Abstract: A method of making a hollow article, for example, a hollow airfoil, from first and second preformed sections involves a first precursor (seal) bonding step where a low external pressure and internal vacuum are utilized to form a substantially gas impermeable seal bond between opposing bonding surfaces of the sections with only limited distortion of one of the sections and no distortion of the other section, a diffusion bonding step where a high external and high internal pressure is utilized to form a complete parent metal diffusion bond between the bonding surfaces without distortion of either section and an inflation step where a high external and high internal pressure are utilized to remove the limited distortion from the affected section without distortion of the unaffected section. The inflation step and diffusion bonding step can be combined into one operation to provide a two step method of making the hollow article.

Abstract: A composite fastener which provides up to 70 KSI in shear strength in a 1/4 inch shank diameter and includes several layers having long parallel carbon fibers embedded in resin. The layers are pressed together and heated to form a panel. The panel is cut into bars which are then machined into rods, used to form threaded or unthreaded composite shear pins. The fibers in adjacent layers are angled with respect to one another to provide maximum shear strength in a particular direction. The head of the shear pin is preferably marked to indicate the orientation of maximum shear strength.

Abstract: A method for forming a return flange on the belt trim portion of a vehicle door panel which includes the steps of locating the door panel on a holding fixture to place the belt trim portion for sequential clamping, backing, spot heating and folding to form the return flange thereon; apparatus for practicing the method which includes a door fixture means with movable backing member to back a belt trim portion when the panel is clamped in place; and a heater mechanism and a flange former mechanism on the machine are sequentially advanced with respect to the clamped door panel to soften a thermoformable segment of the panel which is folded about the back-up plate.

Abstract: An active suspension system for use with a mass suspended relative to a movable structure and subject to external forces such as the chassis of off-road vehicles, and in particular the hull of heavy combat vehicles, has a passive hydropneumatic suspension system (PHSS) connected to a servopump and an accumulator, and wherein the servopump transfers fluid energy between the accumulator and the suspension system, in accordance with sensed operating conditions which are inputted to a processor whose output commands the velocity of the servopump to control the pressure and volume relationships of the PHSS and accumulator to improve the ride of said vehicle and to substantially reduce energy requirements when operating off-road.

Abstract: An embergency lubrication mist system is operable in response to a drop in oil pressure in a primary lubrication system for components inside a casing. An emergency oil reservoir provides a head of oil for discharge through an air activated misting nozzle sized to dispense an oil in a mist for fogging the inside of the casing and coating the components inside. The misting nozzle has an air passageway normally closed to a source of air and opening to operate the emergency system in response to a drop of pressure in the primary lubricating system.

Abstract: An interior trim product has an opening therein formed to overlie an air bag restraint assembly including a canister for generating gas for inflating an air bag for deployment into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The opening is closed by a door having a vinyl outer covering matching the aesthetic appearance of the outer surface of the interior trim product and including a soft foam backing formed by reaction injection molding foam between the vinyl skin and a first substrate having construction holes therein; a second substrate is connected to the first substrate to cover the holes and to reinforce the door to prevent foam and vinyl damage during air bag deployment and wherein the second substrate is adapted to define a hinged connection between the door and a releasable connection at the opposite end of the door for holding it in place within the opening against separation therefrom until an air bag is inflated and deployed into the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A bumper assembly having a fascia and a support member including an integral core made of a fiber reinforced composite resin adapted to be connected to a vehicle frame. The integral core has a back plate portion adapted to extend vertically of the front end of a vehicle and a plurality of reinforcing boxes formed with the back plate and extending forwardly and transversely. One of the reinforcing boxes is located at the top of the back plate and another is located at the bottom of the back plate. A cavity between the back plate and the fascia is filled with an energy absorbent material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft wing (10) having a main portion (20) with a trailing edge (20b) and a movable flaperon (22) hingedly secured at the trailing edge. A movable flaperon seal (40) is hingedly attached at its leading edge to the trailing edge of the main portion of the wing. Interconnecting structure is provided between the main portion of the wing and the flaperon seal. Such structure is operable to pivot the seal flap such that the opening between the trailing edge of the main wing portion (20b) and the leading edge of said movable flap (22a) on the upper surface is selectively closed by the movable flap at predetermined angular positions of the movable flap.

Abstract: A motorized golf cart having a double wall thermoformed canopy fixedly connected to and supported over a chassis. The canopy has a bottom wall with fastener holes passing therethrough. A frame is provided to support the canopy having a front generally rectangular member and a rear inverted U-shaped member with apertures for passage of bolts therethrough. Blind fasteners are positioned in the bottom wall fastener holes and bolts passed through the frame apertures and into the blind fasteners to securely mount the canopy to the frame.

Abstract: A shell mold support apparatus for rotationally casting thermoplastic polymer particles onto a heated casting surface to form a thin polymer shell conforming to the shape of a heated casting surface includes a base framework that supports a bottom shell mold; a cover carrier is supported on the base framework so as to either open or close a cover or top shell mold with respect to the bottom shell mold; and a hinged support couples the cover carrier to the base framework for movement against an opening stop.

Abstract: An actuator (10) is disclosed for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The actuator (10) can be used to pivot a pylon (14) in a tilt rotor aircraft relative to the aircraft wing (12) between a helicopter mode and an aircraft mode. The actuator (10) is provided with an inner ball screw drive unit (20) and an outer ball screw drive unit (22) which provides for limited motion should one of the drive units jam. Further, the actuator (10) can be operated from either end of the actuator. Each ball screw (28, 52) in the actuator is associated with a tube (30, 54), preferably of carbon fiber composite, which forms a secondary load path if the screw fails.

Abstract: A method for molding a thin walled plastic shell utilizes the following apparatus. An apparatus (40) for molding a thin walled plastic shell includes a mold box (42) having an inner mold surface (48). A powder box (52) includes an internal chamber and first divider wall (54) for separating the internal chamber into at least two sections (56,58). A carrier framework (60) is removably mounted on the mold box (42) and includes a peripheral seal for perfecting a seal between the mold box (42) and the powder box (52) when the same are connected thereto. A second divider wall (64) is connectable to the first divider wall (54) separating the inner mold surface into two chambers continuous with the two sections of the powder box (52). The carrier framework (60) further includes a mold surface seal (66) for perfecting a seal between the second divider wall (64) and mold surface (48).

Abstract: A hot knife assembly for cutting excess organic polymeric material from a thermal forming mold includes a blade-like knife in the form of a thin flat plate having an inner edge connected to a heater and an outer edge with a cutting surface thereon. The thin flat plate has two flat surfaces substantially encapsulated by a refractory wedge. The refractory wedge in formed silicone material and extends coextensive and adjacent the blade-like knife for preventing stringing or re-welding of the cut material.

Abstract: A calendar attachment for a watchband in which a case cooperates with a windowed cover to define a chamber adapted to receive a calendar cartridge. The cartridge includes an elongated flexible calendar strip extending over a platen and connected at its opposite ends to a pair of shafts rotatably supported beneath the platen. The shafts are mechanically interconnected by intermeshed gears, and one of the shafts has an operating stem protruding externally of the chamber.

Abstract: An ident wristband includes an elongated strap of non-metallic flexible material adapted to be buckled or otherwise detachably fastened to a wearer's wrist. A metallic ident plate is detachably secured to the outer surface of the strap by fasteners which are accessible from the strap's inner surface. A flexible cover flap of non-metallic material overlaps the fasteners to prevent them from coming into contact with the wearer's wrist.

Abstract: A connector for connecting an end of a watchband to a watchcase, the watchcase having a pair of a spaced lugs defining a gap bridged by a spring bar extending therebetween. The connector has a base member fixed at a rear end to the end of the watch band and forward end pivotally connected to the spring bar. A shell overlies the base number. A forward end of the shell extends beyond the forward end of the base member to fill the gap between the lugs on the watchcase. Lugs depend from a flange at the rear end of the shell to straddle the base member. The lugs have first tabs which connect the shell to the base member for pivotal movement about the axis of the spring bar, and second tabs which coact with the watchcase to resist pivotal movement of the shell about the same axis.

Abstract: The small airblast fuel nozzle improves cold ignition of small gas turbine engines of the type having a stagnation air pressure of only 1-1-1/2 inches of water available from the compressor for cold ignition. The fuel nozzle includes an inner air swirling system comprising a longitudinal cylindrical inner air swirl chamber and multiple air inlet slots spaced circumferentially on the nozzle body to supply air to the chamber. The air inlet slots each include an inner tapered section converging toward and into intersection with the chamber and an outer tapered section converging from the exterior of the nozzle body toward and into intersection with the inner section. The inner section and outer section are canted with respect to one another and in the same direction from one slot to the next so that the inner air slots collectively form a hooked cross type pattern when viewed in plan.

Abstract: A shroud (20) for a gear train (12) disposed within a gear case (22) includes a plurality of meshing gears (14), each gear (14) having sides (14a, 14b), teeth (16) and an outer diameter (14c). The shroud (20) encircles the outer diameter (14c) of each gear (14) within the gear train (12) and for enclosing the sides (14a, 14b) adjacent to the outer diameter (14c) of each gear (14) within the gear train (12). The shroud (20) includes a pair of side walls (20a, 20b) and an end wall (20c). The walls (20a, 20b, 20c) enclosed the teeth (16) of each of the gears (14) within the gear train (12) for substantially minimizing cooling fluid present within the gear case (22) from contacting the gear train (12).

Abstract: A pour head seal assembly for a mold including a mold cavity part and a lid, with a film layer against the inner surface of the lid and a preformed shell against the inner surface of the mold cavity part. The pour head seal assembly may be operatively mounted on either the lid or the mold cavity part, including a nozzle mounted through an opening formed in the selected element, with either the film layer or the preformed shell having an opening formed therein for mounting around the nozzle. A clamp plate collar is mounted on the inner end of the nozzle, adapted to clamp either the film layer or the preformed shell against an O-ring seal mounted on the adjacent inner lid or mold cavity surface to eliminate foam leakage around the nozzle.

Abstract: A composite threaded collar is fabricated from a panel consisting of multiple layers of fiber reinforced tape, bonded together to form a rigid composite structure. The tape comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending continuous fibers that are joined together by a suitable bonding agent. The stack of properly oriented tape layers is heated while a compressive load is applied, followed by cooling. The rigid panel thus formed is then cut, tapped and machined to form the desired configuration of the collar. A twist off driving portion of the collar will shear between tape layers at an annular notch at a predetermined torque.