Abstract: In one example embodiment, a valve can include a piston configured to open the valve when a first force is greater than a second force, a biasing member that pushes against the piston and exerts a substantial portion of the first force against the piston, and a material that exerts a substantial portion of the second force against the piston, wherein the material changes from a solid to a liquid at an approximate, predetermined temperature, the change of the material from solid to liquid decreases the second force and allows the piston to move and open the valve.

Abstract: A speed control assembly includes an input drive shaft coupled to a first gear subassembly having a rotatable gear, a second gear subassembly coupled to an output drive shaft, and a linkage coupling the first and second gear subassemblies, wherein the input drive shaft, the first and second gear subassemblies, and the linkage are configured such that a rotational speed of the rotatable gear adjusts a ratio of a rotational speed of the output drive shaft to a rotational speed of the output drive shaft. In some embodiments, the first gear subassembly includes a sun gear coupled to the input drive shaft, one or more planet gears, and a ring gear as the rotatable gear. In some embodiments, the second gear subassembly includes a sun gear coupled to the output drive shaft, one or more planet gears, and a fixed ring gear.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a container from thermoplastic material having a connection element (5) passing through the wall thereof. The method comprises making available at least one plate-shaped or shell-shaped or tube-shaped preform (3) made of plasticized thermoplastic material, introducing the preform (3) into a multipart molding tool (1) having cavities defining at least one molding recess, molding and final shaping of the preform (3) within the molding tool (1) using differential pressure, piercing of the still warm-plastic preform (3) from the tool side by means of a mandrel (9) in order to produce an opening (6) in the preform (3), insertion from the molding recess side of a connection element (5) into the opening (6) produced by the mandrel (9), and connection of the connection element (5) to the preform (3).

Abstract: A conduit bender having a unitary frame is mounted to a wheeled base which provides for transportation of the bender. A braking assembly provides for simplified locking of the wheels to secure the bender in a location. The bender is mounted to the base through a pivoting assembly which allows for bending of conduit in either a horizontal or vertical plane. A circuit is provided for controlling the bending operation. An auto-sensing portion of the circuit receives information regarding the characteristics of the conduit to be bent upon placement of the conduit in the bender. A feed back portion of the circuit is used to provide a precise bending operation.

Abstract: A vibration isolator includes an upper housing and a lower housing; an upper reservoir housing defining a upper fluid chamber; a lower reservoir housing defining a lower fluid chamber; a piston spindle resiliently coupled to the upper housing with an upper elastomer member, the piston spindle being resiliently coupled to the lower housing with a lower elastomer member; an elongated portion having a tuning passage; and a tuning fluid disposed there within. The vibration isolator cancels vibratory forces at an isolation frequency. The vibration isolator is utilized in a pylon system for mounting a transmission in an aircraft. The vibration isolator is located between a pylon structure and a roof structure. The isolator includes a spherical bearing assembly that is located near a waterline location of a rotational axis of a drive shaft.

Abstract: An acoustic baffle for reducing noise of a centrifugal fan includes a base for mounting with a fan outlet and a projection extending from the length of the base at a back side of the base and curving away from a top surface of the base. The projection continuously tapers from the base to an apex that aligns with a center line of the base. The projection extends over the fan wheel and tapers from left and right sides of the outlet to a fan tangency point at a midpoint of the outlet and aligned with the apex, when the acoustic baffle is installed in the outlet. The acoustic baffle effects a gradual variation in radial and tangential airflow at the blower outlet, to reduce fan blade passage tone.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operating fluid container for a motor vehicle, said container including a container body which is assembled from at least two injection-molded shells of thermoplastic plastics material which are complementary to each other. The shells are provided in each case with integrally molded structures which extend into the free container volume in such a manner that they bring about a restriction of a fluid surge created, for instance, in the container. At least some of the structures on each of the two shells are welded together at least in part or in a punctiform manner approximately in the joining plane of the container.

Abstract: A cooling system using one or more heat pipes rotating about a central axis to transfer heat energy from one medium to another. The heat pipes are oriented within a rotating member such that the axis of the heat pipe is non-coaxial with that of a central axis of the rotating member. Centrifugal forces are used to assist the movement of the working fluid within the heat pipe. The cooling system also includes heat pipes associated with a planetary carrier assembly and supplemental heat exchangers for use in aircraft and other machinery.

Abstract: A rotating control system includes a member having at least one clevis defined by a pair of clevis arms disposed in a clevis plane, the at least one clevis having an axis of symmetry disposed in the clevis plane midway between the pair of clevis arms, a shaft member pivotally coupled between the pair of clevis arms, the shaft member having a shaft axis, the shaft axis disposed axially along the shaft member, and an anti-rotation device for limiting a rotation of the shaft member about the shaft axis, the anti-rotation device having a plurality of flanges configured to couple to the clevis arms of the member, the flanges extending from a surface of a base member, the anti-rotation device having at least one restraining member that protrudes toward the shaft member for limiting the axial rotation of the shaft member.

Abstract: A power generation device for a utility vehicle having a battery source capable of storing electrical energy and selectively outputting electrical energy and selectively receiving electrical energy, a logic/driver module operably coupled to the battery source and capable of outputting power to a drive system of the utility vehicle, an internal combustion engine capable of outputting a mechanical driving force in response to a control input from the logic/driver module, and an AC induction motor operably coupled to the internal combustion engine via a coupler and electrically coupled to the logic/driver module. The AC induction motor is capable of operating as a generator in response to the mechanical driving force of the internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to the logic/driver module, and further is capable of operating as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from the logic/driver module.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a member to a honeycomb core-stiffened structure includes a body and one or more elements extending from the body configured to be adhesively bonded to one or more walls of a honeycomb core of the honeycomb core-stiffened structure. The apparatus further includes a fitting for attaching the member to the apparatus. A honeycomb core-stiffened structure includes a honeycomb core and an apparatus for attaching a member to the honeycomb core. The apparatus includes a body and one or more elements extending from the body configured to be adhesively bonded to one or more walls of the honeycomb core of the honeycomb core-stiffened structure. The apparatus further includes a fitting for attaching the member to the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for making a propeller product is disclosed. The propeller is formed using polyurethane cores adhered to a laminate hub to form a core assembly. An encapsulating structural laminate skin is then formed on the core assembly using a resin-transfer-molding process to create a single-piece composite propeller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the visual signature of a moving target may be measured by measuring, using a photometer, an optical property of a moving target while the target moves along a path from a start position to an end position in front of a background. The photometer may be repositioned to measure optical properties of the background at the start position. The photometer may measure the optical property of the background along the path between the start position and the end position. The visual signature of the moving target may be determined by comparing the measured optical property of the moving target along the path to the measured optical property of the background along the path.

Abstract: A static charge drain system for an aircraft window includes a resistive probe penetrating an outer ply of the aircraft window, a first end of the probe being exposed at an outer surface of the outer ply of the aircraft window. A second end of the probe penetrates an inner surface of the outer ply of the aircraft window. A conductive drain element is disposed between the outer ply of the aircraft window and an inner ply of the aircraft window and is electrically connected between the second end of the probe and a ground point of the aircraft window.

Abstract: A method of making a core-stiffened structure includes the steps of providing a honeycomb core having an adhesive disposed on first and second surfaces thereof, providing a first skin and a second skin, and assembling the first skin, the second skin, and the honeycomb core to form the core-stiffened structure. The method further includes the steps of curing the core-stiffened structure and inhibiting at least one of the first skin and the second skin from protruding into at least one cell of the honeycomb core during the step of curing the core-stiffened structure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotor brake control system includes a temperature sensor operable to measure an operating temperature of a rotor brake and a rotor brake control unit operable to instruct a caliper to adjust, based on the measured operating temperature, an amount of friction generated between a brake pad and the rotor brake.

Abstract: The system and method of the present application relate to a lead/lag damper for a rotorcraft. The lead/lag damper is configured to harvest power from the lead/lag oscillatory motions of rotor blades with an electromagnetic linear motor/generator. Further, the lead/lag damper is configured to treat the lead/lag motions with the electromagnetic linear motor/generator. The system and method is well suited for use in the field of aircraft, in particular, helicopters and other rotary wing aircraft.

Abstract: A crash attenuation system has an airbag inflatable generally adjacent to an exterior of the aircraft. The system includes a gas generator in fluid communication with an interior of the airbag. The system also includes a vent system having a vent passage supported by the aircraft, the vent passage being configured to allow gas to escape from within the airbag during an impact to a second set of airbags for flotation. The vent system also includes an actuator door for sealing the vent passage, thereby preventing gas from leaving the airbag. The actuator door is actuated by an actuator, the actuator being in fluid communication with the gas generator through an actuator duct. The system operates such that deployment of gas from the gas generator causes the actuator to inflate, thereby causing the actuator door to seal the vent passage. The gas generator is configured to re-inflate the airbag after the actuator door seals the vent passage.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an empennage attachment system features an aft attachment mechanism and a forward attachment system. The aft attachment mechanism is configured to be coupled to a tail section of a body of an aircraft and to an empennage proximate to an aft spar of the empennage. The aft attachment mechanism defines a pitch axis such that the aft attachment mechanism allows the empennage to rotate about the pitch axis. The forward attachment system is configured to be coupled to the tail section of the body and to the empennage proximate to a forward spar of the empennage. The forward attachment system is configured to restrict rotation of the empennage about the pitch axis to an allowable range of motion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotor head includes a yoke, a torque-splitter assembly, and a joint assembly. The torque-splitter assembly includes a spine assembly, a first trunion, and a second trunion. The spline assembly is configured to receive the drive shaft through a first opening. The spline assembly has a first plurality of outer splines oriented in a first direction and a second plurality of outer splines oriented in a second direction different from the first direction. The first trunion is disposed about the first plurality of outer splines. The second trunion is disposed about the second plurality of outer splines.