Abstract: A pneumatic lifting cushion is configured for easy carrying by a person and deployment upon substantially any seat. When seated thereon, a person may selectively inflate the lifting cushion using one or more of gas from a compressed gas cartridge, a gas pump, or from an auxiliary inflation gas source, and be urged into a standing position.

Abstract: A self-cleaning airflow regulator (100) includes a partially air pervious poppet cylinder (134) disposed between a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls (130, 132) of a restriction chamber (128) to move along the sidewalls in a direction transversely to the length of the poppet cylinder toward and away from an air inlet (136) for directing supply air into the restriction chamber. The restriction chamber includes an air outlet (138) located on the opposite side of the poppet cylinder from a location of the inlet (136). Air entering the restriction chamber (128) through the inlet (136) pushes against the poppet cylinder to force the poppet cylinder to move toward the outlet (138) at the same time causing the poppet cylinder to rotate about its longitudinal axis due to the reactive contact of the poppet cylinder with diagonally disposed fibers (170) mounted on the inside surfaces of the walls (130, 132) of the restriction chamber.

Abstract: A valve apparatus interconnects a single inlet duct with a plurality of outlet ducts. The apparatus has a manifold body that provides a passageway between the inlet and the outlets. Operatively positioned in each outlet is a butterfly valve. A single drive motor is used to operate all the valves, wherein each valve is operated independently of the other.

Abstract: A support rail structure which provides cooling air for removing heat from instruments. The support rail structures provide uniform cooling along each support rail regardless of instrument orientation within the instrument panel assembly. A system which includes the combination of instrument panel support rail and cooling mainfold discharges a continuous flow of forced convection air along the base of the support rail. Valves are shown which provide flow-through cooling for cathode ray tube instruments. The instrument panel support rail structures enable a method of supplying conditioned air when concentration of instrument panels dictate that the air conditioning system be integrated within the panels.

Abstract: A ventilation system for clearing gaseous and particulate contaminants such as cigarette smoke and metabolic exhalants from an aircraft cabin. The ventilation system is disclosed in two embodiments, the first having an overhead discharge duct (84) through which supply air is provided to the interior of the cabin (12) and discharge nozzles (78) disposed adjacent the lower portion of the inwardly extending end of storage bins (20) through which supply air is discharged toward the sidewalls (14) of the cabin. Air is exhausted from the cabin through exhaust air ducts (40) disposed immediately below the point where the storage bins attach to the sidewalls. In addition, air is recirculated from the cabin through recirculation air ducts (30) disposed adjacent the floor of the cabin. Relatively contaminated air is thus swept by the supply airflow directly into the exhaust air ducts for venting outside the aircraft, while cleaner air is recirculated back to the supply air ducts for ventilation of the cabin.

Abstract: A support rail structure which provides cooling air for removing heat from instruments. The support rail structures provide uniform cooling along each support rail regardless of instrument orientation within the instrument panel assembly. A system which includes the combination of instrument panel support rail and cooling manifold discharges a continuous flow of forced convection air along the base of the support rail. Valves are shown which provide flow-through cooling for cathode ray tube instruments. The instrument panel support rail structures enable a method of supplying conditioned air when concentration of instrument panels dictate that the air conditioning system be integrated within the panels.

Abstract: A relief valve has a pair of poppet valves mounted to seal against each other when in the closed position and to uniformly move apart when opening to place one of the poppet valves outside configuration on an aircraft to create a ram air effect through the opened valve.

Abstract: A hose clamp includes a coupler body and spring wire. The coupler is substantially triangular in cross section, having a pair of passageway interconnecting two surfaces. The wire, having a head on one end, is routed through one passageway, around the hose and then through the remaining passageway being secured by a thrust washer to the opposite coupler surface.

Abstract: A device for sealing the joint between ducts having sheet metal flanges mated with V-band couplings. Seal assemblies are interposed between the V-band coupling and the abutting duct flanges. As the V-band coupling is tightened to draw the ends of the duct flanges together the seal assembly is compressed, deforming the sealing material in contact with the duct flanges and effectuating a tight seal therebetween. A variety of seal assembly configurations are contemplated including those of continuous or segmented structure, those having compressible resilient materials or ductile metals as sealing materials, and those having a support band bonded to the sealing material for added structural rigidity.