The Boeing Company

Other

Tech Team LLC

John W Williams

Eugene A Williams

Bruno A Joner

Bruno Joner

John Bradford Connell

A sanding tool for out-of reach rounded corner dry-wall construction and comprised of a depressible pad having a coextensive angular cross section with an abrasive concavely rounded center section and preferably non-abrasive oppositely projecting obtusely related planar side sections to overlie oppositely projecting planar dry-wall surfaces, and a manipulatable adapter to be carried by an extension pole and coupled thereto by frictionally controlled swivel means for adjustably restrained reciprocal and rocking motion and releasable attachment of the sanding tool pad to said adapter.

Dry-wall corner sander

A machine translates torque applied to the input shaft at an input speed (RPM), first into kinetic energy, and finally to torque on an output shaft. The input power is first converted to kinetic energy by accelerating a mass or masses, so that the reaction force to this acceleration is an oscillating bi-directional torque or force. This torque or force is then converted to a unidirectional torque applied to an output shaft. This arrangement provides a continually variable automatic transmission, or torque converter in which output shaft speed is proportional to the input shaft speed and inversely proportional to the load applied, and in which transmitted torque corresponds to the input shaft speed.

Power transmission utilizing conversion of inertial forces

A missile launcher assembly for launching a missile from an airborne, shipborne, or ground-installed platform has a carriage mounted for limited forward and rearward movement on a track provided on the platform. The carriage supports the missile in fixed relation to the carriage by hooks having an inclined surface that engage mating surfaces within the missile body and a pivotally mounted restraint pawl that engages a surface within the missile body so as to keep the missile from sliding off the hooks. A camming surface engageable with a pawl-restraining rocker link is located on the platform so that when the missile and carriage are moved forward upon ignition of the missile motor, the front end of the link is cammed downward, forcing its rear end upward and releasing the pawl. The pawl, upon being released, rotates upward out of the missible body, allowing the missible to slide off the hook. The assembly avoids the use of appendages projecting from the missile and of mechanisms for retracting of such appendages, reducing the drag of the free-flying missile and the complexity and weight of retracting mechanisms.

Missile launcher assembly

A self-retracting bomb suspension lug assembly for being releasably supported by a hook or the like of an airplane bomb rack. The lug is mounted within a housing for axial movement and has an outer surface conforming to the shape of the bomb so as to eliminate aerodynamic drag when the bomb is released. Springs, such as a stack of Belleville springs, are disposed for biasing the lug inward when the bomb is released and the weight of the bomb no longer bears on the lug. Finger springs and pawls engagable with a groove in the bottom surface of the lug are provided to maintain the lug in partially extended loading position wherein the top of the lug is accessible for being grasped. To cock the lug, it is moved slightly inward against the force of the lug biasing spring, and the finger springs are forced radially inward to engage the groove. Upon grasping of the top of the lug, the weight of the bomb forces it to become fully extended, releasing the pawls from the grooves and clearing a downward path for full retraction of the lug when the weight of the bomb is released.

Self-retracting, drag-free lug for bombs

A surface minelaying system that can be built up of ganged modules and rapidly mounted on any ship whose displacement permits it to carry mines in some quantity. This minelaying system is a modularized overhead conveyor system that can securely store heavy mines and safely release them overboard at short, predetermined intervals, even in high sea states. The system comprises a frame member, with first and second ends, that defines the longitudinal axis of the minelaying system. The frame member is preferably made up of a rail track braced by periodically spaced vertical and transverse connecting members. Mounting supports are provided for mounting the frame member to the ship. A drive roller and an idler roller are disposed in the first and second ends of the frame member; and an endless drive member is looped about the rollers. A drive means is operatively coupled to the drive roller. A plurality of carrier assemblies with grasping members for selectively grasping a mine are engaged at spaced locations to the endless drive member. The carrier assemblies have wheels that roll and are retained within the rail track. Mines are loaded and stored on the system and, when moved outboard the hull, released into the water. Alternative mechanisms are provided for releasing each mine at a predetermined point as the mine is translated beneath the frame member. In one embodiment, the mines are automatically disengaged from the carriers. The empty carrier assemblies are then moved by the endless drive member through a vertical turnaround in a looped rail system for an inverted overhead return to a loading site near the opposite end of the frame member. In another embodiment each mine is attached to an expendable carrier that is deployed along with the released mine.

Surface minelaying system for craft of opportunity

A hydrofoil flap control rod system for communicating forces between an actuator and a hydrofoil flap. Guide (40), having a rectangular conduit defined by its guide surfaces (66, 72, 74 and 88), accommodates a rectangular-shaped control rod (36) upon which wear pads (42) are mounted. Simple planar machining requirements of the guide and control rod reduce the time and cost of construction of the system. One element (76) of the guide (40) is readily detached to allow lateral removal of the control rod (36) for maintenance and repair, negating the need for substantial axial clearance for rod removal.

Hydrofoil flap control rod system

Disclosed is a marine transfer device (10) having a ramp (18) which is connected at its inboard end to a stationary offshore platform (14) by a mount assembly (28) that allows the ramp to pivot about horizontal and vertical axes and restrains torsional ramp movement. The outboard end of the ramp (18) includes a landing pad (22) and support frame (26) which support the outboard end of the ramp on a ship's deck or similar surface when the transfer device is lowered into position by a crane or service derrick. A movable carriage assembly (20), which is located between the support frame (26) and the outboard end of the ramp (18), extends and retracts as the movement of the ship causes the support frame (26) to move away from and toward the ramp. Stairs (24) extend from the support frame to the ship's deck. The carriage assembly (20) provides a continuous, stable surface for the passage of personnel from the stairs to the ramp. A ball and socket joint (114 ), which connects the landing pad 22 to the support frame (26) eliminates the transfer of rolling and pitching motions from the deck to the carriage assembly (20) and ramp (18).

Marine transfer device

Disclosed is apparatus for sealing the surface spaces between and along the leading portion of a hydrofoil (16) and its movable flap (18). The apparatus includes an upper seal member (44) and a lower seal member (46) that are joined together by a spring-biased retention assembly (53). The seal members (44, 46) are joined at one edge (51) to the trailing edge of the leading portion of a hydrofoil. The trailing edges (45) of the seal members are maintained in continuous slidable contact with the leading edge (37) of the hydrofoil flap (18).

Hydrofoil seal

A hydrofoil craft strut (365) steerable when the craft (5) is foil-borne and retractable when the strut (365) is not in use. In a preferred embodiment, the strut (365) is provided with a spherical bearing (185) disposed at the intersection of a steering axis (S--S) and a retraction axis (R--R). The bearing (185) allows a steering assembly (200) to steer the strut (365) about the steering axis (S--S). A downlock assembly (390) constrains the strut (365) in a vertical portion during the strut steering mode and releases the strut (365) during the retraction mode. During the retraction mode, a retraction assembly (385) rotates the strut (365) about the retraction axis (R--R) from its vertical position to a position within a recess (40) within the craft (5) in which it is fixed by an uplock assembly (715).

Strut steering and retracting apparatus

A continuous flap hinge and sealing device for hingedly connecting a control flap (45) to the trailing edge (46) of a flexible fluid foil (41) comprising a span-wise hinge block (52) having a continuous comb-like hinge member interconnected with a comparable comb-like hinge member (50) integral with the foil trailing edge (46) and defining alternating interdigitated hinge elements (51, 54) secured together by a span-wise continuous hinge pin (55) and wherein such continuous hinge block (52) is received within a continuous span-wise leading edge slot (56) formed in the flap leading edge (48) with the flap leading edge being fixedly secured to the hinge block (52) at two span-wise spaced inboard and outboard points ('X', 'Y') defining 'hard' pivotal connections wherein relative movement between the hinge block (52) and flap (45) is retrained; yet, wherein fore and aft relative sliding movement of the hinge block (52) within the flap leading edge slot (56) is permitted at all span-wise points intermediate the two 'hard' points ('X', 'Y') of pivotal connection, as well as inboard and outboard thereof. Further, the hinge elements (50, 52, 55), although rigidly secured to the flap (45) at only two spaced span-wise points ('X', 'Y'), nevertheless extend continuously through the span-wise length of the hinged connection; and, together with the flap leading edge (48), define a continuous span-wise labyrinth seal which effectively precludes bleeding of boundary layer fluid.

Continuous single flap hinge and seal device for flexible hydrofoils and

A set of plates, one rigidly mounted to the strut and the others to the craft structure. The plates are held together and are interconnected to one another by several sets of dowel pins which are sequenced to shear when an impact load at the foil rotates the strut. Thereafter, a pair of additional energy absorber devices, positioned to the left and right of the strut mounted plate, will likewise absorb energy until a rigid stop is obtained. Finally, a tang portion on the strut mounted plate will be sheared by the rigid stop at a load below which the strut will obtain damage.

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

John W Williams