Abstract: A system and method are provided for continuous monitoring and controlling of aircraft braking that can reduce brake wear and aircraft operating costs through the retention of carbon brake powder from the brakes or addition of carbon powder in a device mounted with respect to the brake disk stack. The use of carbon powder reduces brake wear by providing small particles between the brake disks, acting as a buffer between the brake disks when the brake stack is clamped together. Moreover, when carbon powder or small particles are used at application, such use reduces the roughness of the carbon surface and reduces the number of large particles from braking off the carbon surface, thereby reducing brake wear. Adaptive or selective braking may be used in conjunction with carbon powder to further reduce carbon brake wear.

Abstract: The present invention combines known brake control systems with a new runway condition monitoring unit that works in conjunction with an anti-skid/brake control unit to improve runway condition evaluation. The runway condition monitoring unit is installed on an airplane and receives data from the brake control unit, and processes that data through hardware and software to formulate a runway condition report of the airplane while landing on a runway. The invention may include additional sensors or interfaces that supplement the data received from the BCU. The runway condition monitoring unit contains a processor and interfaces that calculates and creates a runway condition report. The runway condition monitoring unit communicates the report by way of the avionics communication network on the airplane to devices that then send the runway condition report to consumers of the data; such as the flight deck, air traffic controllers, airport operators and airline operations.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for evaluating runway conditions that combines known brake control systems with a new runway condition monitoring unit working in conjunction with an anti-skid/brake control unit to improve runway condition evaluation. The runway condition monitoring unit is installed on an airplane and receives data from the brake control unit, and processes that data through hardware and software to formulate a runway condition report of the airplane while landing on a runway. The invention may include additional sensors or interfaces that supplement the data received from the BCU. The runway condition monitoring unit contains a processor and interfaces that calculates and creates a runway condition report.

Abstract: A wheel speed measuring device for an aircraft braking system uses dual technology packaged in a single transducer that incorporates the robust and reliable variable reluctance technology along with a secondary package for measuring position and velocity bi-directionally for low speed and taxi operations. The transducer of the present invention is preferably incorporated into the envelope of the axle to allow both retrofit on existing aircraft and to maintain existing axle design and configuration.

Abstract: Optically variable security devices, including security threads, patches, labels, strips, are disclosed herein. Certain security devices according to the present disclosure utilize a lens-less construction whereby multiple icon layers are coupled to produce a synthetic image or synthetic color that has an optically variable effect. Each icon layer includes an array of high-resolution icon elements that are aligned relative to each other and spaced apart from each other to produce the desired optically variable effect. Such security devices are particularly, though not exclusively, useful for authenticating security documents.

Abstract: A security document has a security substrate, a security device and a structural weakness element, wherein the security device is coupled to the security substrate, wherein the structural weakness element is integrated with at least one of the security substrate or the security device, the structural weakness element defining an anti-harvesting area and a bulk area, and wherein the anti-harvesting area has one or more of structural fidelity or optical fidelity with the bulk area.

Abstract: A watermark sheet made up of a substrate layer with opposing water and fiber surfaces, a pattern of at least two watermark indicia, and a set of apertures extending from the water surface toward the fiber surface of the substrate layer, is provided. The pattern of at least two watermark indicia is distributed over a continuous area of the fiber surface. The inventive watermark sheet provides watermarks of improved quality. Also provided is a watermark sleeve made up of a cylinder mold and the inventive watermark sheet wrapped around and affixed to an outer diametric surface of the cylinder mold. In addition, methods of manufacturing the watermark sheet, the watermark sleeve, a watermarked paper and a high security document are provided, as well as products resulting from these methods of manufacture.

Abstract: A paper including one or more multi-tonal watermarks having full tonality (depth), and an improved watermarking tool for manufacturing such paper, is provided.

Abstract: An optical security device suitable for securing or authenticating high security or high value articles of manufacture when affixed thereto, is provided. The inventive security device produces optically variable effects when viewed from varying points of view and is made up of a microstructured layer having image icon elements that have at least one pigmented material. The microstructured layer is arranged relative to an arrangement of focusing elements such that at least portions of the image icon elements are observable through at least portions of the arrangement of focusing elements, thereby providing at least one synthetic image that demonstrates a color-transition effect as points of view from which the optical security device is viewed are changed.

Abstract: An optical security device suitable for securing or authenticating high security or high value articles of manufacture when affixed thereto, is provided. The inventive security device produces optically variable effects when viewed from varying points of view and is made up of a microstructured layer having image icon elements that have at least one pigmented material. The microstructured layer is arranged relative to an arrangement of focusing elements such that at least portions of the image icon elements are observable through at least portions of the arrangement of focusing elements, thereby providing at least one synthetic image that demonstrates a color-transition effect as points of view from which the optical security device is viewed are changed.

Abstract: A sheet material having a security device applied over a paper machine made or ‘soft-edged’ through-hole and a method for preparing such a sheet material is provided. The through-hole(s) is formed in a forming fibrous web before it becomes sufficiently consolidated and then the security device is applied onto the fibrous web and preferably over the through-hole(s) at or near a couch roll or similar tool of a paper machine when the fibrous web constitutes a sufficiently consolidated, fully formed wet web. Moreover, papers made in accordance with the inventive method, when subjected to the Circulation Simulation Test, showed minimal damage at the paper/security device interface. Further, the surface-applied security devices showed acceptable levels of intaglio ink adhesion, and the papers had higher cross-direction (CD) tensile strength and much less show-through on opposing sides thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security sheet or document having enhanced watermark(s). In one exemplary embodiment, the inventive security sheet or document is a single-ply paper that is made up of a paper layer including one or more watermarks, and a micro-optic security device (e.g., a patch or thread) that at least partially covers an upper or face portion of the watermark(s). The overlying patch or thread increases the durability of the watermark(s), thereby allowing for the watermark(s) as well as reduced fiber density areas therein to be made larger, and for the reduced fiber density areas to be made thinner. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device projects synthetic image(s) that coordinate or link in with the watermark design(s). In a more preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device offers a machine detectable/readable feature in the form of enhanced IR-brightness, especially when measured in transmission.

Abstract: A watermark sheet made up of a substrate layer with opposing water and fiber surfaces, a pattern of at least two watermark indicia, and a set of apertures extending from the water surface toward the fiber surface of the substrate layer, is provided. The pattern of at least two watermark indicia is distributed over a continuous area of the fiber surface. The inventive watermark sheet provides watermarks of improved quality. Also provided is a watermark sleeve made up of a cylinder mold and the inventive watermark sheet wrapped around and affixed to an outer diametric surface of the cylinder mold. In addition, methods of manufacturing the watermark sheet, the watermark sleeve, a watermarked paper and a high security document are provided, as well as products resulting from these methods of manufacture.

Abstract: A method for applying a security device (e.g., a micro-optic security thread) to a fibrous web during manufacture is provided. By way of the inventive method, the security device is preferably applied onto the fibrous web at or near a couch roll or similar tool of a paper machine when the fibrous web constitutes a sufficiently consolidated, fully formed wet web. Papers made in accordance with the inventive method, when subjected to the Circulation Simulation Test, showed minimal damage at the paper/security device interface. Moreover, the surface-applied security devices showed acceptable levels of intaglio ink adhesion, and the papers had higher cross-direction (CD) tensile strength and much less show-through on opposing sides thereof.

Abstract: The crane includes a swing brake device installed between a hydraulic motor and a control valve and having a flow restrictor; a first backpressure detector detecting a motor backpressure between the flow restrictor and one of ports of the hydraulic motor; a second backpressure detector detecting a motor backpressure between the flow restrictor and the other port of the hydraulic motor; and a control device. The control device has an external-force direction estimation unit that estimates a swing direction of an upperstructure under an external force acting on the upperstructure on the basis of a motor backpressure detected by the first backpuressure detector and a motor backpressure detected by the second backpressure during an operating state of the swing brake device. The control device has a notification control unit that causes the notification device to provide notification of the estimated swing direction of the upperstructure.

Abstract: A crane includes: a boom; a jib; a front post that is swingably attached to a tip end side of the boom; a rear post that is swingably attached to the tip end side of the boom; a post-side pendant member, with one end of the post-side pendant member being attached to a tip end of the rear post; a boom-side pendant member, with one end of the boom-side pendant member being attached to another end of the post-side pendant member, and another end of the boom-side pendant member being attached to the boom; and a post driving device having a link mechanism that rotates the rear post in a range including a position at which the rear post is swung down to the front post side and a position at which the rear post is swung down to the boom side, while the boom is held down in a horizontal position.

Abstract: An optical security device suitable for securing or authenticating high security or high value articles of manufacture when affixed thereto, is provided. The inventive security device produces optically variable effects when viewed from varying points of view and is made up of a microstructured layer having image icon elements that have at least one pigmented material. The microstructured layer is arranged relative to an arrangement of focusing elements such that at least portions of the image icon elements are observable through at least portions of the arrangement of focusing elements, thereby providing at least one synthetic image that demonstrates a color-transition effect as points of view from which the optical security device is viewed are changed.

Abstract: A paper including one or more multi-tonal watermarks having full tonality (depth), and an improved watermarking tool for manufacturing such paper, is provided.

Abstract: A security feature, which is made up of a security device that is coupled to machine detectable indicia, is provided. The security feature may be used with a banknote, with the security feature serving to authenticate the banknote. Harvesting the security device will disturb the machine readable effect or signal generated by the machine detectable indicia, thereby allowing detection of the harvesting.

Abstract: An IR and/or UV machine-readable optical security device (e.g., micro-optic security thread) that is made up of at least one IR-absorbing component with a characteristic IR signature detectable at two or more IR-wavelengths, at least one UV-absorbing component with a characteristic UV signature detectable at two or more UV-wavelengths, at least one IR-absorbing component that absorbs IR light and emits light at a different invisible wavelength, at least one UV-absorbing component that absorbs UV light and emits light at a different invisible wavelength, or a combination thereof, is provided. The IR and UV machine-readable features do not interfere with the optical effects projected by the optical material.