Abstract: Access to secured services may be controlled based on the proximity of a wireless token to a computing device through which access to the secured services is obtained. An authorized user may be provided access to a service only when a wireless token assigned to the user is in the proximity of the computing device. A user's credential may be stored on an RFID token and an RFID reader may be implemented within a security boundary on the computing device. Thus, the credential may be passed to the security boundary without passing through the computing device via software messages or applications. The security boundary may be provided, in part, by incorporating the RFID reader onto the same chip as a cryptographic processing component. Once the information is received by the RFID reader it may be encrypted within the chip. As a result, the information may never be presented in the clear outside of the chip.

Abstract: An automated cutting and kitting system for preimpregnated composite material and method by which a layup of a plurality of plies of at least two types of preimpregnated composite material is cut and stored. Each ply of a given type of preimpregnated composite material is aligned in the order in which it is positioned in the layup, cut in accordance with a predetermined shape and stored such that the top ply in the layup is stored first. The different types of preimpregnated composite material are supported on a supply which is indexed to present the particular type of material required by the layup.

Abstract: A compliant tape dispensing and compacting head and method by which tape is dispensed and compacted onto a contoured surface. Tape is dispensed from a plurality of tape supply reels onto the contoured surface and subject to the action of a compacting head. The compacting head is capable of being biased in the compaction direction, i.e., against the contoured surface, and adjusted by the biasing force to follow the contour of the contoured surface so that each discrete tape strip has a compacting force applied thereto which is normal to the contoured surface at the tape strip location.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a rotor hub of a fully articulated helicoper rotor system, the rotor hub including a central portion and at least two pairs of lug arms extending therefrom, according to which composite material is dispensed onto the mandrel and wound about a pair of lug arms and an associated part of the central portion of the mandrel to form a continuous closed loop of the composite material to a desired width and thickness. The winding is repeated for each pair of lug arms and its associated part of the central portion of the mandrel so that as many loops of composite material are formed as there are lug pairs. The finally assembled loops are cured to structuralize the loops.

Abstract: A tape applicator head for applying two different types of fiber impregnated tape in two opposing directions onto a working surface. The head includes a first dispensing apparatus for one of the tapes, and a second dispensing apparatus for the other of the tapes. The first dispensing apparatus compacts the tape dispensed by the second dispensing apparatus, when the second dispensing apparatus dispenses in one direction. When dispensing in the other direction, the second dispensing apparatus compacts the tape which it dispenses. The first dispensing apparatus compacts its tape in both directions.

Abstract: An energy absorber for a high pressure and velocity fluid jet emanating from a nozzle is disclosed. An energy absorbing ball is freely rotatably supported in an energy absorbing chamber between seat faces. The high pressure and velocity fluid enters the energy absorbing zones and strikes the ball, causing it to rotate. The energy of the fluid is thereby substantially reduced. Since the ball is constantly in motion, a new surface is continually being brought into contact with the high energy fluid stream. This insures uniform wear of the ball as well as a long life. The ball and seats are disposed in a first end of a fluid flow conduit whose second end is carried in an adjustable support block which is in fluid communication with a fluid return line. The support block allows the spacing between the nozzle and the energy absorber to be varied to accommodate varying thicknesses of materials being cut by the high pressure fluid stream.

Abstract: A bi-directional tape applicator head for applying tape onto a working surface, in which tape can either be folded back on itself at the end of each tape laying pass, or may be cut and another length of tape applied in an opposite direction. The head includes a frame to which a swivel plate and a support member are movably connected. The swivel plate has affixed thereto two dispensing blocks and is shiftable between two positions to alternately engage the blocks with the tape while folding over tape extending between the blocks. The support member includes a feeder assembly and a shearing mechanism and is pivotable between two positions corresponding to the two swivel plate positions. The feeder assembly includes two feeder elements which are movable to engage or disengage tape extending therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tape applicator head for dispensing tape onto a working surface in the construction of primarily structural parts. The tape applicator head includes a slidably mounted cylinder to which a rotation rack assembly is mounted. The rotation rack assembly includes a pair of dispensing and compacting blocks which are mounted to be stationary relative to each other but to pivot in unison relative to the remainder of the head at the end of a tape laying pass. This pivotal movement of the dispensing and compacting blocks produces the unique step-over or the looping of the tape.

Abstract: A simplified layup mandrel with no contour or twist is utilized by the method of this invention for forming the spar member of an aerodynamic rotor blade. A fiber glass tape is wrapped (laid-up) to a desired thickness onto the simplified mandrel to form a strap as the initial step. Because of the simple design of the mandrel, the laid-up strap when removed from the mandrel has a basic U-shaped configuration with straight extending legs having substantially parallel vertically oriented faces. This strap is then placed on a forming mandrel and contoured to the desired shape either by hand or by coining in a forming die. The contoured strap is then utilized in any of the various subassemblies or final assembly of the composite aerodynamic rotor blade.