Abstract: An automatic, on-board system for orbiting spacecraft that controls yaw excursions caused by solar torques and thruster firings, which system combines inputs indicative of roll and yaw momentum increases and inputs containing information comprising the unbiased roll error from the earth sensor, yaw momentum measured from the wheel speeds, and commanded yaw momentum output from the wheel controller, and produces therefrom output signals indicative of the yaw estimate and the yaw momentum estimate. These output signals are combined and processed in a controller with a mimimum yaw error and roll thrust yaw controller gain and a miminmum yaw error and roll thrust yaw momentum controller gain, and a signal is produced therefrom for commanding roll thruster firings to change roll momentum, and, in turn, control yaw attitude and yaw excursions.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling the external flow passing along the external surface of an aircraft such as the tailboom of a helicopter. A fan blows air into a cavity within a surface, and the air exits the surface through one or more axially oriented slots. A ramp structure is positioned within the cavity and upstream of each slot, and a set of fence structures are mounted in each slot and spaced from each other as well as from the ramp structure. The ramp and fence structures trip the airflow which then couples to the downstream side of the ramp and fence structures, thus eliminating the axial airflow component adjacent to the slot, and exits the slot in a direction normal to the axis. The airflow exits the slot in a direction tangential to the external surface and generally parallel with the external flow, resulting in deflection of the external flow and generating lift which is used to augment antitorque control in the helicopter implementation described.

Abstract: A guard shield is provided as a protective security device in the cockpit of an aircraft to prevent instruments in the aircraft control panel from being removed by thieves. The guard shield is formed of a flat, laterally expansive, rigid plate with a pair of parallel slots defined in its lower edge. The slots extend upwardly into the interior of the plate and terminate in blind ends. The slots are laterally spaced from each other a distance equal to the distance of the separation of the steering columns for the steering yokes utilized by the pilot and copilot. The guard shield is mounted so as to rest upon the steering columns with the steering columns residing at the upper extremities of the slots in the blind ends thereof. A locking mechanism is employed to hold the guard shield closely adjacent to the surface of the instrument control panel, so as to prevent the removal of instruments therefrom.

Abstract: An improved wing fold assembly for use in aircraft which provides relative rotational movement of a first wing tip about a second fixed wing including a plurality of wing tip flanges, and a plurality of fixed wing flanges wherein all of said flanges are rotatably mounted to a central shaft and wherein the improvement comprises means for selectively interlocking said wing tip flanges in relation to said fixed wing flanges to thereby lock said wing tip in position relative said fixed wing in either of a folded or faired position.

Abstract: A door apparatus for a railway hopper car for discharging bulk material from the car has an elongated flexible hollow body positioned in a discharge opening. A pair of end walls are attached to opposite ends of the body. Each end wall has a first pivot point for rotary attachment to the body. The body is rotatable about the first pivot point between an opened position and a closed position. The body has an arcuate surface extending generally vertically when in the closed position to reduce the effort required to open the doors when the car is loaded. If the door apparatus is stuck in the closed position, such as when ice has formed between the longitudinal edge of the door apparatus and the edge of the discharge opening, a torque applied to one end of the door apparatus about the first pivot point tends to twist the door apparatus about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a heated mixture of propylene glycol based aircraft deicing fluid and water to an aircraft. Propylene glycol based aircraft deicing fluid is heated by means of a directly fired combustion heater. The heated aircraft deicing fluid is mixed with hot water to form a deicing mixture for deicing aircraft. Diaphragm type positive displacement pumps, having controllable volumetric outputs, combine the heated aircraft deicing fluid and the heated water in a desired ratio. The volumetric outputs of the pumps can be varied to achieve a desired proportion of aircraft deicing fluid to water.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for tying down a piece of freight on a loading floor in an aircraft has a housing (11) recessed in the loading floor. A latch operating member (1) and a latching member (10) are journalled in the housing to tilt toward each other or away from each other. Follower cams (16) of the latching member (10) ride in respective cam guide tracks (15) of the latch operating member (1). A tension spring (20) tends to bias the latching member (10) and the latch operating member (1) in opposite directions in a freight latching position or into a recessed beyond dead center position. Stop members (17, 18) are so positioned on the latch operating member and on the latching member that the latter cannot be tilted without activating the latch operating member which can be rolled over by a piece of freight in one direction when projecting from the housing and in the other direction when recessed into the housing.

Abstract: A railway truck assembly having a bolster and side frames with a novel arrangement of solid lateral stops which limit movement of the bolster ends with respect to the side frames of the truck, the novel lateral stops also accommodating an improved column friction damping arrangement for such a railway truck assembly.

Abstract: A retarder (97) for a railcar hitch (1) is disclosed. The hitch has an erected and a retracted position and the retarder slows movement of the hitch towards its retracted position. The retarder comprises a cylinder (99) fixedly mounted on a railcar. A piston (101) is movable in the cylinder. A rod (115) attaches the piston to the movable hitch element so that preferably only axial loads act on the piston during operation of the hitch. The fluid compressed in one end of the cylinder by the piston is bled (metered) from the one end of the cylinder so as to control the rate of movement of the movable element during hitch retraction.

Abstract: A load stabilizing unit for mounting on the inner surface of a side wall of a vehicle or trailer. The stabilizing unit includes one or more side panels with each panel having a bracing device for releasably holding the panel against a load to be stabilized. In a preferred embodiment, the bracing device is a fluid piston and cylinder assembly located between the panel and the vehicle side wall. In another embodiment, a manual bracing can be used to hold a stabilizing panel in place in engagement with cargo items. The manual bracing includes a turnbuckle which can be adjustably connected to a panel so that the turnbuckle will have the proper length to hold the movable panel in its cargo stabilizing position at all times.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for sequentially exchanging selected consecutive groups of oil ties in an existing railroad track for groups of new ties while retaining groups of old ties therebetween to support the mobile apparatus on the track, comprises at least one bridge-like work vehicle having a frame defining an upwardly recessed portion between respective ends thereof, and a succession of different individual devices mounted in the recessed frame portion of a respective work vehicle and operative to effectuate different sequential operations for exchanging the selected old ties for the new ties, the tie exchanging devices including at least two tie pulling and inserting devices arranged for longitudinal displacement within view of an operator's accommodation. A respective drive displaces each tie pulling and inserting device with respect to the work vehicle frame along a displacement path extending in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the work vehicle frame.

Abstract: A boltless two-piece rail fastening assembly for securing a railway rail, supported on a conventional tie plate, to a wooden cross tie is comprised of a chair and a rail clip latched thereon. The chair includes a body, having a jaw with a bight configured to receive the clip, and at least one downwardly projecting leg or shank for securing the chair adjacent the base flange of the rail. The rail clip is a torsional spring clip in the general form of an "S" having a rail-bearing leg for proximate engagement with the base flange of the rail and a tie bearing leg for proximate engagement with the tie plate.

Abstract: Each coupling head of a vehicle coupling comprises a spring accumulator 50 consisting of compression springs 27, 30 which are energized by a pressure bar 20 when a tension bolt 3 of the head is moved inward. The coupling of the tension bolt 3 in a tension bolt receptacle 4 occurs by engagement levers 12, which are locked by a displaceable frame 16 in the coupled state. The unlocking is remotely operable by actuation of a solenoid 45 which actuates a latch 32 through an unlocking bar 41. Because of this unlocking, the frame 16 is displaced by the force of the spring accumulator, so that the locking of the engagement levers 12 is released and the coupling can be decoupled.

Abstract: A combination bottom outlet saddle and sump is provided for a railway tank car. The saddle member comprises an upper surface which conforms to the underside of the tank body and is attached thereto in surrounding relationship with an outlet opening formed in the tank body. An opening is formed through the saddle member in fluid communication with the outlet opening. A sump is recessed into the upper surface of the saddle member longitudinally spaced a short distance from the saddle member opening in fluid communication with the outlet opening. A bottom outlet valve is mounted to the lower surface of the saddle member in fluid communication with the saddle member opening. A recessed channel may be provided in the upper surface of the saddle member to permit fluid communication between the sump and the saddle member opening. A skid assembly surrounds the entire saddle member.