Abstract: A cargo barrier net (10) is preferably made of a high-strength, lightweight, low-elongation material such as a material sold under the trademark KEVLAR®, and includes straps (11, 13) intersecting at intersections (15) at varying angles. A stitching pattern (20) is applied at each intersection (15) which is configured so that it will not fail irrespective of the direction of the force applied to the intersection (15). A hook (16) is releasably attached to some of the ends of the straps (11, 13) to attach portions of the periphery of the net (10) to the aircraft. A bracket (17) is releasably attached to some of the ends of the straps (11, 13) to attach other portions of the periphery of the net (10) to the aircraft. At least some of the straps (11) are interrupted and a link (18) is provided to selectively join the interrupted ends of the straps (11). The net (10) may thus be quickly removed to load and unload the cargo by releasing the hooks (16) and operating the links (18) to interrupt the net (10).

Abstract: A fastener particularly suited to affixing metal to plastic parts, such as fastening electrical connectors to plastic circuit board mounting housings, includes a head and an elongate shank with an internally threaded through-bore. Located directly beneath the head is a shoulder which extends along the outside of the shank a distance equal to the total width of the parts to be joined. A mid-section of the shank is of reduced diameter, creating a thin-walled area of the shank compared with the areas at either end. A bottom part of the fastener includes internal threads, said bottom part beginning at the end of the thin-walled, mid-section of the shank. The through-bore includes a step down to a reduced diameter at the end of said mid-section. Therefore, when axially compressed, the fastener repeatedly bulges outwardly at its weakest point which lies just beyond the shoulder. The parts to be joined are thus trapped between the head and this radial bulge of the shank.

Abstract: A circuit board fastener includes a tubular shank and a slideable expander pin which is pressed into a bore in the shank. A flange at the top seats the fastener against the member to be joined to the circuit board. The pin has an interference fit and remains within the bore, which is convergent at the bottom end of the fastener. When the expander pin is driven into the convergent bottom end of the bore, it expands that end of the shank to grip the inner wall of the circuit board aperture. The pin is moved by a simple pressing force into the bore, which is applied by a tool from above to install the fastener to the circuit board, or from below to disengage the fastener from the circuit board. The two-part fastener may be constructed from a unitary part which may be conveniently broken into the two mating components and assembled in one motion.

Abstract: A self-captivating screw becomes captive in a metal sheet, yet is freely rotatable after a simple pressing of the two parts. The screw is applied to the sheet by pressing against an anvil having a circular cavity in alignment with the panel aperture. The screw has an elongate shank with a head at one end and a threaded portion at the opposite end. The head and threaded portion are greater in diameter than the shank. The screw includes a displacer collar just beneath the head which, under pressure, deforms the metal sheet causing the cold flow of panel metal inward about the screw shank without gripping it tightly. The anvil cavity has a diameter greater than the major diameter of the screw threads, but less than the diameter of either the displacer collar or the minor diameter of the threads.

Abstract: A press-in type fastener for mounting circuit board components or circuit boards to a chassis grips a through-hole in the circuit board by radial expansion of the shank. The fastener has a head and a shank with smooth parallel sides and a length substantially equivalent to, but greater than the thickness of the circuit board. The fastener includes a through-bore which is tapered in the area of the shank. After being loosely inserted into a pre-drilled circuit board mounting hole, the fastener is pressed between a punch and an opposing anvil which expands the fastener shank due to the axial compression of the fastener. The anvil has a substantially planar face which abuts the underside of the circuit board and, therefore, no part of the fastener protrudes through the opposite side of the board of the installation. The fastener may be headed and include teeth which extend axially from the underside of the fastener head for gripping the top side of the circuit board to provide torque resistance.

Abstract: An electrical connector panel incorporates a self-clinching type standoff fastener which is installed through mounting holes in the panel from the inside out. The fasteners include a knurled head sized so that excessive bulging of the metal around the panel D-shaped cutout does not develop when pressed into the panel. The head of the fastener is preferably installed flush with the inside of the panel to which the receptacle portion of the cable connector is fastened. With this construction, changes in panel thickness from one application to another will not alter the prescribed distance between the flanges of the mating cable plug and receptacle. Hence, an individual standoff part may be used for many different applications without the need for additional loose hardware.

Abstract: A blind fastener that is installed from one side only of a hole in a plate structure wherein the blind fastener has a tubular body with a head and a sleeve loosely journaled in the central bore of the tubular body. The sleeve has an upper portion that is retained within the central bore and a lower portion larger in diameter than the upper portion presenting a shoulder that abuttingly engages the annular end of the tubular body. The sleeve is retained in position on the fastener by tabs extending from the tubular body through slots in the lower portion and extend radially to limit the axial movement of the sleeve. The central bore of the sleeve is threaded to receive a fastening bolt as well as the draw rod that effects the upsetting of the fastener.

Abstract: A deicer pad for use on the airfoil of an aircraft wherein the pad has an elastomeric flexible covering with metallic spaced strips embedded therein in side by side relationship. An electromagnetic field pulse generator is mounted within the airfoil adjacent to the strips for imparting successive pulses to the strip for movement thereof to effect de-icing.

Abstract: A method for making a blind fastener that has a flanged outer sleeve and a flanged inner sleeve that are secured together, wherein the outer sleeve has a socket that receives a lug from the inner sleeve to provide joint axial movement and wherein the outer sleeve has a plurality of slits that receive at least one radial projection from the inner sleeve to prevent rotation between sleeves. The inner sleeve has a thinner upper portion and a thicker lower portion with a score line therebetween to facilitate the separation of this portion. The inner sleeve has a central threaded bore to receive a threaded bolt for fastening purposes and to upset the outer sleeve relative to the flanged portion thereof to secure such fastener to a thin workpiece.

Abstract: A blind fastener and method for making such fastener that has a flanged outer sleeve and a flanged inner sleeve that are secured together, wherein the outer sleeve has a socket that receives a lug from the inner sleeve to provide joint axial movement and wherein the outer sleeve has a plurality of slits that receives at least one radial projection from the inner sleeve to prevent rotation between sleeves. The inner sleeve has a thinner upper portion and a thicker lower portion with a score line therebetween to facilitate the separation of this portion. The inner sleeve has a central threaded bore to receive a threaded bolt for fastening purposes and to upset the outer sleeve relative to the flanged portion thereof to secure such fastener to a thin workpiece.

Abstract: A tubular connector consisting of a longitudinally extending tubular member having a central passageway extending therethrough with the one end of such central passageway being threaded. An annular flange on the intermediate exterior portion divides the tubular member into an upper portion and a lower portion, which lower portion has a thin walled portion that extends from the flange to the one threaded end portion. The upper exterior portion of the tubular member has axial spaced barbs that are circumferentially extending to facilitate connection to a hose. The thin walled lower portion is subject to being upset for cooperation with the flange to secure the tubular connector to a thin walled member. The lower exterior portion of the tubular member may also have circumferentially extending barbs to provide connection for a second hose.

Abstract: A blind fastener that is installed from one side only of a hole in a plate structure wherein the blind fastener has a tubular body with a head portion and a sleeve journaled in the tubular body. The tubular body has a plurality of slits that extend longitudinally therealong to facilitate an upsetting or a buckling action wherein the fastener is secured to the plate structure between the buckled portion of the tubular body and the head. The sleeve has a threaded upper portion and flanged end portion that abuttingly engages the tubular body to effect the buckling force thereon. The sleeve is connected to the tubular body to ensure a fluid tight fit.

Abstract: An airfoil deicer and method for deicing an airfoil wherein the deicer has an outer skin having an elevated modulus of elasticity and a means for introducing a small deflection into the outer skin thereby creating substantial chord-wise tension in the outer skin, the deflection being induced in less than 0.250 seconds. In the method of deicing, the deflection is induced periodically and being completed within a time span of about 0.250 seconds to remove accumulations of ice as thin as 0.06 centimeters.

Abstract: A de-icer for de-icing those ice accreting surfaces of a skin formed of a material having a substantially elevated modulus, wherein the de-icer is positioned between a support surface and a surface of the skin obverse to the ice accreting surface and inflated to produce a deformation in the skin sufficient to detach and dislodge accumulations of ice on the ice accreting surface but insufficient to exceed an endurance limit for the material from which the skin is formed. The invention finds use in de-icing aircraft surfaces such as wings, tail surfaces, propellers, rotors such as rotating wings, tail rotors and nose cones.

Abstract: A de-icer for de-icing those ice accreting surfaces of a skin formed of a material having a substantially elevated modulus, wherein the de-icer is positioned between a support surface and a surface of the skin obverse to the ice accreting surface and inflated to produce a deformation in the skin sufficient to detach and dislodge accumulations of ice on the ice accreting surface but insufficient to exceed an endurance limit for the material from which the skin is formed. The invention finds use in de-icing aircraft surfaces such as wings, tail surfaces, propellers, rotors such as rotating wings, tail rotors and nose cones.

Abstract: An airfoil deicer and method for deicing an airfoil wherein the deicer has an outer skin having an elevated modulus of elasticity and a means for introducing a small deflection into the outer skin thereby creating substantial chord-wise tension in the outer skin, the deflection being induced in less than 0.250 seconds. In the method of deicing, the deflection is induced periodically and being completed within a time span of about 0.250 seconds to remove accumulations of ice as thin as 0.06 centimeters.

Abstract: A self-regulating vacuum control valve with a needle valve operating in a narrow central bore that regulates the flow of pressurized air from a pressure source into such narrow central bore for passage and discharge from an enlarged bore. A vacuum is pulled in passageways in such enlarged bore which exert a vacuum pull on a control chamber and on one end of a diaphragm means. The diaphragm means is connected to the needle valve and has its one end subjected to atmospheric pressure. Such diaphragm and needle valve are spring biased to increase the air flow past such needle valve in opposition to the vacuum pull on such diaphragm. Such spring bias is adjustable to provide a predetermind vacuum pull on the control chamber that can be connected to a deicer pad for maintaining a predetermined vacuum pull thereon.

Abstract: A deicer control circuit wherein a pressurized air source is connected to control valves and a regulating valve. Such regulating valve has a vacuum line output line that is also connected to such control valves. The control valves, on actuation by a timer, will sequence the pressure line and the vacuum line to alternately inflate and deflate the deicer units. The control valves also provide a sealing off or locking in of the pressurized deicer units in this sequence in response to a pressure sensor.

Abstract: An airfoil deicer and method for deicing an airfoil wherein the deicer has an outer skin having an elevated modulus of elasticity and a means for introducing a small deflection into the outer skin thereby creating substantial chord-wise tension in the outer skin, the deflection being induced in less than 0.250 seconds. In the method of deicing, the deflection is induced periodically and being completed within a time span of about 0.250 seconds to remove accumulations of ice as thin as 0.06 centimeters.