Abstract: An aircraft autoland flare control system which augments the autopilot's aircraft flare control commands in the event the aircraft exceeds defined flare envelopes, monitors aircraft longitudinal position, altitude, altitude rate, lateral position and lateral position rate during flare, and outputs commands to correct aircraft position thus minimizing touchdown dispersion in both the longitudinal and lateral axes. When the aircraft deviates from the flare envelopes, such as may be due to extreme atmospheric conditions such as wind gusts, a signal commanding pitch or roll correction is output to the pitch or roll control loop which subsequently acts to adjust aircraft position such that the aircraft's flarepath is returned to within the flare envelopes.

Abstract: The bias level of an amplifier is controlled by an active bias circuit. The active bias circuit establishes a predetermined amplifier bias level (such as class A mode) as a function of input signal level and load impedance. The load impedance value may be manually entered or determined automatically by a disclosed impedance measuring system. Power supply circuitry is responsive to the value of load impedance to vary the bias voltage applied to the amplifier's output devices.

Abstract: A display system for use in an aircraft control wheel steering system provides the pilot with a single, quickened flight path angle display to overcome poor handling qualities due to intrinsic flight path angle response lags, while avoiding multiple information display symbology. The control law for the flight path angle control system is designed such that the aircraft's actual flight path angle response lags the pilot's commanded flight path angle by a constant time lag .tau., independent of flight conditions. The synthesized display signal is produced as a predetermined function of the aircraft's actual flight path angle, the time lag .tau. and command inputs from the pilot's column.

Abstract: A fuel reactor particularly adopted for the efficient combustion of wood and wood-product fuels includes a core comprised of an inner fuel tube and an outer gas tube. Fuel is introduced into one end of the fuel tube and the combustion process is initiated. Perforations in the gas tube allow the combustion gas to progress down the fuel tube and combine with air in the gas tube. A high temperature is maintained on the gas tube to enhance the combustion process. In addition, high temperature-high pressure steam and air are introduced into the core to increase the reactivity rate of char products. The high temperature-high pressure steam is produced by a novel steam pump. The combustion gases are further processed through a gas dispersion chamber, including dispersion plates, and a gas expansion chamber. Heat is extracted from the combustion gases via a novel heat exchanger which includes a gas dispersion shelf, a radiating heat exchanger plate, a primary heat exchanger, and a condensing heat exchanger.

Abstract: A fuel reactor particularly adopted for the efficient combustion of wood and wood-product fuels includes a core comprised of an inner fuel tube and an outer gas tube. Fuel is introduced into one end of the fuel tube and the combustion process is initiated. Perforations in the gas tube allow the combustion gas to progress down the fuel tube and combine with air in the gas tube. A high temperature is maintained on the gas tube to enhance the combustion process. In addition, high temperature-high pressure steam and air are introduced into the core to increase the reactivity rate of char products. The high temperature-high pressure steam is produced by a novel steam pump. The combustion gases are further processed through a gas dispersion chamber, including dispersion plates, and a gas expansion chamber. Heat is extracted from the combustion gases via a novel heat exchanger which includes a gas dispersion shelf, a radiating heat exchanger plate, a primary heat exchanger, and a condensing heat exchanger.

Abstract: A two-stage turbine includes a first stage comprising a first stator having blades configured for accelerating the drive fluid to supersonic velocities and directing the fluid to the impulse blades of the first rotor. The turbine's second stage includes a second stator having blades configured for directing the fluid from the first stage to the reaction blades of a second rotor at a sonic velocity. Efficient operation of the turbine over a broad range of drive fluid velocities is achieved by providing the stators and rotors with elliptical leading edges to form high angles of attack and providing extended stator tail sections to control fluid flow to the rotors.

Abstract: A fuel reactor particularly adopted for the efficient combustion of wood and wood-product fuels includes a core comprised of an inner fuel tube and an outer gas tube. Fuel is introduced into one end of the fuel tube and the combustion process is initiated. Perforations in the gas tube allow the combustion gas to progress down the fuel tube and combine with air in the gas tube. A high temperature is maintained on the gas tube to enhance the combustion process. In addition, high temperature-high pressure steam and air are introduced into the core to increase the reactivity rate of char products. The high temperature-high pressure steam is produced by a novel steam pump. The combustion gases are further processed through a gas dispersion chamber, including dispersion plates, and a gas expansion chamber. Heat is extracted from the combustion gases via a novel heat exchanger which includes a gas dispersion shelf, a radiating heat exchanger plate, a primary heat exchanger, and a condensing heat exchanger.

Abstract: A stall warning "stick shaker" reference level signal is produced as a function of both flap position and total aircraft thrust. More specifically, a correction term .DELTA..alpha. is combined with a standard stick shaker reference level signal which is scheduled as a function of aircraft flap position. The .DELTA..alpha. signal is scheduled as a function of the total aircraft gross thrust coefficient. The resultant reference level signal produces advance stall warnings that are essentially invariant with engine power level.

Abstract: A monitoring system for detecting a fault condition in any one of multiple power control actuator units used for positioning an aircraft's control surface includes sensors for producing sense signals corresponding to the load on each actuator unit under a given control surface loading condition. The sense signals are compared with a reference level signal corresponding to a maximum allowable load. An indication is produced in response to the load on any actuator unit exceeding its allowed value.

Abstract: A solid fuel combustion chamber combusts the fuel utilizing underfire and overfire air. Both the underfire and overfire air derive from a common intake port, with a controllable vane determining the ratio between the two air sources. Gas flow from the solid fuel combustion chamber enters a gas combustion chamber designed to produce turbulence and thereby promote further combustion. The gas flow is then accelerated in a gas flow chamber and directed to the circulating fluid carrying tubes of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a condensation chamber which extracts sufficient heat from the gas flow to produce a condensate. An injection system superheats the condensate and injects it into the solid fuel combustion chamber to thereby reduce residue accumulation.

Abstract: A telephone control system connects to the telephone line from a telephone exchange. The control system includes a detector for detecting signals on the line, a signal generator for producing and applying control signals to the telephone line, memory for storing electronic signals and a central processor for monitoring signals on the line as detected by the detector, accessing the memory to produce and apply control signals to the signal generator. The control system is programmable to provide a variety of controllable functions to a remote user including activation of the conferencing/transferring function provided by the telephone exchange to allow a user to sequentially complete successive phone calls through the control system without the user hanging-up, or to redirect calls to pre-programmed, remotely controllable numbers. In addition, the control system is capable of receiving, storing and redirecting messages to pagers.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of multifilament, resin-impregnated rovings (18) is routed through orthogonally disposed guide rollers (222, 224; 242,244) for compaction to a predetermined width and thickness between the radial faces of a compaction backup roller (250) and a compaction roller (254). The force applied to the compaction roller (254) is varied to assure the dimensions of each compacted roving. The compacted rovings (18) are then routed through a bandwidth adjustment assembly (290) that controls the spacing between adjacent rovings such that they emerge in a side-by-side alignment forming a band (90). The band (90) then passes over the surface of a final deliver roller (296) before being wound onto a rotating mandrel (92) in a band edge-to-edge configuration to form a filament-aligned structure. The structure is then cured, causing the flow of the resin impregnation and forming a unified structure.

Abstract: A solid fuel combustion chamber combusts the fuel utilizing underfire and overfire air. Both the underfire and overfire air derive from a common intake port, with a controllable vane determining the ratio between the two air sources. Gas flow from the solid fuel combustion chamber enters a gas combustion chamber designed to produce turbulence and thereby promote further combustion. The gas flow is then accelerated in a gas flow chamber and directed to the circulating fluid carrying tubes of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a condensation chamber which extracts sufficient heat from the gas flow to produce a condensate. An injection system superheats the condensate and injects it into the solid fuel combustion chamber to thereby reduce residue accumulation.

Abstract: A spiral four fluted rotary carbide cutter has a one directional helix throughout much of its length, and a reverse directional helix adjacent the cutting end. Opposite lands, between the flutes, have square cornered axially aligned and equally spaced notches; with adjacent lands having the notches intermediately located with respect to each other. All of the notches are at an angle of about 20 degrees with respect to a line perpendicular to the axis of the cutter to in combination provide a cutter for Kevlar containing composite panels.

Abstract: Retarding of the point of transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow in aerodynamic boundary layers on the surfaces of aircraft is accomplished by radiating acoustic energy at frequencies greater than twice the critical Tollmein-Schlichting frequency into the boundary layer. The acoustic energy interferes with the formation of Tollmein-Schlichting waves, thereby increasing the incidence of laminar flow and reducing aerodynamic drag.

Abstract: A series of filaments are grouped into rovings (10), with each roving being impregnated with a viscous, tacky resin binder. The rovings are guided (12, 14, 16) to and compressed against a mandrel (18). By controlling intraroving spacing and compression force, the rovings are compressed such that their lateral expansion results in adjacent roving bonding, whereby a singular band (22) of defined width, height and filament count is formed. The height and width is controlled by varying the compression force and the intraroving spacing. Band contouring is realized by severing (24, 26) selected rovings prior to band formation. Linear and rotational relative motion is provided (FIG. 11: 110, 112, 114) between the roving guiding and compression means and the mandrel to precisely orient the band.

Abstract: A multiple channel composite sound generating system utilizes a microprocessor-based controller, single tone generators and random noise generators to control the frequency and attenuation of single tones and the attenuation of random noise bands for each channel. The controller interpolates host computer data to produce desired sounds. The system simulates the sounds of operating machinery, and adds realism to training environments such as aircraft training mockups.

Abstract: A system particularly adapted for guiding aircraft through wind shear conditions includes: a thrust command control (10) for maintaining airspeed and groundspeed within a defined range; a detection system (12) for detecting and annunciating the presence of moderate and severe wind shear; and a pitch command system (14) which provides pitch command signals for optimum climb out from a wind shear condition.

Abstract: A failsafe rotary actuator having irreversible dual load paths between input and output members thereof is comprised of an input shaft journalled for rotation within a housing for the actuator, first and second sun gears secured in spaced relationship along and to the input shaft for rotation therewith, planet gears disposed for orbital rotation with and circulation about the sun gears, first and second fixed ring gears disposed for independent engagement with the planet gears, and first and second output gears disposed for independent driving contact with the planet gears; wherein a first load path is established between the first sun gear and the first output gear across the planet gears in cooperative engagement thereof with the first fixed ring gear, and a second load path is established between the second sun gear and the second output gear across the planet gears and cooperative engagement thereof with the second fixed ring gear.

Abstract: A communication system of the type wherein a central station assigns a limited number of information channels to a requesting one of a plurality of remote stations is disclosed. The requesting station sends its identification signal along with the request signal to the central station on a signal channel. The central station classifies the requesting station in either a priority or a non-priority queue. The priority queue corresponds to those stations which are continuing an on-going interchange, whereas the nonpriority queue contains those stations which wish to initiate an interchange. Stations are prioritized in the queues on a first-in/first-out basis.The central station constantly monitors the information channels and, as channels become available, assigns the channels first to stations in the priority queue, then to nonpriority queue stations.