Abstract: An improved means for convection cooling the skin surfaces of an atmospheric flight craft such as are subject to air friction-induced overheating when the craft operates at high speed, featuring employment of multiple layered, spaced apart skin members separated and relatively braced by web and post members. Fresh coolant fluid is simultaneously flushed against and contiguously covers a multiplicity of relatively small patches of the inside surface of the outer skin member to be protected, and the spent coolant from each patch is separately removed therefrom and returned to the craft's refrigeration facility. The web and post members also act to direct the pattern of coolant flow so as to provide a much improved heat transfer coefficient than can be attained by other coolant path configurations when an equal pressure drop is applied.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a plurality of movable support members that are arranged side-by-side and collectively form a quadratic carrier surface, such as a cylindrical carrier surface. A plurality of fiber strand carrier members are movable on the carrier surface to intertwine the fiber strands. Each fiber strand extends from its carrier member along an axis that intersects the axes of the other fiber strands at a generally common consolidation point near a fiber gathering device that gathers the fiber strands from the carrier members. The carrier members are generally equidistant from the fiber consolidation point as a result of moving on the quadratic carrier surface so that the gathering device can maintain a generally constant tension in the fiber strands regardless of their position on the carrier surface.

Abstract: A process for molding plastic parts includes the steps of providing two or more colors of pigmented powder particles of thermoplastic material; casting the particles against a heated surface to form non-patterned layers of particles with voids therebetween; heating the layers to form color blended fused fringe zones between the particles which fill the voids to form a solid, multi-colored, three-dimensional article while each particle retains its discrete particle core which maintains each particle's central or original color concentration and which cores have discernible light transmissive properties.

Abstract: A headlamp aiming apparatus is provided for attachment to an automotive headlamp assembly which includes a frame member rigidly mountable to an automotive vehicle and a headlamp mounted to the frame member for pivotal motion about a horizontal and/or vertical axis of the headlamp for aiming the headlamp beam. The apparatus includes an aim-indicating arrangement having a housing mounted for movement in unison with a given surface of the headlamp so that the housing is movable with the headlamp during aiming. A headlamp adjusting assembly is operatively coupled with the housing for producing movement of both the housing and the headlamp relative to the frame member for achieving the aimed condition. An indicator adjusting assembly is provided for adjusting of the aim-indicating means to indicate an aimed condition of the associated headlamp and, in particular, while the headlamp is in a condition wherein the beam is aimed as desired responsive to adjustment by the headlamp adjusting assembly.

Abstract: In pressure forming splines or teeth in the sleeve of a clutch hub and the like, a rotatable toothed mandrel and a pair of sliding toothed racks are offset relative to one another such that when the sleeve of the clutch hub blank is placed on the mandrel, a ring-shaped lip portion of the sleeve adjacent the open sleeve end is not intermeshed between the mandrel teeth and rack teeth and thus is not splined and such that a transition region between the cylindrical oil seal surface and the sleeve is splined. The clutch hub thus includes splines on the sleeve terminating short of the open sleeve end in an unsplined ring-shaped lip portion and extending at the other end contiguous with splines formed in the transition region between the oil seal surface and sleeve. A clutch hub can thereby be manufactured having, in combination, a longitudinal tooth taper (bellmouth) within required close tolerances, e.g., within 0.010 inch, preferably within 0.

Abstract: A locking assembly (10) having a female member (12) and a male member (22) particularly suited for use in an automotive arm rest. The female member (12) has a receiving cavity (14) with opposing and spaced walls (16a, 16b) extending along a receiving axis (18). The female member defines a plurality of locking recesses (20) spaced along the axis (18) on one wall (16a) of the cavity (14). The male member (22) has a plurality of tines (24) spaced apart longitudinally therealong for snapping into the recesses (20) to retain the male member (22) in the cavity (14). The assembly (10) is characterized by the female member (12) presenting a plurality of biasing beams (26) independent from one another and spaced along the opposite wall (16b) of the cavity (14) for respectively engaging the tines (24) to retain one tine (24) in each of the recesses (20 ).

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a layer of thermoplastic material onto a surface bearing a recessed logo or other decorative design of a logo plaque mold, wherein the apparatus includes a cylindrical housing enclosing a rotatable shaft and spray gun extension. The rotatable shaft may be operatively connected to the housing for rotation along the centerline thereof, and the spray gun extension in secured to a side of the shaft such that the axis of the extension is parallel to the axis of the shaft so as to be rotated concentrically with the shaft when the latter is rotated. Thus, a suitable thermoplastic material is deposited on the recessed logo or design of an associated mold surface, providing for the retention of segments in the recesses for being bonded onto a subsequent base layer of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: The method involves braiding a plurality of fiber bundles, each comprising a reinforcing fiber overwrapped by a plurality of glass or metal matrix-forming fibers, to form a 3D braided preform having stuffer fiber bundles extending longitudinally therethrough and heating the preform at a temperature and applying pressure to form the matrix-forming fibers into a bonded matrix in which the reinforcing fibers are disposed in a 3D braided pattern and in a longitudinal (stuffer) pattern.

Abstract: A plate-type annular heat exchange cylinder which has increased resistance to cracking under the stress of heat gradients. The invention comprises providing the cylinder in the form of two or more longitudinal segments, such as hemi-cylinders, spaced by axial narrow expansion slots, sealing the spaces between adjacent pairs of the plates of each segment and each expansion slot, uniting the segments by attaching radial coupling plates over the slots at each end of the segments, and blocking the inner peripheral entrance of each axial slot by attaching a narrow gas seal strip thereover.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a single stage snowthrower wherein a flat rear wall section of an impeller housing, a rear wall of a chute opening and the central axis of an external chute are all aligned to more efficiently remove snow. A gate is also provided to control the recirculation of snow through the impeller housing. The gate may comprise a sliding dam movable along a straight line into the housing. In a further embodiment of the present invention a pivotable dam is disposed between sidewalls of the impeller housing to vary the throat area into the chute opening in accordance with the wet or dry conditions of the snow.

Abstract: Thin wall, torque sensitive pinion gears, sun gears or other such workparts are driven in rotation in a fixture during honing of the internal diameter to minimize out-of-roundness. The fixture for honing multiple workparts at a time includes a workpart driving means having multiple workpart driving gears each meshed with a respective one of the workparts. Each workpart driving gear is mounted on a hollow rotatable bushing arranged end-to-end with respect to adjacent bushings and dog-bone shaped driver members interconnect and are drivingly received in adjacent bushings. Means is connected to one of the dog-bone shaped members to rotate same and thereby cause the workpart driver gears to rotate the workparts in unison during honing.

Abstract: A handle for a chain saw comprises a first U-shaped member and a second U-shaped member. The two members are connected to each other. The first member is connected to a bottom of a chain saw and the second member has a side bar that is connected to the body of the chain saw. The two members provided a handle that completely encircles the body of the chain saw to form a structurally rigid closed loop having multiple grasping positions which is relatively easy to assembly with the chain saw.

Abstract: A threaded fastener is made of a composite material made of layers extending parallel to the fastener axis and having elongated filament fibers. A portion of the fibers extend parallel to the axis of the fastener to provide tensile and shear strength to the fastener, and a portion of the fibers extend parallel to the load-bearing thread faces to enhance tensile strength to the threads.

Abstract: An improved method of forming a filamentary reinforced article includes forming a preform of metal and filament layers by winding material around an axis. The resulting layered preform is enclosed in a fluid tight housing. The housing has a rigid frame which bounds the periphery of the preform. The housing also has flexible panel sections which extend inwardly from the frame across the preform. To bond the layers of the preform together and increase the density of the preform, the housing is subjected to a hot isostatic pressing operation. During the hot isostatic pressing operation, fluid pressure forces against the housing plastically deform the panel sections of the housing inwardly in a direction parallel to the axis around which the layers of the preform were wound to apply axial deformation forces to opposite sides of the preform.

Abstract: An improved inspection method determines how closely the cross sectional configuration of an airfoil corresponds to a reference cross sectional configuration. When an airfoil is to be inspected, the airfoil is measured and the mean camber line is determined. The mean camber lines of the reference and measured airfoils are shifted relative to each other through a plurality of relationships. A best fit relationship is determined in which the measured and reference airfoils overlie each other to a maximum extent possible. The best fit relationship can be determined by comparing points on the major side surfaces of the measured and reference airfoils. Alternatively, the best fit relationship can be determined by comparing points on the mean camber lines of the measured and reference airfoils.

Abstract: The punch comprises peripheral cutting edges and lateral cutting edges. The peripheral edges cut a slug in the desired shape, for examples, rectangular, square, oval, trapezoidal, D and double D-shaped, etc. while the lateral edges cut transversely from one peripheral edge to an opposite peripheral edge, thereby splitting the slug. Lateral cutting edges provide a dividing line across the working face. Surfaces and cutting edges on each side of the dividing line are similar and canted at opposite angles. Lateral cutting edges and peripheral cutting edges at their juncture provide pyramidal cutting sections which initially pierce the workpiece and initiate lateral slug splitting. This split grows from the slug periphery toward the center. Splitting is complete before a substantial portion of the slug periphery is cut.

Abstract: A rivet installation method creates a preload on the workpieces being joined. The rivet shank is urged to resist compression during installation while a ring on the end of the shank is compressed against the workpieces. Withdrawing the compression releases the shank to provide the preload.

Abstract: A blind fastener for securely and economically fastening a plurality of members having a mandrel with an enlarged head and a generally cylindrical stem with a locking groove, and a sleeve with a generally tubular portion surrounding a portion of the stem, a flange extending radially from the end of the tubular portion opposite the stem head, and a boss extending axially from the flange opposite the tubular portion, so that application of tension to the stem and compression to the boss causes upsetting of the fastener, compression of the members, elongation of the stem, and displacement of the boss material into the locking groove, thereby locking the mandrel and sleeve to prevent them from springing back upon breaking of the mandrel stem.

Abstract: A powered fastener installation apparatus and method wherein the successful installation of a fastener is indicated by directly detecting the event of the fastener stem breaking. The device releases any partially upset fastener before withdrawing from the workpiece so as to prevent damage to the workpiece. The fastener installation device includes means for transferring the fastener from a feed module to the pulling head and avoiding partial upsetting or disassembly of the fastener, which can lead to jamming the device. The pulling head and transfer apparatus are provided with a vacuum to retain the fastener without mechanical gripping, thereby allowing easy purging of the fastener and preventing the fastener from falling out of the device unintentionally. Moreover, use of the vacuum retention allows greater flexibility and tolerance of errors in the placement and angular orientation of the robot arm and workpiece.