Abstract: Piston rod assembly includes a piston head and rod which are formed separately and subsequently jointed together by injecting adhesive through a porting passage in the piston head into an annular space formed by an internal groove in the piston head and an external surface of the rod to provide a bonded joint therebetween. The piston head includes a radially enlarged center dam portion and a pair of reduced diameter end portions extending coaxially from opposite sides of the center dam portion. The internal groove extends axially beyond opposite sides of the center dam portion for a substantial portion of the length of the reduced diameter end portions. The reduced diameter end portions are externally tapered radially inwardly from opposite sides of the enlarged center dam portion toward opposite ends of the reduced diameter end portions to provide a gradual build-up of stiffness in the piston head from the opposite ends of the bonded joint toward the middle.

Abstract: A fluid actuator includes a lock mechanism for releasably locking the actuator against movement, and a lock release lever engageable by a lock piston upon application of system pressure thereto to release the lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes an axially movable lock member for respectively engaging and disengaging the lock mechanism depending on its position. Attached to the movable lock member is a proximity sensor target which moves with the axially movable lock member toward and away from a proximity switch to provide an electrical signal indicating the locked or unlocked condition of the lock mechanism in accordance with the proximity of the target to the switch. A cover may also be provided for respectively concealing or exposing the target depending on the position of the axially movable member to provide a visual indication of the unlocked or locked condition of the lock mechanism.

Abstract: Helical splined rotary actuator includes a pair of cylinder housings having inboard ends rotatably mounted in coaxial alignment on opposite ends of a center sleeve member. Contained within the housings are pistons having relatively large diameter helical spline connections with the inner diameters of the housings and smaller diameter straight spline connections with opposite ends of the sleeve member, whereby simultaneous axial movement of the pistons toward and away from each other causes relative rotation between the sleeve member and cylinder housings. The sleeve member may be connected to a first support intermediate the ends of the actuator. In like manner, the cylinder housings may be connected to a second support rotatable relative to the first support adjacent opposite ends of the sleeve member.

Abstract: Nose landing gear jump strut assembly includes an outer main housing cylinder containing a jump cylinder which is normally retained in a retracted position but is extendable on command during the take-off ground roll of the aircraft to accelerate the outer main housing cylinder upward thus to rotate the nose of the aircraft upward and thereby increase the angle of attack of the aircraft. Within the jump cylinder is the main strut piston which is free to move relative to the jump cylinder except during extension of the jump cylinder, the main strut piston is hydraulically locked for movement with the jump cylinder. After the jump cylinder has been fully extended, and the aircraft starts to become airborne, the main strut piston will move to its fully extended position. Then the jump cylinder is retracted, while still leaving the main strut piston fully extended.

Abstract: A composite pressure vessel includes retaining rings at opposite ends of a side wall structure having circumferentially spaced oppositely facing tabs thereon about which longitudinal tension windings are progressively wrapped back and forth in a continuous manner around the circumference of the vessel. Between the tabs at opposite ends of the vessel are oppositely tapered ramp surfaces providing a transition for the longitudinal tension windings from a first diameter axially inwardly of the retaining rings to a second, smaller diameter adjacent the axial outer ends of the tabs, which places the retaining rings in compression in a circumferential direction. Each of the retaining rings has a generally cylindrical support surface adjacent the axial outer ends of the tabs for supporting the generally circumferential extending portions of the longitudinal tension windings thereon. The tabs have sides which taper toward each other in the direction of the axial outer ends of the tabs.

Abstract: A composite pressure vessel including a fluid port extending through the composite sidewall structure formed by providing a radial hole through the sidewall structure for receipt of an externally removable porting plug. The porting plug is retained within the radial hole by threaded engagement in an internally threaded grommet which may either be incorporated into the composite windings of the sidewall structure or held in place against the exterior surface of the sidewall structure by local composite windings. At the inner end of the porting plug is a seal groove containing a ring seal which is sized to form a fluid-tight seal around a porting hole in a liner member in the interior of the sidewall structure to prevent fluid leakage between the porting plug and liner member.

Abstract: Anti-rotation lock asembly includes a male threaded member that may be releasably locked in any desired axially adjusted position relative to a mating female threaded member by means of one or more wedge keys that are forced axially into notches in an end face of the female threaded member and radially against flats or keyways on the male threaded member. Surrounding the male member is a key retaining ring which retains the wedge keys on the male member when the wedge keys are disengaged from the female member to permit relative rotation between the male and female members for adjustment of the male member in or out relative to the female member. The wedge keys are retained in radial slots in the retaining ring which prevent relative axial movement between the wedge keys and retaining ring while permitting limited radial movement therebetween.

Abstract: Clevis connection includes a clevis bushing having a bushing sleeve, with a shoulder at one end having a tapered inner diameter, and a longitudinally extending slot through the shoulder and a portion of the length of the bushing sleeve. The bushing is inserted through aligned holes in the clevis arms and connecting lug. Then a tapered expander collet is inserted into the tapered inner diameter of the bushing shoulder and a bolt is inserted through the collet and bushing so that the bolt head loads through the collect which expands the bushing to cause pre-stress on the surrounding lug and a pre-load clamping of the connecting lug to one of the clevis arms, and cause pre-stress on the other clevis arm.

Abstract: Multiple drive paths are provided between the valve plunger and force motor of a direct drive valve and force motor assembly whereby should one of the drive paths fail, the force motor can still be used to drive the valve plunger through another drive path. One of the drive paths consists of a drive shaft having one end drivingly connected to an eccentric on the motor output shaft and the other end connected to the end of the valve plunger remote from the motor output shaft. The drive shaft is desirably provided with an enlarged head portion having a flat annular surface on the axial inner end thereof in close proximity to a corresponding flat end face on the end of the valve plunger closest to the motor output shaft, whereby should the valve plunger break, the drive shaft will hold the valve plunger together and allow for degraded valve performance.