Abstract: In order to provide for accurate setting of a preload force on an accelerometer force responsive pendulum and to provide for rigid support for the pendulum, a pendulum support assembly is constructed with a flexure member that is attached at one end to the accelerometer frame. The flexure receives the preload force from a preload pin at the other end and has one pendulum axle bearing attached to it between the attachment point and the preload pin. In addition, the flexure includes a hinge portion located next to the attachment point that serves to make the flexure a statically determinate beam so that the preload force on the bearing can be accurately determined.

Abstract: To increase the effectivity of warnings and to decrease nuisance warnings in a ground proximity warning system having several modes of operation, the switching from one mode to another is done as a function of time. In addition, in a ground proximity warning system where a warning signal is generated in accordance with a predetermined relationship between flight parameters, one or more of these parameters can be varied as a function of time in order to, for example, increase the altitude above ground as a function of time from take-off that a terrain clearance warning may be generated or to decrease as a function of time, the radio altitude below which a negative take-off after a climb warning may be generated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an impingement cooling apparatus for use in the removal of heat from a heat liberating device. The apparatus includes a housing on which the device is secured and a stack of plates fitted within the housing. One of the plates is an impingement orifice plate adjacent the housing where the device is located. The orifice plate has a region that is characterized by coolant flow impingement orifices passing therethrough. The orifice plate also has a coolant drainage return adjacent the impingement orifice region.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-priming screw pump lubrication system. The system 10 includes a central feed tube which communicates at one end with lubricant in a reservoir or sump and at the other end to the central region of an assembly that includes a horizontally disposed rotating shaft. The shaft having thereon threaded portions of opposite pitch mounted within a pair of mating sleeves which sleeves are biased away from each other at the central region of the assembly. The other ends of the sleeves are in abutting relationship with the outer races of a pair of angular contact bearings to be lubricated. Each of the inner races of the bearings are mounted on the rotary shaft. Lubricant slingers are mounted on the rotating shaft at a point remote from the bearings and cooperate with the lubricant that has been drawn upward through the central feed tube and delivered to and past the bearings, whereupon the slingers propel the lubricant back to the reservoir for reuse.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-hydraulic control system for a power drive unit having a wobbler controlled variable displacement hydraulic motor wherein the electro-hydraulic control system causes the displacement of the hydraulic motor to match a load to be driven by a power drive unit output shaft coupled to the motor. The system results in the hydraulic motor displacement matching the load as a combined function of the input command signal, the actual wobbler position, as well as the velocity and position of the power drive unit output shaft.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system has parallel connected generators powered by variable speed engines. Loads connected with each generator are interconnected through an electrical distribution bus. Constant speed drives have inputs connected with the engines and outputs directly connected with the generators. The connections between the constant speed drive outputs and the generators are characterized by the absence of overrunning clutches used in prior systems. An improved electrical protective circuit senses a flow of electrical power from the distribution bus to a generator, driving the generator as a motor. If the power flow to the generator is excessive, the bus tie breaker is opened disconnecting the generator from the bus.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shorted diode protection system for a brushless alternating current generator of the type having an energizeable exciter field winding. The system includes a circuit arrangement for sensing the voltage difference across the exciter field and pairing the voltage difference with generator load current to thereby provide an output signal that falls within a predictable range of values over a normal generator load current range. The output signal is of such a nature that it falls within a higher range of values upon the occurrence of a shorted diode. Another circuit arrangement is responsive to the output signal such that whenever the output signal exceeds a preset value over the normal load current range, an output is generated that operates to cause the interruption of the exciter field.

Abstract: This invention relates to an energy absorbing ratchet for a bidirectional no-back apparatus which includes in combination a fixed support, a rotatable input member and a rotatable output member. The input member includes an input plate which has integral therewith a pair of release pins. An output plate is coupled to the output member. The input plate and the output plate have a torque transmission device coupled therebetween. The fixed support has an energy absorbing means coupled to a ratchet ring. The ratchet ring is positioned between the input and the output plate. The output plate has thereon a pair of moveably mounted pawl members for cooperative engagement with the ratchet ring to thereby engage the ratchet ring when the no-back apparatus is at rest, and whenever a backdriving load is delivered from the output member to the output plate. The pawl members are released from the ratchet ring by the cooperative engagement with the release pins upon bidirectional rotation of the input member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a slipper and swashplate cavitation erosion control and impact reduction assembly for a piston type hydraulic apparatus that includes a rotating cylinder block having at least one axially disposed bore. A piston is mounted for reciprocal movement within the bore. A fixed port plate is provided as well as a pair of different fluid pressure sources. The port plate cooperates with the rotating cylinder block to deliver alternately during two discrete and different portions of the cylinder block rotation first one of the fluid pressure sources and then the other of the fluid pressure sources to the bore and the piston. The piston has at one end thereof a slipper coupled thereto and the slipper is mounted for a sliding interface movement on a surface of a swashplate. The swashplate is nonrotatable in respect of the port plate.

Abstract: A universal wind deflector for use in a vehicle window when the window is open. The deflector has a body that has a first and a second planar portion integrally joined along a line contained by both the first and second planar portions. This arrangement defines an overall deflector body which has the first and second planar portions joined at an angle, one to the other. The first and second planar portions each have separate window engaging means formed at one end of each of the planar portions. The other ends of each of the planar portions are provided with means to mechanically couple either end of the planar portion to a portion of the window frame whereupon, depending upon which of the first or second window engaging means are mechanically coupled to the open window, air currents from wind passing the vehicle will be drawn into the vehicle or be deflected away.

Abstract: A preselected lapsed time indicating granule flow timer. The timer includes in combination first and second enclosed chambers integrally connected by a neck with an opening therethrough to thereby provide communication of an electrically conductive granular material between the first and second chambers dependent upon the physical position of the first and second chambers in respect of each other. The first and second chambers each have an electrically conductive plate integral with an end of each chamber at an end of the chamber remote from the neck that separates the chambers.Each of the chambers have positioned on a wall of the respective chamber at a point between the electrically conductive plates at least one electrical contact element.

Abstract: A head moving mechanism for a tape deck provides for accurate shifting of a magnetic head from one set of tracks to another by securing the magnetic head to a head carriage member which in turn is attached to the tape deck by two flexures. A solenoid secured to the head carriage member serves to move the magnetic head by means of a linkage mechanism attached to the tape deck.

Abstract: In the preferred form, the invention disclosed herein provides a single servo control valve to modulate the flow of control fluid to a servo mechanism of a variable displacement pump wherein the single valve is provided with both a manual primary input and an electro-hydraulic secondary input which modulates the primary input. The servo valve is spring biased toward a neutral position with the manual input displacement command being applied to such servo valve through a resilient linkage. Also applied to the servo valve is a hydraulic signal which is electrically controlled to modify the displacement of the servo valve relative to the yieldably applied manual input.

Abstract: This invention relates to a resettable force limiting assembly of the ball and screw type employed in a flight control actuation system. The resettable force limiting assembly includes a force transmitting reciprocating output member drivingly carried by an actuating member mounted for rotation in a housing. A reversible torque input is mechanically coupled to the actuating member to cause the output member to move in a direction dependent upon the direction of rotation of the input. A reciprocating reaction plate is secured for rotation with the actuating member. In operating cooperation with the reaction plate is a reaction plate engagement assembly that has elements secured against rotation to the housing. The elements are disposed on either side of the reaction plate. The elements have compression springs coupled thereto to resiliently separate the elements while allowing the elements to individually move towards and away from the reaction plate.

Abstract: A self-acting automatic clearance control apparatus for a turbine of the type which includes a turbine rotor mounted for rotation in a housing, the turbine rotor having cooperatively disposed on one side thereof a nozzle and on the other side an exhaust duct, the apparatus includes a control device positioned adjacent to the turbine rotor. The control device is coupled to the nozzle and the exhaust duct. The control device is responsive to changes in dimensions of said turbine rotor as the turbine operates over a range of temperatures to thereby change the relative position of the control device in respect of the turbine rotor whereby the clearance between the nozzle and the exhaust duct in respect to the turbine rotor is maintained automatically.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic rigging arrangement for an actuation system wherein the rigging arrangement includes in combination a differential length feedback device that has a moveable inner member and an outer member, with the outer member secured at its ends respectively to a power drive unit and an actuator, the moveable inner member being controllingly coupled to a power drive control and secured to an actuator position feedback member of the actuator to thereby provide via the moveable member of an actuator position feedback input signal to a signal summing means associated with the power drive control. The feedback input signal being proportional to an actuator position and the signal summing means being responsively coupled to the power drive unit to receive as an input, a signal representative of a given position commanded.

Abstract: In order to provide for substantially reduced costs in acceptance testing of aircraft computers, the acceptance test system described herein includes: a group of input circuits for receiving the computer output data signals; an input circuit adapted to receive signals from the aircraft computer representing the computer input data signals; and a transmitter for transmitting the computer input data to the computer. In this automatic acceptance test system, the computer under test generates both serial and parallel input data signals for itself which are then retransmitted to the computer under test by the automatic test system.

Abstract: A tilt detecting device having an optical axis extending from a light source to a light responsive device, a spherical opaque body, and a basin, generally symmetrical about the axis and having a concave bottom configured as the surfaces of planes intersecting along lines passing through a common point on the axis, for supporting the body for rolling movement generally transverse to the axis.

Abstract: This invention relates to a motor control unit and a feedback arrangement to minimize the effects of backlash in a rotary output system. The system includes a source of energy. The motor control has a directional control element moveable from a null position. The motor control unit is coupled to the source of energy and to a motor which in turn is coupled to the rotary output and to a second input of a differential harmonic drive that has first and second inputs and an output. The first input of the differential harmonic drive is coupled to a rotational command input unit and the differential harmonic drive output is drivingly coupled to the moveable direction control element. In response to a given rotational command input when the second input is in an initial static position, whereupon the motor is coupled to the source of energy through the motor control unit, the rotary output is driven a precise number of revolutions dependent upon the given rotational command input.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a torque control with overspeed regulation and a method of controlling a hydrostatic drive for use in an auxiliary wheel drive of a vehicle which has both primary driven wheels and auxiliary driven wheels. The torque control permits maximum torque drive of the auxiliary wheels when the primary driven wheels slip but yet prevents overspeed operation of the auxiliary wheels. Preferably the torque control with overspeed regulation has both an aggressive control and a sensitivity control so that the auxiliary wheel drive can be selectively modulated with respect to the primary wheel drive.