Abstract: One embodiment of an anti-siphon fuel filler assembly includes a tube having a first end region adapted to be positioned in a fuel tank for allowing fuel to flow therethrough into said tank, the first end region including a first crimp and a second crimp, and a restriction structure positioned in the tube between the first crimp and the second crimp, the restriction structure including apertures sized for allowing fuel to flow therethrough while preventing the insertion of a siphon hose into the tank.

Abstract: An improved thermal relief vent for a fuel tank, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a thermal relief ring that is used to create a mechanical seal within the vent. The thermal relief ring, at room temperature, is crimped in place by use of the vent cap itself. The crimped thermal relief ring creates a mechanical seal between the vent and the vent cap, up until a predetermined thermal relief point, at which time the thermal relief ring will soften and/or yield and release the vent cap from the vent body.

Abstract: A draw and return tube assembly, and a process of manufacturing the same, provides a unitized triangular shaped assembly, wherein the draw and the return tubes are each secured to a flange and are secured to one another by a weld at a position opposite the flange. The triangular shape allows the assembly to withstand large external forces without undergoing deformation.

Abstract: A draw and return tube fuel assembly having a draw tube and a return tube welded to a flange. The tubes may be extruded in a variety of diameter sizes such that the assembly can be manufactured to connect to any size draw and return fuel line connectors. The method of manufacturing the draw and return tube assembly with extruded tubing eliminates the steps of heating, flaring and cleaning and thereby eliminates the corresponding hazardous materials created as a byproduct of these eliminated steps.

Abstract: A draw and return tube assembly having draw and return tubes welded to a flange at a first end and crossed over each other and welded together at a second end. The openings in the tubes opposite the flange are positioned a distance apart such that fuel returned to the tank through the return tube is not immediately redrawn into the draw tube. The ends of the tubes positioned opposite the flange have a cross sectional area that facilitates placement of the assembly through a flange receiving aperture in a fuel tank such that the assembly may be installed within the fuel tank after manufacturing thereof. Welding of the tubes at their ends opposite the fuel tank provides for a stable assembly without the use of a separate securing device.

Abstract: A pipeline inspection vehicle comprises a body 18 an electromagnet 20 for generating magnetic flux, and two foil packs 24, 26 for conducting the flux into and out of the pipewall 10. An array of defect sensors is arranged around the body 18, each sensor being mounted on a respective assembly 28. Each assembly 28 comprises a steel sledge 40 which runs along the pipewall and which is secured to a sensor housing 42. A length of belting 44 is sandwiched between the two and end portions form a leading member 46 and a trailing member 48 linking the sledge to the vehicle. Each assembly 28 is positioned against a spring 64 which is also positioned against the vehicle. The assembly collapses out of the way when the vehicle traverses a sharp bend and the foil pack 24 is deflected to the right. The two members 46 and 48 both counteract the force of the spring 64 when the sledge crosses a void in the pipewall.

Abstract: Diametrically opposed rotor blades of a helicopter rotor are interconnected by a strap member which is flexible in torsion and in a plane perpendicular to a plane of rotation and has a plan profile extending between leading and trailing edges. Each rotor blade is provided with inwardly extending lever means adapted for attachment to drive means externally of the strap plan profile and adjacent one of its edges and to pitch control means externally of the plan profile and adjacent the other of its edges. In one embodiment, the lever means comprise individual levers formed integral with a connecting member rotationally fixed to the rotor blade and in a further embodiment the lever means comprise an inwardly extending torque sleeve. The drive means attachments of opposed blades lie along a common axis parallel to the plane of rotation and intersecting the axis of rotation at approximately 45 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the strap member.

Abstract: A helicopter rotor (10, 29) includes a rotor hub (11, 30) supporting a plurality of rotor blades, and a pitch control means comprising a universal joint (21, 45) adapted to permit both tilting and axial vertical movements of the control means to change the pitch of the rotor blades both cyclically and collectively. The universal joint has three radially extending pins (22) each supporting a radially slidable and rotatable bearing (23) having a spherical external surface (25), the bearings being located in generally axially extending tracks (26) having a circular cross-sectional shape for rolling engagement by the bearings.Axial movements are permitted by rolling of the bearings along the tracks and tilting movements by a combination of rolling and a sliding movement of the bearings along the pins.Several embodiments are described and illustrated.

Abstract: A freewheel device for connecting a power input to a selected one of a plurality of outputs so as to transmit rotary motion in one direction of rotation and to over-run when the speed of the selected one of the outputs exceeds that of the input, includes a neutral condition in which the input is rotationally disengaged from any of the outputs. In a described embodiment, the freewheel device comprises a plurality of rollers retained circumferentially adjacent one end of an axially movable shaft in operative association with a plurality of wedge-shaped portions formed on the shaft, axial movement of the shaft serving to engage the rollers between the wedge-shaped portions and, selectively axially spaced-apart internal, cylindrical surfaces formed on each of the outputs and on a rotatable support.The freewheel device finds particular application in the transmission system of multi-engined helicopters.

Abstract: A helicopter rotor includes a powered blade fold mechanism adapted to move a rotor blade between a spread operational position and a folded position and at least one lock pin (17) to lock the blade in its spread position. The mechanism includes a rotary power source (21) and a mechanical linkage (23, 25) having an over-center position and adapted so that energization of the power source in one direction moves the linkage through the over-center position to withdraw the lock pin and fold the blade, and energization in the other direction moves the blade to the spread position and re-inserts the lock pin automatically as the linkage moves back through its over-center position. Lock means may be provided to lock the blade in pitch and, in one embodiment particularly adapted for use in an articulated rotor, the lock means includes pitch, flap and lag locks.

Abstract: The fuel supply to a boiler (11) is controlled by a fuel valve (17) driven by a motor (18) in response to measured steam pressure at (12) in relation to a demanded pressure. The motor (18) adjusts at the same time a damper (36) for supplying combustion air at (13). Air supply at (13) can also be controlled in response to the pressure drop across a register (38) as measured by airlines (51). The invention provides an over-riding control in response to too much or too little oxygen in the exhaust gases in the stack (15). The oxygen level is measured by a detector (26), and if it is outside limits set at (29) a motor (41) operates a valve (42) connected between the airlines (51). A timer with a contact T1 ensures that the control in response to oxygen level is only operative for a small part of each of a number of repeated 10 second cycles.

Abstract: A helicopter rotor has at least one pair of diametrically opposed rotor blades interconnected by a strap member flexible in torsion and in a plane perpendicular to a plane of rotation and stiff in a plane coincident with the plane of rotation. A torsionally flexible tie-bar having a tensile elastic modulus greater than that of the strap member is extended between pivotal attachments adjacent opposed ends of the interconnecting strap member.In operation, a major portion of centrifugal loads caused by the rotating blades is carried by the tie-bar.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical member which can be used to circulate subsurface water upwardly to mix with the surface water, the surface water being colder than the subsurface water due to its being exposed to the cold air thereabove, the member including an elongated hollow lower portion and an enlarged, partially hollowed out head portion, the enlarged head portion including equally axially spaced apart radial channels extending between the hollowed out interior and the periphery thereof. When the device is submerged sufficiently that the channel outlets will be just below the water's surface, and then the device is rotated by a vertically extending shaft, water will be centrifugally ejected through the channels from the interior of the enlarged head portion to mix with the cold water at the water's surface. At the same time, warmer subsurface water will be sucked into and through the hollow lower portion, thereby creating a flow of warmer subsurface water through the device and to the surface.

Abstract: This invention is a control for a burner enabling it to operate efficiently with very little excess air but providing a main control for the fuel and for the combustion air in response to demand, and an auxiliary control in response to the amount of free oxygen in the products of combustion. The latter quantity can be measured by a zirconia cell, and there are means for controlling its temperature accurately so that the reading is reliable. The controls in response to demand and excess air respectively are applied alternately in a cycle with a period of no control to enable the effect of an adjustment to be established before further control is applied.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with helicopter rotor control systems which hitherto have tended to comprise complex assemblies which are costly to manufacture and maintain and which are vulnerable to external damage.A helicopter rotor is disclosed in which each of a plurality of radially extending rotor blades is attached to the outer end of an individual spindle 19 having its inner end protruding into the interior of a hollow rotor hub structure 12 and supported by bearing means 21 arranged to permit rotational movement of the spindle 19 about its axis. A pitch control lever 22 is attached to the inner end of each spindle 19 and is articulated, through a universal joint, to the upper end of an individual connecting rod 38, 39, 40 and 41, the lower ends of the connecting rods being attached to a common housing 42 having independently rotatable means for connection to helicopter flying controls.

Abstract: This invention relates to helicopter rotors in which the rotor blades are supported by flexure members and resilient means to permit flap and lead/lag movements.Hitherto such support means have been subjected to centrifugal forces thus complicating their design and requiring compromises such that optimum properties in flap and lead/lag planes have been unattainable.In this invention, each blade is attached by an individual spindle 19 supported in an elastomeric bearing 21 secured in a hollow rotor hub 12. Arms 26, flexible in a flapping plane, extend from the rotor hub 12 and a bearing 46 at the outer end of each spindle is attached to its associated arms through resilient means 30 to permit lead/lag movement of the spindle 19 relative the arms 26.In operation, centrifugal loads are transmitted to the hub 12 so that the arms 26 and resilient means 30 can be designed to provide optimum properties in the flap and lead/lag planes.

Abstract: A helicopter rotor includes, for each of a plurality of rotor blades, a generally radially extending flexure member to accommodate blade flap movements, a feathering hinge for pitch change movements and an elastic shear mounting located within the feathering hinge to accommodate rotor blade lead and lag movements. Spaced-apart elastomeric bearings are utilized in the feathering hinge, and the elastic shear mounting is associated with the outer elastomeric bearing and is arranged to be substantially equally resilient in both the lead/lag and flap planes. The arrangement facilitates the incorporation of automatic damping in the lead/lag plane by selection of suitable material for the elastic shear mounting.

Abstract: This invention relates to freewheels comprising a plurality of rollers interposed between inner and outer races formed on driving and driven members respectively, one of said races having a plurality of wedge-shaped portions equal in number to the number of rollers. The invention is particularly concerned with cageless freewheels of this construction, and discloses a means for moving said rollers between a first position in which the rollers assume an engaged position to transmit rotation to the driven member, and a second position in which the rollers are retained in a disengaged position. This is accomplished by at least one actuating lever interposed in the rollers, and being capable of limited circumferential movement between said first and second positions. In one embodiment the actuating lever has parallel side portions for engagement with adjacent rollers, and in a second embodiment the actuating lever includes a circular section spindle portion rotatably mounted in an axial bore in one of the rollers.