Abstract: A valve having dual seats and dual poppets operating in series to function as either a conventional check valve, or may be operated by an independent piston which may be styled to either combine or eliminate the check valve feature. One seat poppet combination employes a metal-to-metal seal. The other seat poppet combination utilizes a resilient o-ring seal vented so that when the seal is raised from the bottom of its groove, the upstream and downstream sides of the soft seat poppet can communicate. Alternative embodiments provide a family of zero leakage valves for different purposes, e.g. a check valve, pilot operated check valve, and an in line or balanced relief valve with or without the check valve feature by employing generally the same elements with modifications.

Abstract: A store carrier for mounting a jettisonable store on a vehicle such as an aircraft and for releasing the store with ejective force applied at forward and aft locations by thrusters actuated by pressurized medium, the carrier including apparatus for adjustably apportioning the flow of medium to the thrusters by means of a double-acting metering device mounted between the source of medium and the thrusters.

Abstract: An improvement to the controllability of aircraft wherein vortex generators are connected to a control surface in front of the hinge line of the control surface so that when the control surface is deflected, the vortex generators project into the airstream on the opposite side from the deflecting control surface. The action of the vortex generators causes the airflow to remain attached to the control surface at higher angles of attack than would otherwise be possible thus increasing the lift of the airfoil and control surface.

Abstract: Improved cards for use in an automated machine to detect the presence of specific microbes and thereby identify them, enumerate them, and/or determine their susceptibility to antibiotics. Each card includes a plate having conical detection wells each with a selected medium therein, at least one filling port with a septum which is retained by a collar formed therein, and filler passages of specific length and configuration connecting the port to the wells. Discontinuities are provided in the filler passages to prevent unwanted fluid flow and to reduce migration of the microbes when the card is in use. Overflow chambers of a specific configuration are also provided adjacent the wells to entrap bubbles.

Abstract: A vent structure for equalizing the pressure on opposite sides of a structure including a plenum formed at least in part by movable vent panel and a hinged panel supporting wall having overcenter biasing means, the plenum being pneumatically connected to the side of the structure which will be the high pressure side so that the condition requiring venting applies a differential pressure across the hinged wall which tends to force it overcenter against the overcenter biasing means thereby removing the normal support from the vent panel which moves to open a vent passageway. Spring-loaded flapper doors may be included in the plenum forming structure to enable relief of pressure in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A loading ramp for cargo aircraft having integral toe plates hinged thereto and automatically moved by the movement of the ramp to stowed and operative positions without the use of independent power. In addition, suitable mechanical devices therefor are provided to decouple the toes from the ramp during flight.

Abstract: A flame arresting and explosion attenuating system particularly for use in fuel tanks and other similar structures which are designed to contain highly inflammable fluids. The tank or enclosure may be a single compartmented or it may be divided or partitioned into a plurality of individual fuel cells of compartments at least some of which communicate with one another through openings or apertures in the partitions which form them. The subject system is designed to prevent the propagation of flame supported by combustion of the fluid within the tank and to quench the flame when it tries to spread from one compartment to another and to attenuate the explosive forces generated due to ignition of fluid by allowing the forces thereof to be distributed over the total volume of the enclosure so that there is little or no likelihood of the explosion damaging the enclosure.

Abstract: A selectable dual ratio connection between the rudder pedals and the control elements of an aircraft for steering the aircraft by means of the nose mounted landing gear wheel thereof. The connection includes a control arm and a control segment selectively related either by a link, walking beam and bungee or by means of a pivoting link mechanism. The arm and segment are rotatably mounted upon axes that coincide with the pivoting link mechanism which in one position locks the arm and the segment together while in another position enables differential motion therebetween.

Abstract: An averaging counter for measuring the elapsed time between events comprising means whereby counting and adding together can be performed using a single counter such as a binary counter and associated control gating means to make the counter switch from one counting mode to another, said counter being able to count by factors which are not multiples of the basic counter modulus and said counter being able to simultaneously count and average.

Abstract: A rivet for joining a plurality of structural members having a cylindrical shank and a head with a conical undersurface, flared uniformly outwardly from the shank, an upper surface that is generally similar to the minor portion of a filled torus, sliced normal to its centerline and an outer edge therebetween which is rounded adjacent the conical undersurface and cylindrical adjacent the upper surface. When being installed in a workpiece aperture to form a joint, the rivet head coldflows to assume adequate expansion into the aperture while becoming generally flush to the workpiece surface so rivet head shaving is not required.

Abstract: Broadband electrooptical modulator means for use in optical and electrooptical communication systems and the like, the modulator means including modulator driver and driver amplifier means, broadband matching network means, temperature control means, and means to automatically compensate for variations including electronic variations in the output. The subject modulator means employ optically coupled crystal elements which have their optical Z-axes oriented perpendicularly to each other to cancel natural birefringence and to reduce temperature sensitivity including the temperature sensitivity of the extinction ratio of the crystals.

Abstract: Gas turbine, steam turbine and/or process steam systems are combined with supercritical carbon dioxide cycle engines to produce major improvements in net plant efficiency by using the heat inputs and outputs of the supercritical CO.sub.2 cycle to supply or remove heat in advantageous ways to the gas turbine, steam turbine and/or process steam systems.

Abstract: A stress coining fastened joint, for minimizing stress concentration in a wall of an aperture in a metallic structural member, the tool being a rigid elongated shaft adapted for forcible insertion through the aperture. The shaft has end portions and is provided with a plurality of different diameter, annular protuberances spaced intermediate the end portions. The largest of the protuberances has a diameter of such predetermined relationship to the diameter of the aperture, that upon a forced insertion thereof through the aperture the material forming the wall of the aperture is displaced radially substantially the difference between the diameter of the largest protuberance and the diameter of the aperture. The displaced material will thereafter rebound approximately one-half of the initial displacement. The stress coining tool may be combined with a conventional fastener to provide a simultaneous stress coining and fastening operation.

Abstract: A system to locate selected vehicles traveling on standard streets or highways which periodically and automatically determines the location of the vehicle relative to a pre-established reference such as a map using fixed passive optical arrays as sign posts and means on the vehicles to read the sign posts and communicate the locational information thereon to a central monitoring station.

Abstract: A riveted joint employing a rivet having a cylindrical shank and a head with a conical undersurface, flared uniformly outwardly from the shank and truncated by an upper surface that is generally similar to the minor portion of a filled torus, sliced normal to its centerline. When being installed in a workpiece aperture to form the joint, the rivet head cold-flows to assume adequate expansion into the aperture while becoming generally flush to the workpiece surface so rivet head shaving is not required.

Abstract: A valve for simultaneous valving in two separate hydraulic systems, the valve having two slides with each slide being attached to a bypass driving member through caged spring cartridges. If one of the slides jams the other slide is moved by the bypass driving member in the opposite direction to the direction in which the jam occurred. The jammed system slide includes a porting which is opened by the relative movement of the bypass driving member, placing that system in a bypass condition. The other slide is not effected and remains in full control of a tandem hydraulic cylinder to which such valves are connected. If each half of the tandem cylinder is sized for full thrust capacity, there is no degradation in performance during the jammed condition.