Abstract: A head restraint for the occupant of a vehicle seat is disclosed, which rrains the forward and downward movement of the occupant's head when subjected to large deceleration forces. The restraint includes a strap assembly which encircles the back of the occupant's head and releasably connects to his helmet adjacent to each of his ears at two locations. A retaining strap is slidably connected by a loop to the strap assembly and extends behind the head to a restracting means fixed in the seat. The retracting means pulls the head back against the seat when the deceleration forces exceed a predetermined level, as during flight maneuvers. During normal flight conditions, the occupant is able to move his head freely from side to side as the strap assembly slides through the loop.

Abstract: A fan system for use in firefighting applications employing positive pressure ventilation includes a lightweight portable fan having a water-powered turbine as its driver. A flow control valve is operable to set the system to operate in a plurality of modes including a mode wherein an air stream and a water mist can be directed toward the fire.

Abstract: Initial retraction of telescoping cylinders (22, 72) forces hydraulic fluid through an orifice area into a low pressure chamber (116). When the cylinders (22, 72) reach a predetermined position, a stop surface (120) carried by the second cylinder (72) engages a floating member (52) carried by the first cylinder (22). Further retraction causes the floating member (52) to move relative to the first cylinder (22) and compress a high pressure chamber (44). When the shock strut (20) is pivoted into a stowed position, the cylinders (22, 72) are retracted to the predetermined position without compressing the high pressure chamber (44). In a second embodiment, a linkage mechanism (298) moves the high pressure chamber (318) relative to the first cylinder (272) to allow the shock strut (220) to be shortened beyond the predetermined position without compressing the high pressure chamber 318.

Abstract: An aircraft windshield transparency includes a base frame defining an opening into which an inboard-positioned transparency is mounted with at least one outboard-positioned transparency and an interlayer between the two transparencies. The interlayer exhibits a stronger adhesion to the outboard transparency than to the inboard transparency. The peripheries of the outboard transparency and interlayer carry a means which functions to expose a groove penetrating to the surface of the inboard transparency such that the outboard transparency and interlayer may be removed and the inboard transparency thereafter functions as the primary windshield transparency of the aircraft.

Abstract: The gust alleviation system was designed to be an add-on to any existing g-command flight control system. The system assumes that there already exists, a stability augmentation system which will hold the aircraft's attitude. This system minimizes the interaction of the gust alleviation system with the existing flight control system. The gust alleviation system picks off the stick displacement signal and the aircraft normal acceleration sensor signal and processes this information. The outputs of the gust alleviation system are added back respectively to the existing flap command signal and the aircraft's original stability augmentation loop.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a control surface of aircraft comprising a plurality of servomechanisms each including a hydraulic working oil source for supplying working oil under pressure, an actuator for driving the control surface, a servo valve for controlling the control surface, a switch valve interposed between the hydraulic working oil source and the servo valve, a bypass valve interposed between the servo valve and the actuator, a control valve connected to the bypass valve, actuator-displacement detecting means connected to the actuator to detect a drive displacement of the actuator and to output a displacement signal, and a control circuit for outputting actuating signals to the switch valve and servo valve, respectively, to drive the actuator, and for outputting a control signal to the control valve in response to the displacement signal in order to stop the actuator at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A rotary feeder having a cylindrical casing having an upper inlet port and a lower outlet port in the vertical direction and a rotor disposed within said cylindrical casing and having a center axis being made eccentric with respect to a horizontal rotor driving shaft supported pivotally on the cylindrical casing, the rotor having further a plurality of blades provided in such that each tip of said blades is able to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical casing in the vicinity of said upper inlet port or lower outlet port by pressure differential between an upstream passage and a downstream passage.

Abstract: A yaw fin deployment apparatus provides a continuous depolyment force to fin during the entire range of deployment. A shaft, a movable sleeve bearing for riding along the shaft, a strut connected between the sleeve bearing and the fin, and a lanyard for continuously pulling the sleeve bearing along the shaft are provided. The momentum created when the ejection seat separates from the aircraft is transmitted to the lanyard, to the sleeve bearing, and to the strut for deploying the fin. A pulley is attached to the seat and is located near the aft end of the shaft and guides the lanyard to assure that the actuation force exerted on the sleeve bearing is in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft. When the fin is fully deployed, the lanyard separates from the sleeve bearing through a split ring at the bottom of the sleeve bearing. A primary spring-loaded latch located at the aft end of the shaft locks the fin in a fully deployed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fire protection sprinkler head having a base constructed for connection to a source of fire retardant fluid under pressure, a throat in the base through which fire retardant fluid can flow, a valve seat defined by the base about the periphery of the throat, and a resiliently flexible valve disk disposed across the throat and impressed upon the valve seat in sealing engagement. The valve seat has an arcuate profile segment, with a protuberant ridge disposed about the periphery of the throat and adjacent thereto. The ridge, in the region of its crest, defines a valve seat surface. The valve seat further has a recessed surface segment disposed radially outwardly of the throat, and divergent from a plane of the crest of the protuberant ridge.

Abstract: A device for continuously delivering a proportionately constant fire-fighting solution which comprises an extinguisher foam mixed with variable flow rates of fire fighting water. The device comprises a motor, which is a volumetric screw pump driven in reverse by the hydraulic pressure of the fire fighting water network. This hydraulic motor is mechanically connected to one or more volumetric pumps which proportionally meter the fire fighting foam extinguisher liquid into the network water.

Abstract: A gas turbine power plant, especially for helicopters, includes a main engine and a reduction gear transmission forming a self-sufficient auxiliary modular unit. A compensating arrangement includes an articulated outer cover and a shaft section inside said outer cover connected for transmitting power and for compensating any position disalignment between the main engine and the helicopter main gear drive. The reduction gear transmission is directly, rigidly force-coupled to the helicopter main gear drive, and the compensating arrangement including the articulated outer cover and shaft section is located between the main engine and the reduction gear transmission, whereby the axial length spacing between the main engine and the helicopter main gear drive is substantially reduced.

Abstract: An arrangement of pneumatic-transporting a powdered or granular maerials such that they do not lodge, using the transport pipe smaller diameter having the bore 2-6 times as long as maximum length of the particle of the powdered or granular materials to be transported, while the powdered or granular materials are caused to float at the inlet of the transport pipe or in the vicinity of the inlet thereof by the powdered or granular materials floating apparatus with help of the collector provided on the transporting destination at the outlet of the transport pipe.

Abstract: An aircraft handling system comprises a plurality of hydraulically operated winches, each winch having a wire for connection to the aircraft. Each winch also has a dedicated hydraulic pumpset positioned in proximity thereto. An electrical control unit effects co-operating operation of the winches in order to effect the desired movement and control of the aircraft. The tension in the wire of at least one of said winches is detected, and in response thereto an electrical signal is transmitted to the control unit. An electrical control signal is then transmitted from the control unit to the other winch or winches in order to control the tension in their wires in relation to the wire tension detected in the first winch.

Abstract: A skyboard which is an apparatus using the combination of a specially designed surfboard and a parachute to enable the rider to ride the skyboard in a manner similar to the rider's positioning on a surfboard and which will enable the rider to ride the air currents of the sky in a much more exciting manner than through conventional gliders or hand gliders. The skyboard is a lightweight object formed in the general shape of a surfboard and which is modified to include at least a pair of front wings and a pair of rear wings on its lateral sides, a pair of fins on its underside and a pair of foot or shoe binders on its upper surface to accommodate and hold the rider's feet or shoes.

Abstract: A fire sprinkler has a flow passage for water or other extinguishing fluid closed by a frangible body, which may be a simple disc. A separate mechanism responsive to temperature-rise conditions shatters the frangible body, and the fluid then flows from the passage to impinge on a distributor (as in conventional sprinklers). The shattering mechanism is preferably actuated by a shape-memory alloy, preferably in sheet form, which can be located below the distributor for maximum exposure to radiant as well as convective heat; it can also be thermally insulated, contributing further to speed of response.

Abstract: An improved fire suppression system control. The control system has circuy which reacts to a break in the circuit caused by catastrophic events in a rapid fashion.

Abstract: A cable and equipment guide (35) for a helicopter (10) comprises a funnel (60) formed from a single thickness of malleable and polishable material, fixed to the helicopter fuselage (15) by a resilient mount comprising a bracket (120) carrying an elastomeric bushing (130) and a coil spring (70).

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a kite having a sail with a left and right wing, each being connected to a supporting frame, with the frame having a leading edge support member associated with a left wing strut member and with a right wing strut member. It also includes bridle associated with the frame, the bridle having a horizontal line member connected to the leading edge support member, a left wing vertical line member connected to the left wing vertical support member, and a right wing vertical line member connected to the right wing strut member. The horizontal line member is connected to the left and right wing vertical line members at upper left and upper right control line contact points. The set of control lines includes an upper left line and an upper right line connected to the upper left and upper right control line contact points.

Abstract: A check system for a chemical fire extinguisher utilizes a normally-closed check valve to prevent escape of pressurized chemical during periodic maintenance of a pressure monitoring system, such as a pressure gauge. An actuator member which is disposed within the flow channel of the fire extinguisher system is used to apply a force to the check system whereby a normally-closed check valve is urged to its open state. This open state establishes communication between the interior of the pressurized tank and the pressure monitoring system. Removal, or loosening, of a coupler, or union, which secures the pressure monitoring system to the chemical tank, permits the check valve to return to its normally-closed state. Thus, the pressure monitoring system can be removed and serviced periodically without requiring the pressurized tank to be emptied.

Abstract: An imaging device that automatically rotates upon descent through an atmosphere provides an onboard image detector a sweeping panoramic scan as it descends. No moving parts or propulsion system are required. The location, angle and pitch of the winged structure, together with its inertia properties, passively induces rotation. The angled location of the image detector takes advantage of the resulting rotation. Data generated by the image detector may be transmitted to a remote receiver or, alternatively, stored for subsequent recovery.