Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the orientation of vehicle headlamps or the like includes a molded gear housing having a gear journaling bore for rotation of an adjusting gear journaled therein, and an adjusting member movably coupled to the adjusting gear such that rotation of the adjusting gear imparts linear movement to the adjusting member for the headlamp adjustment. The housing also includes aperture means through which the adjustment member slidably extends, and the aperture means cooperates to prevent rotation of the adjusting member during the linear movement thereof. Additional features of the preferred adjusting mechanism provide a drive shaft and drive gear meshed to drive rotation of the adjusting gear. The drive shaft extends through a cap portion of the housing for manual access to the shaft, and the cap bears against an annular retainer portion on the drive shaft in order to prevent retraction of the shaft from the drive gear and the housing.

Abstract: A headlamp aiming apparatus is provided for attachment to an automotive headlamp assembly comprising a support member which is rigidly mountable to an automotive vehicle, a reflector which is mounted to the support member for pivotal motion about at least one of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis for aiming of the headlamp beam, and a headlamp adjusting assembly operatively coupled with the support member for aiming of the headlamp beam. The aiming apparatus comprises a first aiming indicia movable in unison with the headlamp adjusting assembly and a second aiming indicia independent of the headlamp adjusting assembly. An indicator alignment arrangement moves one of the first and second indicia independently of the headlamp adjusting means for bringing the first and second aiming indicia into registry with each other when the reflector is in a condition wherein the beam is aimed as desired responsive to adjustment by the headlamp adjusting assembly.

Abstract: An assembly (10) for molding a two-tone, thin-walled plastic shell (12) for parts such as automobile door panels, control and instrument panels and the like includes a charge box (24) for supplying dry thermoplastic material to separate casting surfaces (30, 32) on a heated mold (22) selectively connected to the charge box (24) during the casting process. A pressurized inflatable seal gasket (60) is connected to the charge box (24) for sealing a division surface (36) on the heated mold (22) which surface (36) separates the casting surfaces (30, 32) of the mold (22). The seal gasket (60) is attached to the charge box (24) on a divider wall (42) via a sliding member (80) which positions the seal gasket (60) longitudinally along the divider wall (42). The sliding member (80) is secured to the divider wall (42) via threaded pins (86). The gasket seal (60) may be removed and reinserted in the slider member (80) providing automatic adjustment thereof.

Abstract: A composite rotor blade comprising an outboard portion defining an airfoil surface, an inboard portion defining an end tang having a mounting section and an extension lug section. The mounting section of the end tang having at least one mounting aperture with an axis parallel to the chordline of the airfoil for mounting of the blade, and the extension lug section having at least one extension lug extending inboard of the mounting aperture to provide a lever surface for interaction with suitable mounting mechanisms.

Abstract: A rotary cutting devbice for cutting holes in a workpiece and a method of making a rotary cutting device. The method includes machining a notch across a face of a generally cylindrical body. The body has a longitudinally extending central axis and a central bore formed concentric therewith. Machining the notch forms at least one generally arcuate protrusion on a face of the body. A slot is formed through each of the protrusions resulting in two teeth being formed on either side of the mouth of the slots. A cutting tooth and a stabilizing tooth is formed on each side of the mouth of each slot formed in the body. The cutting tooth removes material from the workpiece and the stabilizing tooth limits the feed rate and prevents grabbing when a rotary motion is applied thereto.

Abstract: A cover assembly for an airbag restraint has a smooth cover and a load bearing insert for concealing an airbag restraint system having a housing, an airbag and a gas generator which includes an inflatant for inflating the airbag for deploying the airbag through the smooth outer cover member. The outer cover member has weakened sections on the inboard surface and filler material is disposed against the cover member to prevent inward collapse of the outer cover member at the weakened sections. An insert is formed in situ of the filler material in an opening in a restraint member and the insert is engaged during initial inflation of the airbag to displace the filler material so as to stress the outer cover member at the weakened sections thereof for separating a hidden door segment from the cover member as the airbag is inflated and solely in response to such inflation prior to deployment of the airbag into the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing decorative features in situ in a base layer of cast plastic material includes the steps of providing a heated mold tool with a selectively heated surface in the form of a desired decorative feature; depositing a covering of thermoplastic material in the recessed surface and heating the recessed surface to partially fuse the thermoplastic material on the recessed surface to form segments of plastic corresponding to the desired decorative feature; dumping excess thermoplastic material from the heated mold tool; thereafter spray coating the mold at the recessed surface to stabilize the location of the partially fused material in the recessed surface; reheating the mold tool to partially remelt the retained stabilized segments and thereafter depositing a base layer of thermoplastic material across the full surface of the mold and reheating the mold to bond the retained stabilized segments to the base layer and cooling and stripping the mold to form a finished plastic shell having a deco

Abstract: A method for making a hollow article, for example, a hollow airfoil, from first and second preformed sections involves first forming a precursor fluid impermeable (seal) diffusion bond between opposing bonding surfaces. The precursor bond is formed by subjecting the assembled sections to coordinated pressure-time-temperature conditions where a first high external pressure is applied to reduce any gaps between the opposing bonding surfaces and then a second lower external pressure is applied to actually form the precursor diffusion bond with only limited distortion of one of the sections and no distortion of the other section. In a second step of the method, the precursor bonded sections are subjected to coordinated pressure-time-temperature conditions where a high external and high internal pressure are utilized to form a complete patent metal diffusion bond between the bonding surfaces without distortion of either section.

Abstract: A releasable latch (50) is provided for a door assembly (14) having an outer skin member, a foam backing member, and an inner door member. The door assembly conceals an airbag restraint system having a housing, an airbag and a gas generator producing an inflatant for inflating the airbag for deploying the airbag through the door assembly. The releasable latch has a closed U-shaped end that is press fit in an open U-shaped end on a retainer member on the housing to hold the door assembly in a mating relationship to interior trim parts. The inner door member is engaged during initial inflation of the airbag to displace the door assembly so as to bend the inner door member at a hinge joint between the outer cover member and the interior trim part and the press fit between the closed U-shaped end and the open U-shaped end provides easy opening of the door assembly as the airbag is inflated.

Abstract: A method for finishing the full radial surface of a face type commutator includes relatively rotating the commutator on its axis with respect to a cutter to form a finish on the commutator face which includes radially inwardly cross hatch segments which become progressively open toward the outer periphery of the commutator and which end in a series of generally radially directed single line segments at the radially outer portion of each of the conductor segments of the commutator so as to dress slot edged during cutting to prevent formation of slot burrs; thereafter brushing the commutator face to remove loose chips therefrom followed by finishing the surface to remove irregularities therefrom and to form surface roughness thereon for brush run-in.

Abstract: A mold apparatus for forming parts by reacting foam precursors in a mold cavity part closed by a cover has a mold breaker assembly including a member for holding a molded foam product in the mold cavity part as the cover is removed for part demolding. The member defines a slide for movement of the cover with respect to the mold cavity part to break adhesion of the cover from the top of the molded part while the molded part is firmly held in the mold cavity part. The mold breaker assembly includes a lift handle on the cover which is used to open the cover once the adhesive forces are broken so as to expose the molded part for demolding without scraping against the mold cavity part.

Abstract: A direct drive servovalve in which rotational motion of a motor rotor is converted into linear motion of a spool valve to direct fluid to a desired load. The drive motor is supported upon a housing within which the spool valve is disposed. The rotor of the drive motor engages the valve to cause it to reciprocate within a bore provided within the housing. A bearing supporting the rotor shaft is unsealed to permit fluid to flow through the bearing and into the interior of the rotor to provide lubrication and cooling. Disposed within the flow path are dirt shields at each end of the bearing which provide a tortious, labyrinth flow path for the fluid with spacing between the dirt shields and the bearing race being such as to allow fluid to flow but at the same time to remove contaminants entrained within the fluid.

Abstract: A method for forming a plastic coating for a foam molding insert or retainer member includes the steps of preforming an insert member having openings therethrough; partially sealing the openings and/or the perimeter edge of the insert member with protuberances formed on a conforming buck; completely sealing the openings and/or the perimeter edge by spraying polymeric material against the insert and the protuberances only in the vicinity of the hole and the perimeter edge to form seals without covering the insert with a film wrap; curing the seals to provide a leak proof patch which prevents foam leakage through the insert during a foam molding process.

Abstract: A quick change wheel landing gear assembly (10) is provided as a replacement for a skid landing gear system on a vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The wheel landing gear assembly (10) includes a pair of spaced-apart fore and aft longitudinal tubes (16, 18) attached to a pair of short, spaced-apart cross tubes (20, 22) that are adapted to mount on the structural saddles (12, 14) used to mount the skid landing gear on the underside of the aircraft. The longitudinal tubes (16, 18) are connected together at the forward end for mounting a fully swiveling nose gear (26) thereto. Aft main gear wheels (30, 32) are mounted on cantilever landing gear legs (34, 36) that extend laterally from the longitudinal tubes (16, 18) adjacent the aft cross tube (22). Landing loads on the landing gear may be absorbed by resilient springs (25), deflection of the gear legs (34, 36) and the aft cross tube (22), torsion of the fore and aft longitudinal tubes (16, 18), or any combination of these actions.

Abstract: The system comprises a grip of composite material having belts, filament windings unidirectional material and fillers of off axis bias ply material for directing the CF exerted on the grip by the blade rotation to the clevis throat of the grip. The force is further directed through a CF fitting, a CF bearing and an OPCBA to the yoke, thereby maintaining the yoke in tension. Should this load path fail, the CF will be transmitted through the length of the grip to the IPCBA that will in turn load the yoke with the CF.

Abstract: A blind fastener comprises a fastener body, a stem and a shaped shear ring wire. The shear ring is disposed in an annular groove disposed intermediate the ends of a neck portion of the stem. When the fastener is installed, a bulbing portion of the shear ring upsets the tail end of the fastener and then shears at a predetermined load. An anchored portion of the shear ring travels through the fastener body, with an enlarged neck portion of the stem radially expanding the fastener to fill the hole within the workpieces being secured together. A lock ring groove is formed in the stem midsection of smaller diameter at the intersections of the stem neck and midsection.

Abstract: A drive system for a tiltrotor aircraft that provides for the operation of both proprotors by either engine or by both engines. The drive system provides an interconnecting drive shaft that extends between and connects the engines in such a manner that power is transferred from one engine to the opposite proprotor in the case of an engine failure. Also, the arrangement provides for the operation of a redundant essential systems for the aircraft should an electrical or hydraulic system fail to operate properly.