Abstract: An airplane fuselage including a plurality of individual subassemblies having components that are aligned using coordination holes. The components include an assembly of panels, a plurality of stringer clips, a plurality of frame members, shear ties, and a floor grid made of a plurality of crossmembers. The coordination holes are drilled in selected components and are located at positions on the subassemblies to accurately align the subassemblies relative to each other so the spatial relationship between key features of the subassemblies make them self-locating and intrinsically determinant of the final contour and configuration of the airplane fuselage, independent of hard tooling.

Abstract: A fluid leak detection apparatus identifies the location of a fluid leak in a fluid containing vessel. The apparatus includes a wick having a sensing portion and a transmission portion. The sensing portion contacts a selected area of the fluid containing vessel. The transmission portion extends from the sensing portion to transmit by capillary action leaked fluid from the fluid containing vessel. An indicator, connected to the wick transmission portion and the indicator, is activated by the wetted wick to indicate a fluid leak at the sensing portion of the wick.

Abstract: A hanger and a keeper secured thereto for simultaneously supporting and retaining multiple electrical power rails in spaced apart parallel coplanar alignment. To construct a multi-phase power distribution system for use with a vehicle equipped with multiple single-phase power collector shoes respectively operable with the power rails, a plurality of hangers are mountable from respective ground support elements along and at a common predetermined height from a predetermined vehicle travel path or guideway. Following positioning of the guide rails on the hangers, the keepers are secured thereto so as to simultaneously retain the power rails on their hangers in operative relation with the power collector shoes. With this construction, multiple power rails may be provided in operative relation with the power collector shoes without individual adjustment.

Abstract: A carrier including one or more guide tracks, an endless positioning chain associated with each guide track for supporting a payload item, and one or more drive motors for moving the chains in unison with respect to the guide tracks to move a payload item toward an ejection station. A fairing may be mounted in association with the guide tracks. The guide tracks encircle the aircraft fuselage and are maintained under sufficient tension to apply a radial compressive force to the fuselage for securing them thereto. The guide tracks are laterally rigid but are flexible radially to conform to a range of fuselage contours when subjected to a tensile force. The guide tracks thus may be secured to different aircraft in order to temporarily transform the aircraft into a military payload carrier, with minimal modification. Following military employment, the aircraft may be refurbished for non-military usage by removal of the carrier.

Abstract: A tow plate including a retention assembly and a removable clevis assembly made up of a main clevis member and a drogue clevis member engageable with the main clevis member. A first latch mechanism latches the main clevis member to the retention assembly. A second latch mechanism latches the drogue clevis member to the main clevis member. To effect force transfer, the entire clevis assembly is released by unlatching the main clevis member from the retention assembly, with the drogue clevis member latched to the main clevis member. To effect drogue jettison, the drogue clevis member alone is released by unlatching it from the main clevis member, while the main clevis member remains latched to the retention assembly.

Abstract: A method of bonding a cover glass to a semiconductor substrate having conductors thereon. The cover glass and the semiconductor substrate are placed in a relatively high voltage field and heated to induce ion drift in the glass and improved conductivity in the substrate. Additional localized heating softens the cover glass in the vicinity of the conductors permitting the cover glass to flow around the conductors and to be drawn into contact and bonded with the substrate.

Abstract: A floor mounted rotatable arm assembly which supports a removable parachute holder. A release mechanism operates the parachute holder to release a parachute after the arm assembly has been rotated from a stowed position faired with the floor of the aircraft cargo space, wherein the parachute is face-up, to a deployed position aft thereof, wherein the parachute is face-down and available for release.

Abstract: Protective paper adhesively bonded to stainless steel surfaces is removed by applying an aqueous solvent mixture containing a ketone or similar solvent, alcohol, toluene, and a wetting agent, all of which are maintained in a single phase. The relative composition of the solvent components is maintained on the area of solvent application by covering with a suitable airtight cover. The single-phase solvent mixture penetrates the paper and adhesive, and the vapor pressure of the solvent mixture causes the paper and adhesive to blister and loosen. The paper is peeled off after sufficient time elapses. Any remaining adhesive can be removed with a second solvent containing a ketone and toluene.

Abstract: A digital data communication system including a data source and a source interface, a digital data bus, for transferring encoded information from the data source to one or more receivers, each having a receiver interface. The source interface is adaptable for controlling the rise and fall times of the signals on the bus at a plurality of frequencies. It is directly coupled to the bus and terminates the bus in its characteristic impedance. The receiver interface operates at a plurality of frequencies and is directly coupled to the bus.

Abstract: A solid, self lubricating bearing material especially useful as a sliding electrical contact in vacuum environments comprising a high temperature lubricant chosen from AlPO.sub.4, BaF.sub.2, CaF.sub.2 and mixtures thereof, a lower temperature solid lubricant chosen from the chalcogenides which exhibit lubricity, & a silver matrix, the ratio of high temperature lubricant to silver being about 1:4 to 1:10, the ratio of lower temperature lubricant to silver being about 1:2 to 1:8. Filler materials up to 20% by weight chosen from aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, molybdenum silicide, metals from Group 8 of the Periodic Table, and mixtures thereof may be added to alter the hardness of the material.

Abstract: A spring biased over-center linkage transmits a biasing force to opposite guide wheels in alternate sequence for maintaining a selected one of the guide wheels in contact with one of two parallel guide surfaces, depending upon whether the vehicle is operative in a left or a right follower mode. A steering assembly controls the direction of travel of the vehicle in response to the position of the selected one guide wheel as it follows the contour of the cooperative guide surface. A double-acting reciprocative operator positions the over-center linkage at left and right bias positions for left and right follower mode operation, respectively. A spring provides over-center bias to the over-center linkage and constitutes the sole source of biasing force. The apparatus is suitable for use with a vehicle in an automated transportation system in which the vehicle travels along a predetermined travel path or a guideway.

Abstract: A solar cell including a dielectric isolation member to electrically isolate an active region of the cell from the unfinished edge thereof and to protect the p-n junction from surface contaminants. The isolation member is fabricated on top of a semiconductor wafer before diffusion.