Abstract: An improved motor vehicle seat back hinge mechanism which includes an inertial sensitive latching device which prevents forward rotation of the seat back in the event of sudden vehicle deceleration. The vehicle seat hinge mechanism according to this invention improves over prior art designs by providing a quadrant component which does not present objectionable rearward protrusions which interfere with rear seat occupants while entering and egressing from the rear seat area and, further, avoids the presentation of sharp projections which could cause tearing and wearing of interior trim fabrics. Further, the pendulum type inertial sensing mechanism of the design according to this invention avoids the use of loose parts which may give rise to noise and rattle problems associated with rolling weight type inertial sensing mechanisms.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle having a high degree of survivability against a nearby nuclear blast. The vehicle includes a chasis on which wheels or the like are mounted for movement along the earth's surface and a protective shell covering the vehicle. A skirt extends downwardly from the shell to a substantially uniform distance above the earth's surface during normal conditions. In the event of a nearby nuclear detonation, sensors on the top of the shell detect the initial flash and initiate braking, retraction of the wheels, and closure of any vents. The vehicle comes to rest on the skirts, which may include seals in contact with the earth. Blast overpressure and winds cannot leak underneath the vehicle. Overpressure on top then forces the vehicle tightly against the earth, preventing it from being overturned or blown away by the blast winds. Thereafter, the vehicle can return to its normal function, e.g. erect and launch a missile contained therein, extend the wheels and resume movement, etc.

Abstract: A device for securing a workpiece to a fixture for performing machining operations includes a tubular, radially expansible mandrel. The mandrel is carried in a passage provided in the fixture and extends into a hole provided in the workpiece. An expander stem is carried within a bore of the mandrel. The stem has an upper end that is tapered for expanding the mandrel. The lower end of the stem is connected to a hydraulic piston. A spring applies an upward force on the mandrel. A hydraulic cylinder moves the stem downwardly, while the spring retains the mandrel in a stationary position until it grips the workpiece. Then, the hydraulic force overcomes the force of the spring to pull the mandrel downward slightly to secure the workpiece to the fixture.

Abstract: A plasma arc cutting torch housing defines a chamber which has an outlet at the end of the housing. The torch also includes an electrode in the chamber near the outlet and means in the chamber for separating the gas flowing towards the outlet of the housing into a primary gas flow adjacent to the electrode for generating a plasma and a secondary gas flow away from the electrode for cooling the torch and the workpiece. The electrode has a centrally disposed bore therethrough for conveying gas. Inserts in the bore at opposite ends of the electrode burn away so as to expose the centrally disposed bore and thereby automatically quench operation of the plasma arc so as to prevent damage to the torch. In the preferred embodiment, the electrode has a centrally disposed transverse bore and a pair of transverse bores intermediate the central bore and the electrode ends. In an alternate embodiment, the pair of transverse bores are eliminated and gas is conducted by means of an annular gas distributor.

Abstract: A takeoff and landing platform for V/STOL aircraft has features to reduce ground effect. The platform has a plurality of vanes mounted above a flat horizontal surface. Each of the vanes is curved to turn the jet stream from the vertical. The upper edges of all the vanes lie in a plane that is parallel with the horizontal surface. This plane is located at a distance from the horizontal surface that is about 0.5 to about 2.0 times the engine nozzle diameter at takeoff and landing of the type aircraft that use the platform.

Abstract: A nosepiece for a drill motor. The nosepiece is adjustable to allow the nosepiece length to be changed rapidly to compensate for different drill lengths. The nosepiece is threaded to mate with threads on the drill motor housing and can be adjusted longitudinally along the motor center line axis. When the nosepiece is threaded along the housing to a desired location it is locked in place by a locking ring keyed to the nosepiece and fixed in position on the drill motor housing by a hand adjustable set screw.

Abstract: An electronic controller for an internal combustion engine provides a ratio control signal corresponding to a respective air/fuel ratio, and responds to an air flow signal, a fuel flow signal and the ratio control signal to control fuel flow as to make the ratio of air flow to fuel flow substantially equal to said respective air/fuel ratio. The ratio control signal is developed from a base run ratio control signal as modified in response to various parameters such as engine temperature, manifold pressure, idle, manifold vacuum, fuel temperature, wide open throttle, engine speed, and start. The controller also provides speed-up circuit for promptly responding to change in air flow and dynamic braking for the fuel metering pump. The pump speed circuit includes a range extender.

Abstract: An indexing and locating component to be used with a fixture for precision machining of parts. The component includes a receiver bushing press fitted into a fixture and a locating pin which is adjustable rotationally as well as vertically. A lock nut locks the pin in a predetermined position and permits removal and replacement of the pin with another pin having another configuration. Locating pins of various configurations are shown.

Abstract: A feed rate attachment for a drilling tool or the like. The drilling tool is equipped with a piston attached thereto operating within a cylinder positioned against the work-piece. A hydraulic damper is utilized to linearly resist the movement of the drilling tool attached piston relative to the cylinder.

Abstract: A deployment system for a deployable truss structure particularly adapted to space applications which has high structural efficiency and can be remotely operated in a controlled, sequential manner. The truss in its deployed configuration exhibits a "diamond" cross section. Each of the four sides of the structure is essentially a "Warren" truss. Diagonals on the opposite sides of each diamond incorporate a mid-span hinge and the other two diagonals are rigid tubes. When packaged, all elements of the truss are folded so that they are parallel to one another and contained between two guide rails. The guide rails are located on either side of the diamond truss. The horizontal strut connection points or nodes are fitted with rollers that are locked in the guide rails for movement therealong. The deployment initially lifts upright truss members to the vertical position, forming the basic diamond shape of the truss.

Abstract: A dual-path, multicontact connector for a printed circuit board includes two perpendicular groups of contacts and a plurality of internal switches which permit conductivity to be selectively established between one or more pairs of contacts or between either contact of each pair and an electrical circuit on the circuit board. Each contact of a contact pair is included in a respective group of contacts. The perpendicular arrangement of the contact groups allows one group of contacts on the dual-path connector to engage corresponding contact groups on adjacent abutting dual-path connectors. Selective operation of the internal switches in a series of abutting connectors can provide alternate conductive pathways to electrical circuits on any board through the contacts of one or more adjacent connectors.

Abstract: A splatter shield (42) is positioned on a frontwall (34) of a hollow upright standard (14) of an electric drink mixer (10). The splatter shield includes a one-piece body (44) having a top flange (60) bent to form a rear flange (68) which engages an inner surface (38) of the hollow standard frontwall to cooperate with a mounting bolt (46) extending through an aperture (48) in the body into engagement with the frontwall to mount the splatter shield on the standard. A switch actuator mechanism (30) for activating a drink mixer motor (18) via a switch assembly (36) extends through a slot (32) defined in the frontwall and a slot (58) in the body to be contacted by a container (24) supported on a container support (54) which is also one-piece with the body.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an airplane to permit it to achieve vertical and/or short take-offs and landings. The propulsion system is integrated into a wing/nacelle unit and includes a thrust vectoring system. A separate flow turbofan engine is mounted in each wing/nacelle unit. A system of three flaps is located at the rear of each wing/nacelle unit for deflecting the turbofan engine exhaust downward, rearward, or any angle in between. These three flaps are arranged to provide a main thrust nozzle in the horizontal flight position without any additional flaps between them. One flap is located at the wing/nacelle upper surface trailing edge. Two slots are provided at the leading edge of this flap. The upper forward most slot is provided as an exit nozzle for the engine turbine exhaust, which is shrouded from the fan exhaust. The second of these two slots removes a portion of the high energy fan exhaust from the fan discharge duct and ejects it over the flap upper surface.

Abstract: A time shared transceiver laser system which may be rapidly switched between two subsystems while using the full power of the laser beam and which also generates a local oscillator beam required for coherent detection. A method of time sharing and for generating the local oscillator is disclosed.

Abstract: A removable and replaceable locating pin adapted to locate a workpiece on a tooling fixture for machining thereof. The locating pin includes a locator pin having various illustrated configurations is adapted to cooperate with a workpiece for positioning the workpiece in various directions of restraint. The locating pin is provided with manually actuatable locking means that permits easy adjustment or removal of the specific locator pin as a particular machining operation may require. Flexibility of the set up of the tooling for machining of a workpiece is enhanced.

Abstract: A tractor-drawn levee plow having a telescoping frame pivotally supporting a pair of harrow-gangs arranged to move soil laterally toward each other to a center-line to form the levee, the frame also pivotally supporting a pair of hydraulic cylinders powered by the tractor and connected in fluid-power series, one each of which is pivotally connected to the outer end portion of one of the gangs and each of which is utilized in practicing a new method involving forcibly holding the outer portion of its gang in elevated and/or depressed relation to its inner end portion while in ground-engaging position to thereby most effectively and efficiently construct a levee.

Abstract: A superconducting coil having an elongated longitudinally extending first hollow metallic housing and adapted to provide a cooling passage of liquid helium therein. At least one superconducting metallic conductor is disposed within the housing which is surrounded with an electrical and thermal insulating material. An elongated second metallic housing surrounds the inner insulated structure and is adapted to be mechanically connected to similar structure when arranged into a coil structure having a predetermined configuration. A method of manufacture is also disclosed as well as how the novel integrated coil and case structure is advantageously employed in an improved fusion reactor structure and Magneto Hydrodynamic Magnet Structure.

Abstract: An air conditioning control system for at least two duct sections each with an associated damper comprises at least one master controller for a first pneumatic actuator for one damper and at least one tracking controller for a second pneumatic actuator for the other damper. The master controller comprises a first flow sensor producing a first flow variable signal in response to a sensed flow in the duct section associated with the said one damper. An adjustable reference or bias signal means is provided and a temperature signal is combined therewith to provide a composite signal for comparison with the flow variable signal. A resultant signal after comparison operates the first pneuamtic actuator for the said one damper. A tracking controller comprises a second flow sensor producing a second flow variable signal in response to sensed flow in the duct section associated with the other damper.

Abstract: A one-piece shank assembly is disclosed which is comprised of a flat leaf spring having an arcuate intermediate portion, a lower end portion adapted to mount a ground working tool, and an upper end portion which is reversed upon itself to thereby form a pivot sleeve at the forward end of the shank. The leaf spring is brought rearwardly in contiguous and overlying relation to the intermediate portion and its terminal portion is then again reversed upon itself upwardly, forwardly, and then downwardly to form a sleeve bearing for the lower end of a pressure rod. Also disclosed is a simplified mounting assembly for the shank comprised of a pair of rearwardly facing and pivotally connected U-shaped channel members, portions of which are cut away to receive and clamp the frame bar of a ground-working machine in an effective and efficient manner.