Abstract: A jump strut landing gear apparatus for providing an aircraft with a short takeoff and landing capability, utilizes incrementally fired, pyrotechnic charges to explosively generate the required compressed fluid to drive the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nose piece for a power drill and hand drill with certain modifications made to nose piece and using telescopic bushing having a drill motor, a drill spindle and a drill bit attached to the spindle, the nose piece being capable of macro longitudinal adjustment with respect to the length of the drill bit and rotational adjustment of its position with respect to the drill motor and the work piece.

Abstract: The invention combines a plurality of ultrasonic ranging transducers (11) arrayed proximate the end (12) of a movable robot arm (13), all transducers (11) being mounted to a common base so as to be pivotally movable both horizontally and vertically relative to the robot arm (13) by stepping motors (17 and 20). By controlling the pivotal movements of the transducer array (10) by a microcomputer (22) so as to look in the direction of intended travel of the robot arm end (13), and as to the robot arm end (13) moves, unexpected objects in the path of the robot (14) or aberrant motion by the robot (14) become easily detected. Upon the sensing of an obstruction to the direction of motion of the robot arm (13), or aberrant motion thereof, a signal from the microcomputer (22) to the robot (14) controls will halt further operation until the obstruction is removed or the problem corrected.

Abstract: A flexible ball mandrel for bending tubes which have different diameters and walls of varying thickness consisting of a series of self-lubricating balls, the diameters of which may be adjusted, and which are equally spaced apart for maintenance of a constant separation during a bend cycle connected to a shank for securing the mandrel elements properly together.