Abstract: The present invention provides a probe apparatus and method as described below for use as a non-destructive testing (NDT) device to detect and locate structural flaws in a composite laminate. In preferred embodiments, the method includes measuring effective thermal conductivity (Ke) of the laminate using one contact surface, non-invasively. The device is preferably portable and battery-operated. The thermal conductivity method on which the device is based is much simpler to use than the known devices for NDT and allows the utilization of a direct correlation between thermal conductivity and mechanical strength in the case of polymer composites. The device may also be used for process control in manufacturing and monitoring materials in service.

Abstract: A rotary liquid spray atomizer for aerial spraying is driven by a variable speed motor, driven in turn by power from a variable speed AC generator. The generator is driven from a power take-off from the engine of the spraying aircraft, a drive assembly includes a device for controlling the speed of the generator relative to the speed of the engine. The particularly convenient drive assembly between the generator and the power take-off is a hydraulic motor, which drives the generator, driven by a hydraulic pump driven from the power take-off. The speed of the hydraulic motor can be controllably varied. Conveniently the AC motor is a synchronous motor.