Abstract: The aerodynamic body, such as an aircraft, includes a lengthwise extending fuselage and a pair of coplanar joined wings extending outwardly from opposed sides of the fuselage. The pair of coplanar joined wings are formed by at least two forward wings extending laterally outward and rearward from opposite sides of a forward portion of the fuselage, and at least two aft wings extending laterally outward and forward from opposite sides of a rearward portion of the fuselage. Each aft wing is joined to a respective forward wing at a common wingtip to thereby form one of the joined wings. In particular, the aft wing can either be joined to the outermost portion of the respective forward wing or to a medial portion of the respective forward wing such that a portion of the forward wing extends outboard of the common wingtip.

Abstract: A system for assembling together prefabricated panels to form a water-retaining wall, in particular a swimming pool wall, each panel being constituted by a sheet metal plate having two opposite edges, defining substantially the height of the wall, which edges are folded to the same side of the panel to form two flanges, the system being characterized in that two consecutive panels disposed vertically side by side are assembled together by matching shapes between the two adjacent flanges (3) of the two panels (1) and two rectilinear section members (7, 9) comprising a first section member (7) having a C-shaped right cross-section which is designed to be fitted over the two adjacent flanges (3) of the two panels (1), and a second section member (9) which is designed to be engaged inside the first section (7) and between the adjacent flanges (3) of the two panels (1), together with stiffening means for locking the two flanges (3) into position between the two section members (7, 9).

Abstract: A trench forming assembly for forming a trench of predetermined shaped is disclosed according to the present invention. The assembly includes a pair of elongate frame members for defining a support surface for supporting a trench cover and at least one downwardly extending leg attached to each frame member for anchoring the frame members in a predetermined location. The assembly also includes a form body for shaping a hardenable trench forming composition into the predetermined shape of the trench and having an upper surface, opposed side surfaces and a bottom surface. The trench forming assembly further includes at least one counterbuoyancy member extending between the frame members and having a generally downwardly facing engagement surface for operatively engaging a portion of the upper surface of the buoyant form body between the frame members. The counterbuoyancy member can also have an upper surface, opposite the engagement surface, for operatively engaging the elongate frame members.

Abstract: A film having a width of at least about one foot as defined by the cross machine direction thereof and a substantially uniform average thickness of less than about 10 mils is formed of a crosslinkable thermoplastic olefin polymer, a crosslinking agent, and preferably a flame retardant. The film can be combined with a suitable substrate to form a prepreg or coated substrate, and the prepreg or coated substrate can be subsequently treated under conditions to crosslink the olefin polymer and to form a rigid composite structure. The composite structure is particularly useful for printed circuit board applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the production of a multicomponent yarn which is composed of several multifilament strands with differing characteristics, such as color. The individual strands are drawn in parallel and simultaneously by a pair of godets following spinning, and then crimped by compression in an air jet crimping device. According to the invention, the individual strands are spread apart from one another prior to run-off from the drawing godet in such a way that the distance in the axial direction between the run-off points of the individual strands on the godet surface is increased. This spreading of the strands assures that the strands do not intermix prior to entering the air jet crimping device.

Abstract: A method of packaging a particulate material is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a flexible plastic bag having an opening at one end, placing the bag in a mold which generally takes the form of an open-topped box, introducing the material into the bag through the opening, creating a vacuum in the bag and sealing the bag to close the opening while maintaining the vacuum in the bag.

Abstract: There is provided a device for sawing logs to a predetermined length which includes a log lead-in support member, a log support frame, a log cutting station and a log collection deck. The log support frame includes a front end, a rear end, opposite sides and supports a conveyor. An upwardly inclined conveyor moves a log lengthwise through the support frame to the log cutting station which includes a stop gate section, a sawing section, and a debris discharge conveyor. The stop gate section is positioned between the conveyor and the sawing section to set the log for proper timing into the cutting station and to align the butts when a plurality of logs is cut at the same time. A cutting station positioned at the front end of said support frame comprising a housing and a chain saw having a cutting bar on said support frame pivotally mounted to rotate 360.degree.

Abstract: A metal substrate such as bare or anodized aluminum or an aluminum alloy having an inorganic white paint thermal control coating on the substrate, said coating having low solar absorptance and high infrared emittance, such as a potassium silicate binder having zinc oxide particles distributed therein, and a fluoropolymer topcoat such as polytetrafluoroethylene on the inorganic white coating, the topcoat having substantially no significant effect on the optical properties of the thermal control coating and having substantial adhesion to such coating and improved resistance to darkening under ultraviolet exposure in the outer space environment.

Abstract: A novel system and method for anchoring a suture or other cord-like element to a bone or other workpiece. The system comprises a drill for forming an undercut hole in a bone or other workpiece, an anchor for securing a suture or other cord-like element in the undercut hole in the bone or other workpiece, and an inserter for deploying the anchor in the undercut hole in the bone or other workpiece.

Abstract: The displacement of a first object (6) relative to a second object (28) is measured by differential measurements from a photodetector (17) and an associated evaluation device (18). The photodetector (17) receives a measurement beam of radiation from a source (9) via a reflector (5) secured to object (6), and a reference beam of radiation from a source (10) via a reflector (26) secured to object (28). Sources (9, 10) are closely adjacent and in the focal plane of a collimating lens (13) through which both beams pass. Both beams are focused onto the detector (17) by a focusing lens (21). Because both beams pass through lenses (13, 21) movements thereof do not affect the displacement measurement.

Abstract: A shoe last and method for forming a shoe which is particularly constructed to be worn with and matingly interface with a wearer's custom-shaped sock. The shoe last includes a body having a backpart and a forepart connected to the backpart and extending forwardly therefrom. The last has a last bottom portion for abuttingly contacting and interfacing with a sole of a shoe. The last bottom portion has a bottom shape corresponding to the bottom shape of a custom-shaped sock when positioned on the foot of a wearer. The sole of a shoe formed from the last has a custom-contoured shape corresponding to and substantially mating with an overlying custom-shaped sock when positioned therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing dust released, for instance, during the production of a soft crepe paper web which is creped off a Yankee cylinder and spread laterally. The apparatus comprises a dust suction box consisting of a housing with an inner suction chamber, said housing having a first inlet in the form of a suction gap, a main part and first and second parts which define said suction gap between them. According to the invention the main part is in the form of part of a cylinder to provide a corresponding curved inner side in the suction chamber, and the suction gap comprises an outer gradual throttling and an inner gradual enlargement, said throttling and enlargement merging at a transition where said throttling is maximal.

Abstract: A barrier liner for sealing reinforced composite vessels at cryogenic temperatures is provided wherein the barrier liner is composed of a polymeric composition containing a curing agent, such as a methyl bis-methyl anthranilate, and an elastomer adhesive, such as a two-part polyether based urethane adhesive. A method of manufacturing and applying the barrier liner is also provided, including the steps of mixing and degassing the polymeric composition and introducing the polymeric composition between two polyethylene carrier sheets. The two carrier sheets and the intermediate polymeric composition layer are then passed between two sizing rollers set apart at a predetermined distance. The encapsulated polymeric composition is then partially cured to a tacky gel state and cooled to arrest polymerization until application of the gel layer. The gel layer and the two carrier sheets can then be cut into any desired shape such as strips, and applied to the inner surface of a vessel.

Abstract: A wet flue gas desulfurization system for removing sulfur dioxide present in flue gas by absorption into an absorbent slurry includes an absorption tower having at a bottom thereof a tank for holding an absorbent slurry; a circulating pump for feeding the absorbent slurry within the tank to a flue gas inlet section in an upper part of the absorption tower and bringing the absorbent slurry into contact with flue gas; and a slurry preparation compartment provided on one side of the tank of the absorption tower and separated from a flue gas passage section by a partition wall having its lower end submerged below a surface of the absorbent slurry, whereby an absorbent and water constituting the absorbent slurry are directly introduced into the slurry preparation compartment.

Abstract: A microactuator for precisely positioning an optical fiber, such as in alignment with an optical device, includes an alignment support structure, a carrier movably mounted on the alignment support structure and at least one actuator which bends or deflects in response to a predetermined stimuli to thereby controllably position the carrier and, in turn, an optical fiber mounted on the carrier relative to the alignment support structure. The actuator can include a bimorphic actuator, an asymmetric monomorph, a diaphragm or a comb structure, for example. As a result, the actuator typically deflects in response to electrical or thermal stimuli. The carrier can include the actuator such that upon deflection the actuator is urged against a portion of the alignment support structure and the carrier is correspondingly moved relative to the alignment support structure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of certain auxin transport inhibiting semicarbazones to potentiate the herbicidal activity of other herbicides. The present invention includes potentiating herbicidal compositions of these auxin transport inhibitors and ethofumesate. These potentiating herbicidal compositions have been found especially useful in combating or controlling the growth of broadleaf and grassy weeds when applied preemergence or postemergence to the locus of these weeds.

Abstract: Bendable foam-covered rod-like articles and a method and apparatus for their production are described. The method involves feeding an adhesive coated flexible core to an extruder, which in turn extrudes a low density, closed cell foam sheath about the core. The core and sheath composite is then cut into rod-like elements of predetermined length. Each of the rod-like elements is then restrained at a position spaced inwardly from one its ends, and an orificed plate and an element end are axially pressed together such that the core extends through the orifice in the plate and the foam sheath is compressed. The excess core extending through the plate orifice is then cut, and the pressure between the plate and the element is released, such that the foam sheath returns to its original condition, thereby producing a composite in which the core end is recessed into the foam sheath end. The end of the element is finished by sealing, preferably through the application of a hot brand.