Abstract: A backdrive system is provided for aircraft flight control surfaces, including a motor for driving a control surface. A fluid pressure responsive engaging/disengaging device is operatively associated between the motor and the control surface. The device may be a clutch normally engaged in the absence of to supply pressure or a brake normally disengaged in response to supply pressure. A supply of fluid pressure is connected to the device. An accumulator is connected in-line between the fluid pressure supply and the engaging/disengaging device for storing hydraulic energy during normal operation of the system and for releasing the stored hydraulic energy for at least a given period of time in the event of loss of supply pressure to allow the control surface to backdrive to a neutral position. A check-valve is provided between the fluid pressure supply and the accumulator to prevent return of hydraulic energy from the accumulator supply of fluid pressure when the supply pressure is lost.

Abstract: Improved fuel atomization for turbine engines operating at low fuel flows and at high altitudes is accomplished in an engine having an annular combustor 26 by utilizing fuel injectors 46 provided with radially inward discharge orifices 56 and planar impingement surfaces 60 within the path of fuel discharged from the orifices 56 to provide a flat spray 62 that is generally tangential to the annular combustor 26.

Abstract: A corn detasseling head which includes a frame having a pair of generally parallel shafts projecting rearwardly and downwardly from the frame, whereby the shafts are inclined upwardly in a forward direction relative to a normal forward direction to travel of the head. A pair of cylindrical elements are mounted respectively on the shafts for rotation about their axes relative to the frame, the cylindrical elements defining a detasseling nip. The shafts lie in a plane inclined downwardly and outwardly in a transverse direction relative to the normal forward direction of travel of the head. Therefore, an outward throw angle for the detasseling nip is defined to throw tassels outwardly away from the respective row of corn stalks from which they are being removed.

Abstract: To provide a highly functional yet very compact retractable reel assembly for a telephone extension cord, a housing is provided which is adapted to be mounted on a wall in proximity to a telephone or telephone jack for utilization with either wall mounted or table telephones, respectively. The retractable reel assembly includes a reel biased for rotation in one direction, a ratchet for selectively restraining rotation of the reel in the one direction, and an expansion chamber for a length of the cord within the housing, whereby the portion of the cord leading to the telephone or telephone jack can normally be wound in a radially and axially confined planar helical array. With this arrangement, the retractable reel assembly can allow the portion of the cord to be repositioned to a radially expanded helical array during withdrawal of the remainder of the cord from the housing and returned to the radially and axially confined helical array during retraction of the remainder of the cord into the housing.

Abstract: A liquid confinement type of leak detection system for a liquid retaining chamber defined by an inner wall of the system. The leak detection system also includes an outer wall in closely spaced adjacent relation to the inner wall to define a normally liquidtight leak detection chamber therebetween, and a porous material disposed between the inner and outer walls so as to be in contact with the inner and outer walls in a manner forming a structural bond therewith. Further, the leak detection system includes sensors associated with the porous material at selected points in the leak detection chamber.

Abstract: Surge protection is achieved in a turbine engine intended to provide varying quantities of bleed air and having two compressor stages 48, 36 by providing the inlet 56 of the first stage 48 with variable inlet guide vanes 58, 60. The first stage compressor 48 is a high specific speed, single stage centrifugal compressor whose stable operating characteristics are highly sensitive to inlet guide vane geometry, thereby allowing variations in such geometry to be employed to prevent compressor surge.

Abstract: A distance measuring device is provided consisting of a frame, a wheel mounted to the frame for rotation about an axis and having a peripheral surface to be rolled against a surface to be measured, a distance counter, a lever arm mounted to the counter for pivoting movement between a first position and a second position, a structure on the counter for indicating a predetermined increment of distance as an incident of the lower arm moving from its first position to its second position, structure for normally biasing the lever arm into its first position, structure on the wheel for engaging the lever arm and moving the lever arm from its first position to its second position as an incident of the wheel rotating about its pivot axis in a first direction, and structure on the lever arm for both (1) intercepting the arm-engaging structure on the wheel and (2) deflecting as the arm-engaging structure moves against the intercepting structure with the wheel rotating oppositely to the first direction to thereby allow

Abstract: A closure is provided for selectively closing an opening of a container, including a base element arranged to be affixed to a container adjacent an opening therein. In one embodiment, the closure is provided with tamper-evident film fixed to the base element, and a control element is pivotally movable relative to the base element between open and closed positions. When the base element is affixed to the container, the tamper-evident film obstructs the container opening. When the control element pivots to the open position, the tamper-evident film is visible, and can be punctured or otherwise removed. According to another embodiment of the invention, a closure is provided for a container having a tamper-evident film secured thereto overlying the opening in a container.

Abstract: The difficulty of venting oil from a transmission with the venting of gas therefrom is avoided in a vented transmission construction including a housing (10), a rotary input (12) to the housing (10), a rotary output (46) from the housing (10), and a transmission (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 44, 48) interconnecting the input (12) and the output (46) and including a hollow rotary shaft (34) journaled within the housing (10). A vent tube (64) has one end (66) extending into one end (54) of the hollow shaft (34) and another end (68) in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing (10). A shoulder (56) within the hollow shaft defines a relatively small diameter section (58) and a relatively large diameter section (60) and at least one aperture (62) extends through the hollow shaft (34) from the larger diameter section (60) immediately adjacent the shoulder (56).

Abstract: A sign board having a message portion and a display portion. The message portion has horizontal, evenly spaced grooves intersected by evenly spaced, vertically oriented grooves, the horizontal and vertical grooves being perpendicular to each other. Selected letter blocks are assembled in the grooves to convey a message. Adjacent the message portion is a display portion where a scene usually associated with the message is displayed. The board is rectangular in shape and can be mounted horizontally or vertically with the appropriate set of parallel grooves being used to compose the message. Optionally, the display portion can be backlighted.

Abstract: An overspeed protection system for an aircraft fan engine wherein blades are rotatable from a coarse pitch to a fine pitch to a thrust-reverse condition. A wobbler-type hydraulic motor is provided for rotating the blade. An overspeed governor is operatively associated with the motor for effecting rotation of the blades in a direction toward the coarse pitch condition. A control, including a solenoid valve actuatable in thrust-reverse mode, changes the sense of the hydraulic motor to drive the motor further into thrust-reverse on actuation of the overspeed governor means.

Abstract: The problem of assembling and maintaining good electrical contact in a rotating rectifier assembly (40) is solved using brazed connections. The rectifier assembly (40) includes three planar, tear-shaped copper phase plates (62) which are equally angularly spaced about an axis (68) in a cylindrical housing (44). Six diode wafers (70) are arranged in two parallel planes which are perpendicular to the axis (68). Three diodes (70) in each plane are brazed (72) to one of the oppositely directed planar faces (63, 64) of the copper phase plates (62). The three diodes (70) in each plane are connected by an additional copper plate (78, 80) which forms an output.

Abstract: Reliability problems in a torque monitor are reduced in a simplified construction including a housing (30) journalling first and second coaxial shafts (34), (42). The second shaft (42) is mounted for axial movement within the housing (30), and a sleeve (58) has a threaded connection (56), (60) to the second shaft (42), and a spline connection (36), (62) to the first shaft (34). A switch (82), (84), is mounted in the housing (30) and a switch actuator (80) is mounted for movement towards and away from the switch (82), (84) to change the condition of the same. A shoulder (68) on the second shaft (42) may engage and drive the switch actuator (80) upon axial movement of the second shaft (42) in one direction, while a shoulder (96), (102) on the sleeve (58) may engage and drive the switch actuator (80) upon axial movement of the sleeve (58) in the one direction and relative to the other shaft (34) to provide an indication of relative movement between the shafts (34) and (42).

Abstract: An anti-reverse actuator for a reel of the type having a line carrying spool, a crank assembly consisting of a crank shaft and a handle operable to rotate the crank shaft about an axis, structure responsive to rotation of the crank handle in a first direction for directing line onto the spool, a pawl mounted for movement between first and second positions, structure for blocking the pawl in the first and second positions, and structure on the crank assembly for engaging the pawl in the first position so that the pawl prevents rotation of the crank handle in a second direction opposite to the first direction and for allowing the crank handle to rotate oppositely to the first direction with the pawl in the second position.

Abstract: Unit mailing costs of promotional mailing may be reduced utilizing a dual mailer including first and second stuffed envelope assemblies (12), (14), in side-by-side relation joined by a line of weakening (18), wherein one of the envelope assemblies (12) contains a frank (30) while being free of address information and the other of the envelope assemblies (14) includes an address receiving area (32) while being free of a frank. A first message (Offer #1) is contained within the first envelope assembly (12), and a second message (Offer #2) different from the first message (Offer #1), is contained within the second envelope assembly (14).

Abstract: A system and method for packaging a plurality of sections of bed dividers which form a boundary between adjacent landscaping areas. Each section includes an elongated divider structure having an enlarged upper portion and a flange portion extending lengthwise along the upper portion and depending downwardly therefrom for insertion in the ground. A plurality of the bed divider sections are arranged in an elongated stack of juxtaposed sections. Another of the bed divider sections is arranged lengthwise along at least one side of the stack in such a manner that its flange portion is generally perpendicular to the flange portions of the plurality of bed divider sections in the stack. All of the bed divider sections are held in this arrangement whereby the stack of bed divider sections rigidify the package in one transverse direction, and the side bed divider section rigidifies the package in the opposite transverse direction.

Abstract: In order to facilitate release of a filter by-pass valve (10) for filter element replacement in relatively inaccessible locations, the valve (10) includes a housing (12) defining a filter chamber (14) having an inlet (16) communicating with the filter chamber (14) at one end (18) of the housing (12) and an outlet (20) communicating with the filter chamber (14) at the other end (22) of the housing (12). An integral filter-valve assembly (24) is removably positionable within the housing (12) between the inlet (16) and outlet (20). The filter-valve asssembly (24) supports a filter element (26) within the filter chamber (14) in a manner defining a primary flow path from the inlet (16), through the filter element (26), and to the outlet (20). The filter-valve assembly (24) also includes a by-pass valve (28) defining a secondary flow path from the inlet (16) to the outlet (20).

Abstract: The components of a fuel injection system for a turbine engine 10 and provided with a purging system are reduced by utilizing a construction including a main control valve 24, at least one start fuel line 46 connected to a start injector 50, a plurality of main fuel lines 51 connected to respective main injectors 52 and a two-way valve 44 connected to the main fuel lines. The system includes a purge fuel line 54 and a three-way valve 28 connected to allow the flow of fuel to the start fuel line 46 and to the two-way valve 44 or for connecting the start fuel line 46 and the valve 44 to the purge line 34.