Abstract: A center flow ball valve assembly includes a pre-loaded spring positioned in line with the valve fluid inlet port for seating the ball in the valve orifice, the spring configured in stepped diameter coil sctions including a smaller diameter ball mounting section for cradling the ball and a larger diameter pedestal section which straddles the inlet port, the spring, with actuation of the ball valve permitting fluid to pass with minimum pressure drop through an unobstructed circumferential path between the different diameter coil sections.

Abstract: Bonding pressure is uniformly applied to the lay-up (70) of a bonded product (10) by the disposition of flexible, compressible, perforated sheet material (85) within the lay-up during the manufacture of the product by diffusion bonding.

Abstract: Bonding pressure is uniformly applied to the lay-up (70) of a bonded product (10) by the disposition of flexible, compressible, perforated sheet material (85) between the lay-up and a pair of molds (75 and 80) during the manufacture of the product by diffusion bonding.

Abstract: A high strength, lightweight, heat resistant control surface for a high speed aircraft such as a missile or the like, comprises a heat resistant lightweight composite such as a graphite reinforced polyimide having a leading edge portion comprising a heat resistant metal such as Inconel. The leading edge portion includes a web fixing the leading edge portion to the composite by bonded attachment thereto at a location remote from the leading edge and adjacent surfaces thereby providing delayed exposure of the bond to leading edge heat buildup during flight.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a filament reinforced metal matrix composite comprises bonding a plurality of filaments to a perforated metal foil with a fugitive binder, overlaying the filaments with a second perforated metal foil to form a stack, positioning the stack in a vacuum die, heating the stack in a vacuum to cause vaporization of the binder and evacuation of the vapors through the perforations in the foils and hot pressing to consolidate the stack.

Abstract: A partially compacted fiber-reinforced metallic tape has a layer of collimated fibers between two layers of metal foil, the foil being partially compacted around the fibers, somewhat deforming the foil around the fibers and, in selected areas only, the foil being fully compacted around the fibers forming complete bonds between the metal foil layers and the fibers in these areas.