Abstract: A method of aircraft fuel distribution includes selecting a longitudinal center of gravity and predicting a rate of change of the center of gravity during flight. Fuel is located in a tail fin tank of a vertical tail fin of the aircraft, and is transferred from the tail fin tank forward at a predetermined transfer rate to counteract the predicted rate of change thereby maintaining the selected center of gravity. An aircraft fuel distribution system includes a center main fuel tank, a tail fin tank and a tail fin fuel pump to pump fuel between the tail fin tank and the center main fuel tank. An electronic controller operates the tail fin fuel pump such that fuel is flowed between the tail fin tank and the center main fuel tank at a predetermined transfer rate to maintain automatically an optimal position of a longitudinal center of gravity of the aircraft.

Abstract: A bypass valve includes a housing for directing fluid flow through the bypass valve. A disc is positioned within the flow path having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter. The bypass valve further includes at least one strain gauge disposed on the disc. One of the inner and outer perimeters of the disc is fixed to the bypass valve housing and one of the inner and outer perimeter of the disc is free to deflect from the bypass valve housing in response to fluid flow through the bypass valve such that a measurement of deflection of the disc induces strain on the strain gauge.

Abstract: A method of aircraft fuel distribution includes selecting a longitudinal center of gravity and predicting a rate of change of the center of gravity during flight. Fuel is located in a tail fin tank of a vertical tail fin of the aircraft, and is transferred from the tail fin tank forward at a predetermined transfer rate to counteract the predicted rate of change thereby maintaining the selected center of gravity. An aircraft fuel distribution system includes a center main fuel tank, a tail fin tank and a tail fin fuel pump to pump fuel between the tail fin tank and the center main fuel tank. An electronic controller operates the tail fin fuel pump such that fuel is flowed between the tail fin tank and the center main fuel tank at a predetermined transfer rate to maintain automatically an optimal position of a longitudinal center of gravity of the aircraft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor assembly including a port, which may support one or more headers, and a header affixed to the port by a weld joint. The header may support a sensor, such as a pressure sensor. A backing ring protects the assembly from damage that may be caused by welding.

Abstract: A hot air slurry dryer having a cylindrical housing with a central shaft rotatably mounted in the housing. Material to be dried moves from an upstream end of the housing to an outlet at a downstream end. A hot air inlet is connected to the upstream end of the housing preferably at an upstream end wall. A material inlet is open to the side wall of the housing downstream of the hot air inlet. The shaft carries structure for breaking up the moist material introduced into the housing and mixing it with the hot air. In a preferred embodiment a drum is carried by the shaft at the inlet end of the cylindrical housing. The drum carries a plurality of agitator blades that pass close by the interior surface of the side wall of the housing.

Abstract: A continuous flow fluid bed dryer has a dryer housing having a drying chamber and a plenum chamber located beneath the drying chamber. Moist product to be dried is introduced to the drying chamber at a product inlet and proceeds through the drying chamber to a discharge housing. A porous screen partially separates the drying chamber and the plenum chamber. Heated air is introduced into the plenum chamber which then passes through the screen to the drying chamber to dry product in the drying chamber. A shaft extends centrally through the drying chamber and is mounted for slow rotation therein. A plurality of paddles are connected to the shaft. The paddles move about a path of rotation whereby paddle ends sequentially sweep over the surface of the screen. In doing so, the paddles momentarily move product away from the screen permitting a rush of heated into the drying chamber locally fluidizing the bed and further drying the product.

Abstract: An improved slurry dryer of the type having a plurality of beater blades carried on a rotating shaft in a cylindrical housing, the improvement in combination therewith of a plurality of scraper blades mounted on at least one disk carried by the rotating shaft at the inlet end of the dryer for scraping the cylindrical side wall and the end wall to prevent the material entering the dryer from adhering and remaining on the side and end wall of the cylindrical housing. The scraper blades are replaceable and adjustable with respect to the side and end walls of the housing by slotted mounting to accommodate wear of the scraper blades. An air dam in the form of a radially extending disk is provided downstream of the scraper blade disks to direct drying air radially outward to impinge on the slurry material to be dried.