A clutch for an interior latch handle of a plug-type airplane door is described which decouples the handle from the latch-operating linkage so the handle will not be backdriven into the passenger space when the exterior latch handle is operated to open the door from outside the airplane. The clutch includes a probe mounted on the base of a handle mechanism assembly in line with the handle, and a pawl pivotally mounted in the handle and disposed to engage a lug splined to the handle shaft and tor…

This is a user supported portable sail used to provide wind powered momentum for an individual on a moveable base. The invention involves the use of a balanced aerodynamic sail with the airfoil planes constructed in a way that allows the device to be used in more than one attitude. The invention also includes the use of clear panels for visibility, and the use of collapsable sections to render the device to a small portable and storable size. The support structure is provided with the means to a…

A brake apparatus includes a plurality of brake plates mounted to lower end portions of gear shaft members to permit displacement and rotation of the brake plates from a first position orthogonally oriented relative to a stern plate of a sailboat to a second position in parallel relationship to the stern plate of the sailboat. A housing mounted to an interior surface of the sailboat adjacent an interior surface of the stern plate is arranged to house a control lever therewithin forwardly of a ru…

A unit for cushioning and at least partially absorbing shock motions for use with marine or water equipment whereby wave and water motion is absorbed to eliminate shock wave effects. The unit includes a tension spring device extensible upon movement of the marine device for which cushioning is desired with the extension being to a limited amount and thereafter provide tight line or direct connection for uses such as retrieving an anchor or pulling in a moored boat. The unit is useable in anchori…

A window clip for attaching window panes to aircraft supporting structures comprises a clip body which has an outwardly bent flange at the bottom which applies pressure to the inner pane of an aircraft window and an inwardly bent u-shaped platform at the top. A hole is located in the platform portion for receiving a fastener to attach the clip to an underlying support. A spacer is optionally located on the fastener.

Multiple subsidiary small payloads are connected to standard mechanical and electrical interfaces provided by an expendable or recoverable modular mother satellite bus (MMSB) and launched into space as an assembly acting as a common carrier providing low unit launch costs for the attached subsidiary payloads and also providing a variety of electrical, pointing, and thermal control services for these payloads after reaching orbit. These services include but are not necessarily limited to controll…

In a helm, throttle and directional control system for small craft, a safety device arranged to operate between an actuating member and an actuated member has such members coupled rotatively together by means of mechanical one-way coupling means wherein a resilient force holds the actuated member constantly biased to a locked position, and wherein the locking action is released by moving the actuating member against the resilient force, whereby motion can be transferred to the actuated member fr…

A solar cell voltage regulating arrangement which is particularly advantageous for use in spacecraft includes a light valve such as a liquid crystal cell disposed before the solar cell, to thereby controllably vary the light transmission to the solar cell. A control arrangement varies the transmission of the liquid crystal to control the output voltage.

During operation of an integrated fire and flight control (IFFC) system in a coupled aiming mode, the occurrence of a weapon (172), weapon mount (145) or sensor (146) reaching a constraint limit (210) indices a fade-in of a constraint limiting axis command signal (140) for a respective attitude axis as the aircraft attitude reference, replacing the flight control system attitude feedback error signal (111) for the respective attitude axis. The constraint limiting axis command signals provide the…

An aircraft maintenance robot (20) for maintaining aircraft surfaces is described that includes a maintenance tool (228), for example a nozzle (78), conduits and a pump, which supply fluid to the maintenance tool, which sprays the fluid on aircraft surfaces; movable arm with rotatable hinges and wrists such that a manifold to which the maintenance tools are coupled may be positioned in response to control signals; and a processor which, after accounting for the position of the aircraft, the weat…