Abstract: A device and method of removing a rivet which has been installed on a work piece. The method includes clamping a hand held device having springs onto the work piece, engaging a drill with a drill bit of the hand held device, the springs applying a pre-load force to the drill bit, operating the drill, thereby causing the springs to apply an increased load force to the drill bit and causing the drill bit to drill into a button of the rivet, unclamping and removing the hand held device from the work piece, and using a compression tool to remove the rivet from the work piece. The compression tool includes a push out portion configured to push out the rivet, and a recess is disposed generally opposite the push out portion for catching the rivet as the rivet is pushed out.

Abstract: An acoustic system has an acoustic sensor and a processing circuit. The acoustic sensor includes a base, a microphone having a microphone diaphragm supported by the base, and a hot-wire anemometer having a set of hot-wire extending members supported by the base. The set of hot-wire extending members defines a plane which is substantially parallel to the microphone diaphragm. The processing circuit receives a sound and wind pressure signal from the microphone and a wind velocity signal from the hot-wire anemometer, and provides an output signal based on the sound and wind pressure signal from the microphone and the wind velocity signal from the hot-wire anemometer (e.g., accurate sound with wind noise removed). The configuration of the hot-wire extending members defining a plane which is substantially parallel to the microphone diaphragm can be easily implemented in a MEMS device making the configuration suitable for miniaturized applications.

Abstract: A control system for an electric vehicle, such as a golf car, that includes a plurality of power MOSFETs. The vehicle includes a shunt wound motor including an armature coil and a field coil. One of the MOSFETs is connected in parallel across the armature coil and another MOSFET is connected in series with the armature coil. The MOSFET across the armature coil includes a freewheel diode. When the motor is operating below its base speed, i.e., when the back EMF is below the power supply voltage, a current flow can be induced by momentarily turning on the series MOSFET, shorting the armature coil. Because of the residual inductance in the motor, a current flow in the counter clockwise direction is initiated at which point the series MOSFET is turned off. Consequently, a large voltage spike across the motor occurs which results in current flow back into the battery pack. By quickly turning the series MOSFET on and off the current flow can be maintained, and the regenerative braking can occur even at slow speeds.

Abstract: A nut assembly includes a base plate and a nut. The base plate includes a bearing surface with bore for the passage of a bolt or the like therethrough. The nut includes a bearing surface engaged with the bearing surface of the base plate. The said nut includes a bore engageable with a bolt or the like passing through the bore of the base plate. The base plate may include foot members disposed around the bore of the base plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-flail cup(18) having a flange(20) attachable to an end of a shaft(10). The flange(20) has a perimeter and a face. A shoulder(22) extends from the perimeter of the flange(20) and generally perpendicularly to the face of the flange(20). The shoulder(22) of the anti-flail cup(18) surrounds a coupling(12) between two shafts(10) and retains the shaft(10) ends if the coupling(12) fails.

Abstract: A high-precision pyrotechnic initiator is well adapted for rapid, precise ignition of solid and liquid energetics. A rigid housing, for example formed of stainless steel, contains a pyrotechnic. When ignited, the reaction, or explosion, of the pyrotechnic is confined to the housing. The release of energy creates a hot particulate in which the formation of solid byproducts is mitigated or eliminated. The flame is directed through an outlet. In one embodiment, a microcapillary tube may be placed in communication with the outlet, the tube including a primary front vent and secondary side vents, which serve to increase system efficiency and reliability. A dual bridge wire may be provided for improving system reliability. The resulting assembly thereby performs the combined functions of both an igniter and a flash tube and a complete ignition train is provided in a manner that overcomes the limitations of the conventional configurations.

Abstract: Plastic bonded explosive (PBX) compositions utilizing CL-20 as the oxidizer, and particularly when the CL-20 is blended with particular combinations of binders and/or plasticizers, have been found to yield synergistic chemical combinations which demonstrate higher energy density and increased penetration power and impetus in military weapons and similar applications.

Abstract: A energetic-based piston actuator system imparts a rotational motion in the piston in a manner that increases system efficiency and reliability. A malleable ring mounted about the piston neck obturates upon initiation of the energetic charge, and rifling provided on an interior surface of the actuator barrel causes the ring to rotate, and causes a counter-rotation in the piston. The rotating ring serves as a seal for preventing gas blow-by and the rotating piston is more dynamically stable throughout its travel down the barrel.

Abstract: A floating bracket has a flexible interface between a vehicle body panel and a vehicle. The floating bracket is slidably interfaced with a vehicle body panel. The floating bracket is rigidly fixed to a point on the vehicle. The floating bracket enables expansion or contraction of the vehicle body panel to take place. Accordingly the vehicle body panel may slide with respect to the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle body panel is free to move yet is still fixedly attached to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and system for extracting and targeting multiple submunitions from a delivery vehicle. Each submunition may be self-extracting, recoil-less extracting, self-spin initiating, and/or sensor fuzed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling a high power laser oscillator or amplifier is disclosed in which a plurality of laser gain media that are configured such that the width of the media is greater than the thickness of the media, are sandwiched between pairs of optically transparent materials having high thermal conductivity. In this way, a shortened thermal path is created from the face surface of the laser gain media axially via the optically transparent heat conductor to an external heat exchange system. This provides an increased level of cooling of the interior of the laser gain media and avoids the deleterious effects caused by over heating of the laser gain media particularly with large effective cross sections desired for high power and/or high pulse repetition and high pulse energy operation.

Abstract: A brake assembly is provided for implementation with a brake system and includes a support bracket, a master cylinder supported by the support bracket and operable to provide hydraulic pressure to the brake system, an accumulator piston extending from the master cylinder and operable to maintain hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic brake system, and an accumulator assembly extending from the support bracket. The accumulator assembly includes a compression plate engaging the accumulator piston, an end cap and an accumulator spring disposed between the compression plate and the end cap, biasing the compression plate against the accumulator piston. A booster arm is pivotally supported by the support bracket and is actuable between first and second positions. In the first position the booster arm limits axial movement of the compression plate against the accumulator piston and in the second position the booster arm permits increased axial movement thereof.

Abstract: A turf care machine includes a base mounted on a plurality of wheels, a support structure affixed to and extending from the base for supporting a turf machine operator interface, and a hydraulic control system for regulating the speed and direction of the mower. The hydraulic system includes: an engine with a drive shaft; a single hydraulic pump driven by the engine; a first valve set having an inlet connected to the pump outlet; a first hydraulic wheel motor connected to the first valve set; a second valve set connected to the first valve set and to a second hydraulic wheel motor. This drive system has the advantage of using only one pump for driving both drive wheels in a seemingly independent dual path mode of operation, thereby minimizing cost and the number of fluid linkages and parts in such a system.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a rotor blade and method of manufacture thereof. The rotor blade of the present invention incorporates a number of novel features in order to increase its reliability and strength while reducing its weight. In certain embodiments, the rotor blade of the present invention incorporates a flexural strap in place of traditional pitch bearings. In certain embodiments, the rotor blade of the present invention is manufactured using a unique fiber placement layup technique to reduce failure modes and maximize the fatigue strength of the part.

Abstract: A device and method of removing a rivet which has been installed on a work piece. The method includes clamping a hand held device having springs onto the work piece, engaging a drill with a drill bit of the hand held device, the springs applying a pre-load force to the drill bit, operating the drill, thereby causing the springs to apply an increased load force to the drill bit and causing the drill bit to drill into a button of the rivet, unclamping and removing the hand held device from the work piece, and using a compression tool to remove the rivet from the work piece. The compression tool includes a push out portion configured to push out the rivet, and a recess is disposed generally opposite the push out portion for catching the rivet as the rivet is pushed out.

Abstract: An air bag cover assembly is provided comprising a retainer panel having an aperture during the deployment of an inflatable air bag for the airbag to pass through. The aperture has a cross-sectional area during air bag inflation greater than the cross-sectional area of the aperture when the air bag is deflated after being inflated. A method of providing an air bag deployment aperture for an air bag cover assembly is also provided. The method comprises providing a retainer panel, forming an aperture in the retainer panel for the deployment of an inflating air bag from an air bag module, increasing the cross-sectional area of the aperture during inflation of the air bag, and decreasing the cross-sectional area of the aperture after the air bag has at least partially passed through the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of perforating the cover layer or soft skin of an automotive trim panel such as an instrument panel with a laser to allow light to bleed through the perforations. The light source would preferably be a low heat generating or “cool” type source such as an LED. The light source would be attached to a suitable substrate or incorporated in to a flexible printed circuit and coupled to the vehicle electrical system. This method would enable full switch integration to a trim panel and provide a seamless styling opportunity regarding the electrical controls. This method would help reduce cost and weight, improve quality, and promote new seamless styling theme.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel stud punch tool for punching a stud. The tool includes a first member, a second member, a third member pivotally connected to the first and second members, and a punch assembly. The first member has an opening for receiving the stud and a bore that is in communication with the opening and which allows the punch assembly to move through the bore and the opening to punch the stud. The second member has slots therein to allow the punching assembly to be slidably mounted therein such that a portion of the punch assembly is capable of being positioned at a first end of the slot when the second member is parallel to the first member and such that the portion is capable of being positioned at a second end of the slots when the second member is angled from the first member.

Abstract: A golf car having a hydraulic fluid brake system. The hydraulic fluid brake system is implemented as a disk brake system which is responsive to hydraulic fluid pressure generated from a master cylinder. A brake pedal and associated linkage provides input to a master cylinder to generate a hydraulic fluid pressure to control a brake caliper assembly. The brake pedal has a range of travel, where a first portion of the range defines a service mode of operation and a second portion of the range defines a parking mode of operation. In the parking mode of operation, the brake pedal and linkage engages a detent to maintain application of the brake to provide a parking mode of operation. An accumulator in the brake system provides an input force to maintain hydraulic fluid pressure sufficient to retain a parking mode of operation.