Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing an alignment indication for a nose landing gear of an aircraft. The apparatus includes surfaces that abut certain features of the nose landing gear. When the surfaces of the fixture and the features of the nose landing gear abut, the fixture is aligned with the nose landing gear and oriented such that a coherent light source emits a coherent light beam that impinges on an alignment scale. The coherent light beam can be sufficiently small that a mechanic or other user can discern the alignment of the nose landing gear to within one or two degrees. After the nose landing gear has been moved to a centered position, control rigging that communicates steering inputs from pilots to a hydraulic actuation system can be adjusted so that the steering inputs are also centered.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing an alignment indication for a nose landing gear of an aircraft. The apparatus includes surfaces that abut certain features of the nose landing gear. When the surfaces of the fixture and the features of the nose landing gear abut, the fixture is aligned with the nose landing gear and oriented such that a coherent light source emits a coherent light beam that impinges on an alignment scale. The coherent light beam can be sufficiently small that a mechanic or other user can discern the alignment of the nose landing gear to within one or two degrees. After the nose landing gear has been moved to a centered position, control rigging that communicates steering inputs from pilots to a hydraulic actuation system can be adjusted so that the steering inputs are also centered.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for consolidating a composite workpiece are provided. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic field generator for inducing a current and thereby heating a susceptor in thermal communication with the workpiece. The workpiece is supported by one or more support tools, each of which transmits the electromagnetic field so that the support tools are not substantially heated by the electromagnetic field. Thus, the time and energy required for heating the workpiece are reduced relative to conventional consolidation techniques.

Abstract: A variable length socket includes a first member with first and second sections and a second member for cooperating with the first member and including third and fourth sections. One of the first and second sections and one of the third and fourth sections include cooperating splines. The other of the first and second sections is configured to receive to a workpiece to be manipulated by the socket. The splines of the one of the first and second sections extend partly along the length of the first member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for consolidating a composite workpiece are provided. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic field generator for inducing a current and thereby heating a susceptor in thermal communication with the workpiece. The workpiece is supported by one or more support tools, each of which transmits the electromagnetic field so that the support tools are not substantially heated by the electromagnetic field. Thus, the time and energy required for heating the workpiece are reduced relative to conventional consolidation techniques.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve has a tubular valve housing, a valve closure member movable between an open and a closed position, an axially shiftable flow tube for opening the valve closure member. Hydraulic pressure from the control line is used to move a piston, which in turn moves an axially shiftable opening prong through the closure member. A balance line, or second hydraulic line is also used to make the valve well insensitive. An isolation valve is placed in the flow path of the second hydraulic line. The isolation valve prevents gas migration into the balance line. It also provides volume control for the fluid displaced when the piston is moved by pressure from the control line. Further, the valve can be closed by the application of sufficient pressure through the second hydraulic line.