Abstract: A nose landing gear arrangement including a leg assembly with a pivot axis A at one end thereof and a landing gear wheel mounting at the other end thereof. Two stays are provided, each stay being mounted at one end thereof to the leg assembly and mountable at the other end thereof to an aircraft. Each stay includes an upper stay part and a lower stay part which are hinged together by means of a simple hinge. The upper stay part has a cardan joint at its end spaced from the hinge to enable hinged mounting to an aircraft. The lower stay part has a cardan joint at its lower end spaced from the hinge, the cardan joint of the lower stay part hingedly mounting the lower stay part to the leg assembly. The leg assembly and the stays are arranged so that the stays extend from the leg assembly on opposite sides thereof and the stays fold into a stowed position so that they lie substantially alongside the leg assembly when the leg assembly is retracted.

Abstract: An aircraft wing including: a main wing element; and a flap connected to the main wing element by a deployment system which can deploy the flap from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the wing has a trailing edge which is swept, at least in the region of the flap, when the flap is in its retracted position, and wherein the deployment system is arranged such that the flap reduces the degree of sweep of the trailing edge of the wing in the region of the flap as it is deployed. The deployment system includes a first actuator configured to rotate the flap horizontally so as to change the sweep angle of the flap and a second actuator configured to rotate the flap vertically so as to increase the camber of the wing, and the first and second actuators are operable independently of each other.

Abstract: A nose landing gear arrangement comprises a leg assembly with a pivot axis A at one end thereof and a landing gear wheel mounting at the other end thereof. Two stays are provided, each stay being mounted at one end thereof to the leg assembly and mountable at the other end thereof to an aircraft. Each stay comprises an upper stay part and a lower stay part which are hinged together by means of a simple hinge. The upper stay part has a cardan joint at its end spaced from the hinge to enable hinged mounting to an aircraft. The lower stay part has a cardan joint at its lower end spaced from the hinge, the cardan joint of the lower stay part hingedly mounting the lower stay part to the leg assembly. The leg assembly and the stays are arranged so that the stays extend from the leg assembly on opposite sides thereof and the stays fold into a stowed position so that they lie substantially alongside the leg assembly when the leg assembly is retracted.

Abstract: An aircraft wing comprising: a main wing element; and a flap connected to the main wing element by a deployment system which can deploy the flap from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the wing has a trailing edge which is swept, at least in the region of the flap, when the flap is in its retracted position, and wherein the deployment system is arranged such that the flap reduces the degree of sweep of the trailing edge of the wing in the region of the flap as it is deployed. The deployment system comprises a first actuator configured to rotate the flap horizontally so as to change the sweep angle of the flap and a second actuator configured to rotate the flap vertically so as to increase the camber of the wing, and the first and second actuators are operable independently of each other.

Abstract: A polyhalide light-polarizing material comprising a complex obtained by reacting: (a) elemental iodine; (b) a hydrohalide acid or an ammonium halide, alkali metal halide or alkaline earth metal halide; (c) a first compound capable of chelating hydrogen, ammonium or metal ions; and (d) a second compound comprising at least one chelating group present in the first compound and either (1) at least one group of the first compound is changed to a different group or (2) the second compound comprises at least one additional group.

Abstract: Polyhalide light-polarizing particles prepared by the process comprising reacting in a suitable liquid (i) elemental molecular iodine, (ii) an inorganic halide, with (iii) a substantially rigid polycyclic precursor compound, wherein:a. the polycyclic precursor compound has two cyclic structures linked together via an aromatic or heteroaromatic group;b. the three-dimensional structure of the polycyclic precursor compound has a cavity defined by the two cyclic structures and only one opening into the cavity; andc. polar groups are provided in the outside of the polycyclic precursor compound; andd. one of more chelating group or groups are provided inside the cavity of the precursor group for chelating hydrogen or metal ions.

Abstract: An electro-optical device, such as a light valve, has a cell formed of opposed cell walls, a light-modulating unit comprising a suspension containing anisometric particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium between the cell walls, and opposed electrodes operatively associated with the cell walls for applying an electrical field across the suspension, the anisometrically shaped particles having an average particle size of about 0.1 microns or less.

Abstract: A method of making crystals of a light-polarizing material useful in a liquid light valve suspension with the addition of controlled amounts of water relative to the amount of reactants used in making the particles of the light-polarizing material.

Abstract: Light valve suspensions and light valve films are provided with a UV absorber.

Abstract: A light valve suspension contains a trialkyl trimellitate and/or trimesate and is used as such as the light modulating element of a light valve or droplets thereof are distributed in a light valve film used as the light modulating element of a light valve.

Abstract: Light-polarizing materials, and uses thereof in liquid suspensions, set suspensions and light valves.

Abstract: An electric curling iron includes a handle containing a reversible DC motor for rotating an elongated, generally cylindrical curling mandrel extending from the front end of the handle and coupled to the motor by a clutch so as to prevent injury to the user. The mandrel is electrically heated and controls are provided on the handle for selecting the speed and direction of mandrel rotation as well as the level of mandrel heating. A clamp for releasably retaining a strand of hair is carried by the mandrel for rotation therewith. A manually activated actuating mechanism on the handle is designed to allow opening and closing of the clamp while the mandrel is rotating.

Abstract: A light-polarizing perhalide of an alkaloid acid salt having incorporated in its molecular structure a chloride, bromide, or iodide of calcium, rubidium, cesium or bismuth, and a light valve containing a suspension of particles of such perhalide.

Abstract: An aliphatically unsaturated organic compound is hydrogenated to form a saturated compound and a salt of the saturated compound is reacted with a halogen and a halide to form a light-polarizing material. The light-polarizing material in the form of crystalline particles is dispersed in a suitable suspending medium to produce a fluid suspension thereof. The suspension is useful in light valves.

Abstract: A light valve including suspending materials which have an ability to prevent or substantially retard agglomeration of the particles in suspension during the application of a voltage to the suspension. The materials include aromatic esters which are derivable from aromatic alcohols, such as phenyl acetate, cresyl acetate, para-butylphenyl acetate, para-nonylphenyl acetate, and structurally similar compounds. The suspension also includes, as an additional suspending material, a polymer such as a branched polymeric coating material to coat the particles in suspension and act in combination with the aromatic ester suspending materials to prevent or substantially reduce agglomeration of the particles when a voltage is applied to the suspension. Other suspending materials such as non-aqueous liquids or solids may also form part of the suspending medium of this invention.

Abstract: A light valve and fluid suspension therefor which when activated decrease the transmission of radiation therethrough.

Abstract: A light valve including suspending materials which have an ability to prevent or substantially retard agglomeration of the particles in suspension during the application of a voltage to the suspension. The materials comprise aromatic esters which are derivable from aromatic alcohols, such as phenyl acetate, cresyl acetate and structurally similar compounds. Other suspending material such as non-aqueous liquids or solids may also form part of the suspending medium of this invention, used to suspend the particles. The suspension also may include a coating material to coat the particles in suspension and act in combination with the suspending materials to prevent or substantially reduce agglomeration of the particles when a voltage is applied to the suspension.