Abstract: A fastener comprising a nut, a washer, and a shell that axially retains the nut and the washer together. In one embodiment, the shell axially retains the nut and the washer together, and has a lower wall axially retaining the washer to the nut in a first direction, and a s-shaped section retaining the nut to the washer in a second direction. In another embodiment, the shell has a bent section and a lower wall extending axially away from the bent section. The lower wall of the bent section retains the washer to the shell. In yet another embodiment, the shell comprises a base wall including a first bend, a first skirt depending away from the first bend, a second bend extending away from the second bend, a third bend extending away from the second bend, and a second skirt depending away from the third bend.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a threadless positioning pin includes a head end, a pilot end, a positioning shank, a retainer shank, and a keyway. In another embodiment, a threadless positioning retainer includes a first end, a second end, an exterior, and an interior with a key extending from an inner surface proximate the first end. In another embodiment, a threadless positioning fastener includes a threadless positioning pin and a threadless positioning retainer, including an interior with a key configured to ride in a keyway of the threadless positioning pin. In another embodiment, a method of joining assembly elements includes providing a primary element, advancing a threadless positioning pin through a positioning hole so that a key rides along a keyway, and rotating the threadless positioning pin so that the key engages the keyway to trap the primary element between the threadless positioning pin and a threadless positioning retainer.

Abstract: A retainer comprises first and second legs extending away from a base wall. In one embodiment, the first leg includes a dimple array surrounding an aperture and projecting from an inboard surface of the first leg. In another embodiment, the first leg has a necked portion having a set of first shoulders extending away from a first base, and a first apertured portion extending away from the set of first shoulders. The second leg has a necked and stepped portion having a step extending away from a second base, and a shouldered portion extending away from the step and having a set of second shoulders extending laterally outwardly, and a second apertured portion extending away from the second shoulders. The retainer of either embodiment may be coupled to a nut to produce a retainer and nut assembly.

Abstract: A retainer comprises first and second legs extending away from a base wall. In one embodiment, the first leg includes a dimple array surrounding an aperture and projecting from an inboard surface of the first leg. In another embodiment, the first leg has a necked portion having a set of first shoulders extending away from a first base, and a first apertured portion extending away from the set of first shoulders. The second leg has a necked and stepped portion having a step extending away from a second base, and a shouldered portion extending away from the step and having a set of second shoulders extending laterally outwardly, and a second apertured portion extending away from the second shoulders. The retainer of either embodiment may be coupled to a nut to produce a retainer and nut assembly.

Abstract: A retainer comprises first and second legs extending away from a base wall. In one embodiment, the first leg includes a dimple array surrounding an aperture and projecting from an inboard surface of the first leg. In another embodiment, the first leg has a necked portion having a set of first shoulders extending away from a first base, and a first apertured portion extending away from the set of first shoulders. The second leg has a necked and stepped portion having a step extending away from a second base, and a shouldered portion extending away from the step and having a set of second shoulders extending laterally outwardly, and a second apertured portion extending away from the second shoulders. The retainer of either embodiment may be coupled to a nut to produce a retainer and nut assembly.

Abstract: A faceted lobular threaded component and methods for making and/or installing the same. A faceted lobular threaded component may include a head, and a shank extending along a longitudinal axis away from the head. The component may also include an external faceted lobular thread in the shank extending around the longitudinal axis. The external faceted lobular thread may include at least four facets per thread revolution, and at least four lobes per thread revolution circumferentially interspersed between the at least four facets and established by the at least four facets.

Abstract: A retainer comprises first and second legs extending away from a base wall. In one embodiment, the first leg includes a dimple array surrounding an aperture and projecting from an inboard surface of the first leg. In another embodiment, the first leg has a necked portion having a set of first shoulders extending away from a first base, and a first apertured portion extending away from the set of first shoulders. The second leg has a necked and stepped portion having a step extending away from a second base, and a shouldered portion extending away from the step and having a set of second shoulders extending laterally outwardly, and a second apertured portion extending away from the second shoulders. The retainer of either embodiment may be coupled to a nut to produce a retainer and nut assembly.

Abstract: A retainer comprises first and second legs extending away from a base wall. In one embodiment, the first leg includes a dimple array surrounding an aperture and projecting from an inboard surface of the first leg. In another embodiment, the first leg has a necked portion having a set of first shoulders extending away from a first base, and a first apertured portion extending away from the set of first shoulders. The second leg has a necked and stepped portion having a step extending away from a second base, and a shouldered portion extending away from the step and having a set of second shoulders extending laterally outwardly, and a second apertured portion extending away from the second shoulders. The retainer of either embodiment may be coupled to a nut to produce a retainer and nut assembly.

Abstract: A mounting adapter for a mounting and fastening system includes: a radially inward portion including a throughbore having a throughbore axis; an inboard end including an adapter inboard surface extending transversely with respect to the axis, and an inboard counterbore in the adapter inboard surface in communication with the throughbore; an outboard end including an adapter outboard surface extending transversely with respect to the axis; and a radially outward portion having a tapered outward surface that tapers in an axially inboard and radially inward direction.

Abstract: A CVA system includes a sensor system including a pendulous element that rotates about a first axis via first flexures in response to an input acceleration provided along a second axis that is orthogonal with respect to the first axis. A torque-summing gimbal is coupled to the pendulous element via the first flexures and coupled to a housing via second flexures. The system further includes an accelerometer controller that monitors a pickoff signal of the rotation of the pendulous element from a first electrode coupled to the pendulous element and to provide a forcer signal to at least one second electrode coupled to the torque-summing gimbal to force the torque-summing gimbal to rotate about the second axis via the second flexures based on the pickoff signal to provide Coriolis force-rebalance of the pendulous element. The accelerometer controller can determine the input acceleration based on the rotation of the torque-summing gimbal.

Abstract: A mounting and fastening system rail has an inboard-outboard axis, and comprises: a rail inboard surface extending transversely with respect to the axis; a rail outboard surface extending transversely with respect to the axis; at least one sidewall extending between the rail inboard and outboard surfaces and having at least one hanger mounting edge; and at least one endwall extending between the rail inboard and outboard surfaces and having an incurvate tapered surface extending between the rail inboard and outboard surfaces and tapering in an axially inboard and radially inward direction.

Abstract: A sacrificial washer has a longitudinal central axis and comprises a cup and a cap. The cup includes a cup base wall extending transversely with respect to the axis, a cup radially outer wall extending outwardly away from the cup base wall, and a cup inner diameter. The cup includes a cap base wall extending transversely with respect to the axis and spaced axially away from the cup base wall, and a cap radially inner wall extending inwardly away from the cap base wall and having a cap inner diameter.

Abstract: A CVA system includes a sensor system including a pendulous element that rotates about a first axis via first flexures in response to an input acceleration provided along a second axis that is orthogonal with respect to the first axis. A torque-summing gimbal is coupled to the pendulous element via the first flexures and coupled to a housing via second flexures. The system further includes an accelerometer controller that monitors a pickoff signal of the rotation of the pendulous element from a first electrode coupled to the pendulous element and to provide a forcer signal to at least one second electrode coupled to the torque-summing gimbal to force the torque-summing gimbal to rotate about the second axis via the second flexures based on the pickoff signal to provide Coriolis force-rebalance of the pendulous element. The accelerometer controller can determine the input acceleration based on the rotation of the torque-summing gimbal.

Abstract: A mounting and fastening system includes a mounting adapter configured to adapt mounting of a second component with respect to a first component, and having a radially inward portion including a throughbore, and a radially outward portion with a tapered outward surface that tapers in an axially inboard and radially inward direction and that cooperates with a tapered surface of the second component and such that an adapter inboard surface faces a first outboard surface of the first component. A mounting bolt for a mounting a fastening system includes: a head including flat opposite sides and semi-cylindrical opposite sides interposed between the flat opposite sides; a shank extending from the head; an external thread on at least a portion of the shank; a passage extending through the head and into at least a portion of the shank; and an internal thread in at least a portion of the passage.

Abstract: A mounting and fastening system clamp has an inboard-outboard axis, and includes a clamp inboard surface extending transversely with respect to the axis; a clamp outboard surface extending transversely with respect to the axis; a clamp outward surface extending between the inboard and outboard surfaces; a tapered inward surface extending between the inboard and outboard surfaces and tapering in an axially inboard and radially inward direction; and a rail mating inward surface extending between the inboard and outboard surfaces.

Abstract: A faceted lobular threaded component and methods for making and/or installing the same. A faceted lobular threaded component may include a head, and a shank extending along a longitudinal axis away from the head. The component may also include an external faceted lobular thread in the shank extending around the longitudinal axis. The external faceted lobular thread may include at least four facets per thread revolution, and at least four lobes per thread revolution circumferentially interspersed between the at least four facets and established by the at least four facets.

Abstract: A retainer comprises first and second legs extending away from a base wall. In one embodiment, the first leg includes a dimple array surrounding an aperture and projecting from an inboard surface of the first leg. In another embodiment, the first leg has a necked portion having a set of first shoulders extending away from a first base, and a first apertured portion extending away from the set of first shoulders. The second leg has a necked and stepped portion having a step extending away from a second base, and a shouldered portion extending away from the step and having a set of second shoulders extending laterally outwardly, and a second apertured portion extending away from the second shoulders. The retainer of either embodiment may be coupled to a nut to produce a retainer and nut assembly.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a method for dynamic self-calibration of an accelerometer system. The method includes forcing a proof-mass associated with a sensor of the accelerometer system in a first direction to a first predetermined position and obtaining a first measurement associated with the sensor in the first predetermined position via at least one force/detection element of the sensor. The method also includes forcing the proof-mass to a second predetermined position and obtaining a second measurement associated with the sensor in the second predetermined position via the at least one force/detection element of the sensor. The method further includes calibrating the accelerometer system based on the first and second measurements.

Abstract: A vibrating-mass gyroscope system includes a substantially planar vibrating-mass including opposite first and second surfaces and electrodes that extend longitudinally in a periodic pattern across the first and/or second surfaces. The electrodes include sets of drive and sense electrodes that are capacitively coupled to respective matching sets of drive and sense electrodes associated with a housing and which are separated from and facing the respective first and second surfaces. A gyroscope controller generates a drive signal provided to one of the array of drive electrodes and the substantially matching array of drive electrodes to provide for in-plane periodic oscillatory motion of the vibrating-mass, and generates a force-rebalance signal that is provided to one of the array of sense electrodes and the substantially matching array of sense electrodes to calculate rotation of the vibrating-mass gyroscope system about an input axis.

Abstract: A mounting and fastening system rail has an inboard-outboard axis, and comprises: a rail inboard surface extending transversely with respect to the axis; a rail outboard surface extending transversely with respect to the axis; at least one sidewall extending between the rail inboard and outboard surfaces and having at least one hanger mounting edge; and at least one endwall extending between the rail inboard and outboard surfaces and having an incurvate tapered surface extending between the rail inboard and outboard surfaces and tapering in an axially inboard and radially inward direction.