Hydraulic actuator mechanism to control aircraft spoiler movements through dual input commands

An aircraft flight spoiler control mechanism is described. The invention enables the conventional, primary spoiler control system to retain its operational characteristics while accommodating a secondary input controlled by a conventional computer system to supplement the settings made by the primary input. This is achieved by interposing springs between the primary input and the spoiler control unit. The springs are selected to have a stiffness intermediate to the greater force applied by the primary control linkage and the lesser resistance offered by the spoiler control unit. Thus, operation of the primary input causes the control unit to yield before the springs, yet, operation of the secondary input, acting directly on the control unit, causes the springs to yield and absorb adjustments before they are transmitted into the primary control system

Ejectable underwater sound source recovery assembly

An underwater sound source is described that may be ejectably mounted on any mobile device that travels over water, to facilitate in the location and recovery of the device when submerged. A length of flexible line maintains a connection between the mobile device and the sound source. During recovery, the sound source is located be particularly useful in the recovery of spent rocket motors that bury in the ocean floor upon impact

Continuous self-locking spiral wound seal

A spiral wound seal for effecting a seal between two surfaces is described. The seal consists of a strip of gasket material wound into a groove machined into one of the surfaces. The gasket strip is wider than the groove is deep so that a portion of the gasket material protrudes from the groove. The seal is effected by clamping the second surface onto the first surface and compressing the protruding gasket material

Building Student Confidence and Performance Through Emphasis on Academic Language

The purpose of this action research study was to observe the effects of vocabulary learning tools and reflective journaling on student confidence. Participants were from three classes of 15-20 students who attend math class for 45-90 minutes each weekday in a suburban high school setting. They were assigned Frayer Model vocabulary learning tables, as well as three journal prompts a week regarding either mathematics content or personal thoughts on classroom activities. These were completed across two units in the course. Several classroom benefits were observed over the course of the study, including but not limited to higher student confidence and increased participation in mathematical discourse

Development of a Model for Repurposing: A Case Study of TRAID

The popularity of fast fashion companies has led to an overconsumption of fashion products, causing consumers to dispose of clothing while it is still functional. Much of this unwanted clothing ends up in landfills. The UK is known to be ahead of the curve regarding environmental matters when compared to the US. This includes textile recycling. The purpose of this study was to conduct a case study of a UK textile recycling organization to better understand the process in the UK. The charitable organization, TRAID was selected for this study because of the inclusivity of their textile recycling model. TRAID uses profits from its recycling efforts to fund projects that support positive changes in the apparel industry. It is a sustainable approach to the problem of textile waste including disposal, production and consumption. Eight in-depth interviews were conducted with TRAID\u27s executive management team and observations were conducted at the TRAID stores

Age of an Information Revolution: The Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Industry and the Need for a Holistic Regulatory Approach

In order to safeguard consumers and ensure the continued progress of a fledgling industry, determining how to interpret results and communicate them with consumers poses one of the most challenging and important tasks. In discussing the challenges the law faces in this area, this Comment will discuss: (1) consumer interfacing issues, such as in advertising and results analysis, faced by the genetic testing industry; (2) the methods DTC companies use in arriving at results and corresponding problems; (3) who may interpret and communicate results; (4) how the DTC genetic testing industry\u27s activities relate to the claims made regarding test results; and (5) who should bear the burden of responsibility. Finally, this Comment recommends a holistic approach that would take into account regulatory, legislative, self-regulatory, and educational methods to making the DTC genetic testing industry safer, more reliable, and poised to incorporate future advances in knowledge and technology

Forever Green

This design is part of an 8-piece collection. The challenge of this collection was to combine the aspects of nature and technology, while also mixing different prints to create aesthetically-pleasing designs. Physical samples of flora and fauna were collected and microscopic images were taken. The images were then edited minimally in Photoshop and used to create digital textile prints. In some cases the images were repeated across the fabric, and in others the print was engineered to be the size needed for the pattern piece. The images for this design were taken from the leaves and bark of the aspen tree and the needles of both the blue spruce and lodgepole pine trees. The concept of biomimicry inspired the shapes and silhouette of this design. The silhouette of the dress was inspired by the triangular shape of the spruce and pine trees and the layers on the skirt represent the layers of needles of these trees

Investigation and Demonstration of a Rich Combustor Cold Start Device for Alcohol Fueled Engines

Alcohols (methanol and ethanol) have been identified as having the potential to improve air quality when used to replace conventional gasoline. This potential is primarily due to the different organic species that are emitted by alcohol-fueled engines. The use of near neat alcohols gives greater benefits than fuels containing lower levels of alcohol, but neat alcohols present a significant cold starting problem. The primary objective of this study was to develop a rich combustor device which will extend the cold start range of alcohol fueled engines to -30°C while reducing cold start emissions. In support of this objective a software model was developed which includes the thermodynamic operation of the device as part of a vehicle, considering engine parameters, vehicle parameters, and driving cycle requirements. The analytical portion of this project consists of developing the software model. To understand the design and operating variables of the combustor, the model simulates operation of the combustor. The model predicts the output composition using the shifting equilibrium approach. The model includes engine and vehicle parameter inputs which will allow the simulation of a driving cycle. Chemical kinetics are not considered. The experimental portion of this project includes design, fabrication, and testing of the rich combustor device(s). The combustor design and installation takes into consideration all the criteria for proper vehicle operation such as requirements for actuating, shutdown, and phase-out of the device at different operating conditions. Because of the availability of cold temperature testing capabilities, including an engine dynamometer, and an engine identical to the engine in the test vehicle, the task of vehicle integration could logically be combined, to a great extent, with the testing and development of the prototype. We used the dynamometer driving the engine as a pump to test the combustor while the issues of fit, interfaces, and control were concurrently addressed. With this capability, a parallel approach allowed many of the problems associated with vehicle integration to be addressed early in the development of the combustor. The development of the rich combustor was primarily targeted toward methanol; however, the device functions equally well using ethanol

On the Irreducibility of the Cauchy-Mirimanoff Polynomials

The Cauchy-Mirimanoff Polynomials are a class of polynomials that naturally arise in various classical studies of Fermat\u27s Last Theorem. Originally conjectured to be irreducible over 100 years ago, the irreducibility of the Cauchy-Mirimanoff polynomials is still an open conjecture. This dissertation takes a new approach to the study of the Cauchy-Mirimanoff Polynomials. The reciprocal transform of a self-reciprocal polynomial is defined, and the reciprocal transforms of the Cauchy-Mirimanoff Polynomials are found and studied. Particular attention is given to the Cauchy-Mirimanoff Polynomials with index three times a power of a prime, and it is shown that the Cauchy-Mirimanoff Polynomials of index three times a prime are irreducible