Abstract: A drive assembly has a plurality of piston/cylinder drive units each of which has a piston component longitudinally fixed to a fixed transverse frame member. First and second working chambers in a movable cylinder component are connected to pressure and return through passageways extending through the piston rod of the piston component. A ball member on the outer end of the piston rod is received in a socket structure that has passageways communicating with the piston passageways. A manifold structure is secured to the socket structures and houses a plurality of internal valves including a switching valve with a single external pressure port and a single external return port. The socket structures and manifold structure have abutting surfaces that form internal fluid connections to allow operation of the conveyor without external fluid ports other than the two ports of the switching valve.

Abstract: A straight length of tape (100) is confined in a cavity having a thickness and width essentially the same as the thickness and width of the tape (100). The cavity is defined by upper and lower opposing sets of thin flexible strips (24). In each set, strips (24) are positioned with their faces abutting each other and their inner side edges confronting the inner side edges of the strips (24) in the other set to define the thickness of the cavity therebetween. A series of longitudinally spaced clamps (28) press the strips (24) against the tape (100) to exert on the tape (100) pressure of sufficient magnitude and uniformity of prevent buckling and wrinkling of the tape (100). With the tape confined, a series of longitudinally spaced drive units (50) bend the strips (24) and tape (100) into a desired planform configuration. The tape (100) is held confined in this planform configuration until the tape (100) stabilizes in its new configuration.

Abstract: In an aircraft, a jet engine is carried by a frame (4), and the engine core casing (18B) acts as a beam. An engine core cowl (30) is made of a composite material that maintains structural strength within a given temperature range. The outer surface of the cowl (30) is cooled by the ambient airstream. The sidewall (32) of the cowl (30) is stiffened by a plurality of beams on its inner surface, preferably including axial beams (34) and circumferential beams (38). The beams (34,38) are tubular and have interconnecting passageways (37,39). The cowl (30) is connected to and structurally integrated with the engine casing. Cooling air is aspirated through the passageways (37,39) to maintain the inner portions of the beams (34,38) at essentially the same temperature as the outer surface of the sidewall (32). The flow of cooling air is metered. The cowl (30) acts as a beam and shares bending loads with the engine-casing.