Abstract: A unitary sleeve lip seal can be used to provide permanently lubricated sealed bearings in severe service conditions such as the track pins of track-driven vehicles and agricultural equipment. The seal has a labyrinthine exclusion path and multiple dust lips contacting the sleeve in addition to the main sealing lip. A garter spring encircling the main sealing lip may enable the seal to operate at moderately elevated pressures. The sleeve has a radial flange at the outermost end. Elastomeric lips extend between the sleeve flange and a faceplate that terminates the outside end of the seal housing. The seal is packed with water-resistant grease and can, when installed in association with grease-packed bearings can create a permanently lubricated bearing/shaft assembly that requires no re-greasing. Resilient coatings both protect the sleeve and case and also improve leak resistance, especially when the seal is retrofitted onto shafts that have been damaged.

Abstract: Unitary radial lip seals are useful to provide permanent lubrication to rotary shaft and bearing assemblies. In addition, these seals also function as excluder seals to keep dirt, chemicals, and other contaminants from contacting the lubricated surfaces. However, previous radial lip seals have a tendency to wear or cut a groove into the associated rotary shaft, as the shaft is rotated during normal operation of the machine. The present disclosure describes a radial lip seal having a sleeve, a seal case, a faceplate and flexible member. This improved seal also has a second sleeve operably positioned between the shaft and the faceplate wiper ring that alleviates the tendency of the wiper ring to cut a groove into the shaft during normal operation of the machine.

Abstract: A unitary sleeve lip seal can be used to provide permanently lubricated sealed bearings in severe service conditions such as the track pins of track-driven vehicles and agricultural equipment. The seal has a labyrinthine exclusion path and multiple dust lips contacting the sleeve in addition to the main sealing lip. A garter spring encircling the main sealing lip may enable the seal to operate at moderately elevated pressures. The sleeve has a radial flange at the outermost end. Elastomeric lips extend between the sleeve flange and a faceplate that terminates the outside end of the seal housing. The seal is packed with water-resistant grease and can, when installed in association with grease-packed bearings can create a permanently lubricated bearing/shaft assembly that requires no re-greasing. Resilient coatings both protect the sleeve and case and also improve leak resistance, especially when the seal is retrofitted onto shafts that have been damaged.

Abstract: A unitary sleeve lip seal can be used to provide permanently lubricated sealed bearings in severe service conditions such as the track pins of track-driven vehicles and agricultural equipment. The seal has a labyrinthine exclusion path and multiple dust lips contacting the sleeve in addition to the main sealing lip. A garter spring encircling the main sealing lip may enable the seal to operate at moderately elevated pressures. The sleeve has a radial flange at the outermost end. Elastomeric lips extend between the sleeve flange and a faceplate that terminates the outside end of the seal housing. The seal is packed with water-resistant grease and can, when installed in association with grease-packed bearings can create a permanently lubricated bearing/shaft assembly that requires no re-greasing. Resilient coatings both protect the sleeve and case and also improve leak resistance, especially when the seal is retrofitted onto shafts that have been damaged.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system includes several liquid crystal display (LCD) retract units mountable in a passenger service unit of aircraft. Each of the LCD retract units includes an input connector and an output connector arranged such that signals provided to the input connector appear at the output connector. A system control unit (SCU) is also provided. The SCU is configurable to provide video, power and control signals independently to the input connector of each of the LCD retract units and is also configurable to provide video, power and control signals to the input connector of only a first of the LCD retract units. In the second configuration, the input and output connectors of successive LCD retract units are connected in a daisy chain fashion such that the same signals are provided to each of the LCD retract units. In another aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of LCD retract units includes status communications bus electronics such as RS-485.

Abstract: A technique and system for isolating segments of a serial data bus for remote configuration of equipment in in-flight entertainment systems. The system allows the automatic initialization, or configuration, of multiple terminal units, attached to a serial data bus, without requiring physical access to the multiple units.

Abstract: A backlight control method and apparatus adapted for use in, for example, aircraft passenger entertainment systems are described. The apparatus includes a present brightness/pre-determined brightness and comparator, and a brightness controller which limits present brightness to a selected level in a system deployed in a discrete space (such as a passenger cabin) having a plurality of displays. The method includes steps of comparing present brightness and predetermined brightness and generating one or more control signals to control backlight brightness based on the comparison to provide more uniform brightness in a display system including many displays co-located in a common space.

Abstract: A latch is disclosed for securing a television monitor for an aircraft video system in a horizontal position, wherein the monitor is rotatable between the horizontal position and a downward position suitable for passenger viewing. The latch includes a solenoid having a hinged element. The hinged element may be rotated to a closed position wherein the hinged element is in a vertical orientation. The hinged element may also be rotated to an open position wherein the hinged element is rotated away from the vertical orientation. Further, the hinged element includes a cutout having a reverse L-shaped configuration and a first mating surface. In addition, a notch is formed in a bezel for the monitor. The notch includes a second mating surface wherein when the hinged element is in the open position and the monitor is in the horizontal position, the second mating surface rests upon the first mating surface thereby securing the monitor in the horizontal position.

Abstract: A connector module for terminating a video signal for a monitor in an aircraft entertainment system is disclosed. The module includes a switch having a post that is movable between an extended position for terminating the video signal and a retracted position for enabling transmittance of the video signal through an output connector for the monitor. In addition, the module includes a lever rotatably attached adjacent to the output connector. The lever is rotatable to a terminating position wherein the lever is adjacent to the post to enable positioning of the post in the extended position. Further, upon attachment of the video cable to the output connector, the video cable contacts the lever to cause rotation of the lever against the post to move the post to the retracted position.

Abstract: A screen for an aircraft video projection system. The screen includes a frame for attachment to an aircraft cabin surface and cylindrically shaped first and second pulleys rotatably mounted to the frame. In addition, the first and second pulleys are oriented substantially parallel relative to each other and the first pulley includes an interior hollow. The screen further includes a belt having a viewing surface and an indexing hole adjacent to the viewing surface. The belt is positioned in contact around the first and second pulleys and is moveable between a viewing position in which the viewing surface is exposed for display of the projected image and a stored position in which the viewing surface is hidden. The belt also serves as a heat absorbing layer. A light sensor is positioned opposite the belt. The light sensor serves to detect the presence of the indexing hole. In particular, if the indexing hole is positioned opposite the sensor, the sensor indicates that the viewing surface is exposed.