Abstract: The invention relates to the field of high temperature composites made by the chemical vapor infiltration and deposition of a binding matrix within a porous structure. More particularly, the invention relates to pressure gradient processes for forcing infiltration of a reactant gas into a porous structure, apparatus for carrying out those processes, and the resulting products. The invention is particularly suited for the simultaneous CVI/CVD processing of large quantities (hundreds) of aircraft brake disks.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a damped brake rod for use in an aircraft landing gear, the landing gear comprising a strut and a wheel and brake assembly carried on the strut. The brake rod connects the wheel and brake assembly to the strut and bears an axial load during braking. The brake rod is laterally damped to dissipate lateral vibrations imparted to the brake rod during braking.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the rate of deceleration of a moving body. The apparatus has a cable or net for engaging a moving body and tape connected to the cable or net. The tape is wound onto a reel at the start of a deceleration and is unwindable from the reel during the deceleration so that unwinding the tape from the reel causes a corresponding rotation of the reel. A pump is operatively connected to the reel so that rotation of the reel causes pumping of a hydraulic fluid at a rate which increases as the rate of rotation of the reel increases. A control valve disposed across the discharge of the pump varies pressure drop across the control valve. A brake is provided for applying a braking force to the reel, and an actuator is provided for varying the braking force applied by the braking means in response to the pressure drop.

Abstract: A restraining device for controlling the movement of a loaded strop 3 comprises a power-driven reel for the strop and an associated pair of toggle-controlled clamping jaws 14, 15 pivoted at 16 and 17 respectively. The jaws are cross-connected by a link 18 and are loaded into the operative position to grip the strop 3 by a spring 25. The controlling toggle comprises links 28 and 30 pivoted together at 31, the link 28 being pivoted to the jaw 15 at 29 and the link 30 being pivoted to a fixed point 32. The link 30 carries a pivoted hand-lever 35 for releasing the toggle and formed with a hook portion 42 which engages with a corresponding hook portion 44 on the link 28 to lock the toggle in the released position to free the strop. The lever 35 can be released either manually or automatically by the piston 37 of a pneumatic cylinder 38. When the lever is released, the toggle moves to the braced position where it assists the action of the spring 25 in holding the jaws together to grip the strop.

Abstract: The invention relates to aircraft and more particularly an air-cushion landing gear comprising a system of landing gear units suspended from an aircraft, with at least two of the units being spaced transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, and one of them being arranged on the axis ahead of the aircraft center of gravity; each landing gear unit comprises a platform with an annular inflatable cell attached to its underside and used, when inflated, as a flexible curtain circumscribing an air cushion space under the platform, the inflation of each cell and the formation of the air cushion is accomplished by an independent injecting device built in the platform; the spaced-apart cells are provided with an operating device for decelerating and controlling the movement of the aircraft on the runway surface; such a design of the air-cushion landing gear makes it possible to easily and rapidly adapt modern planes and helicopters to such a landing gear with the take-off, landing and taxiing t