Abstract: A valve assembly (20) for an aircraft water supply system. The valve assembly (20) comprises a valve member (40), an electrical motor (64), and a mechanical returning mechanism (80). When electrical power is provided, the motor (64) can be controlled to move the valve member (40) from a first position and to a second position. The mechanism (80) is operably connected to the valve member (40) and mechanically biases it towards the first position. If a power loss occurs when the valve member (40) is in the second position, the returning mechanism (80) non-electrically (e.g., mechanically) returns the valve member (40) to the first position.

Abstract: A valve assembly (20) for an aircraft water supply system. The valve assembly (20) comprises a valve member (40), an electrical motor (64), and a mechanical returning mechanism (80). When electrical power is provided, the motor (64) can be controlled to move the valve member (40) from a first position and to a second position. The mechanism (80) is operably connected to the valve member (40) and mechanically biases it towards the first position. If a power loss occurs when the valve member (40) is in the second position, the returning mechanism (80) non-electrically (e.g., mechanically) returns the valve member (40) to the first position.

Abstract: A life saving disc adapted to be thrown with considerable accuracy to a person in distress. The disc is provided with peripherally arranged flanges for retaining a length of line as well as floatation rendering the disc buoyant in water. In use, line is retained by the user at one end, such that when the disc is thrown to a person in distress, the line is dispensed from the disc. The person in distress grasping the disc, can then be pulled to safety.

Abstract: A friction disk assembly comprises an annular structural carrier including a plurality of recessed regions and torque drive notches spaced around its circumferential direction, and a friction lining mounted on the carrier, the friction lining having a flat wear (rubbing) face and an obverse face including raised areas corresponding to and matingly engaging the recessed regions of the carrier to prevent rotation of the lining relative to the carrier. The carrier may be formed of steel or other suitable structural material. The lining may be formed of virgin or recycled carbon, ceramic or other suitable friction material. The lining may be retained to the carrier by rivets. The lining may be provided with a structural casing configured to engage the recessed regions of the carrier. The assembly may be refurbished by simple replacement of the worn lining. The carrier and the lining may be formed as unitary annular members or as segments of annular members.

Abstract: A disc brake with a caliper housing having first and second side walls, the first wall having a cavity with a piston slidably mounted therein, the piston having a first shoe for frictional engagement with one of the sides of a rotor, the housing also having a bridge spanning the sides of the rotor and extending from the bridge, the housing having a second wall with an attached second shoe for frictional engagement with the rotor opposite the first shoe. A bracket is connected with the vehicle having first leading and second trailing reaction arms. The caliper is slidably mounted with the bracket arms. Extending the piston from the caliper housing to actuate the brake brings the shoes into engagement with the rotor and causes the inboard shoe to react on the trailing bracket arm and the caliper housing to react in the trailing direction into the leading bracket arm.

Abstract: A drum brake is provided of the leading-trailing shoe type in which a single piece spring installed as a part of the assembly holds down the brake shoe assemblies against the backing plate and also retracts the shoes after brake actuation. The single piece spring also retains the lower ends of the shoes against the anchor plate. This arrangement eliminates the need for separate shoe hold-down springs and separate upper and lower return springs, resulting in a significant reduction in parts and labor for assembly.

Abstract: Each of a pair of wire springs has a loop end fitting on an anchor mount for a leading-trailing shoe assembly. Each spring has an arm extending from its loop end along the web of a shoe and terminates in a hook end which fits within a slot in the associated shoe web. The springs will return the brake shoes to their retracted position after serice or parking brake operation by cantilever spring bias force stored in the spring arms as the springs are installed, reengaging the adjuster/strut assembly after actuation of the wheel cylinder during service brake operation; retain the lower ends of the shoes against the anchor plate; and hold the shoes down against the backing plate by torsional spring bias forces of the springs which are stored in the spring loop ends and are directed onto the web of each shoe toward the backing plate through the spring arms and the arm outer portions which are immediately adjacent to the spring arm hook ends.

Abstract: A thermal compensating self-adjusting vehicle wheel drum brake apparatus and method is provided including a wheel cylinder, a plate for mounting the wheel cylinder, an adjuster strut with a star wheel for adjustably extending a pair of brake shoes. An adjuster pawl is provided for turning the adjuster star wheel. The adjuster pawl is inserted within an aperture of one of the shoes. A thermal elongating stop extendible at a predetermined temperature contacts and wedges the adjuster pawl to prevent pivotal motion thereof whenever the temperature of the brake is above a predetermined value.

Abstract: A hydrostatically controlled buoyancy compensator to maintain a predetermined buoyancy for an aquatic diver and buoyancy device at any depth comprising a control valve and pressure equalization chamber operatively coupled together by a control valve actuator; the control valve comprises a control valve housing having a multiple position valve body movably disposed therein, the control valve housing includes a regulator passage, buoyancy device passage and vent passage formed therein and the multiple position valve body includes a regulator channel and vent channel formed therein to selectively feed pressurized air from an external source to the buoyancy device and from the buoyancy device to the water; the pressure equalization chamber comprises a hollow constant volume pressure equalization housing having a pressure equalization port formed therein in fluid communication with the buoyancy device; the control valve actuator comprises a hollow control valve actuator housing having a multiple position valve pos

Abstract: A gas powered engine for use in combination with a pressurized gas source to propel the gas powered engine through a fluid medium such as water comprising an engine housing having a plurality of blades formed on the outer periphery thereof held in fixed spaced relationship to an outer hollow substantially frustum housing by an attachment structure to cooperatively form a fluid flow chamber therebetween, the engine housing comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical housing to operatively house a drive assembly therein, the drive assembly comprising a drive shaft assembly coupled to the attachment structure in fixed relationship relative to the hollow substantially cylindrical housing, having a gas distribution structure mounted thereon, and a cylinder assembly and a swash plate assembly rotatably mounted thereon, the gas distribution structure being operatively disposed between the pressurized gas source and the cylinder assembly to selectively feed and discharge pressurized gas to and from the cylinder ass

Abstract: A process for forming an art product and a package assembly for containing the art product. The art product having an arbitrary arranged pattern of inks or pigmented materials thereon and including one or more intermixed colors wherein the ink or pigmented material is capable of being responsive to an electrostatic charge. The process includes forming ionic patterns on at least one surface of a plate capable of bearing an electrostatic charge and applying one or more of the electroresponsive inks to the formed ionic pattern. The ink can be transferred to the pattern from a brush or like source disposed either in spaced relation to the surface of the charge plate or in direct contact therewith. The package assembly also includes structure capable of supporting and exposing the charge plate during application of the process as well as containing the materials for performing the process and the art product itself.