Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for capturing, recovering, disassembling, and storing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to capture the aircraft in flight, a process that can be aided by a line capture device having retainers in accordance with further aspects of the invention. The aircraft can then be returned to its launch platform, disassembled, and stored, again with little or no direct manual contact between the operator and the aircraft, for example, by capturing a first wing of the aircraft and securing a second wing before releasing the first.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are elastic laminate materials. The elastic laminate materials are laminates of extensible nonwoven fibrous webs and thermoplastic elastic materials. The laminate may be a two-layer composite material having a single nonwoven fibrous web bonded to one side of the thermoplastic elastic material, or it may be a three-layer composite having a nonwoven fibrous web bonded to each side of the thermoplastic elastic material. The extensible nonwoven fibrous webs may be staple fiber webs. The thermoplastic elastic material may be single-layer or multi-layer elastic films, or elastic fibrous layers. Where single- or multi-layer elastic films are used, the films may be breathable films. The elastic material, or some of the staple fibers, or both, may be selected such that the staple fiber webs are thermally compatible with the thermoplastic elastic material to facilitate laminate bonding. Processes for forming the elastic laminate material are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured at an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the aircraft in flight. The boom can be retracted when not in use to reduce the volume it occupies. A tension device coupled to the recovery line can absorb forces associated with the impact of the aircraft and the recovery line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured at an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the aircraft in flight. The boom can be retracted when not in use to reduce the volume it occupies. A tension device coupled to the recovery line can absorb forces associated with the impact of the aircraft and the recovery line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for capturing, recovering, disassembling, and storing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to capture the aircraft in flight, a process that can be aided by a line capture device having retainers in accordance with further aspects of the invention. The aircraft can then be returned to its launch platform, disassembled, and stored, again with little or no direct manual contact between the operator and the aircraft, for example, by capturing a first wing of the aircraft and securing a second wing before releasing the first.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for supporting aircraft components, including actuators are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes an actuator housing having an actuator receptacle that securely yet releasably receives an actuator. The actuator receptacle can include conformal walls that conform at least in part to the shape of the actuator and can accordingly squeeze the actuator and properly align the actuator. At least one of the actuator walls can further include a projection that is releasably received in a corresponding recess of the actuator. One of both of these features can releasably secure the actuator relative to the aircraft, reducing and/or eliminating the likelihood that the actuator will be misaligned and/or mispositioned relative to the aircraft during installation and/or replacement.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for capturing a flying object (5) are revealed. The apparatus includes a generally linear fixture (2), such as a length of rope; a means for suspending (1) the fixture (2) across the path of the flying object (5); and one or more hooks (19) on the flying object (5). The method involves suspending the fixture (2) such that its orientation includes a component normal to the flying object's line of approach; striking the fixture (2) with the flying object (5), which causes the flying object (5) to rotate and decelerate, while the fixture (2) slides along a surface of the flying object (5) into a hook (19); capturing the fixture (2) in the hook (19); and retrieving the flying object (5) from the fixture (2).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are elastic laminate materials. The elastic laminate materials are laminates of extensible nonwoven fibrous webs and thermoplastic elastic materials. The laminate may be a two-layer composite material having a single nonwoven fibrous web bonded to one side of the thermoplastic elastic material, or it may be a three-layer composite having a nonwoven fibrous web bonded to each side of the thermoplastic elastic material. The extensible nonwoven fibrous webs may be staple fiber webs. The thermoplastic elastic material may be single-layer or multi-layer elastic films, or elastic fibrous layers. Where single- or multi-layer elastic films are used, the films may be breathable films. The elastic material, or some of the staple fibers, or both, may be selected such that the staple fiber webs are thermally compatible with the thermoplastic elastic material to facilitate laminate bonding. Processes for forming the elastic laminate material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for capturing a flying object (5) are revealed. The apparatus includes a generally linear fixture (2), such as a length of rope; a means for suspending (1) the fixture (2) across the path of the flying object (5); and one or more hooks (19) on the flying object (5). The method involves suspending the fixture (2) such that its orientation includes a component normal to the flying object's line of approach; striking the fixture (2) with the flying object (5), which causes the flying object (5) to rotate and decelerate, while the fixture (2) slides along a surface of the flying object (5) into a hook (19); capturing the fixture (2) in the hook (19); and retrieving the flying object (5) from the fixture (2).

Abstract: There is provided a fibrous web which includes a binder and which is compressed to a density of up to about 0.3 g/cc. The web may preferably be formed by the bonded carded web process or air lay process. The binder may depend on hydrogen bonding using moisture or may be a non-aqueous solution, a powder, a fibrous binder or a conjugate fiber binder including a moisture triggerable component. Conjugate fibers may be crimped. When wetted the web of this invention should expand rapidly to greater than 80% of its uncompressed thickness and greater than 90% of its thickness when saturated if starting from the uncompressed state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retrieving an aircraft in a confined space involves hanging a cable, for example from a kite or mast, across the aircraft's flight path. The aircraft approaches the cable in steady forward flight, and may strike the cable at any point on the wing, fuselage, or other leading surface. The cable then slides along the airframe as the aircraft moves forward, until it is intercepted by a hook attached to the wing tip or other convenient location. The hook captures the cable, and prevents further sliding; the cable then pulls the aircraft to a stop. Compliance of the cable, optionally combined with compliance of the cable suspension, provides acceptably gradual deceleration. The aircraft is left suspended in mid-air, and is then winched or slid to the base of the cable or other convenient retrieval point.

Abstract: There is provided a fibrous web which includes a binder and which is compressed to a density of up to about 0.3 g/cc. The web may preferably be formed by the bonded carded web process or air lay process. The binder may depend on hydrogen bonding using moisture or may be a non-aqueous solution, a powder, a fibrous binder or a conjugate fiber binder including a moisture triggerable component. Conjugate fibers may be crimped. When wetted the web of this invention should expand rapidly to greater than 80% of its uncompressed thickness and greater than 90% of its thickness when saturated if starting from the uncompressed state.

Abstract: There is provided a surge material for personal care products which is a wettable web of fibers of 30 microns in diameter or less where the web has a permeability between about 250 and 1500 Darcys, a capillary tension between about 1.5 and 5 cm, and which maintains that permeability and capillary tension over the life of the web. Its preferred that the web have a density between about 0.02 g/cc to about 0.07 g/cc.

Abstract: There is provided a surge material for personal care products which is a wettable web of fibers of 30 microns in diameter or less where the web has a permeability between about 250 and 1500 Darcys, a capillary tension between about 1.5 and 5 cm, and which maintains that permeability and capillary tension over the life of the web. Its preferred that the web have a density between about 0.02 g/cc to about 0.07 g/cc.

Abstract: There is provided a surge material for personal care products comprising a layered structure of at least one relatively high permeability layer on a top side toward a wearer and at least one relatively low permeability layer where the structure has a capillary tension range between about 1 and 5 cm with a differential capillary tension of at least about 1 cm from top to bottom. The surge material should have a high permeability layer with a permeability of at least 1000 Darcys and a low permeability layer with a permeability of less than 1000 Darcys. The surge material should also have a said high permeability layer which has a permeability of at least 250 Darcys greater than the low permeability layer. Such a layered structure should have a first insult run-off value of at most 30 ml from a 100 ml insult delivered at 20 ml/second. Such a surge material is useful in personal care products like diapers, training pants, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein a personal care absorbent article which when first insulted, has a high initial surface moisture value which is maintained for several minutes but then, after a short period of time, drops to a lower value. As a result, the product has an initial "wet" feel but quickly changes to a "drier" feel so as to provide more comfort long term to the wearer.

Abstract: A wet wipe which includes a pattern bonded polypropylene nonwoven web adapted to provide a sustained controlled release to a surface of an aqueous alcoholic composition contained within the nonwoven web. The nonwoven web has a basis weight of from about 17 to about 100 grams per square meter and includes polypropylene meltblown fibers having diameters in a range of from about 0.01 to about 50 micrometers. The aqueous alcoholic composition contained within the polypropylene nonwoven web is present in a range of from about 300 to about 600 weight percent, based on a dry weight of the nonwoven web of 34 grams per square meter. The wet wipe provides a first release of the aqueous alcoholic composition in a range of from about 40 to about 70 weight percent, a second release in a range of from about 10 to about 25 weight percent, and a third release in a range of from about 5 to about 18 weight percent, of the composition originally present in the nonwoven web.

Abstract: A fiber-free cutting device for use in hydraulic conveyance vegetable cutting machines is disclosed. The cutting device utilizes cantilevered knife baldes which are attached at one end to a base support around a central open area such that the knife blades project at an angle away from the base support into an area downstream from the central open area. The cantilevered blades have a free end which overlaps the free end of an opposed knife blade such that fibers which may usually obstruct a blade are free to move along the blade to be discharged at the free end of the blade. Opposed blades are aligned so that a vegetable entering the fiber-free cutting device sees an apparent continuous cutting edge.