Abstract: A buffering device for temporarily storing containers with plants in a buffer space includes a supply device for supplying containers, a disposer for disposing a number of supplied containers in a row extending in a first direction, a distributor provided with at least one controllable gripper for gripping a row of containers, wherein the distributor is movable substantially in a second direction which differs from the first direction, and is movable above the disposer. In turn the gripper includes opposing pivot arms arranged opposite to one another relative to an intended row of containers to be gripped, and further includes a pivot driver.

Abstract: A missile and a method for reducing the required control forces during the flight of a missile, comprising providing to the missile movable parts that adjust center of pressure of the missile as they move and as fuel in the missile is consumed, moving the movable parts so as to continuously move the center of pressure toward the moving center of gravity of the missile.

Abstract: A drawer-mounted feed bowl shelf to hold an animal's food or water bowl, adapted for mounting on the edges of the sidewalls of a cabinet drawer, or for mounting between the sidewalls of a drawer is disclosed. The first embodiment includes expandable mount means to permit mounting on or in drawers of various widths. The expandable mount means include two sections one above the other, the upper one moving laterally relative to the lower section. The second fixed-width embodiment can be either mounted permanently or removably on or fixedly in a cabinet drawer. A gasket that fits over and within the opening for the bowl adds friction to prevent bowl movement when present. This invention permits the feed bowl to be out of sight when not in use.

Abstract: Vase apparatus and decorating methods for associating flowers, and other decorative items with cakes and other food products are described. Vase embodiments include a water-holding reservoir having a bottom wall, an upright rim, and plural flower-stem-receiving wells. Each well is defined by at least one well wall depending from the bottom wall and has an opening capable of receiving water from the reservoir. Vase embodiments may include a reservoir of various shapes and sizes. Vases may be placed on a cake or other food product permitting the cake or food product to be attractively and easily decorated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing loads from fluid conduits, including aircraft fuel conduits, are disclosed. An aircraft configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a fuselage portion, a wing portion, and a fuel tank carried by least one of the fuselage portion and the wing portion. The aircraft also includes a spar carried by at least one of the fuselage portion and the wing portion. The spar includes a first spar rib and a second spar rib spaced apart from the first spar rib. The aircraft further includes a fluid conduit proximate to the spar and operably coupled to the fuel tank. A support member carrying the fluid conduit is operably coupled to the spar. The support member can be positioned to transfer at least approximately all of the axial loads from the fluid conduit to at least one of the first spar rib and the second spar rib.

Abstract: A pickup device that has a scoop for picking up waste and the device has a plastic bag lining the device which can be used to dispose of the waste.

Abstract: An aircraft engine includes a mounting attached to an aircraft structure and transmitting forces between an engine casing and the aircraft structure. The mounting includes a fail safe assembly with a safety clevis with two lugs and a tab arranged between the two lugs. Either the clevis or the tab is fixed to an element of the engine casing and the other tab or clevis is fixed to the structure. A safety hinge pin is perpendicular to the axis of the engine and passes through the tab and the clevis, the two lugs and the tab being parallel to the engine axis.

Abstract: A thrust reverser includes reverser doors circumferentially spaced around a nacelle. An arcuate yoke is disposed coaxially around the nacelle. An actuator is mounted tangentially to the yoke for rotary movement thereof. Actuator rods join the doors to the yoke for simultaneous deployment of the doors as the yoke is rotated.

Abstract: An efficient flying device having flapping wings, an ornithopter, which uses many of the principles seen in bird flight, is presented herein. The wings are highly flexible, translationally stable and oscillate as a natural pendulum. Described as a springboard, the wings have a singular natural frequency, and a pumping means drives the wings at that frequency. Feedback means are described by which to accomplish this, whereby deflection of the wing affects an escapement mechanism which controls the timing and direction of the pumping means. Wing design is described whereby camber, flexure, torsion and directionality of wing components affect efficient propulsion, lift and differential reactivity with air during downstrokes and upstrokes. A crook element in the wing spar at a location proximal to the body of the device redirects vertical oscillation to horizontal.

Abstract: An asymmetrical bulkhead for a pressure vessel, tank or other storage facility is disclosed. The bulkhead is configured so that there is a high region extending past a cylindrical portion of the vessel on one side of the bulkhead, with a contour of the bulkhead transitioning from the high region to a low region within the last cylindrical region. Such a bulkhead configuration allows two cylindrical pressure vessels to be nested together in end-to-end relation so as to occupy a total smaller volume than similarly sized vessels having convex ends, or to construct pressure vessels that contain a larger volume for storage than similarly sized vessels having convex ends.

Abstract: A process for landing a tailless aircraft having a nose, wings that produce lift, a nose landing gear with a shock strut, and main landing gear, comprises the steps of allowing the nose landing gear shock strut to compress after touchdown to a point where the nose of the aircraft has lowered sufficiently to reduce the lift of the wings. The process further includes the step of controlling the rate of rebound of the nose landing gear shock strut such that the nose of the aircraft remains lowered in order to prevent the aircraft from becoming airborne after touchdown.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear door assembly includes a plurality of doors moveable between open positions, in which landing gear can be deployed through an aperture, and closed positions, in which the doors are closed across the aperture. The plurality of doors includes first and second doors arranged such that, when the landing gear is deployed, the second door is obstructed from moving between its open and closed positions while the first door is free to move between its open and closed positions. After the landing gear is deployed the first door is closed.

Abstract: Aircraft landing gear comprised of a wheel hub motor/generator disks stack, includes alternating rotor and stator disks mounted with respect to the wheel support and wheel. The wheel hub motor/generator can provide motive force to the wheel when electrical power is applied, which may be applied prior to touch-down thus decreasing the difference in relative velocities of the tire radial velocity with that of the relative velocity of the runway thus greatly reducing the sliding friction wear of said tire. After touchdown the wheel hub motor/generator may be used as a generator thus applying a regenerative braking force and/or a motorized braking action to the wheel. The energy generated upon landing maybe dissipated through a resistor and/or stored for later use in providing a source for motive power to the aircraft wheels for the purpose of taxiing and ground maneuvers of said aircraft.

Abstract: A tethering device (10) comprising a support member (12) and a rotatable member (14) rotatably mounted on the support member (12) and about which a flexible tether line (16) can be wound for tethering an animal or object to the support member (12).

Abstract: A method of forming a structural airframe component for an aircraft and an airframe structural component are provided. The method includes placing at least two components (1,2) in abutting relationship with each other and joining them together by friction stir butt welding (3), and the structural airframe component comprises a component manufactured according to the method of the invention.

Abstract: A sweat panel for a saddle is connected to the saddle by a flexible connection member along a portion of the width. The sweat panel perimeter replicates the under panel perimeter to enable the two to be separated by preferably less than one quarter inch. Billets are disclosed that notch the billet leather to receive a connecting strip to connect the billet leather to the tree webbing, thereby reducing the thickness of the billets.

Abstract: Aircraft landing gear comprised of a wheel hub motor/generator disks stack, includes alternating rotor and stator disks mounted with respect to the wheel support and wheel. The invention can provide motive force to the wheel when electrical power is applied, e.g. prior to touch-down, thus decreasing the difference in relative velocities of the tire radial velocity with that of the relative velocity of the runway and reducing the sliding friction wear of the tire. After touchdown the wheel hub motor/generator may be used as a generator thus applying a regenerative braking force and/or a motorized braking action to the wheel. The energy generated upon landing maybe dissipated through a resistor and/or stored for later use in providing a source for motive power to the aircraft wheels for taxiing and ground maneuvers of the aircraft. Methods and apparatuses for nose gear steering and ABS braking using the disclosed invention are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a forebody flow control system and more particularly to aircraft or missile flow control system for enhanced maneuverability and stabilization at high angles of attack. The present invention further relates to a method of operating the flow control system. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a missile or aircraft comprising an afterbody and a forebody; at least one deployable flow effector on the missile or aircraft forebody; at least one sensors each having a signal, the at least one sensor being positioned to detect flow separation on the missile or aircraft forebody; and a closed loop control system; wherein the closed loop control system is used for activating and deactivating the at least one deployable flow effector based on at least in part the signal of the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A ram air inlet includes a channel with an intake in a wing leading edge, front and rear flaps arranged in the channel for selectively closing or opening the channel, and an actuator connected to the flaps. A front end of the front flap is pivotably connected by a fixed bearing to an aircraft structure adjacent the intake. A rear end of the rear flap is moveably and pivotably mounted to the aircraft structure via a movable bearing arrangement, e.g. a pivot bearing linearly movable in guide tracks, or a flexible lever connected to a fixed pivot bearing, or a swinging bearing pivotably connected to a fixed bearing. The opposite ends of the flaps are pivotably connected to each other by a third bearing. The actuator drives the third bearing to pivot the front flap between opened and closed positions, while the rear flap pivots and moves in the wing chord and/or thickness directions.

Abstract: A lavatory complex for an aircraft. The lavatory complex includes a male lavatory facility and a female lavatory facility. The male lavatory facility includes stall units and may include urinals. The female lavatory facility includes stall units. Each stall unit suitably includes a single commode. The male and female lavatory facilities include at least one sink separated from the stall units by stall unit doors. The lavatory complex may include sinks that are not located within either the male or female lavatory facilities. A lavatory may include illuminating indicators; an illuminated, folding, baby changing station; a vanity; a self-cleaning toilet; and/or an illuminated faucet.