Abstract: A fire suppression system for use with ducts carrying corrosive gases has a multiplicity of sprinkler assemblies, each having an easily replaceable adapter with a sprinkler head having a fusible alloy fill. The head is screwed into one end of the adapter which has an integral flange at its opposite end. The adapter is inserted in a flanged nozzle which is part of the duct. The adapter flange is bolted to the nozzle flange which has a central opening adapted for connection to a source of extinguishing fluid. A continuous passage for fluid is provided through the adapter and the flanges together with a passage through the sprinkler head, the latter being opened when the system is activated. Only the face of the adapter and a small protruding portion of the sprinkler head are exposed to the corrosive gases. The sprinkler head has a corrosion-resistant body and has a central passage containing a seal plug and a fusible fill at opposite ends and a piston between the fill and the plug.

Abstract: A parachute apparatus with a main canopy having conventional suspension lines and load carrying means with a plurality of main loops attached with respect to the panels of the main canopy. A secondary canopy is positioned within the main inlet opening of the first canopy and is adapted to intially retain the lower edge of the main canopy in a closed position. The outer surface of the secondary canopy and the inner surface of the main loop canopy are connected by way of the main loops and by way of secondary loops located on the external surface of the secondary canopy. A retaining cord extends through the secondary loops and the main loops to reef the main canopy to the secondary canopy during the initial stages of inflation. During this time the secondary canopy will inflate and provide a controlled flow of inflation air into the main chute. Once the main parachute has become partially inflated then the reefing cord is cut allowing full inflation of the larger main canopy.

Abstract: An aircraft with no separate elevators in the tail end of the fuselage and having wings arranged approximately in the middle portion of the fuselage, is improved by a single flap on the underside of the wings for extending down to a variable degree and being arranged at a point between 49 and 54% of the local chord depth as measured from the leading edge.

Abstract: A pipe switch for plants for pneumatically conveying of bulk material includes a housing with three ports and having a rotatable cock for selectively connecting one port with the second or third port. The cock is provided with two pipe sections which define two flow paths and are connected at their ends via suitable ring segments. One of the ring segments is of sufficient dimension to sealingly bar the one port which is not in communication with the first port when the cock is in the respective end position. A journal connects the pipe sections at a central location thereof and is rotatably supported in side cover plates of the housing for allowing a rotation of the cock between the two end positions.

Abstract: Fire extinguishing plant for three extinguishing agents, water, powder-mixed water and heavy foam, comprising water supply conduits (4, 5, 6) from a source of pressurized water to a number of spraying nozzles (2, 3), and wherein there to the water supply conduits (4, 5, 6) being provided an inlet (7) for admixing foam agent. Moreover, to each nozzle (2, 3) therein being provided supply conduits (9, 10, 11) for a non-combustible gas, siad conduits having a device (13) for admixing fire extinguishing powder into the gas. The supply conduits for the non-combustible gas have a non-return valve (28) adjacent the outlet; there being provided a bypass conduit (14) in the gas supply conduit past the device (13) for the admixing of powder.An arrangement in spraying nozzles for use in the plant comprises a preferably circular housing (15), on end of which is closed, the other end thereof being open and having a radially extending annular flange (32).

Abstract: A manual actuator comprised of a mounting means, a lever and an arm. The mounting means is adapted for field mounting, as well as for factory mounting, on the fire extinguisher in the proximity of the automatic actuator, without requiring removal of any parts of the automatic fire extinguisher. The lever is attached to the mounting means and is capable of rotating, or pivoting, from left to right or from right to left about the point on the mounting means to which it is attached. The arm may be connected on one end to the lever. When installing the manual actuator, the arm may be positioned on either side of the trigger element of the automatic actuator to permit manual actuation from either the left or right hand side of the fire extingusher, according to the particular positioning needs of the place in which the fire extinguisher is placed. In addition, the lever may be attached to a means to pivot the lever in order to permit remote manual actuation.

Abstract: An improved mainsail construction having a barrier extending laterally outward from the mainsail and the mainsail boom to prevent flow of air from the high pressure side to the low pressure side of the sail and thus improve efficiency thereof. The barrier is detachably securable with respect to the mainsail and the mainsail boom such as being capable of being removed and oriented to act as a sail cover or weather protection device.

Abstract: A railroad car, for carrying shipping containers, having a car body with opposing side walls and an end wall near each end defining a well in which a container can be received; support for a container, when in the well, comprising a plurality of spaced metal reinforcing elements or castings joined to each side wall and spaced inwardly from the well end walls; and each casting being substantially L-shaped and having a substantially vertical leg joined at the bottom of a side wall and the casting having an arm extending laterally substantially horizontally inwardly toward the center of the car to aid in supporting a container in the well.

Abstract: Hydrofoil families which have high lift and low drag coefficients. Induced vorticity is partly suppressed by introducing a longitudinal component of the flow directed from the foil tip towards the hydrofoil base at least in the area of the hydrofoil tip. Further increase of the hydrofoil efficiency is attained by reducing the low lift and high drag induced vortex enhancing area along the tip. For given lift requirements the foil area can be reduced and cavitation performance improved. High torsional and bending resistance are attained by using high modulus materials arranged in chosen directions.

Abstract: Control apparatus for selectively generating and converting control input information into controlling output for position and movement of controlled apparatus. The controlled apparatus includes a fluid discharge device comprising a nozzle disposed for vertical and horizontal movement.

Abstract: Fixing system enabling in particular a structure (10) to be rapidly docked for securing thereon an element in a detachable way.According to the invention, this system is notable in that it comprises:pliers (3) able to be spontaneously opened under the action of a first spring (7);a rod (14) able to slide under the action of a second spring (13) so as to close said pliers against the action of said first spring (7);a mobile support (15) for said second spring (13);locks (19, 20, 21) able to be controlled for locking said sliding rod (14) and said mobile support (15);and a pin (23) to control at will the blocking of said locking means.The system is used for the fixing of an element onto a structure in difficult conditions, for example outside a spaceship.

Abstract: A spacecraft, and related method for its operation, for transporting a payload, such as a satellite, from a space shuttle in a low-altitude parking orbit, to an operational orbit. Housekeeping functions, such as communications, attitude control, and power-supply, are performed by subsystems integrated into the spacecraft and employed both while in the operational orbit and during ascent from the parking orbit. The payload is secured forward of a payload platform having forward and aft faces of isogrid construction, and the housekeeping subsystems are stored between the faces, an interface of electrical and other connections being provided to the payload through the forward platform face. A liquid bipropellant rocket engine secured behind the payload platform provides low thrust and relatively low acceleration, and is operated in a succession of short perigee burns to extend the orbit to a desired altitude, and then in one or more apogee burns to circularize the orbit, if the payload is a satellite.

Abstract: A linear fire extinguisher includes a high strength elongated tube containing a pressurized fire extinguishant such as HALON 1301. A pair of opposed shaped charges is placed along the exterior or interior of the tube and when actuated provides cutting lines which cause a directed distribution of the fire extinguishant along the lines in an opposed manner to provide a net reaction force of substantially zero on the tube. A helical geometry is also provided which provides a substantial reduction in reactive forces.

Abstract: The response time of the trigger elements of permanently installed glass barrel sprinkler installations can be shortened by the use of special expanding liquids having a low heat capacity coupled with rapid heat absorption. In particular, lower alkyl homologs of benzene such as, for example, toluene and o-xylene, or halogen derivatives of hydrocarbons such as, for example, tetrachloroethylene, are more suitable for this purpose than the hitherto used expanding liquids based on alcohols. However, aliphatic hydrocarbons of medium chain length, lower cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons, esters of ketocarboxylic acids and simple lower ketones can also be used. The fast response of the glass barrel sprinklers allows fires to be fought at an earlier stage and reduces the water requirement and hence the installation costs.

Abstract: The pneumatic conveying system according to the present invention includes a pneumatic transport pressure vessel having funnel-shaped sides and a closed domed top. The pneumatic transport presure vessel has a single inlet/outlet opening at the bottom of the funnel-shaped sides. The pneumatic transport pressure vessel is connected to a switch valve having a pipe section movable between first and second positions. In the first position, the switch valve connects the pneumatic transport pressure vessel to a positive displacement mechanical feeder to bottom load material from a storage hopper through the switch valve into the pneumatic transport pressure vessel. In the second position, the pipe section of the switch valve connects the pneumatic transport pressure vessel to discharge piping for conveying the material pneumatically to a desired discharge location.

Abstract: An adjustable seating system particularly adapted for use in a passenger aircraft, where there are a pair of tracks mounted in the floor of the aircraft, and a plurality of seating units mounted to these tracks. Each seating unit has a pair of interconnected traction wheels which have positive engagement with the tracks, so as to avoid skewing of the seating units as these are moved along the tracks. Pivotally mounted locking members lock the rear leg portions of the seating units to the tracks at selected locations. Telescoping track cover members cover the track sections that extend between adjacent seating units.

Abstract: The momentary position, between open and closed, of a bottom door panel controlling release of fluid from an airborne container containing the fluid is governed by both the height of the fluid in the container and the instantaneous position of the door panel.

Abstract: An aircraft converting aerodynamic compression ram thermal stream energy into thrust power generation comprising:(a) an aerodynamic compression ram thermal stream generating multiple vane diffuser as the air-inlet to a pressure plenum;(b) a ram thermal-pressure stream induction double throttle duct consisting of a main ramflow inducing nozzle and a fuel injection ramflow inducing nozzle wihch coalesce to form the air-oulet of a pressure plenum-engine pod;(c) a compressed air shooting annular slotted ignition chamber downstream of the fuel injecting ramflow inducing nozzle with flame bed-walled combustion chamber forming a ramjet engine;(d) a ram thermal-pressure stream induction annular slotted thrust nozzle extending rearward from the combustion chamber of the ramjets and exit nozzle of a turbojet engine thereby creating a tailpipe for the turbo-ram induction jet engine; and(e) an aerodynamic compression ram thermal stream sink double-walled shockcone airframe, the double walled shockcone housing the ram the

Abstract: A pendent style sprinkler includes a sprinkler body portion and a plug valve assembly having a sleeve secured to a deflector plate on an outlet side of the sprinkler body portion. A clip is wedged between the sprinkler body portion and the deflector plate. The clip includes a peripheral edge or tab portion projecting radially outwardly beyond a peripheral portion of the sprinkler body portion and a peripheral portion of the deflector plate. A ceiling cover is provided having a central portion adapted to contact the clip peripheral edge portion such that the cover is suspended at the central portion on the peripheral edge portion of the clip.

Abstract: The improved cyclone separating method and apparatus provide an artificial air core into the cyclone to ensure the steady and high separation efficiency independent of increasing the feed flow rate or the feed solids concentration. Use of the artificial air core makes it possible to apply a control discharge valve to vary the amount of underflow collected according to the required feed flow rate and feed solids concentration for a given technological operation. Use of the artificial air core makes it possible to apply an underflow product collector with a discharge valve to manually or automatically vary the amount of underflow and to change a manner of collection of the underflow stream to be either continuous or periodical. Use of the artificial air core makes it possible to introduce a compressed air into air duct to control the outflow velocities.