Abstract: A structure includes a hollow tubular first body made of a shape-recovering polymeric material having a first region in the recovered state, and a second region in the expanded state. A second body including an element of a fastener, such as a hook-and-loop fastener, is affixed to the first region of the first body with an adhesive joint. The first body is desirably in the form of a hollow tube that encloses a wire bundle or other enclosed body. The structure may also include a support, and a second element of the hook-and-loop fastener affixed to the support. The first element of the hook-and-loop fastener is engaged to the second element of the hook-and-loop fastener.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling an aircraft by a hands on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) includes selectively connecting, by the HOTAS, two interfaces of a controller for the aircraft. The selective connection is made through one of a plurality of possible paths. Each path has an expected respective voltage drop within a predetermined range. The selected one of the possible paths connecting the two interfaces is determined by determining an actual voltage drop associated with the selected path. A control operation for the aircraft is effected by the controller based on the determined selected path. The method reduces the number of required electrical connections.

Abstract: A structure includes a hollow tubular first body made of a shape-recovering polymeric material having a first region in the recovered state, and a second region in the expanded state. A second body including an element of a fastener, such as a hook-and-loop fastener, is affixed to the first region of the first body with an adhesive joint. The first body is desirably in the form of a hollow tube that encloses a wire bundle or other enclosed body. The structure may also include a support, and a second element of the hook-and-loop fastener affixed to the support. The first element of the hook-and-loop fastener is engaged to the second element of the hook-and-loop fastener.

Abstract: An arc-fault detecting circuit-breaker system is used in conjunction with a protected electrical circuit whose current flow is to be interrupted upon the occurrence of an overcurrent fault or an arc fault. The arc-fault detecting circuit breaker system includes a normally closed circuit breaker, an arc-fault detector of the occurrence of an arc fault in the protected electrical circuit, and a circuit-breaker activating element operable responsive to the detector. The circuit-breaker activating element opens the circuit breaker in the event that the detector detects an arc fault in the protected electrical circuit. A status indicator structure, preferably in the form of a two-part pop-up button, has a first status indicator element which indicates the opening of the circuit breaker due to the overcurrent fault, and a second status indicator element which indicates the opening of the circuit breaker due to the arc fault.

Abstract: An electrical cable has a central conductor structure and a plurality of spiral conductor structures spirally wrapped around the central conductor structure. Each of the spiral conductor structures includes an electrically conducting spiral conductor, and a spiral conductor insulation overlying the spiral conductor. Each spiral conductor structure has no electrically conducting shielding thereon. Each spiral conductor structure retains a same pair of circumferentially adjacent spiral conductor structures along a length of the electrical cable. Each spiral conductor structure has a designated identity, and a circumferential arrangement of each spiral conductor structure is selected responsive to its designated identity and to the designated identities of each of the pair of circumferentially adjacent spiral conductor structures. An electrically conducting outer shield overlies the plurality of spiral conductors, and an outer insulation overlies the electrically conducting outer shield.

Abstract: An arc-fault detecting circuit-breaker system is operable with a protected electrical circuit that operates with direct current or alternating current. A normally closed line circuit breaker has an electrical input and an electrical output, and an electrical line connects the electrical output to the protected-element input. The system includes a detector of the rate of change with time of a current flow in the electrical line. An activating element alternating current voltage source has an alternating current output. A circuit-breaker activating element is operable responsive to the detector. The circuit-breaker activating element is electrically connected between the electrical line and the alternating current output.

Abstract: An arc-fault detecting circuit-breaker system is operable with a protected electrical circuit that operates with direct current or alternating current. A normally closed line circuit breaker has an electrical input and an electrical output, and an electrical line connects the electrical output to the protected-element input. The system includes a detector of the rate of change with time of a current flow in the electrical line. An activating element alternating current voltage source has an alternating current output. A circuit-breaker activating element is operable responsive to the detector. The circuit-breaker activating element is electrically connected between the electrical line and the alternating current output.

Abstract: A method for preparing a hollow tube of shrinkable polymeric material by providing a hollow tube in an expanded state and partially contracting a portion of the length of the hollow tube. A first length in the expanded state is folded over a second length in the partially contracted state. A body such as a length of electrical cable is inserted into the hollow tube, and the first length is unfolded so that it no longer overlies the second length. The first length and the second length are contracted to the fully contracted state over the body.

Abstract: A munition rack comprises a center strongback with an aircraft attachment hookup structure thereon, a first munition deployment structure, including a first munition deployer, affixed to a first outboard end of the center strongback, and a second munition deployment structure, including a second munition deployer, affixed to a second outboard end of the center strongback. The center strongback, the first munition deployment structure, and the second munition deployment structure are preferably dimensioned such that the distance between a first munition deployer transverse midpoint and a second munition deployer transverse midpoint is at least about 19 inches. There is at least one additional munition deployment structure selectively affixed to the bottom of the center strongback at an inboard location intermediate between the first outboard end and the second outboard end.

Abstract: A structure includes a hollow tubular first body made of a shape-recovering polymeric material having a first region in the recovered state, and a second region in the expanded state. A second body including an element of a fastener, such as a hook-and-loop fastener, is affixed to the first region of the first body with an adhesive joint. The first body is desirably in the form of a hollow tube that encloses a wire bundle or other enclosed body. The structure may also include a support, and a second element of the hook-and-loop fastener affixed to the support. The first element of the hook-and-loop fastener is engaged to the second element of the hook-and-loop fastener.

Abstract: An arc-fault detecting circuit-breaker system includes a normally closed line circuit breaker in series with a protected electrical circuit element whose current flow is to be interrupted upon the occurrence of an arc fault. A detector senses the rate of change with time of the current flow in the protected electrical circuit element. A silicon-controlled rectifier has a gate of the silicon-controlled rectifier in electrical communication with a detector output signal of the detector. The silicon-controlled rectifier shorts the current flow in the protected electrical circuit element in the event that the detector output signals that the rate of change of current with time in the protected electrical circuit element is in excess of a permitted maximum rate-of-change value, thereby activating the line circuit breaker.

Abstract: A body is enclosed by an elongated tube of shape-recovering tubing having a direction of elongation and having materials properties described by a recovered state and an expanded state which contracts toward the recovered state upon heating. The piece of shape-recovering tubing is processed to have a first region in the recovered state, the first region being in the form of a stripe extending parallel to the direction of elongation, a second region in the expanded state, and, optionally, printed matter on the first region. The tube is positioned overlying the body, and the second region is heated so that it contracts toward the recovered state.

Abstract: A self-aligning shield splitter assembly (10) for splitting and shielding a wiring bundle (16) from an electromagnetic field and a method of assembling the same are provided. The shield splitter assembly (10) includes a first (12) and a second (14) hollow shield splitter. Each of the splitters (12, 14) defining an internal volume (36) for receiving a portion (54, 56) of the wiring bundle (16). Each of the splitters (12, 14) further includes open ends (32, 34) and a plurality of ridges (42, 44, 46) disposed along an exterior portion of the splitter (12, 14). The plurality of ridges (42, 44, 46) are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the splitter (12, 14). A plurality of braided shields (20, 22, 24) is provided individually surrounding the first splitter (12), the second splitter (14), and the wiring bundle (16). The plurality of braided shields (20, 22, 24) minimizes penetration of electromagnetic fields into the wiring bundle (16).