Abstract: An improved transfer chamber for a space vehicle has an enclosure mounted on the hull of a spacecraft, and is provided with inner and outer doors. Two bladders are placed within this transfer chamber, and are selectively movable toward and away from one another. Conduits communicate these bladders with an outer reservoir exposed to space pressure, and with an inner reservoir exposed to cabin pressure. The conduits, bladders and reservoirs are all filled with liquid. When it is desired to egress an object from the cabin to space, liquid is pumped into the bladders, which move toward one another and deform about the object. This reduces the volume of air which is lost to space when the outer door is opened.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator has a ferrous alloy armature movably mounted within a body chamber. Two axially-spaced permanent magnets are arranged radially inwardly of the chamber and partially define the chamber at the ends thereof. A coil surrounds the chamber. The body is formed of a magnetically-permeable material. Because of the high reluctance of the magnets, each magnet forms a short magnetic loop which passes through the adjacent air gap, and forms a long magnetic loop which encircles the coil and passes through the distant air gap. The armature has a bistable toggle-like movement, and may be latched proximate either end wall. If springs are added between the armature and the body, the improved actuator may be used as a proportional position of force transducer within an operating range of armature movement.

Abstract: A loose leaf binder is formed from three parts assembled in a manner providing a binder of minimum thickness.

Abstract: A claw binder features the provision of groups of pairs of claw halves, which vary in size and are adapted to be removably/interchangeably fixed to a base of the binder in order to selectively accommodate the binder to support stacks of sheet material of substantially different thicknesses.

Abstract: A button securing device having a base portion; a standoff post joined to the base portion and formed with a locking slot; and a filament portion joined to the standoff post and adapted to be passed in a single direction through a fabric to which a button is to be attached sufficiently to pull the standoff post through the fabric and position the fabric against the base portion, threaded through holes of the button and finally secured within the locking slot of the standoff post. The height of the standoff post determines the standoff distance or spacing between the button and the fabric.

Abstract: A valve includes a piezoelectric bar mounted as a cantilevered beam. The free end of the bar is mounted for movement toward and away from a valve seat surrounding a control opening. The beam is initially flexed when in the closed position so as to maintain a fluid-tight seal with the seat. Application of an electrical signal causes the bar to flex further, thereby causing the deflectable beam portion to move away from the valve seat and permitting fluid to flow through the control opening. The beam valve may be designed to provide a substantially constant flow independent of changes in the pressure differential thereacross, and to exert a minimum closing force against a seat to provide a substantially fluidtight seal therewith in the absence of a command signal applied to the bar.

Abstract: A cup-shaped retainer is provided with a side wall having a mounting rim portion joined to one end thereof and a bottom wall joined to an opposite end of the side wall and having a mounting aperture sized to threadably receive a mounting screw. The side wall of the retainer is externally sized to permit insertion thereof inwardly through an access opening formed in a vehicle body or door panel or the like and the retainer is interiorly sized to removably receive a disposable cartridge filled with a corrosion inhibiting material. The mounting screw is fitted with a sealing disc or cover and may be inserted successively through the cartridge and the mounting aperture to puncture the cartridge to permit escape of its contents, to clamp the sealing disc in surface engagement with the outer surface of the vehicle body panel peripherally bounding the access opening and to effect deformation of the mounting rim portion of the retainer into clamping engagement with the vehicle body panel peripherally of the aperture.