Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for cardholder localization based on transaction data. In general, a determination of one or more possible base locations of a cardholder of a payment card may be initiated. Transactions of the cardholder may be associated with merchant customer base location profiles, where each of the merchant customer base location profiles models a distribution of base locations of customers with which a merchant has had a transaction. The one or more possible cardholder base locations may be derived from the merchant customer base location profiles. The one or more possible cardholder base locations may be used to determine a home or office location of a cardholder where such information is not otherwise available, to determine whether a cardholder has moved from a stated address, to determine if a cardholder has multiple residences, to detect fraud, and the like.

Abstract: A method of purchasing goods or services with use of a bank credit, debit or ATM card. The bank card is of the type issued to consumers as a means of identifying the consumers and for extending credit to consumers for the purchase of goods or services. Purchases made by consumers are tracked and purchasing information provided to a receiving body. The receiving body is authorized by consumers to purchase tickets in a lottery sanctioned by a governmental agency as to pay for lottery tickets purchased directly from the governmental agency to the extent the receiving body has logged credits based upon the consumer's card usage.

Abstract: A system and method for establishment of rules governing child accounts may include associating, in a database, a first transaction card through which access to monetary funds is extended with a second transaction card through which access to said monetary funds is extended. Also, in said database, said second transaction card is associated with one or more rules governing access to said monetary funds by said second transaction card. Finally, an individual owning said first transaction card is permitted to specify said rules governing access to said monetary funds by said second transaction card.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preventing fraudulent acquisition of private transaction information associated with customer input at a fuel dispenser are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a fuel dispenser includes a hose and nozzle combination that receives fuel to dispense to the customer's vehicle. The fuel dispenser includes a user interface having a display and a virtual keypad that is adapted to receive customer input associated with a transaction at the fuel dispenser. The fuel dispenser also includes a control system coupled to the user interface and adapted to determine when customer input is required for the transaction, activate the virtual keypad to facilitate entry of the customer input, receive the customer input from the virtual keypad, deactivate the virtual keypad after the customer input is received, and process the transaction based upon the received customer input.

Abstract: A method to enforce anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and other anti-crime measures in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the USA PATRIOT Act in the USA or equivalent laws in other countries, and to reduce fraud in e-commerce activities such as online banking, trading, money services, shopping, etc. by reading the embedded identification information from a machine-readable government issued official identification document such as passport, driver's license, etc. and sending such information in a dynamically encrypted form to financial institution for approval and anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and other anti-crime purposes. Furthermore, a set of methods can be used by the sender to dynamically encrypt the data in a different form in each transaction, and the recipient can be automatically synchronized to decrypt the received data based on said set of methods.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for using at least a portion of a one-time password as a dynamic card verification value (CVV) are disclosed. A credit/debit card is able to generate a dynamic card verification value (CVV). Such a card may also include an indication that the dynamic CVV is to be used as a security code for purchasing or other transactions. A card-based financial transaction can be authorized in accordance with the use of a dynamic CVV by receiving a transaction authorization request for a specific credit/debit card, wherein the transaction authorization request includes a dynamic CVV. The dynamic CVV can be compared to at least a portion of a one-time password generated for the specific credit/debit card, and a transaction authorization can be sent to the merchant or vendor when the dynamic CVV matches all or a portion of the one-time password.

Abstract: A supply information management system (710) comprises a reader/writer (711) for writing process information on each of the processes to an IC tag (5) and reading information out from the IC tag (5), the reader/writer being provided for a station for performing each of processes to supply a diaper product with an IC tag (5), and a host computer (715) for receiving the information from the reader/writer (711). In the host computer (715), a product database which is a set of data elements each associating a serial number of an IC tag (5) with process information thereof is stored and updated on the basis of the information from the reader/writer (711). The supply information management system (710) makes it possible to specify an individual diaper product and perform a proper and easy management of information on supply of diaper products.

Abstract: A method is described that involves creating a private key and a public key cryptographic key pair, generating a unique and random identifier for a voter's vote and accepting an election vote from said voter. The vote and identifier are electronically signed with the private key to create a digital signature. The vote and identifier are provided in a human readable format to the voter. The digital signature is provided to the voter. The method further involves generating a second unique and random identifier for a second voter's vote and accepting a second election vote from the second voter. The second vote and identifier are electronically signed with the private key to create a second digital signature. The second vote and second identifier are provided in a human readable format to the second voter. The second digital signature is provided to the second voter. The public key is published on an internet.

Abstract: A gimbaled weapon system (GWS) includes a method of recording target engagement during operation of the GWS. The GWS includes a sighting system, a weapon cradle and a weapon, wherein the weapon cradle is elevated using a first elevation drive. The sighting system is moved in elevation relative to the weapon cradle using a second elevation drive. A visual image of a target is acquired using the sighting system based on signals received from an observation unit located remotely from the GWS. The visual image of the target is recorded on a storage media for later playback for display by the gunner at the observation unit or optionally by a commander at a separate commander observation unit.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a magnetic reader assembly, a magnetic reader subassembly, a computer implemented method, and a computer program product for diagnosing a magnetic reader subassembly. A processor generates a test signal during a diagnostic period. The processor then receives a return signal from the magnetic reader subassembly. The processor then compares the test signal and the return signal and diagnoses an operational status of the magnetic reader subassembly in response to the comparison of the test signal and the return signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an active sensing device configured to capture and decode infrared (IR) position tags from a page. The sensing device includes a force sensor photodiode configured to sense when a portion of the device is in contact with the page, and an image sensor configured to image a part of the page proximate the portion when the portion is in contact therewith. Also included is a controller arranged in signal communication with the photodiode and image sensor, said controller configured to control the photodiode and image sensor to capture, decode and encrypt the tags into digital ink data. The device further includes a radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit and antenna configured to securely transmit the digital ink data to a computing system by utilising a pre-registered session key.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing interference by warbling a reader transmitted signal are described. To reduce interference in a densely packed multiple reader environment, a reader modulates or warbles the frequency or phase of the transmitted signal during a reception portion of a symbol exchange period. The transmitted signal is modulated within the bandwidth of an operating channel. The bandwidth of the operating channel is much narrower than the system bandwidth. In frequency warbling, the carrier frequency is shifted one or more times during the reception portion of the symbol exchange period. If phase warbling, the transmitted signal is spread within bandwidth of the operating channel during the reception portion of the symbol exchange period.

Abstract: A method of printing a two-dimensional barcode by tilting the print head, which results in tilted barcode, and methods of detecting various types of attempts to forge the tilted barcode including: (i) a low level forgery that consists of a simple scan and reprint of the barcode, (ii) a low level forgery that consists of a reproduction (i.e., a read and regeneration) and subsequent printing of the barcode using a printer with a non-tilted print head by a fraudster that is not aware of the tilt in the original barcode, and (iii) a higher level forgery by a fraudster that is aware of the tilt in the original barcode and that digitally tilts/shears an image of the barcode and prints the digitally tilted/sheared image using a printer with a non-tilted print head in an effort to mimic the tilt present in the legitimate barcode.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and/or methods for providing interactive functionality using a two-dimensional coded array. Some embodiments can include a reader configured to receive coded data from the two-dimensional coded array and a display configured to display an active menu corresponding to data content of the coded data.

Abstract: A method of illuminating objects using adaptively controlled mixing of spectral illumination energy to form and detect digital images of objects at a POS. The method comprises providing, at a POS environment, a digital image capture and processing system having a system housing with an imaging window, and an area-type illumination and imaging station disposed within said system housing, for projecting a coextensive area-type illumination and imaging field (i.e. zone) through said imaging window into a 3D imaging volume during object illumination and imaging operations. As the object is moved through the 3D imaging volume, its motion is automatically detected, and signals indicative of said detected object motion are generated. In response to the generated signals, a first field of visible illumination is produced from an array of visible LEDs, simultaneously with a second field of invisible illumination from a array of infrared (IR) LEDs.

Abstract: A hand-supportable coplanar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based code symbol reader includes: a hand-supportable housing having light transmission aperture; a linear image formation and detection module having a linear image detection array; and a planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) producing a coplanar laser illumination and imaging based device having at least one visible laser diode (VLD) for producing a planar light illumination beam (PLIB). The code symbol reader further includes an image grabber for grabbing digital linear images formed and detected by the image formation and detection module, an image data buffer for buffering the digital linear images grabbed by the image grabber, and an image processing computer for processing the buffered digital linear images so as to read code symbols graphically represented in the digital linear images.

Abstract: A method of illuminating objects using adaptively controlled mixing of spectral illumination energy to form and detect digital images of objects at POS environments with sufficiently high image contrast and quality. The method comprises provides, at a POS environment, a digital image capture and processing system having a system housing with an imaging window, and an area-type illumination and imaging station disposed within said system housing, for projecting a coextensive area-type illumination and imaging field (i.e. zone) through said imaging window into a 3D imaging volume during object illumination and imaging operations. As the object is moved through the 3D imaging volume, its motion is automatically detected, and signals indicative of said detected object motion are generated. In response to the generated signals, a first field of visible illumination is produced from an array of visible LEDs, simultaneously with a second field of invisible illumination from a array of infrared (IR) LEDs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of embedding machine readable information on a substrate, including converting the information to machine readable code format and writing the machine readable code format on the substrate with at least one fluorescent marking material. Also disclosed is a system for embedding and recovering machine readable information on a substrate, including an image forming device containing at least one fluorescent marking material, wherein the image forming device receives data representative of the machine readable information, and forms an image corresponding to the data in a machine readable code format with the at least one fluorescent marking material on an image receiving substrate, and a document reading device including a radiation emitting unit that emits radiation effecting fluorescence of the at least one fluorescent marking material, and a reader that detects the data in the image on the image receiving substrate while the at least one fluorescent marking material is fluorescing.

Abstract: At least two code rows are printed in UV-luminous ink on a surface of the card on which a mark of the card are printed. The codes 44 and 44 correspond to the mark. A space between the two code rows is provided in a direction which across a reading direction of a cord reader. For example, code 44 represents suits (spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs), and code 46 represents ranks (numerals 1 to 10, J, Q, and K).

Abstract: A flat mailable subcard holder is disclosed which, in some embodiments, includes a first planar portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface defines a first portion of a recess, a second planar portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface defines a second portion of a recess, and a hinge area, wherein the hinge area couples the first planar portion to the second planar portion, and wherein the first portion of the recess and the second half of the recess are to form a container sized to hold a subcard when the first planar portion is to be folded onto the second planar portion.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a moisture-absorbing polymer particle, which either comprises PNIPAm crosslinking copolymer or a structure having PNIPAm crosslinking copolymer as a core and polymer with sulfonic acid group as a shell. The present invention also discloses a method for producing the provided moisture-absorbing polymer particle and an application thereof; the application is referred to as a continuous dehumidifying system which comprises a first module to perform a dehumidifying process and a second module to perform a regeneration process, wherein the dehumidifying process is performed at a temperature lower than 33° C. and the regeneration process is performed at a temperature higher than 40° C.

Abstract: An appliance having an input device, a control, a motor, and an analog display is provided. The input device is employed to input a set point temperature. The control is operably coupled to the input device and receives the set point temperature from the input device. The motor is operably coupled to the control and receives instructions from the control based on the set point temperature. The analog display is operably coupled to the motor. The analog display is driven by the motor to temporarily display the set point temperature and then to display a current temperature as the current temperature increases toward the set point temperature.

Abstract: The inventive device for electrostatically projecting a coating product comprises a spray gun provided with voltage increasing means for producing a high direct voltage for a product electrostatic charge, wherein said spray gun is provided with a controllable valve for controlling an atomising air flow inside the spray gun in the direction to a spraying head. A pressure sensor integrated into the spray gun is used for detecting the atomising air pressure (P) representative value downstream of the valve and for delivering a signal (S1) for controlling the power supply of the voltage increasing means. Said invention makes it possible to control the power supply of the voltage increasing means according, in particular, to the signal (S1) received from the sensor.

Abstract: A method of increasing the efficiency of an irrigation system includes measuring an inline pressure of an irrigation system via an inline pressure gauge. The method also includes adjusting the inline pressure of the irrigation system to a value closer to a predefined optimal design pressure of a water outlet of the irrigation system and calculating a desired run time using at least the predefined optimal design pressure.

Abstract: A chocolate fountain comprises a sleeve secured to a basin of the fountain, the sleeve having a central aperture sized to receive a lower portion of a cylinder so that the cylinder is supported by the sleeve. The sleeve may be attached to the basin by any means, such as via bolts that are integrally coupled to the sleeve. In this embodiment, a portion of the bolts extends through apertures in the basin and coupling devices, such as nuts, are attached to the bolts in order to secure the sleeve to the basin. Advantageously, the aperture of the sleeve is large enough to be easily cleaned and the cylinder does not comprise tubes welded on the side of the cylinder as in currently available chocolate fountains.

Abstract: A droplet generation apparatus is applied to a nebulizer. The droplet generation apparatus comprises a vibratable member, a nozzle disc, a housing and a connection member or a fastening plate or both the connection member and the fastening plate. The vibratable member has a first through hole. The nozzle disc has a plurality of apertures facing the first through hole, and is combined with the vibratable member. The connection member is disposed between the vibratable member and the nozzle disc, and has a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole. Alternatively, the fastening plate is combined with the nozzle disc. The housing covers up the combination of the vibratable member, the nozzle disc and the connection member or the fastening plate. Vibration efficiency generated by the vibratable member is improved through the connection member. An accommodation space is formed by the fastening plate and the nozzle disc.

Abstract: A shower header type spray device is provided. The spray device includes an elongated spray header having a plurality of laterally spaced liquid spray nozzles each of which is mounted in a corresponding pocket in the spray header. An elongated cleaning brush assembly includes a rotatable brush housed in the spray header for cleaning inlet apertures of the spray nozzles. At least one spray nozzle has a dome portion with a discharge orifice and a substantially flat mounting flange portion extending around the periphery of the dome portion. The mounting flange portion of the at least one spray nozzle has a notch adapted to receive a removal tool for enabling prying and dislodgment of the at least one spray nozzle from its respective pocket in the spray header.

Abstract: An antiperspirant system which includes a water-based antiperspirant which feels comfortable on the skin and a capillary aerosol dispenser is disclosed. The antiperspirant system includes: a pressurized container (51) in which a water-based antiperspirant composition with one or more astringent active salts and a propellant are present, a valved outlet (41) on the surface of the container through which antiperspirant is ejected into an inlet port (111) of a capillary tube (11), a capillary tube (11) with one inlet port (111) and one exit port through which antiperspirant is dispensed from the system, and a coupling means (12) to closely couple the inlet port of the capillary tube (11) to the valved outlet (41) of the pressurized container (51). The void volume between the inlet port and the valved outlet is minimized, such that upon use of the antiperspirant system, the valved outlet, the capillary tube, and the void volume do not become obstructed by solid deposits of the astringent active salt.

Abstract: An adjustable rotation shower tap of present invention comprising: a tube with a pivot portion at one end. There is a guide tube that can be rotated by water pressure pivots inside the pivot portion. A rotation shower tap with plurality spout holes thereon mounts on the guide tube. A adjust member pivots on the pivot portion with a rub portion on the bottom side to against the rotation shower tap and provides friction to adjust the rotation speed. There is a limit portion on the adjust member. A resister that mounts on the pivot portion has a stopper thereon. The stopper locates in the limit portion of the adjust member to limit the rotate angle of the adjust member.

Abstract: A functional plumbing unit embodied as an insertion cartridge (2) is provided that is to be inserted into a liquid conduit (3) of a discharging plumbing fixture (4) which includes a housing (5), a jet regulator, and an attachment screen (9) located at the inlet end. The housing (5) is formed in one piece with a perforated plate located at the discharge end as part of the jet regulator, and has an external thread (10) on an outer surface thereof, with the external thread being screwable into an internal thread (13) of the dischargint fixture (4). A ring seal (12) is located adjacent to the external thread (10) at the discharge end. The length of the housing (5) is dimensioned essentially for accommodating the external thread (10) and the adjacent ring seal (12).

Abstract: A shrouded attrition nozzle for use in fluidized bed jet attrition. The nozzle comprises a shroud surrounding the nozzle and extending upwardly from the nozzle tip. The shroud is sized so as not to interfere with the periphery of the jet emitted from the nozzle and may be cylindrical or inverted frustoconical in shape. When a desired spacing is achieved between the periphery of the jet and the shroud, fluidizable material enters the interior of the shroud from the open end, moving countercurrently towards the nozzle tip. A disengagement of fluidization gas from fluidizable material occurs and an increased entrainment of solids in the jet leads to improvements in grinding efficiency. The result is a reduction in jet flowrate and fluidization gas wastage, which reduces overall energy requirements for attrition. A method of causing attrition of a fluidizable material using the shrouded nozzle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A shredder having a safety feature(s) that reduces potential safety hazards by detecting the touch of a portion of a person's body.

Abstract: A shredder having a safety feature(s) that reduces potential safety hazards by detecting the touch of a portion of a person's body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food processor and a cover thereof. The food processor cover comprises a feed tube which extends upwardly from an upper cover surface, a safety rod assembly, a locking device, and a feed tube lid assembly pivotally mounted on said feed tube; said feed tube lid assembly includes a safety food entrance. By enlarging the size of feed tubes and food entrances, larger sized food is able to go through in larger quantities.

Abstract: A manually drivable food cutter, it includes a cap with a axle journal, a blade shaft with one or more blade on it, a vessel connected to the blade shaft and a cap connecting the cap and the vessel, characterized in that the apparatus also include a gear shaft set above the base, and there is a gear part which can transmit the rotation of the cap to the blade shaft on the base, the gear part includes one or more gears. The advantages of the apparatus are that it can be conveniently operated and the units do not fall apart easily.

Abstract: In a number of embodiments, a cord reel can include: (a) an electrical cable; (b) a casing with a first exterior surface; (c) one or more electrical receptacles at the first exterior surface and electrically coupled to the electrical cable; and (d) a frame. The frame can include: (a) at least one wheel; and (b) a body coupled to the at least one wheel and the casing. In these embodiments, the casing is configured such that at least a portion of the electrical cable can be wound around a first portion of the casing. The electrical cable is configured to provide electrical power to the one or more electrical receptacles. The body can include: (a) a shaft portion with an end; and (b) a handle coupled to the end of the shaft portion. A length of the shaft portion can be adjusted between two or more lengths. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.

Abstract: An angle assembly of an outlet for reeling out a line of a unidirectional reel is disclosed, in which the tongue of a positioning tongue cover is movably set in the annular track of a guiding rail in operation with a sliding roller on one side of a cap to change the angles of pulling a line. While users draw out the transmission lines, the users can adjust the length of transmission lines reeled in or out and vary the angle of transmission lines being turned, thereby preventing the transmission lines from snap, deformation and friction caused by improperly pulling and dragging, so as to store the transmission lines with ease.

Abstract: A mechanism for snowboard support while riding a chair lift is provided. The support mechanism includes a flexible retractable cable within a housing having a recoil mechanism. The housing is advantageously mounted to the snowboard or the snowboard binding mechanism. The recoil assembly has two main elements, a housing member which stores a retractable cable and a spring assembly that retracts the flexible cable advantageously into the housing member. The recoil assembly allows for adjustment of an elongation length of the retractable flexible cable.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for reducing the tension on an elastomeric feed strip. The method includes providing a device for engagement with the feed strip, pushing the feed strip forward by the device when the feed strip stops or when the tension exceeds a certain value, and then pushing the strip in the direction of travel.

Abstract: An improved rereeling machine (10) for rereeling and forming a roll of paper comprising three rollers (16, 17, 18) with axes parallel to one another and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the paper (11), wherein two upper and lower winding rollers (16, 17) collaborate with a third roller (18), connected by a pair of arms (22) that are able to oscillate, suitable for keeping a certain pressure on a roll, or log, to form a finished roll (19), which comes out from said machine (10) through an outlet port (30) defined between said lower winding rollers (17) and said third roller (18), through winding of said paper (11), which passes onto said upper winding roller (16), about a core (12), said machine (10) also comprising a conveyor with thrusters (15) upstream of said three rollers (16, 17, 18) for the introduction of said cores (12) one after the other into a channel (24) formed below said upper roller (16), a rotary thruster (35) suitable for making said cores (12) proceed in said channel (24), a glu

Abstract: A portable holder containing one or more single-use size roll or rolls of tightly wound auxiliary or emergency toilet tissue. The holder is easily and adaptably attachable to other objects or devices. The holder protects the roll or rolls from ordinary damaging forces such as wear, dirt and moisture. The size of the holder and/or the design of the holder make it concealable and/or discreet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an uncoiler apparatus capable of minimizing a waste amount of the total amount of coil, by reducing the damage to the surface of the coil caused by line contact between the coil and a drum when the drum expands to clamp the coil.

Abstract: A hold down device positioned on the projectile to exert a known spring force in opposition to the centrifugal force provides an inexpensive, light weight and reliable delayed fin deployment mechanism for boosted fin-stabilized spinning projectiles. When the forcing moment produced by the centrifugal force acting on the fin exceeds the opposing moment produced by the hold down device, the hold down device will release the fin allowing it to swing into its deployed position. Thus, proper selection of the spring force and positioning of the hold down device will cause the fins to deploy at a predetermined spin rate. The spin rate can be correlated to a time or travel distance of the projectile from launch. The incorporation of the hold down devices requires minimal design changes to existing rockets and may, in some cases, be retrofit to the existing base of rockets if desired.

Abstract: A launch system is provided in which an unmanned aerial vehicle is secured to a platform in a watertight tube adapted to be launched from a submerged platform. Once launched, side panels on the tube are jettisoned and a flotation device is deployed to bring the tube to the surface. The flotation device maintains the tube in a vertical position when rising to and at the surface. After surfacing, a top-sealing cap of the tube is opened. A lifting mechanism within the tube raises the vertically oriented platform assembly up within the tube. Guide rails maintain the vertical orientation of the assembly during lifting. At the topmost point of travel, the assembly is raised clear of the tube and is disengaged from the guide rails, allowing the assembly to pivot about its attachment to the lifting mechanism and assume an orientation favorable for launching the UAV.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock absorber for an aircraft undercarriage, the shock absorber comprising a main cylinder in which a rod is mounted to slide telescopically, the shock absorber having one or more pneumatic chambers filled with gas, a supply of hydraulic fluid, and throttle means for throttling the hydraulic fluid such that when the shock absorber is shortened, the gas in the pneumatic chamber(s) is compressed and the hydraulic fluid is throttled, in which the pneumatic chamber(s) is/are fully contained in one or more auxiliary cylinders external to the main cylinder, and in each of which a sealed piston is slidably mounted to separate a pneumatic chamber contained in said external auxiliary cylinder from a fluid chamber in fluid flow communication with the main cylinder. According to the invention, the throttle means are disposed at the inlet of a fluid flow connection between the main cylinder and the auxiliary cylinder(s).

Abstract: The invention provides a telescopic member comprising a cylinder in which a rod carrying a piston is mounted to slide telescopically, the telescopic member including internal abutment means that are overridable over a predetermined force when the rod comes into abutment inside the cylinder in the shortening direction, wherein the internal abutment means comprise an abutment piece extending in an open bore within the rod and projecting therefrom, the abutment piece being held to the rod via a pin.

Abstract: A composite panel structure for an aircraft includes a plurality of annular, hat-shaped frames disposed coaxially along a long axis of the aircraft in a spaced, parallel relationship, an inner skin having an inner surface bonded to an outer surface of the hat frames, a plurality of elongated, hat-shaped stringers disposed in a longitudinal direction along an outer surface of the inner skin in a spaced, parallel relationship, a solid or rigid foam offset bonded to an outer surface of each of the stringers, and an outer skin having an inner surface bonded to an upper surface of each of the offsets. The inner skin carries the loads of the structure and the outer skin defines an aerodynamic surface of the aircraft and provides impact and lighting protection. The frames, inner skin and stringers are formed on a single forming tool and cured and bonded with each other simultaneously.

Abstract: A latch device for detecting pressure reduction of a cockpit in an aircraft and releasing a bolt and a stopper device are provided so as to prevent a cockpit door from unexpectedly opening by an impact. A main latch device 100 of the cockpit door has a frame 112 fixed to a door panel, and a latch base 120 is mounted to the frame 112 capable of pivotal rotation with a pin 122 as a fulcrum. A bolt 132 is inserted into a catch in conjunction with a door handle 130. A holding/releasing portion 150 holds the latch base 120. When a pressure difference occurs between a cockpit 4 and a cabin 5, a pressure-sensing piston 160 is pushed in, a trigger 170 and a flapper 180 are rotated and the latch base 120 is released. A stopper device 190 regulates movement of the trigger 170 by movement of an inertial piston 192 when an impact force is applied from the cabin 5 side.

Abstract: Structures and methods for joining composite fuselage sections and other panel assemblies together are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a shell structure configured in accordance with the present invention includes a first panel portion positioned adjacent to a second panel portion. The first panel portion can include a first stiffener attached to a first composite skin, and the second panel portion can include a second stiffener attached to a second composite skin. The shell structure can further include a fitting extending across a first edge region of the first panel portion and a second edge region of the second panel portion. A first end portion of the fitting can be attached to the first stiffener and the first composite skin, and a second end portion of the fitting can be attached to a second stiffener and a second composite skin, to join the first panel portion to the second panel portion.

Abstract: A coating composition and a method for coating metallic substrates, such as aircraft components exposed to elevated temperatures and/or oxidative conditions. The coating composition includes an aqueous mixture having about 2 vol % to about 50 vol % organosilane, about 0.3 to about 25 vol % metal alkoxide, and about 0. 1 to about 30 vol % organic complexing agent. The coating composition may be deposited on a metallic substrate and cured to form a sol-gel coating on the surface of the substrate that is adherent to the substrate, and oxidation and discoloration resistant.