Abstract: An energy absorber is provided. The energy absorber includes a thin panel (78) formed of composite materials (84) for reacting compression forces in the plane of the panel (78) between two opposed edges thereof. The panel (78) is constructed to resist overall bending failure when force is applied to the opposite edges. The energy absorber further includes force receiving structure (90, 92) for receiving forces directly to one of the edges and for receiving forces to the opposite edge of the panel (78) to initiate local folding parallel to the other edge for progressing crushing and local folding of the panel (78).

Abstract: A fastener driving tool with an improved fastener package supporting magazine canister assembly constructed essentially of three plastic parts: (1) a mounting part, (2) a package supporting part, and (3) a package covering part. A plurality of ledges on the exterior periphery of a portion of a peripheral wall of the supporting part and series of cooperating ledges on the mounting part act as an adjustable mount for releasably fixedly supporting the package supporting part on the mounting part in a selected one of a plurality of different operative positions depending upon the nail size of the package which is selected.

Abstract: The shaft of a linear actuator driven by a force motor preferably electromagnetic or hydraulic has a bifurcated arm positioned with one of the bifurcations on each side of the shaft and with the opposite end of the arm securely affixed to a torsion bar. The torsion bar has both ends thereof rigidly secured to a frame member. The bifurcations on the arm end contact a hub which defines a pair of side walls that are threadably received upon the end of the shaft. As the shaft reciprocates, a force is generated by the torsion bar colinear with the shaft axis motion which is proportional to the displacement of the shaft.

Abstract: A shear valve which controls the flow of a fluid from one of two different sources to a using apparatus upon application of pressure to a piston which severs the shear sections of the valve. One of the two sources of fluid may be self-contained as an integral part of the shear valve.

Abstract: An automatic tool changing system and apparatus for turret type and block tool type lathes. The invention generally comprises an improved automatic indexable turret having a plurality of tool clamping units actuatable for engaging and disengaging a tool, an automatic indexable tool storage/feeder mechanism for supplying and receiving tools, and an automatic tool manipulating and transporting means disposed for operative association with said turret and said tool storage/feeder mechanism for selectively exchanging tools in response to a programmed numerical control unit or system.

Abstract: A coupling device for interconnecting a drive shaft and a driven shaft which is maintained under fluid pressure to provide a tensile preload and which is specifically adapted for utilization with hydromechanical or electrohydraulic servovalves.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic servovalve which includes as an integral part thereof a monitor valve which senses the absence or lack of system pressure in the first or second stages of the valve and translates in the absence thereof to deactivate load control. The torque motor of the electrohydraulic servovalve is biased, electrically or magnetically, to provide a failure indication in the first stage of the valve in the absence of or excess of applied electrical signals to the torque motor.

Abstract: Clamping is provided for a drive shaft tube to a housing that uniformly distributes the clamping forces, eliminating high concentrations of clamping pressure, and accomplishing clamping in an aesthetic manner. A one-piece tubular housing, having an inner surface, for the trimmer head includes a drive shaft component within it. A tubular casing containing a flexible drive shaft has an outer surface for receipt by, and engagement with, the trimmer housing inner surface. A pair of clamping components having an arcuate extent generally comparable to the circumference of the tubular casing inner surface engage the inner surface, and clamp the tubular casing to the trimmer housing inner surface by the action of a pair of screw fasteners having heads exterior of the first housing, and threaded shanks extending into threaded engagement with openings in the inner clamping components.

Abstract: A saw chain includes a non-cutting guard link having a base with rivet-receiving openings, and a top portion with a nose extending rearward of the base portion. The nose is formed by coining, rolling, or bending, such as in a progressive die system, so that the width of the nose is approximately equal to the width of the base portion of the guard link plus the width of a center link to which the guard link is pivotally connected. Right-hand and left-hand cutter links follow, respectively, left-hand and right-hand guard links, the guard links cooperating with the cutter link depth gauges to present a facial area approximately equal to the chain width to thereby minimize kick-back.

Abstract: The adapter for the torquing tool includes an elongated body having a bore in at least one end to accommodate a driver bit and a coupling means for detachably attaching the body to the tool. A depth adjustment bushing is threadably engaged within said bore, with the bushing being externally threaded to engage the bore. The bushing includes a body section and a shank section. An axial passageway extends through the shank section and an axial slot extending through the wall of the shank in communication with the passageway. A screw extends through a radial threaded opening in the body and into the axial passageway through the slot so when the driver bit is housed within the body section and extends into the passageway, it is held in place by tightening the screw. In a preferred form, the passageway has a hexagonal cross section for mating engagement with a hexagonal end section of the driving bit.

Abstract: An IR source of illumination for use with night vision goggles in which there is provided an array of a minimum of about eight Ga-Al-As diodes per group with two groups per array in a planar distribution with the spacing of the diodes within each group such that at least about 75% of the diodes are coupled to at least two neighboring diodes to provide coupling in the light pattern and to enhance the output thereof and means are provided to operate the diodes in parallel at about the current limit of the diodes whereby beams are generated which converge to provide a beam diameter of approximately 10.degree. with a halo at approximately 30.degree. at ranges beyond 15 meters.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved air cushion seal system of the inflatable lobe type such as for operating between the sidehulls of a surface effect ship (SES), wherein in accordance with the invention at least the lowermost lobe of the system is partially closed at each of its opposite ends by a fabric sheet which is inset from the ship sidehulls. These substantially impervious to air passage sheets are affixed to the side edges of the lower loop of the lobe and up and around its aft end, and optionally to the upper loop of the lobe, to minimize scooping and water filling of the lobe, and to operationally stabilize the lobe.

Abstract: A redundant, dual-fail/operate fly-by-wire control system actuates a redundant tandem piston actuator (10) to provide a single composite output evidenced by movement of a piston rod (12). The basic fault-tolerate actuation system consists of dual hydraulic primary actuators, quadruplex electrical control loops (14-17), and control servo valves (22-25). A failure management system connects to the actuation system by means of lines (18-21) to control the servo valves (22-25). The four control loops (14-17) connect to a pilot controller that provides a pilot individual input signals to amplifiers (26-29) for each of the control loops. A tracking loop (450) includes switches (480, 482, 484) for connecting the four control loops (14-17) and providing isolation therebetween.

Abstract: A valve useful for connecting a source of fluid under pressure to a using apparatus upon actuation of an explosive squib. The connecting structure includes an outer tube of soft material within which there is disposed an additional tube of brittle, frangible material having a reduced diameter area. The inner and outer tubes define an annular space surrounding an inner tubular space. One of the spaces is connected to the source of fluid under pressure, while the other of the spaces is connected to the using apparatus. Particularly, the inner tubular space is connected to a source of gas under pressure, while the outer annular area is connected to the using apparatus. Upon actuation of the squib the inner frangible tube is broken at the reduced diameter section upon a bending of the outer tube without its fracturing thereby connecting the source of fluid under pressure to the using apparatus, while at the same time isolating the products of combustion of the squib.

Abstract: A method for forming a urethane adhesive layer from an aqueous system by mixing a first component comprising a water dispersible oligourethane having a plurality of ##STR1## groups with an organic water dispersible second component to initially form a relatively low molecular weight composition tacky at a temperature below about 90.degree. C. after removal of aqueous solvent followed by subsequent formation of a higher molecular weight composition, applying a layer of the resulting mixture to a substrate and removing the aqueous solvent from the layer to form an adhesive layer tacky at a temperature below 90.degree. C. The invention also includes the adhesive layer and the method for adhering surfaces using such a layer.

Abstract: A capacitive discharge ignition system wherein the transformer secondary is responsive to changing magnetic flux such that supplemental voltage, of magnitude in excess of the spark sustaining voltage for a relatively long time period, is induced in the secondary coil in timed relation to high voltage damped oscillatory voltages induced by capacitive discharge. The magnetically induced voltage combines with the discharge induced voltage to provide at least one pulse in excess of the spark ionization potential to initiate a spark, and, in cooperation with the secondary coil inductance, thereafter sustains the spark for the duration of the time period despite the remainder of the discharge induced voltages.

Abstract: An automatic numerically controlled machine tool or "bed machining center" presents a tool carrying spindle rotating in a vertically movable head sliding on a forwardly and rearwardly movable column, for cutting tool engagement with a workpiece clamped on a laterally movable table. The head, the column and the table are slidingly movable by precision ball screws on mutually perpendicular way members, accurately positioned with pivoting fine adjustment. Sliding ramp gib pack cam block pairs further adjust the sliding members for maximum precision. Replacement spindle and vertical ball screw assemblies are easily substituted for rapid maintenance. High volume coolant circulation flushes chips away from the workpiece. A concealed tool change carriage glides forward from an enclosure, receives the previous tool from the spindle, indexes the next tool, releases it for automatic loading in the spindle collet, and retracts into its enclosure.

Abstract: An improvement in a method of welding the shanks of successive nails to a pair of wires to form a series of wire connected nails suitable for packaging and use in a power driven fastener driving device which includes the steps of connecting a pair of electrodes with a source of electrical current characterized by repetitive cycles and effecting repetitive nail-to-wire cycles each of which includes an initial movement of (1) the shank of an unattached nail (2) a pair of wires extending transversely thereacross and (3) the electrodes from a position of initial contact into a welding station wherein pressurized contact between the electrodes, the nail shank and the wires is maintained and a final movement out of the welding station to a final release position of the electrodes with respect to the welded together nail shank and wires.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator including a piston rod having a centering mechanism associated therewith which, upon actuation, will return the piston rod to a predetermined position even against loads and lock it in that position and hold it there even without the presence of hydraulic power. The centering and locking mechanism includes a drive mechanism and cam surfaces on the piston rod which are engaged by drive surfaces on the driving mechanism. The drive and cam surfaces are opposed ramps with one of the ramps on the drive mechanism always disposed opposite one of the ramps on the actuator, such that at any position of the stroke of the actuator piston rod the centering and locking mechanism may be actuated and is operable to return the actuator to the predetermined position and lock it in place. The cam surfaces are infinitely variable as to their position on the piston rod within the limits of the dimensions of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A valve useful for connecting a source of fluid under pressure to a using apparatus upon actuation of an explosive squib. The connecting structure includes an outer tube of soft material within which there is disposed an additional tube of material having a frangible area. The inner and outer tubes define an annular space and an inner tubular space. One of the spaces is connected to the source of fluid under pressure, while the other of the spaces is connected to the using apparatus. Particularly, the inner tubular space is connected to a source of gas under pressure, while the outer annular area is connected to the using apparatus. Upon actuation of the squib the inner frangible tube is broken at the frangible area upon a bending of the outer tube without its fracturing thereby connecting the source of fluid under pressure to the using apparatus, while at the same time isolating the products of combustion of the squib.