Abstract: A safety instrument suitable for use in an industrial application includes a logic card having a microcontroller configured to perform self-test of the instrument and surveillance functions of an external system that is monitored and/or controlled by the instrument. The logic card also includes at least one complex programmable logic device (CPLD) configured to execute logic functions relating to human safety requirements of the external system independently of the microcontroller and to provide address decoding, input/output addressing, and/or registers for the microcontroller. The instrument further includes one or more I/O modules that are operatively coupled to the logic card to communicate monitor signals and/or control signals from the logic card to the external system.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for a nuclear reactor safety related application. The method includes executing two forms of a same application-specific logic, one of the two forms implemented as hardware logic, and the other of the two forms implemented as software instructions for execution by microprocessor-based controlling software. Each form of the application-specific logic is executed with a same set of inputs. The method compares a result produced from the execution of the hardware-implemented form to a result produced from the execution of the software-implemented form. When the compared results concur, the controlling software performs actions associated with the concurring results by executing microprocessor-based software. When the compared results fail to concur, the controlling software reports the failure of the compared results to concur to an operator by executing microprocessor-based software, and thereafter places the microprocessor-based software system into an inoperative (INOP) mode.

Abstract: A bumper system for reducing injury to a pedestrian struck by an automotive vehicle by lessening the likelihood of pedestrian knee joint damage or underbody entrapment while minimizing the point load applied to the lower leg. The bumper assembly includes a bumper beam having a front surface, cushioning material such as energy absorbent high-density foam disposed on the front surface of the bumper beam, and a pedestrian protection leg spoiler secured to the bumper beam and extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom to position the leading edge of the leg spoiler below the cushioning material. The cushioning material absorbs energy of the initial impact with the leg in the vicinity of the knee, and the leg spoiler contacts the leg at a lower position. The leg spoiler has stiffness characteristics such that the impact load applied by the leg to the leading edge causes the leg spoiler to bend rearward in the manner of a cantilever beam.

Abstract: A bumper system for a motor vehicle includes an energy absorber and a bumper beam connected to the energy absorber and for connection to vehicle structure and having a general B shape. The bumper system also includes a member disposed between the bumper beam and a rail of the motor vehicle to absorb energy during an impact with an object by the bumper system.

Abstract: An energy absorbing bumper assembly is provided, including a tube member and a first energy absorbing element positioned within the tube member, including at least one flange portion that absorbs collision energy by deflecting vertically during collision.

Abstract: A bumper system for a motor vehicle includes an energy absorber and a bumper beam interconnecting the energy absorber and vehicle structure and having a general B shape to absorb energy during an impact with an object by the bumper system.

Abstract: A pedestrian protection apparatus for a truck is provided. The apparatus includes a bumper member mounted to a vehicle, a linkage, a stiffener, an extendible cross-member and an actuator. The extendible cross-member is mounted on a stiffener which in turn is mounted at each end at a first linkage and a second linkage respectively. The pedestrian protection apparatus may extend out from under the vehicle at speeds greater than a predetermined speed in order to prevent injury to a pedestrian in a collision. The linkages are disposed between the extendible cross-member and the bumper.

Abstract: An aircraft undercarriage suspension includes a liquid filled telescopic suspension strut and a gas spring. Liquid displaced by the strut into the gas spring is selectively directed through alternative flow restrictors, one of which is matched for optimum damping during aircraft landing and the other of which is matched for optimum damping during taxing. A ride control valve operates on the nose wheel undercarriage to control aircraft pitching, the ride control hydraulic system being separated from the damping oil by a floating piston.

Abstract: A universal gyroscope flexure hinge assembly is provided to interconnect the inertial flywheel of a 2-axes free rotor gyroscope to the gyroscope spin shaft, with two symmetrical, axially displaced gimbal elements which allow two axes of angular freedom. Errors which would arise due to axially displaced gimbal elements are compensated for by offsetting the flexure axes of the two gimbal elements. Each pair of flexure blades forming a flexure hinge have a common flexure axis and the flexure hinge assembly has only two orthogonal flexure axes which are axially displaced from one another.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the convenient storage of material, especially noxious or radioactive material, which method comprises entrapping the material within a solid by bombarding the solid with ions of the material so as to form a concentration of the material within the solid.Forms of apparatus for carrying out this method are also described.

Abstract: An aircraft undercarriage includes a liquid filled telescopic suspension strut and a compressed gas chamber separated from the liquid in the strut by a floating piston. Liquid is added to or taken away from the strut by a ride control valve operated by a ride control mechanism sensitive to relative displacement of the airframe and undercarriage wheel so that the aircraft is maintained at a constant height during taxiing. Shut-off valves isolate the strut from the hydraulic system of the aircraft during flight and landing touchdown.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying exhaust waste gases including a catalytic element comprising a substrate of metal carrying a surface layer compatible with and supporting a coating of catalytic material, a major proportion of the surface coating of catalytic material comprising an unagglomerated atomic dispersion. An example of such a substrate is an aluminum bearing ferritic steel which has been heat treated in air to form an essentially alumina surface layer.

Abstract: A catalyst suitable, for example, for the treatment of car exhaust emissions comprises an unagglomerated atomic dispersion, said coated particles being in association with support material compatible with the coated particles, such that the support material and the coated particles are adhered together.