Abstract: A hoisting sling for handling a missile by its mounting lugs wherein the aft lugs include a matched pair of inwardly facing spaced apart angled members fixedly attached to the body of the missile and the forward lug includes an upwardly extending headed pin element. The sling consists of a heavy flat textile tape with a forward slotted grip on one end for engaging the forward headed lug and an angled grip on the other end for sliding engagement with the rearward spaced lugs on the missile so that the missile can be lifted and transported by engagement with a standard fork lift truck.

Abstract: Heat energy is supplied to the hot volume of a Vuilleumier cycle cryogenic refrigerator, or to a Stirling cycle heat engine, with and by the inventive heater module which is disposed within the hot working volume of the machine. The heater module is in contact with the working fluid within the hot volume, thereby more efficiently supplying heat energy to the machine. This invention accomplishes heat input to the most optimum place, namely: inside the hot volume. A preferred embodiment and a variation are taught.

Abstract: The entrance and exit units to an ammunition feed system are provided with a foolproof timing arrangement wherein the units and drum are both in timed position when being mated together and also when being disengaged. The exit and/or entrance units are held in timed position by a spring loaded lever while disconnected and the lever is automatically released when the unit is mounted to the drum, allowing the shafts to turn with the drum. The drum may be held in timed position when the entrance and/or exit units are disconnected or may be allowed to rotate by releasing spring loaded mounting pins.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat flattening and/or forming titanium sheet material under heat and pressure using thermoclamps fabricated of materials having different thermal expansion properties. Upper and lower dies are made of one alloy having a large thermal expansion while tie bars between the two dies are made of an alloy having low thermal expansion. During heat cycles, the difference in expansion causes the tie bars to close the gap between the dies and apply pressure to the titanium sheet between. In an alternate arrangement, the thermal clamping action coins a bead into a diaphragm to make a vacuum tight seal so that the atmospheric pressure in the oven produces the forming or flattening of the sheet.

Abstract: A twist-lock pin for improving the retention and resistance characteristics of plastic dental restorative materials and a wrench for providing positive control over the pin during insertion into the opening in the tooth. The pin is partially screwed counter-clockwise into a left-hand threaded metal cylinder, the wrench body. After two revolutions, the pin bottoms out against a flat ended, right-hand limiting screw which is inserted clockwise from the opposite end of the wrench body and which is limited by two lands, one a flat area in the wall of the wrench body and the other at the end of the wrench body. After the wrench has been utilized to insert the pin into the tooth structure, it is removed by relieving the pressure on the pin and unscrewing the wrench from the pin.

Abstract: A wheel assembly adaptable for use with a motor vehicle, a light aircraft, and the like, or in a pulley system or gear train. The wheel assembly comprises an axle or spindle-retained hub member, and a removable wheel member that is releasably connected by unique snap/lock pins. The hub member is made of a more dense material than the material of which the wheel member is made. In the adaption for use with a motor vehicle, light aircraft, and the like, the wheel member (with a tire mounted on it) is significantly lighter than the conventional rim-mounted tire, because of the absence of the hub portion; and, therefore, the wheel member can be easily changed or removed by even the weak, the aged, and the handicapped. Additionally, because the customary bolt/nut or lug/lug nut fastening combinations are not used, the wheel member is easy to change or remove, and, as importantly, the need for a "lug wrench" is eliminated.

Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, forming annular grooves in a workpiece by plunge grinding. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes: a segmental grinding wheel chuck which further includes a circumferential chuck plate to which a plurality of arcuate-shaped, equally-spaced grinding wheel segment holders are releasably connected, and, grinding wheel segments that are removably attached, by and with the use of eutectic material, to the grinding wheel segment holders. The method sets forth the steps of removably attaching the grinding wheel segments for the holders with eutectic material.

Abstract: A demountable wheel assembly for a vehicle which comprises an axle-retained wheel hub and a wheel, on which a tire is mounted, which are quickly releasably connectable to, or separable from each other, even by the weak, the aged, and the handicapped. Guide pins on the wheel hub align the tire mounted-wheel, while exposed permanent magnets partially embedded in the wheel hub draw and hold the wheel, thereby freeing the hands. Headless bolts are driven by a brace-shaped driver through threaded bolt nuts that are partially embedded in the wheel; through threaded, tapered extensions behind the nuts; and into threaded, tapered cavities in the wheel hub. Overtightening of the bolts is prevented by the short-span of the bolt driver.

Abstract: A self-sealing battery terminal including a hydroformed Inconel outer case, a low shear strength sealant material, and a central post in the form of a bolt which acts as both a conductor and transmits the preload from a pair of Belleville washers to a lower ceramic washer. The lower ceramic washer acts like a piston to compress the sealant when the nut on the central post is tightened. The Belleville washers serve to maintain a minimum tension on the central post. A top ceramic washer is held in place by the tension in the central bolt as long as the tension exceeds a minimum value.

Abstract: A gage for measuring the angularity of the centerline of straight and/or tapered holes with respect to a flat surface. A tapered pin is inserted into the tapered hole and the gage is placed over the pin and pushed against the surface of the material with the hole in it. A dial indicator provides a direct reading of the angle that the centerline of the hole varies from being perpendicular to the surface. For straight holes, an expanding collet is first inserted into the hole and then the tapered pin is inserted into the collet causing the collet to expand against the sides of the hole and provide an accurate reading on the indicator.

Abstract: A mechanical, rotary, spring driven, snap action mechanism which has two snap positions, with an intervening intermittent delay.

Abstract: An assembly for baffling an associated optical system from off-axis radiation and, at the same time, reducing the thermal load by minimizing radiation absorption within the assembly. In its most basic embodiment, the assembly comprises: a rectangularly-shaped box-like housing having a specular internal surface; and, specular baffles that are sections of surfaces of hollow elliptic cylinders and that are positioned within the housing in spaced-apart relationship to each other and in a one-behind-the-other arrangement, and also are perpendicular to the sides of the housing.

Abstract: An attachment for use with an anti-G valve to substantially decrease the inflation time of an anti-G garment. A spring loaded, adjustable tension lever arm provides a downward force on a pressure valve causing the anti-G garment to partially inflate. The increasing garment pressure is applied to a diaphragm which causes the lever arm to rise and balance the force of the spring which is normally adjusted to maintain the pressurized suit at 0.2 psig "Ready Pressure". The garment remains partially inflated until the anti-G valve operating in the conventional manner causes the garment to inflate in response to external G-forces.

Abstract: A dielectric tape of FEP (polyfluoroethylenepropylene) Teflon is electrostatically charged to a high level charge density using a motor driven capstan on which the tape is moved at a controlled velocity past a sponge assembly charged by a high DC voltage. The sponge assembly is wetted with a dielectric fluid mixture of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol and acetone. By endosmosis, a bead of fluid forms between the sponge and the FEP Teflon tape causing the fluid to be evenly distributed on the tape. An air blower directed onto the surface of the tape drys the tape as it passes by.

Abstract: An indexing device includes an adapter conforming to the contours of the test model body with a cavity for housing a ring gear which has internal teeth segments in two diametrically opposed quadrants and is rigidly attached to the adapter. A movable fin with an aerodynamic surface includes a cylindrical hub welded to the base portion thereof. The hub is provided with a central shaft extension which engages a close fitting opening in the adapter and with two curved slots to accept clamping fasteners that thread into tapped holes in the adapter. A spur gear, modified to mesh with the modified ring gear on the adapter, is bolted on the under surface of the hub concentric with the shaft extension.

Abstract: An assembly for stabilizing the line-of-sight to a mirror in an optical system. The assembly includes a gimballed mirror that can be driven in angular rotation, so as to compensate for angular motions of the optical system, which would otherwise deleteriously affect line-of-sight stabilization of and to the mirror. The reflecting surface of the mirror maintains the desired position in the optical system during such driven compensatory rotations, as well as being unaffected by imposed undesired mechanical vibrations. The assembly has a high natural rotational frequency, minimal and uniform pivot friction, a selected degree of damping, uniform performance over the operating temperature range, as well as long life.

Abstract: An adapter for use with a hole saw for removing a riveted metal patch that covers a preexisting hole in the skin of an aircraft, and thereafter for cutting out a circular portion of the skin, and a blanket behind the skin, without damage to a fuel tank behind the blanket.

Abstract: A relief valve is provided with slots across the end of the valve stem where contact is made with the valve body to eliminate gas pressurization in the annular area bounded by circumferential contact between the valve stem and the body and a smaller diameter circumferential contact between valve seat/seal members. This construction prevents any leakage gas from becoming trapped between the valve stem and the container which would lower the design cracking pressure thereby adversely affecting the operation of the relief valve.

Abstract: Apparatus for, and method of, recording with radiation from a laser light beam a preselected pattern, that is transparent and/or opaque, on a target made of high gain retroreflective sheeting of the exposed-lens type, with the target inclined at a previously chosen angle; and, thereafter, viewing the recorded image of the pattern (which is recorded on the target by structural alteration, i.e., modification, of the target material that is caused by the laser light beam radiation), solely with the naked eye and in ambient light. The recorded image can be seen only when the target is inclined at the same angle at which the target was positioned when the pattern was recorded by the laser light beam radiation on the target.

Abstract: The cylindrical sections of a gas turbine engine are provided with flanges at each end for bolting the sections to one another. Each flange includes a series of strengthening ribs of arcuate configuration extending axially outward from the center of the wall thereof between the several bolts needed to join the adjacent sections together. The ribs serve to eliminate the need for at least 2 out of 3 bolts while effectively maintaining the required stiffness and sealing capability.