Abstract: Shock and vibration isolators and their use to isolate loads from vibration and shock, where the isolators include a fluid spring assembly and a mechanical spring assembly, where the fluid spring assembly and the mechanical spring assembly are arranged in series. The mechanical spring assembly includes a first spring and a second spring arranged so that compression of the mechanical spring assembly simultaneously directly compresses the first spring and indirectly compresses the second spring via an intermediate actuator, such that the first and second spring are compressed in parallel.

Abstract: A collet assembly, for an umbilical plate that connects a vehicle to a ground station prior to a launch of the vehicle, includes an active decoupler. The active decoupler includes a pin. A cuff has a central opening. The pin passes through the central opening. A plurality of fingers are pivotally coupled to the cuff. A plurality of levers are pivotally coupled to the plurality of fingers and the pin.

Abstract: Shock and vibration isolators and their use to isolate loads from vibration and shock, where the isolators include a fluid spring assembly and a mechanical spring assembly, where the fluid spring assembly and the mechanical spring assembly are arranged in series. The mechanical spring assembly includes a first spring and a second spring arranged so that compression of the mechanical spring assembly simultaneously directly compresses the first spring and indirectly compresses the second spring via an intermediate actuator, such that the first and second spring are compressed in parallel.

Abstract: In an example, a first connector is associated with a first component and a second connector is attached to a cable that is subjected to a pulling force to effect decoupling, and an example apparatus for reducing risk of binding between the two connectors during decoupling of the two connectors includes a bracket that is rigidly affixed to the first component and that supports the first connector so as to enable the first connector to automatically align with the pulling force. An example method for reducing risk of binding between the two connectors during decoupling of the two connectors includes securing a bracket to the first component, and the bracket includes a pivot bracket. The method also includes aligning the first connector with the pulling force via one or more of translational or rotational movement of the pivot bracket.

Abstract: This scaffold hoist uses a transmission mechanism whose output shafts are fastened to the hoist housing, and whose case rotates, carrying a sheave which impels the mechanism along the cable. The transmission mechanism is advantageously a quadrant drive for extremely high torque-to-weight ratio.The sheave has a peripheral groove, tapered and deep enough to seat a cable having any of three different diameters, at different depths in the groove.The cable wraps around three-fourths of the sheave. Around five-eighths of the sheave, a chain presses the cable into the groove. The chain rollers enter the groove deeply enough to engage even the smallest-diameter cables of interest, while clearing the sheave periphery. The chain side bars ride along the sides of the sheave, holding the chain and cable in position.A resettable overspeed brake uses a rotary cam that jams a cable of any of the three sizes, at correspondingly various cam angles.

Abstract: This scaffold hoist uses a transmission mechanism whose output shafts are fastened to the hoist housing, and whose case rotates, carrying a sheave which impels the mechanism along the cable. The transmission mechanism is advantageously a quadrant drive for extremely high torque-to-weight ratio.The sheave has a peripheral groove, tapered and deep enough to seat a cable having any of three different diameters, at different depths in the groove.The cable wraps around three-quarters of the sheave. Around five-eighths of the sheave, a chain presses the cable into the groove. The chain rollers enter the groove deeply enough to engage even the smallest-diameter cables of interest, while clearing the sheave periphery. The chain side bars ride along the sides of the sheave, holding the chain and cable in position.A resettable overspeed brake uses a rotary cam that jams a cable of any of the three sizes, at correspondingly various cam angles.

Abstract: A pre-aimed nozzle device comprises a nozzle block with an orifice wafer attached thereto. The nozzle block has an aiming surface. The orifice wafer comprises an annular orifice element retained in the body of the wafer in a manner whereby the orifice element and wafer are bonded to the nozzle block with the opening of the orifice element perpendicular to the aiming surface. The orifice wafer is made by encapsulating a straight section of glass tubing in a block of ceramic. The block is machined with precision external location surfaces. A groove is machined into the block with internal location surfaces parallel with the external location surfaces. After potting of the tube in the groove with solder glass, the wafer block is cut along planes perpendicular to the external location surfaces to obtain annular orifice elements precisely aimed relative to the wafer body.

Abstract: Multiple nozzle arrays are formed from an assembly of at least one pair of plates having intersecting channels for receiving orifice elements and sealant. The joined plates, with inserted orifice elements in one channel and sealant in the other channel are then mounted vertically or at an appropriate angle and exposed to a temperature sufficient to cause the sealant alone to melt and to flow by capillary action to seal the orifice elements in a void-and-bubble free manner and to seal the plates to form a plate block. After cooling, the plate block is sliced into multiple nozzle wafers.