Abstract: A drain structure for facilitating the draining of liquid condensate from inside an aircraft whenever air pressures inside and outside the aircraft are substantially equal. A pressure-sensitive apparatus is provided in conjunction with a drain opening through the aircraft's outer skin so that liquid can pass through the drain opening only while the apparatus is open. The apparatus includes a housing and a valve in the form of a slider movable within the housing to open and close the apparatus in response to the pressure differential between the inside and the outside of the aircraft. The housing defines a liquid passageway between the inside of the aircraft and the drain opening, and the slider closes the apparatus by blocking this liquid passageway whenever there is a substantial pressure differential between the inside and the outside of the aircraft.

Abstract: A directional coupler for an optical communications system of the type utilizing non-collimated optical beams transmitted by waveguides. The coupler includes an input waveguide, a network waveguide, and a detector port, and has a beam-directing surface positioned between the input waveguide and the network waveguide. The beam-directing surface defines an opening aligned with and adjacent to the input waveguide, and a beam conducting medium fills the space between the two waveguides. Input optical beams are transmitted from the input waveguide through the opening to the network waveguide, and output optical beams are transmitted from the network waveguide to the beam-directing surface. The core area of the network waveguide is large relative to the opening, and the output optical beam expands as it travels through the conducting medium to the directing surface.

Abstract: In an airplane adapted to carrying cargo, particularly wheeled and/or tracked vehicles, and having a side loading cargo door, a rectangular turntable is installed near the door. The turntable and its pivot are so located that (1) the turntable extends through the door when it is crosswise to the fuselaage and is totally enclosed in the airplane when it is aligned with the fuselage and (2) vehicles longer than the width of the door or width of airplane can be accommodated.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminar flow control aircraft structure, typically a wing or other aerodynamic surface, having an outer skin in which a plurality of spanwise oriented and chordwise spaced recesses have been machined. The method includes the installation of a strip of slot assembly tape in each of said recesses, preferably with an adhesive, and the removal of an element of the tape called a cover plate to expose a spanwise slot through which boundary layer air can be drawn. Also disclosed is a slot assembly tape having a protective cover plate and a pair of sidewalls, and a laminar flow control aircraft structure, typically a wing, in which the slot assembly tape has been employed.

Abstract: Thermal insulating apparatus for an aircraft fuselage of the type utilizing a sandwich panel construction. A foam insulation panel is provided which includes a plurality of standoffs for contacting the inwardly-facing skin of the sandwich panel. The standoffs may be arranged in a grid pattern, molded integrally with the rest of the panel, and bonded to the skin of the sandwich panel. The insulation panel may be used with or without a trim panel between it and the fuselage compartment, and in either case a sheet of metal foil may be attached to the inside face of the insulation panel. The foam may be of the self-skinning type so as to resist penetration of moisture into the foam panel and help direct condensate away from the fuselage compartment.This is a division of application Ser. No. 970,773 filed Dec. 18, 1978, now Pat. No. 4,235,398.

Abstract: A control system and method for utilizing the rotational speed of the high-speed spool in a multi-spool turbofan engine to stabilize changes in engine operation which affect the thrust output of the engine. Signals representing the actual rotational speed of the high-speed spool, the actual value of the selected engine pressures which provide an accurate measure of engine thrust, and a commanded value of the selected engine pressures are processed; and an error signal is provided in response to these three signals which is a function of all three signals. The error signal is then used to control the rate of fuel flow to the engine which, in turn, controls engine thrust. In one embodiment the error signal is a function of the rotational speed of the high-speed spool and the actual and commanded values of engine pressure ratio, and in another embodiment the error signal is a function of the rotational speed of the high-speed spool and the actual and commanded values of integrated engine pressure ratio.

Abstract: Thermal insulating apparatus for an aircraft fuselage of the type utilizing a sandwich panel construction. A foam insulation panel is provided which includes a plurality of standoffs for contacting the inwardly-facing skin of the sandwich panel. The standoffs may be arranged in a grid pattern, molded integrally with the rest of the panel, and bonded to the skin of the sandwich panel. The insulation panel may be used with or without a trim panel between it and the fuselage compartment, and in either case a sheet of metal foil may be attached to the inside face of the insulation panel. The foam may be of the self-skinning type so as to resist penetration of moisture into the foam panel and help direct condensate away from the fuselage compartment.

Abstract: An automatic fastener selection apparatus for sensing the composite thickness of a plurality of workpieces, determining which one of a plurality fastener sizes is appropriate for joining the workpieces together, and generating a dispensing signal representing the appropriate fastener size. Sensing apparatus provides a signal which is a function of the composite thickness of the workpieces, and this signal is processed by a selection circuit. The selection circuit generates an output signal in response to the signal from the sensing apparatus, and this output signal represents only one of a plurality of different fastener sizes. A triggering circuit then receives the output signal and generates the dispensing signal in response thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles, such as rivets from a supply to a riveting machine. A frame defines a passageway including an outlet opening, and a plurality of gates are mounted on the frame for movement with respect to the frame. The gates move independently of one another and are individually operated between normal and actuated positions in a selective manner. Each gate defines a first passageway aligned with the passageway of the frame when the gate is in its normal position, and a second passageway aligned with the passageway of the frame when the gate is in the actuated position. The second passageway of each gate is positioned, when the gate is in its normal position, to receive an individual article from a supply. When a gate is operated from its normal to its actuated position the article in its second passageway is introduced to and dispensed through the passageway defined by the frame and the other gates to the outlet opening for delivery to the riveting machine.

Abstract: A fan spool stabilization loop which improves the stability of the low speed or fan spool in a two spool turbofan engine. In a preferred embodiment, the actual rate of rotation of the high speed spool is compared with the desired rate of rotation determined by integrating the difference between the desired rate of rotation of the fan spool and the actual rate of rotation. The difference therebetween controls the flow of fuel to the turbofan engine. In an alternate preferred embodiment of the invention, the rate of change of rotation of the high speed spool is added to the actual rate of rotation of the fan spool and the result is compared with the desired rate of rotation of the fan spool. The difference therebetween is utilized to control the flow of fuel to the turbofan engine.

Abstract: An interlock system for manual and automatic starting of a turbine engine in which the automatic system is independent of the manual system, and in which the automatic and manual systems are prevented from interfering with each other. This is accomplished with a dedicated computer and electronic logic circuitry which insures that the automatic start system cannot be initiated when the engine is running or when manual starting has been initiated.

Abstract: A method of making an integral structural member including first and second generally planar sections joined together at a transition section which defines fillets at opposite sides thereof. A first workpiece is positioned in a die with a slug of fillet material located adjacent thereto, a second workpiece is superplastically formed against a portion of the first workpiece and against a forming surface of the die, and a portion of the second workpiece combines with the slug of fillet material against the forming surface and the first workpiece to provide the fillets along both sides of the transition section for strengthening the transition section. Temperatures and pressures required for accomplishing the superplastic forming are maintained at diffusion bonding levels for a period of time sufficient to provide diffusion bonding between the workpieces and diffusion bonding of the workpieces to the fillet material.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the attenuation of optical coupling between remote terminals or ports on the same optical coupler. The attenuator employed is a partially reflecting mirrored surface located on the end of a mixing block with a portion of one surface of the mirror coated with an attenuation material. In an alternate embodiment, the attenuator is a mirrored surface separated from a mixing rod by a selectively variable distance.

Abstract: A delivery and locating apparatus for receiving an orientated rivet dispensed from a supply of rivets and positioning the rivet for a heading operation. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism movable between a rivet receiving position and a rivet locating position and includes gripping surfaces which are biased together by a spring member for gripping the shank portion of a rivet provided from a delivery tube. The delivery tube includes a cam portion which separates the gripping surfaces against the bias from the spring member when the gripping mechanism moves into a rivet receiving position so that the shank portion of the rivet from the delivery tube can move freely between the gripping surfaces. As the gripping mechanism moves away from the delivery tube the gripping surfaces are forced together by the bias from the spring, and the gripping surfaces hold the shank portion of the rivet firmly as the gripping mechanism moves from its rivet receiving to its rivet locating position.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminar flow control aircraft structure, typically a wing or other aerodynamic surface, having an outer skin in which a plurality of spanwise oriented and chordwise spaced recesses have been machined. The method includes the installation of a strip of slot assembly tape in each of said recesses, preferably with an adhesive, and the removal of an element of the tape called a cover plate to expose a spanwise slot through which boundary layer air can be drawn. Also disclosed is a slot assembly tape having a protective cover plate and a pair of sidewalls, and a laminar flow control aircraft structure, typically a wing, in which the slot assembly tape has been employed.

Abstract: A control system including both a method and apparatus for use on an aircraft during flight utilizes real-time data provided by sensing equipment on the aircraft to iteratively generate values for an efficiency parameter. The aircraft controls are adjusted after each iteration, and successive values of the efficiency parameter are compared until such comparison shows that the parameter has been substantially optimized. Iterations may then continue without corresponding control adjustments until comparison indicates that a current parameter value differs by a predetermined magnitude from the previously determined optimum value, at which time control adjustments resume in order to bring the efficiency parameter to a new substantially optimum parameter value.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the detection and counting of the number of lightning discharges on the skin of an aircraft. The apparatus comprises a sensor electrode for the detection of such discharge, an electronic circuit for generating and shaping a pulse at each detection interval, and a circuit for counting and displaying such pulses.

Abstract: A pneumatic impact gun having an accumulator and interlock system for rapidly dumping a predetermined amount of compressed air into a cylinder to thereby propel an associated piston toward an anvil for contact with a rivet to be upset. The interlock system prevents accidental firing of the gun until a normally open interlock valve is manually depressed. Thereupon, a trigger valve may be manually opened to permit compressed air from a source to open a main valve and charge the accumulator to a predetermined pressure. The air in the accumulator may then be rapidly dumped therefrom into contact with the piston. Additionally, a metering valve serves as an energy selector to permit selective charging of the accumulator for varying the resulting impact of the piston onto the anvil.

Abstract: A clamp for electrically connecting a part to be anodized to a conductive bar having a member adapted to attach to the bar and a frame disposed on said member for holding the part to be anodized. Electrical contacts within the frame are forced against the conductive bar and the part to be anodized in the clamped position.