Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve with a valve body and chamber. A poppet with a stem and piston is slidably engaged inside the valve body. A poppet release mechanism is included for releasing the poppet from a closed position. A mechanism cover is attached to the valve body. A safety mechanism with a pin, spring, and lever is included for preventing the poppet from moving into a fully open position. A first end of the pin extends into the chamber into a pathway of the poppet and a second end of the pin extends into the valve body of the valve. The spring is positioned between and in contact with the pin and the mechanism cover to bias the pin toward the poppet. A first end of the lever is pivotably attached to the pin and a second end of the lever extends out from the valve body.

Abstract: A method of operating safety mechanism includes extending a safety pin to block a poppet from opening a flow path from a pressure vessel in the event of the pressure vessel being unmounted from a bracket or in the event of the bracket being unmounted from a support structure. The method includes retracting the safety pin to allow free movement of the poppet for opening the flow path only in the event of the pressure vessel being mounted to the bracket and the bracket being mounted to a support structure.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve with a valve body and chamber. A poppet with a stem and piston is slidably engaged inside the valve body. A poppet release mechanism is included for releasing the poppet from a closed position. A mechanism cover is attached to the valve body. A safety mechanism with a pin, spring, and lever is included for preventing the poppet from moving into a fully open position. A first end of the pin extends into the chamber into a pathway of the poppet and a second end of the pin extends into the valve body of the valve. The spring is positioned between and in contact with the pin and the mechanism cover to bias the pin toward the poppet. A first end of the lever is pivotably attached to the pin and a second end of the lever extends out from the valve body.

Abstract: A thermal sensor for an aircraft includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a support layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a state changing material is configured to disposed within the support layer, wherein the state changing material transitions between a non-conductive state to a conductive state at a threshold temperature to electrically connect the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: An advance pneumatic detector to indicate pressure changes in an environment includes a switch, a pressure tube, an endcap, a piston, and a magnet. The pressure tube is connected to the switch. The endcap is disposed on an end of the pressure tube opposite from the switch. The piston is disposed within and forms a seal against the pressure tube. The piston is slidably engaged with the pressure tube. The magnet is slidably attached to and surrounds a portion of the pressure tube. The magnet is configured to control the positioning of the piston within the pressure tube.

Abstract: A system includes a turbo pump to convert compressed gas into power, a storage tank to store the compressed gas, and a fire suppression control valve having a closed position in which the compressed gas is prevented from flowing to the cargo compartment and an open position in which the compressed gas is ported to the cargo compartment to suppress a fire. The system also includes a pump control valve having a closed position in which the compressed gas is prevented from flowing to the turbo pump and an open position in which the compressed gas is ported to the turbo pump to cause the turbo pump to convert the compressed gas into the power. The system also includes an OBIGGS to convert bleed air from a gas turbine engine into an inert gas to provide low rate discharge (LRD) fire suppression to the cargo compartment.

Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.

Abstract: A system includes a turbo pump configured to convert a tank compressed gas or an engine compressed gas into at least one of electrical power, hydraulic power, or pneumatic power. The system also includes a storage tank configured to store the tank compressed gas. The system also includes a bleed line configured to port the engine compressed gas from the gas turbine engine to the turbo pump. The system also includes a propellant selector valve having an off position in which the turbo pump is prevented from receiving either the tank compressed gas or the engine compressed gas, a tank position in which the tank compressed gas from the storage tank is ported through the propellant selector valve to the turbo pump, and an engine position in which the engine compressed gas from the bleed line is ported through the propellant selector valve to the turbo pump.

Abstract: A fire extinguisher vessel includes a hollow body made of stainless steel, a fill port attached to a first end of the body, a discharge outlet attached to a second end of the body, a mechanical attachment lug attached to the body between the first end of the body and the second end of the body, a pressure switch attached to the body between the mechanical attachment lug and the discharge outlet, and a wrap covering the body. The wrap is flush with the fill port, the discharge outlet, the mechanical attachment lug, and the pressure switch.

Abstract: A method of correcting lag in an imaging pixel includes receiving a current frame pixel value and determining a current filter coefficient using the current frame pixel value. A pixel output is determined from a product of the current frame pixel value and current frame filter coefficient. The product of a first prior frame pixel value and corresponding first prior frame filter coefficient is added to the pixel output to generate a corrected pixel output to more closely indicates incident illumination on the imaging pixel during an integration period from which the current frame pixel value was obtained.

Abstract: A valve arrangement includes a housing with an outlet and an inlet and having a poppet. The poppet has a stem and is movable within the housing along a movement axis between an open position and a closed position. The inlet is isolated from the outlet when the poppet is in the closed position. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet when the poppet is in the open position. The stem is inverted relative to the housing such that at least a portion of the poppet stem is disposed in the inlet when the poppet is in the open position.

Abstract: A chamberless indoor air quality monitor system includes a detector body. A resistive heater is operatively connected to the detector body. An active temperature sensor operatively connected to the resistive heater and operatively connected to an outer surface of the detector body configured to take an active temperature measurement. A method for measuring temperature in a chamberless indoor air quality monitor system includes generating an active temperature measurement with an active temperature sensor operatively connected to an outer surface of the detector body. The method includes heating the active temperature sensor with a resistive heater operatively connected to the detector body. The method includes comparing the active temperature measurements to one another to generate a corrected active temperature measurement based on a temperature difference over time between one or more of the active temperature measurements.

Abstract: A flange removal tool assembly includes a cutting tool actuator, vise, annular cutting tool, and center support and accurately removes a weld and a flange of a device, while the device is attached to a fitting in a pressure vessel. Once the weld and the flange are removed, the device can be removed from the fitting and replaced. The assembly allows the operator to quickly inspect the flange of the device during the removal process and reduces the probability of damaging a flange of the fitting.

Abstract: A method of operating safety mechanism includes extending a safety pin to block a poppet from opening a flow path from a pressure vessel in the event of the pressure vessel being unmounted from a bracket or in the event of the bracket being unmounted from a support structure. The method includes retracting the safety pin to allow free movement of the poppet for opening the flow path only in the event of the pressure vessel being mounted to the bracket and the bracket being mounted to a support structure.

Abstract: A smoke detector of an aircraft cargo container includes a status light emitting diode (LED), at least one accelerometer, and one or more processors. The at least one accelerometer is configured to sense movement of the aircraft cargo container and provide a sensor signal representative of the sensed movement. The one or more processors is configured to receive the sensor signal and adjust a blinking rate of the status LED based upon the sensor signal.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a test light to simulate a fire includes measuring a baseline resistance induced in a sensor cell of a two-color detector in response to a controlled fire. The method includes monitoring a test resistance induced in the sensor cell in response to exposure to emissions from a test light and adjusting the emissions of the test light until the test resistance of the sensor cell equals the baseline resistance of the sensor cell to achieve a calibration setting for the test light. A test light for a detector includes a housing and a first LED within the housing having a first emission wavelength. A second LED is within the housing. The second LED has a second emission wavelength. The second emission wavelength is different than the first emission wavelength.

Abstract: A multi-condition sensor, comprising a housing defining a component cavity, a pressure input tube disposed through the housing, a fault actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing and in pressure communication with the pressure input tube through the housing, wherein the fault actuator is configured to extend and contract as a function of pressure from the pressure input tube, an alarm actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing opposite the fault actuator and configured to be actuated by the fault actuator and to extend to a maximum fault position, and an adjustable alarm contact disposed on an opposite side of the alarm actuator within the component cavity and configured to be adjusted to a predetermined extension length from the housing to provide a predetermined alarm contact position.

Abstract: Overheat and fire detection for aircraft systems includes an optical controller and a fiber optic loop extending from the optical controller. The fiber optic loop extends through one or more zones of the aircraft. An optical signal is transmitted through the fiber optic loop from the optical controller and is also received back at the optical controller. The optical controller analyzes the optical signal to determine the temperature, strain, or both experienced within the zones.

Abstract: A fire suppression system includes a high pressure inert gas source configured to provide a first inert gas output and a low pressure inert gas source configured to provide a second inert gas output. A distribution network is connected with the high pressure inert gas source and the low pressure inert gas source to distribute the first inert gas output and the second inert gas output throughout a confined space. A volume reduction system is positioned within the confined space and includes a seal member. The seal member is selectively deployable between a first position and a second position to isolate a first volume of the confined space from a second volume of the confined space and reduce an amount of the first inert gas output and the second inert gas output required to respond to a fire threat within the confined space.