plates.

Abstract: A pet exercise device having outer and inner shells having first and second apertures defined therein, respectively, is provided. The outer shell has a first raised edge extending from an internal surface of the outer shell, wherein the first raised edge extends around the periphery of the first aperture. The inner shell defines an interior compartment and is positioned within the outer shell to form a retaining chamber between the inner and outer shells. A second raised edge extends from an external surface of the inner shell and around the periphery of the second aperture. Further, the first and second apertures are non-coextensive, staggered or otherwise misaligned with one another so that the liquid or solids are retained within the retaining chamber and not allowed to pass through the second apertures and directly out of first apertures.

Abstract: A passive cooling system for an auxiliary power unit (APU) installation on an aircraft is provided. The system is for an auxiliary power unit having at least a compressor portion of a gas turbine engine and an oil cooler contained separately within a nacelle. The system includes the auxiliary power unit housed within the nacelle of the aircraft, an engine exhaust opening defined in the aft portion of the nacelle and communicating with the gas turbine engine, at least a first air inlet duct communicating with a second opening defined in said nacelle and with said compressor portion and the oil cooler is located within a second duct communicating with an opening other than the engine exhaust opening of said nacelle and with the engine exhaust opening. Exterior cooling air and engine exhaust ejected through said engine exhaust opening entrain cooling air through said second duct to said oil cooler, and thus provide engine oil cooling. An exhaust eductor is also provided.

Abstract: An air vehicle assembly and a corresponding method for launching an air vehicle assembly are provided, along with corresponding control systems and methods. The air vehicle assembly may include a plurality of air vehicles releasably joined to one another during a portion of the flight, such as during take-off and landing. By being releasably joined to one another, such as during take-off and landing, the air vehicles can rely upon and assist one another during the vertical take-off and landing while being designed to have a greater range and higher endurance following the transition to forward flight, either while remaining coupled to or following separation from the other air vehicles. By taking into account the states of the other air vehicles, the control system and method also permit the air vehicles of an air vehicle assembly to collaborate.

Abstract: A reversible aerospace plane includes an air intake at a first end of the aerospace plane, at least one heat exchanger disposed in the aerospace plane, an engine at a second end of the aerospace plane, wherein the aerospace plane is configured to accelerate in a first direction and configured to glide and land in a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially in a reverse direction from the first direction.

Abstract: A miniature surveillance balloon system is described that can be used in military and public safety situations for real-time observations. They are as small as feasibly possible, low-cost and expendable, and typically are deployed in clusters. Balloons may act individually or alternately clusters may act robotically (in unison) without command input at times. Video surveillance information is preprocessed and then sent via wireless communications links. Batteries and/or gas cylinders may be selectively jettisoned to facilitate vertical movement. Balloons may optionally have thruster mechanisms to facilitate lateral movement which may in some embodiments be powered by a source of combustible gas which is also used for providing lift.

Abstract: A goniometer (also sometimes referred to as an arthrometer, fleximeter, or pronometer) for measuring the range of motion of an animal knee includes an anchor platform to which an animal's upper leg (femur) may be affixed, and a mobile platform to which the animal's lower leg (shin and tibia) may be affixed so that the upper and lower leg are situated along a common axis. The mobile platform is preferably movable in two degrees of freedom (translational and rotational) about the anchor platform so that the relative motion of the platforms causes the upper and lower leg to move about the intermediate knee joint. A force transducer (such as a spring scale) and/or a torque transducer (such as a common torque wrench) may be used to obtain measurements of the laxity of the knee joint.

Abstract: A device for shaping the behavior of an animal using a behavior marking and reward delivery system is provided. The compact behavior shaping device includes a battery, a trigger assembly, a receiver, a spring assembly, and a bore assembly, and is capable of storing and propelling commonly used motivational items, such as food, toys, dummies, tugs, balls, prey items, and other such objects, over a range of approximately 1 to 50 feet. The animal trainer manually compresses the spring assembly, which is then engaged by the trigger assembly. When the receiver receives a signal from a transmitter, it triggers the release of a motivational item from the device by activating the trigger assembly and/or triggers the occurrence of a marking event, such as a noise. A variety of wired and wireless transmitter devices, such as a hand-held transmitter, a motion sensor, a pressure sensor, and/or a shock sensor may be used to transmit the signal to the receiver.

Abstract: A method of training animals provides for the creation of a recorded track taking into account a plurality of recording techniques for a particular sound source A stationary microphone is utilized to provide a first layer, a moving microphone as utilized to provide a second layer and a pair of microphones proximate to a live animal's ears near a sound source provide three inputs to a mixer. The layers are then mixed and then processed by a processor to provide to a recorder/burner to provide a compact disc in the preferred embodiment. The compact disc is then utilized to train animals for possible exposure to live sound sources at a later time.

Abstract: Device for facilitating the lowering of a landing gear by gravity, comprising at least on roller device (4) positioned on at least one closing panel (2) of the hatch for the landing gear in a contact area with the tire (1a) of the landing gear of an aircraft (7) on initiating its descent, the roller device (4) comprising a rigid roller device which can rotate freely about its axis (4a), and being positioned such that its axis is perpendicular to the path of the tire (1a) so that the tire will make the roller device (4) turn without sliding over it.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing control linkages that may be employed to produce synchronous motion in two adjacent controlled devices controlled by a common input. In one example implementation, a semi-rigid modified constant velocity (CV) joint control linkage may be provided that is laterally self-stabilizing. The modified constant velocity CV joint control linkage may include an input push rod assembly that is self-aligning, deflectable and of an adjustable length. The CV joint may be configured with a central cage that is allowed to skew to allow for alignment of the controlled devices.

Abstract: A animal trailer with corral panels system for efficiently transporting and retaining fence panels on a trailer. The animal trailer with corral panels system includes a trailer, a plurality of rear brackets, front brackets and supports. The trailer can be any general horse trailer used for transporting horses or other animals. A first rear bracket and a second rear bracket are mounted on the sides of the trailer, rearward of the trailer wheel wells. A first front bracket and second front bracket are similarly mounted forward of the trailer wheel wells spaced accordingly from the rear brackets in order to receive the fence panels. A rear support and a front support are additionally mounted to the sides of the trailer, utilized with straps to secure the fence panels to the trailer.

Abstract: A structural mechanism for an aircraft includes a support, a hinged surface, and a hinge assembly joining the hinged surface to the support. An actuation system includes an actuator shaft engaged to the hinges and lying coincident with a hinged-surface hinge axis and extending through the aligned center passagways of the hinges of the hinge assembly. A lock is selectively operable to lock the hinged surface to the support when the actuator shaft engages the lock. An actuator structure is controllably operable to move the actuator shaft longitudinally along the hinge-surface hinge axis between a first shaft axial position wherein the actuator shaft engages the lock and the hinges, and a second shaft axial position wherein the actuator shaft does not engage the lock but does engage the hinges, and is controllably operable to rotate the actuator shaft about the hinged-surface hinge axis.

Abstract: A surveillance aircraft recharging system based on energy collection by magnetic induction from the current flowing in a randomly selected alternating current transmission line conductor. The charging energy originates in the magnetic field surrounding the current carrying conductor and is obtained by way of a laminated magnetic circuit surrounding the current carrying conductor and disposable in both an open and transmission line receiving state and a closed and energy collecting state upon command. Latching of the magnetic structure into a condition providing physical suspension stability for the host aircraft as well as an efficient magnetic circuit are provided. Latching of the magnetic structure includes a docking aircraft kinetic energy storage sequence assisting in aircraft deceleration and also providing saved energy useful during an undocking sequence.

Abstract: A collapsible cage, which comprises a bottom that is surmounted by, and associated with, grid-like walls mutually connected by connection comprising, for each corner, a corner joint constituted by a main element, with a concave corner body in which positioning seats are provided for three converging grid-like walls, and at least one locking element for the three grid-like walls in the positioning seats. The locking element is formed monolithically with the main element and is further deformable in order to be arranged in the locking configuration.

Abstract: A hold adjustment device between fore-end iron and action body in a break-open firearm comprising at least one barrel (13) mobile by rotation about a fixed hinging point (15) arranged on an action body (14) between an aligned closed position and a disengaged position rotated open with respect to the action body (14), a tenon (18) fixed at the bottom to the at least one barrel (13) for hooking with a fore-end iron (16), comprising a block (21), or cursor, axially mobile with respect to the fore-end iron (16) and suitable for interfering with the tenon (18), an adjustment pin (26) carrying on its stem-shaped portion (27) a plurality of ring-shaped springs (28), as well as a rear axial binding (30), in which the elastic adjustment device of the fore-end iron-action body hold (20) is suitable for giving a suitable hold and/or the recovery of the loss of hold due to the wear of the fore-end iron-action body coupling.

Abstract: A fishing lure having a rattling assembly for attracting fish, wherein the sound of the rattling assembly is adjustable. The rattling assembly includes a rattle member and a rod member positioned inside a cavity defined in the body of the fishing lure. The rod member traverses the exterior surface of the fishing lure into the cavity, such that the position of the rod member will determine the ability of the rattling member to travel within the cavity to strike the walls of the cavity.