Abstract: Control systems (or controllers) for once through, unfired steam generators (or boilers) which control a single parameter--the feedwater flow to the boiler--in accord with an energy or enthalpy balance between the hot gases supplied to the boiler and the steam generated in it. These control systems have a predictive mode of feedwater control and, optionally, an operator selectable, feedback mode to compensate for drifts in the predictive mode. Other corrections may also be made, and predictive and corrective flow splits can be provided to obtain maximum efficiency when the control system is utilized to regulate the operation of a dual pressure boiler.

Abstract: A compact, unfired, staggered tube, once-through steam generator or boiler of simple construction intended primarily for combined cycle power plants in which the thermal energy utilized to generate steam is obtained from the exhaust gases of a gas turbine engine. The boiler provides steam at two different pressure levels, which maximizes recovery of thermal energy; and all wettable components in the steam/water loop are fabricated of corrosion resistant materials. This eliminates the need for controlling the pH of the feedwater and the need for chemically controlling its dissolved oxygen content, thereby reducing maintenance and operating costs and making automatic, unattended, remotely controlled operation of the boiler practical as well as eliminating the need for blowing down the boiler and minimizing requirements for make-up water. The boiler can be operated dry to remove gas side fouling; and feedwater flow rates can be directly controlled.

Abstract: Altitude rate commands are generated and fed to an aircraft autopilot to cause the aircraft to transition to a non-level flight path which corresponds to a portion of a calculated flight path profile stored in a flight management computer. When capture of the non-level path is initiated, altitude rate commands are generated in accordance with the equation h.sub.cmd =h.sub.path +k.sub.h .DELTA.h where h.sub.path is the altitude rate of the non-level segment, .DELTA.h is an altitude difference between current aircraft altitude and an altitude point on the non-level segment, and k.sub.h is an altitude error gain which is a nonlinear inverse function of altitude rate error, .DELTA.h, and which is calcuated in accordance with the equation k.sub.h =k.sub.1 -k.sub.2 .vertline..DELTA.h.vertline. where k.sub.1 and k.sub.2 are predetermined constants.

Abstract: An exterior visor for an automotive vehicle; the visor extending forward over the windshield of the vehicle. The visor includes a number of recessed air vents located in the upper surface of the visor and which are formed by transverse midwalls which are mounted between the front and rear edges of the visor, and by lengthwise extending sidewalls which are connected between the midwalls and the visor rear edge. The air cavities are further formed by individual floor members which extend rearward and upward from the bottom edges of the midwalls. Openings are formed in the midwalls to allow airflow between the bottom surface and top surface of the visor. Fasteners such as pop rivets are inserted through mounting tabs which extend rearward from the visor rear edge and through the cavity floors, to secure the visor to the vehicle above the windshield.

Abstract: An aircraft navigational system includes a digital computer, a first visual output for displaying to an aircrew a geometrical representation of an optimum descent guideslope relative to a symbol representing the location of the aircraft, and a second visual output for displaying optimum descent guideslope information, such as altitude and distance, alphanumerically. The visual display provides guidance information to the aircrew to control the descent of the aircraft along an optimum descent guideslope which is referenced to a selected end of descent waypoint such as a destination airport or to an instrument approach marker. The guideslope is calculated in accordance with predetermined airspeed and altitude requirements with define a descent profile which is fuel efficient and which complies with aviation regulations regarding maximum airspeed limitations.

Abstract: A telescopically collapsible depth gauge-analyzer which has one mode of operation that results in a sample being collected as the device is lowered through a body of the liquid of interest. In a second mode of operation, liquid is not allowed to flow into the device until it reaches the bottom of the body of liquid and an inlet valve in the bottom of the device is opened. The depth gauge-analyzer is equipped with an arrangement which allows the inlet valve to be opened and the collected liquid to be drained from the device without contacting the user. Visual and/or audible indicators make the user of the device aware that the liquid of interest is flowing into it and that the drawing of a sample has been completed.

Abstract: A printing device for printing a continuous strip of indicia. The printing device comprises a housing defining a handle and an operating end portion. The operating end portion defines a print wheel cavity adapted to carry a print wheel with an outer circumferential printing surface for rotation about a wheel axis. An inking assembly comprising an ink housing and an inking roller is moveable between a first forward position where the inking roller is in contact with the print wheel and a second retracted position where the inking roller is spaced from the print wheel. A spring is mounted in the housing which is adapted to urge the inking roller toward the first forward position and releasable retaining structure positioned on the ink housing is adapted to hold the inking assembly in the second retracted position.

Abstract: A modular rain skirt assembly (20', 20, 20") for use in reducing the laterally projected component of finely atomized, dense, mist emanating from the running gear of heavy vehicles traveling on rain coated road surfaces and including: one or more generally flat, elongate panels (28, 28', 28"), each having inturned leading and trailing edges (30, 31) and each defining a projected mist capture area adapted to extend downwardly about the outer upper surfaces of the tires mounted on the vehicle's running gear; at least one spacer panel (29, 29') interposed between each adjacent pair of elongate panels (28, 28', 28") in those rain skirt assemblies (20, 20") employing two or more elongate panels (28, 28', 28") for use with tandem axle configurations and wherein the spacer panel (29, 29') includes inturned leading and trailing edges (32, 34) complementally shaped with respect to the trailing and leading edges (31, 30), respectively, of the adjacent elongate panels (28, 28', 28") with the leading edge ( 32) of each s

Abstract: A turboprop propulsion system where there is a core engine driving a power turbine that is connected through a planetary drive transmission to first and second counterrotating propellers. One of the propellers is connected to the ring gear, while the other propeller is connected to the planetary carrier, the sun gear being driven from the power turbine. The apparatus is provided with a substantially continuous gaseous flow path from the inlet to the exhaust nozzle of the engine, with the planetary drive transmission being spaced radially from the flow path. In some embodiments, the planetary transmission is positioned radially inwardly of the flow path, while in other embodiments, it is positioned radially outwardly of the flow path. The propellers can be in either the pusher configuration or the tractor configuration.

Abstract: An aeroacoustical test apparatus for evaluating a component. The apparatus includes a primary exhaust generating means which detects a primary gaseous flow through a primary passageway and out the primary nozzle. The apparatus further includes a secondary bypass flow generating means which directs bypass flow through a bypass passageway and out the secondary nozzle. An acoustical energy generating means having a sound transmitting axis is substantially centered on the longitudinal center axis of the apparatus. The acoustical energy generating means projects acoustical energy through a first centrally located acoustical coupler and a plurality of secondary acoustical couplers which extend around the primary exhaust generating means and into the secondary bypass passageway to cause the acoustical energy to exit from the secondary nozzle.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette for a tape drive machine wherein a capstan of the machine drives a cleaning portion of the cassette across the magnetic head of the machine. The cassette includes a carriage having two ends which extends across the cassette in the length direction, which is pivotally mounted on one end, and which includes a slot around the pivot pin to allow back and fourth motion across the head. The other end of the carriage holds the cleaning portion and is allowed to move toward and away from the head by virtue of the pivotal mounting. A drive gear system in the cassette moves the carriage across the head.

Abstract: A nacelle wing combination wherein said nacelle can be mounted below the wing and positioned closely to the wing, without creating excessive nacelle induced drag. The wing is contoured so that peak low pressures below the wing occur near the mid chordwise location at the lower surface of the wing. Thus, the channeling of air passing over the nacelle and under the leading edge of the wing does not create supersonic velocities which would create excessive drag.

Abstract: There is a core engine having a turbine section which is drivingly connected to a single propeller through a planetary transmission. The core engine provides a substantially continuous, axially aligned gaseous flow path from the inlet to the discharge nozzle, with the planetary drive being spaced radially from the flow path. In one configuration, the planetary transmission is spaced circumferentially around the flow path, while in another configuration, it is positioned inside of the annular flow path. The engine is ranged in both a tractor and a pusher configuration.

Abstract: A folding support stand especially adapted to be collapsed into a compact unit for storage or transport. The support stand comprises one or more main support members which interfit in slideable telescopic relationship with one another. Positioned circumjacent the main support members is a brace support structure which comprises an upper tubular brace section having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to that of the main support members, and a plurality of bracing struts hingedly affixed to the upper tubular brace section. A leg support structure is positioned circumjacent the brace support structure and comprises an upper tubular leg section having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to that of the main support member and the brace support structure, and a plurality of leg members hingedly affixed to the upper tubular leg section.

Abstract: A balloon stuffing system (25, 25') including a tubular member (26) open at one end (28) thereof and defining a chamber (31) capable of receiving the object (34) to be stuffed into a balloon (35); a hollow, tubular, piston-like ejector rod (29) passing through the opposite end (30) of the tubular member (26); and, wherein provision is made for coupling the axial bore (58) extending through the hollow, tubular, piston-like ejector rod (29), and therefore the chamber (31) in the tubular member (26) and the balloon (35) secured thereto, to a source of inflation medium by either: (i) attaching a mouthpiece (84) to the projecting end of the ejector rod (29) so as to permit pressurization of the chamber (31) and the interior of the balloon (35) by blowing through the mouthpiece (84); or (ii), coupling the hollow, tubular, piston-like ejector rod (29) to a conventional hand-held, hand-operated air inflation pump (41, 41'); and, wherein the ejector rod (29) may be selectively: (a) unlatched from the pump housing (42)

Abstract: Single shaft, air breathing auxiliary power units having a single stage centrifugal load compressor driven by a gas turbine engine. The latter has a single stage centrifugal compressor and a single stage radial inflow turbine mounted in back-to-back relationship on the same shaft as the load compressor. Control systems for these auxiliary power units feature turbine exhaust gas temperature and turbine speed responsive fuel flow control; a bypass valve control which causes air to be dumped overboard when the pneumatic load demand drops to prevent load compressor surge; and an inlet guide vane control.

Abstract: Canister type vacuum cleaners having a casing with convex sides which allow the vacuum cleaner to be pulled or otherwise displaced along a supporting surface irrespective of which side of the surface is facing downwardly and engaging that surface. A roller supported from a casing side wall at the base of the vacuum cleaner or one roller in an array which includes a roller supported from each casing side wall at the base end of the vacuum cleaner can be engaged with the supporting surface to increase the mobility of the vacuum cleaner. These rollers do not affect the insensitivity to orientation of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A cassette cleaner adapted to be positioned in a cassette receiving recess of a video player/recorder. A cleaning ribbon is mounted in the cassette cleaner, and guide members of the video player/recorder carry the cleaning ribbon outwardly into cleaning engagement with the rotating head of the player/recorder. The cassette cleaner has a stationary locating element which restrains outward movement of a portion of the ribbon so that the ribbon engages the peripheral surface of the rotating drum that carries the head member along two contact locations of relatively short arcuate length. This reduces the frictional engagement of the ribbon relative to the rotating drum.

Abstract: An airfoil having a trailing edge flap assembly comprising a flap member having a track mounted thereto. The track member is operatively connected to a slide-block which is in turn mounted to stationary structure. High Fowler motion is accomplished with this arrangement. In another embodiment the flap is additionally provided with a foreflap. In further embodiments, the flap assembly is provided additionally with aft flaps.