Abstract: A dynamic conformal aerodynamic seal that bridges the gap between an aircraft control surface and an aircraft wing, stabilizer or tail. The seal has a first edge and a second edge, where the first edge of the seal is rigidly coupled to the aircraft wing, stabilizer or tail and the second edge of the seal is slidably coupled to the control surface by magnetic coupling so that when the control surface pivots relative to the aircraft wing, stabilizer or tail, the second edge of the seal slides along the control surface.

Abstract: A fluid-actuated fastening device comprises a housing including a housing body defining a fluid cavity and a fluid port. The fluid port places the fluid cavity in selective communication with an outside fluid source. A telescoping mast assembly includes a mast sleeve. A spindle has longitudinally spaced inner and outer spindle ends separated by a longitudinally oriented spindle body. The spindle body is at least partially located within the mast sleeve for telescoping longitudinal movement with respect thereto to transform the mast assembly between compressed and expanded mast states. At least one disc spring is located substantially within the fluid cavity. Introduction of pressurized fluid into the fluid cavity via the fluid port causes at least one of travel of the disc spring between flexed and relaxed spring states and translational movement of the mast between the compressed and expanded mast states.

Abstract: A Z-pin including a first bi-metal structure having a first metal strip and a second metal strip bonded together, where the first and second metal strips have different coefficients of thermal expansion, and a second bi-metal structure having a third metal strip and fourth metal strip bonded together, where the third metal strip and the fourth metal strip have different coefficients of thermal expansion. The first and third metal strips are selectively secured together at at least one discrete location so that heating of the Z-pin causes the first and second bi-metal structures to deform relative to each other. The Z-pin is inserted into a composite laminate structure while it is in its uncured state, where curing of the composite structure causes the first and second bi-metal structures to deform relative to each other to lock the laminate layers together.

Abstract: A magnetic latching system is provided for removably latching a panel to an aircraft surface portion. The latching system includes a removable axis panel engageable to a latching land. The panel and land define opposing magnetically attractive surface portions, with a body of magnetic material disposed there between. An inflatable seal is also disposed intermediate the panel and the land. Upon inflation, the inflatable seal is operative to urge the panel away from the land far enough to reconnect magnetic engagement between the panel and the land, sufficient to permit disengagement of the panel from the land.

Abstract: A ball-lock type fastening device for connecting a work piece to a structure is disclosed. The fastening device includes a number of features designed to improve the reliability, repeatability and strength of the locking mechanism compared to traditional ball-lock fasteners. The features include the shape of the locking balls, the shape of the retention housing which engages the locking balls, and mechanisms for controlling deployment and retraction of the locking balls.

Abstract: A latching mechanism is provided for engaging an aircraft surface panel to a support member. The aircraft panel is provided with a post extending from the lower surface, which extends through a panel support member into a post engagement mechanism. The post engagement mechanism defines a rotatable sleeve, which rotates for locking and unlocking engagement between the post and the post engagement mechanism. Locking engagement continues when power to the post engagement actuator is terminated. The post engagement mechanism may utilize various types of actuators, including mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic. The aircraft panel and the panel support member are translatable into and out of abutting engagement independent of the need for any contact with the aircraft panel upper surface.

Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a bolt having a shaft and a head. The shaft has proximal and distal shaft ends and a shaft body, with the head at the proximal shaft end. At least a bondable portion of the shaft body is at least partially made of a bondable material. At least one collar has proximal and distal collar ends longitudinally separated by a collar body which includes a longitudinally oriented collar aperture extending through a thickness thereof between proximal and distal collar surfaces. The collar aperture defines an inner collar wall having a bondable portion which is at least partially made of a bondable material. At least the bondable portion of the shaft body is located inside the collar aperture. The bondable material of both of the inner collar wall and the shaft body is activated to bond the shaft and the collar into an integral fastener assembly structure.

Abstract: A permanent faster is disclosed that utilizes an amorphous metal alloy for a retaining collar that is thermoplastically formed on install. The fastener includes a headed pin with locking grooves disposed thereon and a collar having a cylindrical inner wall. Head geometry may be any suitable shape; countersunk, counter bore, flat, etc., and may also be non-rotationally symmetric. The pin is disposed into aligned holes through the work pieces to be secured, and the collar is disposed about the pin over the locking grooves. The collar is heated into a thermoplastic region, something only allowed because of the amorphous metal material properties. The cylindrical wall of the collar is then radically compressed into the locking grooves to affix the collar on the pin. The amorphous metal properties allow use of a smaller fastener, and the thermoplastic region is reached at a temperature which does not damage composite work pieces.

Abstract: A fastener for highly curved access panels on aircraft or other structures is disclosed. The fastener features a bottom-grasping design which allows for an unblemished outer panel surface, simple and rapid pneumatic fastener actuation for both latching and unlatching, high reliability, built-in clamping pre-load of the access panel onto the structure, and full retractability of the fastener inside the supporting structure. The fastener includes a Belleville spring with a piston centrally disposed therein, where the piston and spring deflect outward upon application of pneumatic pressure. A pneumatic valve opens upon application of a higher pressure, allowing locking dogs in the piston to deploy radially into a cavity in the access panel. When pressure is removed, the Belleville spring relaxes, the locking dogs grasp a lip of the cavity, and the access panel is latched onto the structure with a clamping pre-load. A pneumatic sequence for unlatching is also provided.

Abstract: A Z-pin including a first bi-metal structure having a first metal strip and a second metal strip bonded together, where the first and second metal strips have different coefficients of thermal expansion, and a second bi-metal structure having a third metal strip and fourth metal strip bonded together, where the third metal strip and the fourth metal strip have different coefficients of thermal expansion. The first and third metal strips are selectively secured together at at least one discrete location so that heating of the Z-pin causes the first and second bi-metal structures to deform relative to each other. The Z-pin is inserted into a composite laminate structure while it is in its uncured state, where curing of the composite structure causes the first and second bi-metal structures to deform relative to each other to lock the laminate layers together.

Abstract: A magnetic latching system is provided for removably latching a panel to an aircraft surface portion. The latching system includes a removable axis panel engageable to a latching land. The panel and land define opposing magnetically attractive surface portions, with a body of magnetic material disposed there between. An inflatable seal is also disposed intermediate the panel and the land. Upon inflation, the inflatable seal is operative to urge the panel away from the land far enough to reconnect magnetic engagement between the panel and the land, sufficient to permit disengagement of the panel from the land.

Abstract: A fluid-actuated fastening device comprises a housing including a housing body defining a fluid cavity and a fluid port. The fluid port places the fluid cavity in selective communication with an outside fluid source. A telescoping mast assembly includes a mast sleeve. A spindle has longitudinally spaced inner and outer spindle ends separated by a longitudinally oriented spindle body. The spindle body is at least partially located within the mast sleeve for telescoping longitudinal movement with respect thereto to transform the mast assembly between compressed and expanded mast states. At least one disc spring is located substantially within the fluid cavity. Introduction of pressurized fluid into the fluid cavity via the fluid port causes at least one of travel of the disc spring between flexed and relaxed spring states and translational movement of the mast between the compressed and expanded mast states.

Abstract: The provision of calibration information for a given high energy-based scanner having a plurality of detectors can comprise forming (103) detector-level calibration information for that scanner. This can comprise calculating (201) a theoretical trajectory as pertains to relative movement as between the plurality of detectors and a calibration object as a function of known geometry parameters for this particular scanner and then causing (202) relative movement as between this plurality of detectors and a calibration object to develop a corresponding observed trajectory for the calibration object. These teachings then provide for determining (203), for each of at least some of the plurality of detectors, a value that corresponds to a difference between the theoretical trajectory and the observed trajectory to thereby provide the detector-level calibration information.

Abstract: Methods and system for performing an investment portfolio activity. A record associated with a security is stored. The record includes two or more data fields each associated with a respective security attribute, and each data field is associated with a single data value. A request to add a new data field to one of the security attributes is received, and the new data field is associated with a new data value. A customized record associated with the security is created, which includes the new data field and the new data value, and an order to perform an investment portfolio activity associated with the security is received. The investment portfolio activity is executed using the new data value included in the customized record.

Abstract: Methods of the present invention identify an asset allocation model and at least one security associated there with. An investment account portfolio is stored that includes at least one substitute security associated with the identified at least one security. A virtual portfolio is then generated that includes the identified at least one security. A tax lot is created for the identified at least one security to identify a total value for the at least one security, and the method determines whether the virtual portfolio complies with the asset allocation model. The identified at least one security associated with the asset allocation model is restricted from the investment account portfolio.

Abstract: A control system for an oven includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a cavity temperature within the cavity, and a controller operatively coupled with the sensor. The oven includes a body having a cavity defined therein and at least one heater positioned within the cavity. The controller is also configured to receive a signal from the sensor, to calculate a rate of temperature change of the cavity temperature, and to adjust a power level of the heater based on the cavity temperature and the calculated rate of temperature change.

Abstract: Methods of the present invention identify an asset allocation model and at least one security associated there with. An investment account portfolio is stored that includes at least one substitute security associated with the identified at least one security. A virtual portfolio is then generated that includes the identified at least one security. A tax lot is created for the identified at least one security to identify a total value for the at least one security, and the method determines whether the virtual portfolio complies with the asset allocation model. The identified at least one security associated with the asset allocation model is restricted from the investment account portfolio.

Abstract: The provision of calibration information for a given high energy-based scanner having a plurality of detectors can comprise forming (103) detector-level calibration information for that scanner. This can comprise calculating (201) a theoretical trajectory as pertains to relative movement as between the plurality of detectors and a calibration object as a function of known geometry parameters for this particular scanner and then causing (202) relative movement as between this plurality of detectors and a calibration object to develop a corresponding observed trajectory for the calibration object. These teachings then provide for determining (203), for each of at least some of the plurality of detectors, a value that corresponds to a difference between the theoretical trajectory and the observed trajectory to thereby provide the detector-level calibration information.

Abstract: A sensor includes control circuitry and a pixel having a photo site, a first storage node and a second storage node. The control circuitry operates to transfer a first collected signal produced by light from a first image from the photo site to the first storage node during a first period, to transfer a second collected signal produced by light from a second image from the photo site to the second storage node during a second period that follows the first period and to transfer the first and second collected signals out of the pixel during a third period that follows the second period. The first storage node includes a first capacitor and a first reset gate coupled directly between the first capacitor and a reset voltage. The second storage node includes a second capacitor and a second reset gate coupled directly between the second capacitor and the reset voltage.

Abstract: Methods of the present invention identify an asset allocation model and at least one security associated there with. An investment account portfolio is stored that includes at least one substitute security associated with the identified at least one security. A virtual portfolio is then generated that includes the identified at least one security. A tax lot is created for the identified at least one security to identify a total value for the at least one security, and the method determines whether the virtual portfolio complies with the asset allocation model. The identified at least one security associated with the asset allocation model is restricted from the investment account portfolio.