Abstract: An instrument panel for an automotive vehicle includes a substructure that extends across the width of an automotive vehicle passenger compartment and is secured to side pillars of an automotive vehicle body. A pair of laterally spaced knee bolsters each include a retainer that has a rearwardly facing wall that is located at knee height, and a pair of integrally attached, vertically spaced struts that are attached to a lower channel of the substructure to form a first box structure for absorbing impact energy. A front channel is disposed in front of the lower channel and securely attached to the substructure of the instrument panel. The attached channels provide a cross car duct for wiring or air distribution and a second box structure for absorbing energy when the knee bolster is impacted in a vehicle collision.

Abstract: A motor vehicle body has an instrument panel construction that includes a structural instrument panel carrier of plastic material for mounting instrument panel components. The carrier is attached to side pillars located at a juncture of passenger and engine compartments so as to form a cross beam. The instrument panel construction has its external appearance determined by adding facial instrument panel coverings to the instrument panel carrier after the instrument panel components are mounted on the instrument panel carrier. The structural instrument panel carrier may also be integrated with a front of dash (FOD) panel that may be composed of the same material and that provides a second cross beam.

Abstract: A simplified adjusting mechanism for adjusting the aiming of a headlamp assembly in automobiles and the like includes a gear encircling a bushing and an adjustor screw that is journaled through the bushing. The adjustor mechanism is snapped into a stationary component of the headlamp assembly and the aiming of the headlamp is manually adjusted by using a drive tool. The adjustor mechanism has a series of indication lines that allow the user to adjust the aiming of the headlamp assembly back to its desired position if the headlamp assembly becomes misaligned.

Abstract: A vertical position and gravity map aided INS is self contained (no external signals required); covert (no signals emanated); unrestricted in operating area; able to operate in quiet or active gravity regions; and able to be configured with proven instruments.

Abstract: A modular assembly for separating a passenger compartment from an engine compartment in an automotive vehicle body comprises three structural cross car members that combine to provide sufficient cross car stiffness between the side pillars so as to eliminate any need for an upper cross car beam at the cowl of the vehicle body. The three structural cross car members include a front of dash panel, an intermediate close out panel and an instrument panel carrier that form two rows of ducts for meeting the needs of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system of the vehicle and the wiring requirements of the instrument panel. The instrument panel carrier is part of a covered instrument panel subassembly that includes a shell and an underlying foam cushion. The foam cushion is foamed in place in a mold that includes a slide and pivot mechanism for manipulating a mold lid and clamp between a closed clamped position and a shaping position where the molded subassembly is accessible for a shaping operation.

Abstract: An improved feathering flexure for a helicopter rotor system yoke includes, in transverse cross section, a relatively thin central web and six relatively thin flanges. Three flanges extend from each of the web's two edges, and the flanges lie in planes which are approximately radial relative to the neutral feathering axis of the feathering flexure. The feathering flexure is constructed of fiberglass material embedded in a polymer matrix. The web's fiberglass material in the web is bias material, that is, material whose glass fibers are oriented at plus or minus 45 degrees relative to the yoke's spanwise axis. In transverse cross section, each of the flanges includes two unidirectional belts disposed on either side of a bias pack. The glass fibers in the unidirectional belts are oriented parallel to the yoke's spanwise axis. The fiberglass material in the bias packs is bias material.

Abstract: A process for making a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic article that is sufficiently strong and rigid for use as a structural member includes the steps of providing a tubular composite parison that has continuous, axially oriented glass fiber filaments dispersed in a thermoplastic resin and admitting pressurized air into the interior of the tubular parison to expand the tubular parison to a desired shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel and unique display package. The package includes separable tray and cover components each having parallel side walls joined by end walls. In the assembled state, the side walls of the cover and tray are arranged in a mutually abutting coplanar relationship, with the end walls of the cover being tightly contained between and immobilized with respect to the end walls of the tray. Thus, the side walls of the cover do not intrude into the tray to limit its available width, nor is the cover prone to rattling.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly and easily disengaging and re-engaging a fastener installation tool head from a fastener installation tool body. A novel fastener installation tool head quick disconnect assembly is provided, consisting in a preferred arrangement of a sleeve assembly and an adapter housing assembly. The adapter housing assembly is rigidly attached to the fastener installation tool body and the sleeve assembly is attached to the adapter housing assembly via a quick-disconnect latching mechanism on the adapter housing assembly. To remove the sleeve assembly from the adapter housing assembly the operator simply translates the latching mechanism rearwardly, rotates the sleeve assembly 60.degree. to align an internal and an external set of lugs and grooves on the assemblies, and pulls the sleeve assembly forward disengage the sleeve assembly from the adapter housing assembly.

Abstract: A gravity gradiometer and method for measurement of changes in the intensity of a gravitational field experienced during traversal over earth's terrain, or past a massive object, has a set of eight accelerometers disposed on rotating disc, or on a pair of parallel discs, and arranged uniformly about a central rotational axis of the disc, or of the pair of discs. Each accelerometer develops a signal for maintaining a pendulum in its position of swing along an input axis of the accelerometer. Each input axis, for all of the accelerometers, is perpendicular or parallel to a radius of a disc. The accelerometers are treated as two groups of four accelerometers wherein, in each group, the accelerometers are disposed in pairs about perpendicular diameters of the disc or the pair of discs.

Abstract: A side impact protection apparatus for use on the inner panel of a vehicle door. The apparatus is a cushion including a hollow flexible skin having an inner wall secured to the inner panel, and flexible walls between the skin and the inner wall, some having an orifice formed therein, to prevent the skin from bulging. Air contained in the cushion is adaptable to flow through inner wall orifice(s), prior to discharge through a side wall orifice, when subjected to impact by the vehicle occupant in the event of a high force side impact against the vehicle.

Abstract: Composite fasteners joining panels together are installed by a tool that grips the end of a fastener stem and exerts a pulling force which causes a rotating forming die to advance toward the fastener. The rotating die is pressed against the fastener to frictionally heat and deform a tail of the fastener to create an upset head. A sensing device stops the movement of the forming die and controls the size of the upset head. A portion of the stem extending from the fastener is then pulled away by a pulling force on the stem. Preferred dimensional relationships of said upset head are disclosed, together with various fastener constructions.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body has an integrated cross car structural duct cluster that is a composite that is connected to side pillars located on opposite sides of the vehicle body. The composite acts as a cross beam and provides four ducts that extend across the width of the vehicle body. Three ducts are related to the HVAC system of the vehicle and the fourth is a wiring duct. Five variations are disclosed. In two the composite comprises steel rods embedded in a molded plastic body. In the other three the composite comprises a steel plate that is attached to a molded plastic body.

Abstract: A retaining collar assembly for use with a hole saw arbor assembly. The arbor assembly includes a shaft, a hole saw attached to the shaft, a drive collar retained on the shaft for engaging the hole saw and a spring retained on the shaft. The retaining collar assembly includes a retaining collar which is retained on the shaft and abuts the spring such that the spring urges the retaining collar towards the drive collar. An axial limiting area is disposed on the shaft spaced away from the collar with a retaining collar rotating area disposed therebetween. The retaining collar rotating area allows the collar to rotate about the shaft while the axial limiting area only allows axial movement and not rotary movement. Protrusions and recesses are formed on the retaining collar and drive collar to prevent rotary movement of the retaining collar and drive collar relative to one another when the retaining collar is positioned in a retaining position.

Abstract: A surface conforming sense antenna is integrated with the surface skin of an aircraft by removing a rectangular looped strip of a metallized exterior composite surface skin. The remaining interior metallized portion isolated from the exterior metallized section forms an antenna sense element. The inner metallized portion is connected to an ADF radio receiver to function as a sense antenna in conjunction with a loop antenna. The gap between the metallized inner portion of the exterior metallized section allows lightning energy to be discharged thereacross. The modification does not impose a weight penalty or a wind drag penalty and does not degrade lightning protection for the composite aircraft.