Abstract: A spiral wound seal for effecting a seal between two surfaces. The seal consists of a strip of gasket material wound into a groove machined into one of the surfaces. The gasket strip is wider than the groove is deep such that a portion of the gasket material protrudes from the groove. The seal is effected by clamping the second surface onto the first surface and thereby compressing the protruding gasket material.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of aircraft flight spoiler control mechanisms. The invention enables the conventional, primary spoiler control system to retain its operational characteristics while accommodating a secondary input controlled by a conventional computer system to supplement the settings made by the primary input. This is achieved by interposing springs between the primary input and the spoiler control unit. The springs are selected to have a stiffness intermediate the greater force applied by the primary control linkage and the lesser resistance offered by the spoiler control unit. Thus, operation of the primary input causes the control unit to yield before the springs, yet, operation of the secondary input, acting directly on the control unit, causes the springs to yield and absorb adjustments before they are transmitted into the primary control system.