Abstract: A control device is provided for an aircraft, the aircraft having at least one undercarriage with one or more undercarriage wheels. A control mechanism interacts with the aircraft undercarriage and is configured to turn the undercarriage wheels relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The control device has an alignment unit which is connected to the control mechanism and which is configured to control the turning of the undercarriage wheels by means of the control mechanism during at least one part of the landing or take-off phase of the aircraft in such a way that the running direction of the undercarriage wheels is aligned in the direction of a fixed point which may be a corrected fixed point situated below a fixed point by a compensation angle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention include an attitude control system for use with small satellites. According to various embodiments, the system allows rapid retargeting (e.g., high slew rates) and full three-axis attitude control of small satellites using a compact actuation system. In certain embodiments, the compact actuation system includes a plurality of single-gimbaled control moment gyroscopes (SGCMG) arranged in a pyramidal configuration that are disposed within a small satellite.

Abstract: Aircraft and airframes include a skin operatively coupled to a structural reinforcement member. The structural reinforcement member and the skin collectively define a run-out region that encompasses a terminal edge of the structural reinforcement member. Within the run-out region, the skin is more flexible than in adjacent portions of the skin. Methods include defining a region of increased flexibility of a skin relative to adjacent portions of the skin, and operatively coupling the skin to a structural reinforcement member.

Abstract: New chewing-actuated teeth cleaning techniques are provided. In some aspects of the invention, a device with bite-actuated cleaning features is provided, which may comprise, tooth-guiding channels and variable openings enabling the variable bite-actuated application of a dentifrice for bite-actuated scrubbing. In further aspects, internal springs and the tension of surrounding material drive bite actuation of protrusions. In other aspects, intermediate antechambers, and/or interstitial fluid, gel or other medium, aid in enabling re-sealing an inner chamber following penetration of the CleanChew. This aspect may also be applied to a variety of related arts, including but not limited to pneumatic tires, to aid in remediating gas or fluid leaks from piercing.

Abstract: A tipping rod and reel holder comprises an upright support with a rod and reel holder member slidably secured thereto. The rod and reel holder member includes a closed, linear, fulcrum slot with a fastener slidably fastening it to the upright support. The rod and reel holder member accepts the handle of a fishing rod therein, with the shank of the fishing reel positioned in an L-shaped slot in the holder member. The rod and reel holder member with a fishing rod and reel therein is slidably positioned on the fastener to maintain the fishing rod and reel essentially horizontal. A fish pulling on the line pivots the rod and reel holder member with rod and reel therein on the fastener, causing the rod and reel to slide within the L-shaped slot, further pivoting the rod and reel holder member away from horizontal to indicate a bite.

Abstract: A lounge assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The lounge assembly includes a first seat shell configured to at least partially surround a passenger seat, and an overhead storage bin assembly. The overhead storage bin assembly includes first and second posts configured to be secured to a floor of the aircraft, and an overhead bin housing supported by the first and second posts. The overhead bin housing includes at least a first overhead storage bin that is positioned generally above the first seat shell.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a door for a transport means, which structurally provides the largest possible door width. Using a movable carrier arm device, the width of the door aperture can be reduced with little complexity from about 42 inches (Type “A”) as an additional equipment option to about 34 inches (Type “C”). To this end, the movable, for example, foldable, carrier arm device is provided which, when the door opens, automatically moves from a retracted position to an extended position in order to reduce the door aperture width to a value which has been predetermined for evacuation. Afterwards, the extended carrier arm device can be folded in again. In this manner, it may be possible to increase the comfort for the passengers and the crew when the aircraft is in the normal operating state since the carrier arm device provides a greater aperture width in the retracted position.

Abstract: An aquarium acclimation device and method reduce stress and shock which may occur during transition of marine livestock including fish, invertebrates, corals, etc., from a store, online, or wholesaler, to an owner's aquarium. The acclimation device includes tubing, a squeeze bulb, a drip counter, and a rolling clamp. A “J” tube is hung over an edge of the aquarium with one end reaching into water in the aquarium and an opposite end hanging outside the aquarium. The squeeze bulb is connected to the outside end of the “J” tube for initiation of a flow of the aquarium water from the aquarium and a clear squeeze bulb may further provide the drip counter. The rolling clamp and drip counter allow a gradual, observable, and controlled flow for a gradual controlled transition to the aquarium environment.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air vehicle mounted or mountable transmitting and/or receiving equipment including a transmitting and/or receiving turret allowing at least a forward field of view, the device being mounted or mountable on a fuselage such that it extends away from the fuselage to which it is mounted; and a fairing mounted to the fuselage adjacent the device at a rearward side of the device for reducing aerodynamic drag, the fairing being retractable by, for example, an electrically driven mechanism, to afford the device a rearward (arrow R), or more effective rearward, field of view for transmitting and/or receiving.

Abstract: There is provided an animal squeeze having a drop floor and a cradle in which an animal is suspended. A mechanism for altering the positioning of the cradle relative to the drop floor is described. The cradle can be raised or lowered to accommodate animals of differing size. The cradle can also be tilted horizontally to improve access to portions of the animal.

Abstract: A resonance engine is disclosed including: a driver plate, to which is coupled at least one oscillatory transducer; a drive signal generator connected to the oscillatory transducer for excitation thereof; a first spring-mass resonator, having a first natural resonant frequency, with a proximal end attached to the driver plate and a free distal end; and a reaction means attached to the driver plate substantially opposite to the first spring-mass resonator. When the oscillatory transducer is excited by a drive signal from the generator having a component at or close to said natural resonant frequency, the first spring-mass resonator oscillates at resonance, substantially in anti-phase to the driver plate. Small vibrational strains in the oscillatory transducer are converted to large strains of controllable kinematic movements.

Abstract: An animal trap device includes a base, circular cover plate, elastic element and elastic lasso; at least two posts are configured on one face of the base, and each post includes a stop; a circular cover plate includes a top portion, a surrounding portion and a flange, where the surrounding portion surrounds the circumference of the top portion, and the flange is projected outward from the surrounding portion and positioned below the stops; the elastic element is configured between the base and the circular cover plate, and adapted to provide the circular cover plate with a upward elastic force; the elastic lasso is wound around the surrounding portion, and positioned above the stops. Whereby, the elastic lasso will be blocked by the stops, not moved downward, and not reduce until leaving the surrounding portion when the circular cover plate is exerted with a force to move downward.

Abstract: A door frame is provided at an opening made in a fuselage of an aircraft that is delimited by a skin. The frame includes an upper longitudinal stiffener and a lower longitudinal stiffener and two vertical substructures, each arranged on one side of the opening, connected by the upper and lower longitudinal stiffeners. The frame also comprises at least one stop provided at the level of the opening that uptakes radial forces exerted by the door. Each vertical substructure comprises at least three walls made of composite material that are connected to one another to form a box substructure having a closed and hollow cross-section in a sectional plane perpendicular to an axis of the length of the vertical substructure.

Abstract: An aircraft including a fuselage which extends along a longitudinal axis. The fuselage includes a substantially cylindrical central portion and a rear portion that may have a flattened or conventional shape. This rear portion which comprises the rear end of the fuselage includes a support surface which bears at least one horizontal stabilizer and/or vertical stabilizer. The rear portion is able to pivot in relation to the central portion around an axis such as the pitch axis, at least one stabilizer or the support surface being equipped with at least one control surface.

Abstract: A landing gear tire traction control system and methods are presented. An outer tire of an aircraft wheel is depressurized to a depressurized state in response to a non-optimal aircraft landing condition. An inner rotor of the aircraft wheel contacts the outer tire in response to the depressurized state, and a plurality of traction studs are deployed to protrude from the outer tire in response to the inner rotor contacting the outer tire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a refueling controller. The refueling controller is configured to receive data about a current rate of movement of a refueling boom while the refueling boom is in contact with a receiver aircraft during flight. The refueling controller is further configured to disconnect the refueling boom from the receiver aircraft based on the current rate of movement of the refueling boom and a current position of the refueling boom.

Abstract: An aerodynamic control surface assembly comprising: an aerodynamic control surface (4); an actuator (10) for controlling deployment of the control surface; and a locking mechanism (30) moveable from a locked to an unlocked position. When the locking mechanism is set to the locked position, the actuator is operatively coupled to the control surface and the control surface can move in dependently of the actuator when the locking mechanism is set to the unlocked position. Such an assembly may be used in an aircraft to prevent clashing between a deployed flap (16) and a drooped spoiler (4) in the event of an actuator control systems failure.

Abstract: A ballast weight for a fishing line, comprising a main body (1) destined to be associated to a fishing line, which comprises a through-channel (10) provided with an inlet opening (11) and an outlet opening (12) located on the external surface of the main body (1), said through-channel (10) being overall orientated in a parallel direction to a longitudinal axis (x) of the main body (1) and being provided with a progression and a breadth that are variable.

Abstract: A passenger seating arrangement in an aircraft cabin includes a plurality of pairs of seat units, the pairs of seat units being located directly behind one another, and each seat unit having a longitudinal axis. Each pair of seat units includes an aisle-seat unit and a non-aisle-seat unit. The longitudinal axes of the non-aisle-seat units are arranged in-line with one another, and the longitudinal axis of the aisle-seat unit of each pair of seat units is angled so as to provide a passenger access path linking the non-aisle-seat unit of a pair, with the aisle.

Abstract: A combination rotor and wheel assembly for an unmanned vehicle with ground and aerial mobility has a rotor arm adapted to be attached at an inner end thereof to a vehicle body. A rotor is rotatably connected to an outer end of the rotor arm about a rotor axis, and a rotor drive mounted on the rotor arm rotates the rotor such that the rotor exerts an upward lift force on the rotor arm. An open spoked wheel is rotatably connected about the rotor axis independent of the rotor The diameter of the wheel is greater than that of the rotor, and a bottom edge of the wheel is below the rotor. A wheel drive rotates the wheel. Vehicles can have various numbers and orientations of the rotor and wheel assembly to provide aerial and ground mobility.