Abstract: Novel means for deploying airplane wing flaps feature a bent shaft which is translatable fore and aft in the fairing cavity. The shaft has an adjacent follower member which travels in a concentric curved flap track to rotate shaft as it extends. The bent shaft has a support ball fitting and end roller which provide flap deflection with respect to the fixed wing as the shaft is extended aft and rotated. The subject flap deployment means are mechanically elegant resulting in lower manufacturing and installation cost and high reliability.

Abstract: A folding strut having upper and lower portions (14, 16/62, 64) are connected together by a pivotal joint (18, 66, 68) for folding movement relative to one another upon extension and retraction of the strut. The upper portion (14, 62) of the strut is pivotally mounted to the aircraft frame (52, 80). A locking brace (42, 44/84, 86) extends between the upper and lower strut portions (14, 16/62, 64) to brace the strut against folding. The upper and lower portions of the strut are axially aligned (C, F) when the strut is in a fully-deployed position and the locking brace (42, 44/84, 86) maintains the strut portions (14, 16/62, 64) in this axially-aligned position. The locking brace (42, 44/84, 86) is releasable to allow relative folding movement of the upper and lower portions (14, 16/62, 64) for retraction of the strut to a stowed position.

Abstract: A retractable wing-mounted landing gear (10) for a heavy airplane with an aft center of gravity includes a trunnion (12), an aftly-cantilevered strut member (26), a ground-contacting wheel assembly (44, 46), and a folding drag brace (30). The trunnion (12) is operably mounted to the wing (14) for pivotal movement about a substantially forward and aft axis of rotation. The trunnion (12) is rotatable to cause substantially lateral movement of the gear (10) between in-use and stored positions. The strut member (26) has upper and lower ends, the upper end being pivotally connected (28) to the trunnion (12) for relative forward and aft movement thereto. The pivotal connection (28) has an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to that of the trunnion (12). The ground-contacting wheel assembly (44, 46) is operably connected to the lower end (54) of the strut member (26).

Abstract: A cylindrical roll drum housing (12) is mounted to the roof (18) of an aircraft fuselage. Enclosed in the housing (12) is a sensor (22) that pivots about an azimuthal axis (82). The sensor (22) normally looks outwardly through sliding window (20) that moves back and forth in correspondence with sensor pivoting. Pressurized air is blown directly across the window's opening (40), and is also blown directly into the housing (12). The window (20) has an inwardly directed airflow-deflecting edge which, in combination with the air blowing, is used to control boundary layer vortices across the window's opening so that they do not interfere with sensor properties.

Abstract: A waterproof floor panel (10) fastening system, accessible from above in which floor panels (10) have spaced upper and lower plates (12, 14), the panels being waterproof and being secured on support structure (74) thereunder. There are fastening assemblies securing the panels to the support structure and extending into openings through the upper and lower plates (12, 14) and supporting honeycomb (16) therebetween. Each assembly has an upwardly opening first cup (48), having a central hole (52) in its bottom and having a fastening bolt (60) extending therethrough. An upper second cup (100) is fitted in the opening of the first cup, the second cup or cap having a central portion forming a transverse wall or web (98), spaced above the bolt head. A hardened seal (96) extends across and above the transverse wall or web of the upper cup and forms a seal across the opening of the upwardly open first cup (48).

Abstract: A recessed lighting system for a vechicle such as an airplane employs an exit lens mounted in the external skin of the airplane that has minimum cross-sectional area. The lighting system can include a light source such as a conventional lamp, a light converging lens to reduce the cross-sectional area of the lamp beam, a focusing lens to adjust the exit beam dispersal, and a mirror to divert the converged light beam through the exit lens.