Abstract: An actuator for opening a hermetically sealed cylinder is disclosed herein. The actuator includes an actuation chamber configured to receive pressurized gas, the actuation chamber at least partially defined by a top wall and a bottom wall, a cutter body disposed within the actuation chamber between the top wall and the bottom wall, the cutter body including a top portion and a bottom portion, a cutting edge extending from the bottom portion of the cutter body, and a spring disposed between the top portion of the cutter body and the bottom wall of the actuation chamber.

Abstract: An actuator for opening a hermetically sealed cylinder is disclosed herein. The actuator includes an actuation chamber configured to receive pressurized gas, the actuation chamber at least partially defined by a top wall and a bottom wall, a cutter body disposed within the actuation chamber between the top wall and the bottom wall, the cutter body including a top portion and a bottom portion, a cutting edge extending from the bottom portion of the cutter body, and a spring disposed between the top portion of the cutter body and the bottom wall of the actuation chamber.

Abstract: An inflatable girt for an evacuation slide may comprise a sleeve section, an upper section coupled to the sleeve section, and a lower section coupled to at least one of the sleeve second and the upper section. The sleeve section defines a plurality of first inflatable chambers. The upper section defines a plurality of second inflatable chambers. The lower defines a plurality of third inflatable chambers.

Abstract: An aircraft exterior light unit may comprise a magnetically controlled fluid drain valve configured to expel liquid water from the light unit. The valve may include a permanent magnet configured to induce a magnetic flux circuit that generates a magnetic force configured to close the valve. The valve may be configured to open when the pressure inside the light unit exceeds the magnetic force. As the valve opens and expels the water, the pressure within the light unit may decrease, equalizing with that of the external environment. As the magnetic force generated by the magnet increases as the valve is open and the water expelled, the magnet may be configured to close the valve once more. As such, the magnet may be configured to control a self-acting fluid drain valve in an aircraft exterior light.

Abstract: An inflation control system for an inflatable device may comprise: a compressed fluid source; a solenoid valve connected to the compressed fluid source and configured to control a flow of gas to the inflatable device; and a control circuit comprising a power source, a pressure switch, and an electrical switch, the control circuit configured to energize, via the power source, the solenoid valve in response to both the pressure switch and the electrical switch being in a closed state, the pressure switch configured to open and de-energize the solenoid valve in response to being exposed to a pressure at or exceeding a pressure threshold.

Abstract: An inflation valve and systems for inflating an inflatable device includes a valve. The valve includes an outer body, a command chamber within the outer body and an inlet chamber, the inlet chamber having an inlet connected to the source of inflation gas and an outlet connected to the inflatable device. The valve also includes a vent fluidly connected to the command chamber, the vent including a vent body having one or more vent holes formed therein and an elastomeric sleeve surrounding a portion of the vent body and covering the one or more vent holes.

Abstract: A vehicle including a housing, and a vehicle seat disposed in the housing. The vehicle further includes at least one radial slit disc energy attenuation assembly having an upper end coupled to the vehicle seat and a lower end coupled the housing. The radial slit disc energy attenuation assembly includes a slit disc stack having a plurality of deflectable discs configured to deflect in response to realizing a force applied by the vehicle seat.

Abstract: An inflation valve and systems for inflating an inflatable device includes a valve. The valve includes an outer body, a command chamber within the outer body and an inlet chamber, the inlet chamber having an inlet connected to the source of inflation gas and an outlet connected to the inflatable device. The valve also includes a vent fluidly connected to the command chamber, the vent including a vent body having one or more vent holes formed therein and an elastomeric sleeve surrounding a portion of the vent body and covering the one or more vent holes.

Abstract: A vehicle including a housing, and a vehicle seat disposed in the housing. The vehicle further includes at least one radial slit disc energy attenuation assembly having an upper end coupled to the vehicle seat and a lower end coupled the housing. The radial slit disc energy attenuation assembly includes a slit disc stack having a plurality of deflectable discs configured to deflect in response to realizing a force applied by the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A solid-tire-and-hub assembly is provided. The assembly includes a solid tire defining a pair of opposed, spaced side surfaces and a pair of opposed, spaced facial surfaces extending between the side surfaces such that the solid tire defines a substantially trapezoidal transverse cross-section. The solid tire is disposed about a partially hollow hub, which defines a substantially “I” transverse cross-section substantially aligned with the cross-section of the solid tire, an axial aperture configured to receive a drive shaft, and a plurality of holes defined about the aperture. A power-drive unit is also provided. The unit includes a housing, a drive shaft, and at least one of the solid-tire-and-hub assembly connected to the housing.

Abstract: A mechanism for decreasing kinetic energy includes a carriage to connect to an object, a first wire passing through a top portion of the carriage, a second wire coterminous with the first wire at a top end and a bottom end, a spreading wheel axially fixed in a center position of the carriage between the first and second wires to plastically deform the first and second wires from a substantially parallel configuration to conform to a circumferential surface on two opposing sides of the spreading wheel as the carriage moves from the top to the bottom end, and a pair of despreading wheels axially parallel to and oriented proximal to the spreading wheel such that the first and second wires are deformed by a circumferential surface of each of the despreading wheels such that they are deformed again as the carriage moves from the top to the bottom end.

Abstract: A mechanism for decreasing kinetic energy includes a carriage to connect to an object, a first wire passing through a top portion of the carriage, a second wire coterminous with the first wire at a top end and a bottom end, a spreading wheel axially fixed in a center position of the carriage between the first and second wires to plastically deform the first and second wires from a substantially parallel configuration to conform to a circumferential surface on two opposing sides of the spreading wheel as the carriage moves from the top to the bottom end, and a pair of despreading wheels axially parallel to and oriented proximal to the spreading wheel such that the first and second wires are deformed by a circumferential surface of each of the despreading wheels such that they are deformed again as the carriage moves from the top to the bottom end.

Abstract: A solid-tire-and-hub assembly is provided. The assembly includes a solid tire defining a pair of opposed, spaced side surfaces and a pair of opposed, spaced facial surfaces extending between the side surfaces such that the solid tire defines a substantially trapezoidal transverse cross-section. The solid tire is disposed about a partially hollow hub, which defines a substantially “I” transverse cross-section substantially aligned with the cross-section of the solid tire, an axial aperture configured to receive a drive shaft, and a plurality of holes defined about the aperture. A power-drive unit is also provided. The unit includes a housing, a drive shaft, and at least one of the solid-tire-and-hub assembly connected to the housing.