Abstract: An apparatus for carrying stores such as missiles and the like in a manner which permits the stores to be selectively deployed from a conformal or semi-conformal carriage position, with respect to a mobile vehicle, such as an aircraft, to a launch position from which the stores may be selectively launched, and including apparatus for selectively jettisoning the stores.

Abstract: A linear actuator includes a single drive gear that engages two driven gears of the same pitch diameter, which in turn drive a spindle and a sleeve, respectively. The sleeve is internally threaded to receive the spindle, which is externally threaded. The sleeve and spindle are driven rotationally at slightly different rates due to different numbers of teeth on the two driven gears, producing linear motion of the spindle relative to the sleeve. The drive gear can be rotated in increments corresponding to integral numbers of teeth and the rest positions of the gears can be full engagement positions to minimize play in the gears.

Abstract: An actuator is positioned at the tip of an aircraft wing, preferably adjacent to a store, and operatively connected by a torque shaft to a motor mounted at the fuselage. A return shaft extends back along the wing from the actuator toward the fuselage and is attached to a pivotably movable wing section. The actuator, which includes a speed reduction gear set, drives the movable wing section through the return shaft. The wing profile extending outwardly to the actuator can be smooth and aerodynamic, the only enlargement of the profile being at the actuator itself which is adjacent to the store where the airflow is necessarily disrupted.

Abstract: An arming trigger unit having a retractable member for selectively retaining or releasing an arming wire of a store which retractable member is, after having been released, retained in its release position by a safety member. Further, such safety member engages a ring portion of the arming wire such that ejection of the ring portion is assisted when the arming wire is released. Such safety member is movable out of the position at which it retains the retractable member to permit a subsequent arming wire to be retained by the retractable member. A method of maintaining an actuating member for a store in a selected position to release an unarmed store by moving a safety member into a position whereat said actuating member is retained in such selected position. Further, the method of installing a store with respect to an aircraft by releasing a safety member to permit an actuating member to captively retain an arming wire.

Abstract: A variable length mechanical connection having a selectable fixed length obtainable by permitting at least one of three relatively axially movable body members to selectively rotate relative to the other body members under axially applied loads.

Abstract: A rotary launcher for airborne launching of stores by use of a hydraulic ejector system. The ejector system is carried in stationary relationship to the launch position of a rotary store carrier of the launcher and is mounted in stationary relationship to a non-rotary axle member of the rotary launcher upon which the rotary store carrier is rotatably carried.

Abstract: Apparatus for protection against damage from excessive torque loads, including a fast-acting slip clutch to limit torque transmitted between a drive motor and a mechanical load, and an automatic device to protect the slip clutch from damage due to slippage in excess of a predetermined amount for a predetermined time. A slip measurement device detects the degree of slippage in the clutch, and a timing circuit coupled to the slip measurement device disconnects power from the drive motor after the predetermined time has elapsed. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the slip clutch includes an input shaft, a wrapped spring in interference-fit engagement with the input shaft, and an output shaft in engagement with one end of the spring. The spring tends to unwrap from the input shaft and to slip if a torque in excess of a threshold level is transmitted.

Abstract: An on-board aircraft loading apparatus including an improved cargo platform and a simplified suspension frame therefor and improved hoist means for lifting and lowering the cargo platform with respect to the suspension frame.

Abstract: A store ejection apparatus having fluid energy accumulator means for receiving a fluid charge during system pressurization for subsequent supplying of the fluid charge to the ejectors during the ejection of a store.

Abstract: A system for determining and recording the position, size, shape and depth of a defect in a billet or similar workpiece. The workpiece is displayed on the screen of a video display device, and the positions of the defects on the screen are recorded responsive to being manually selected by an operator. In embodiments in which the position of a video camera generating the video image varies with respect to the workpiece, sensors are used to determine the positions of the workpiece with respect to the camera. The position indications from the sensors are applied to a processor which correlates these indications with the position of the defect on the screen to determine the position of the defect on the workpiece.

Abstract: A stores arming trigger unit for use in airborne launching of stores and including improved means for selection of armed or unarmed launch modes. Such improved means consists of an axially shiftable elongated shaft which is normally biased into a safe launch position, but which shaft is selectively actuatable to move into a live launch position by actuation of a movable plunger of a solenoid.

Abstract: A gear blank is integrally formed with a shaft or other central structure protruding axially from what is to be the toothed face of the gear. A spiral bevel gear is then cut by the face mill generation method, but with the cutter distance exceeding the outer cone distance. The cutter does not intrude into the area occupied by the shaft. The resulting gear has a negative spiral angle and a reverse tooth curvature.

Abstract: An improved cable tension machine increases the velocity for hauling in of cable from approximately 100 feet per minute to an excess of 700 feet per minute. The cable tension machine uses a floating, semirigid track suspension to hold the track belts in contact with the cable. The track suspension increases the minor variation tolerance acceptable for the cable tension machine, thereby allowing rapid running of odd shapes through the cable tension machine. A more uniform cable loading force is provided to the cable without excessive force when bodies are encountered and without jamming. Basically, the cable tension machine comprises upper and lower track assemblies positioned atop one another capable of applying a tensioning force to the cable which passes between the track assemblies. A housing holds both track assemblies in spaced relationship, allowing movement of the upper track assembly relative to the lower track assembly through a pivotable lift point on the upper part of the housing.

Abstract: A starting power source is connected to a jet engine of an aircraft by alternative drive trains having different mechanical advantages, each associated with a clutch. The clutches are centrally supplied with cooling fluid and the discs and plates of the clutches are grooved to promote outward migration of the fluid resulting in a thin shear film of fluid on the opposing clutch surfaces to permit a soft, gradual engagement. It is possible to start the engine with only a single shift which occurs after the ignition point has been reached and during the assist phase of the starting procedure. The invention can be applied to aircraft having more than one engine.

Abstract: A variable speed multi-cylinder assembly is provided with expandable bushing seals to block leakage of fluid from higher speed stages to lower speed stages.

Abstract: A seat pallet lock and more particularly an improved seat pallet lock for utilization with aircraft passenger seat pallets to retain such pallets in the operational position on the aircraft.

Abstract: An elongated metal workpiece such as a slab or billet is moved longitudinally beneath a grinding head by a reciprocating carriage mounted on an elongated track. The carriage receives a billet from a charging table, reciprocates the billet beneath the grinding head for a plurality of grinding passes, and then delivers the finished billet to a discharge table. The grinder head includes a rotating grinding wheel mounted at the end of a first arm which is pivotally secured to one end of a pivotally mounted second arm. The vertical position of the grinding wheel, and hence the downward force exerted by the grinding wheel on the billet, is principally determined by the angular position and torque, respectively, of the first arm while the horizontal position of the grinding wheel transverse to the longitudinal axis of the billet is principally determined by the angular position of the second arm.

Abstract: An airborne stores arming trigger unit and more particularly an arming trigger unit used in conjunction with bombs and the like which are carried by military aircraft and which arming trigger unit includes improved means for better insuring an unarmed drop of bombs from such aircraft.

Abstract: A cable winding system carried by a vehicle for extending and retracting cable responsive to vehicle movement. The cable frictionally engages a controllably powered sheave and is guided into a horizontally disposed coil by a cylindrical guide arm having a vertically directed opening adjacent the sheave and a downwardly, radially and circumferentially directed opening adjacent the coil. The guide arm is freely rotatable about a vertical axis so that as cable is extended and retracted the guide arm rotates to guide the cable between the coil and sheave. The powered sheave directs cable from the vehicle through an instrumented fairlead which, through a control system, controls the operation of the sheave. The fairlead is pivotally mounted about a horizontal pivot axis so that the head pivots in one direction as the cable is tensioned and in the opposite direction as the cable tension is relieved.

Abstract: An elongated metal workpiece such as a slab or billet is moved longitudinally beneath a grinding head by a reciprocating car mounted on an elongated track. The grinding head includes a rotating grinding wheel mounted at the end of a first arm which is pivotally secured to one end of a pivotally mounted second arm. A hydraulic actuator extending between the frame and the first arm controls the grinding force exerted by the grinding wheel on the workpiece. One end of the actuator is connected to an accumulator which provides a constant upward bias to the arm while the pressure in the other end of the actuator is varied in accordance with a pressure control signal. The pressure control signal is derived from both a calculated torque command indicative of the grinding force expected to produce a grinding torque corresponding to the torque command and a torque error signal which is a function of the deviation of actual torque from the torque command in order to maintain the grinding torque substantially constant.