Author: claimsbot

1. A low energy wood screw comprising:
a countersunk head having a recess for accommodating a driving tool;
a shank extending from the head to a gimlet point tip, the shank having a tapered neck, main threads, lower threads, and a point;
a plurality of crown ribs extending outwardly from said head and neck;
wherein the main threads have a lead of from about 1.6 to about 2.0 times the lead of a standard screw thread;
wherein the main threads are arranged between the neck and the lower threads, and wherein the main threads have a thread form including an outer tip having a substantially linear profile and a rounded root having a concave profile; and
wherein the lower threads are arranged between the main threads and the point tip, and wherein the lower threads have an asymmetrical thread form profile.
2. The screw of claim 1, further comprising an unthreaded body portion arranged between the main threads and the neck.
3. The screw of claim 1, wherein the body diameter is greater than the main thread minor diameter.
4. The screw of claim 1, wherein the lower threads have a leading flank angle greater than its following flank angle.
5. The screw of claim 1, wherein the lower threads are thread-forming threads.
6. The screw of claim 1, wherein the main threads and the lower threads are right-handed.
7. The screw of claim 1, wherein the head taper angle is steeper than the taper of the neck.
8. The screw of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of ribs has a linear tapered profile.
9. The screw of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of ribs includes an outer edge extending from the head diameter to the lower extent of the neck and includes two flank surfaces extending from the edge to the head and neck.
10. The screw of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs consists of from six to ten ribs.
11. The screw of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs consists of eight ribs.
12. The screw of claim 1, wherein the concave profile of the main thread root form is an arc of a circle.
13. The screw of claim 1, wherein the main threads and the lower threads meet to make a continuous thread start.
14. The screw of claim 1, wherein the main thread linear tip height is about 32% to about 52% of the main thread height.
15. The screw of claim 1, wherein the main thread linear tip height is about 42% of the main thread height.
16. The screw of claim 1, wherein the lower thread extends towards the head farther than the point.
17. The screw of claim 1, wherein the intersection point of the rounded root with the minor diameter shank surface is located at a distance from a central axis of the main thread that is about 90 percent to about 110 percent of a height of the main thread.
18. The screw of claim 1, wherein the main thread tip has a thread angle of from about 20 to about 40 degrees.
19. The screw of claim 1, wherein the main thread tip has a thread angle of about 30 degrees.
20. The screw of claim 1, wherein crests of the threads of the lower threads are arranged on a convex curve of the asymmetrical profile.
21. The screw of claim 1, wherein the screw includes a lubricating coating.
22. The screw of claim 21, wherein the coating is a water soluble wax.
23. A wood screw comprising:
a head including a recess for accommodating a driving tool; and
a shank coupled to the head and having a threaded section,
wherein the screw is metric size 5\xd750 and the energy required to insert the screw into a Beech wood work-piece is less than about 90 pound-inch-second.
24. A screw as in claim 23, wherein the energy required to insert the screw into a Beech wood work-piece is less than about 80 pound-inch-second.
25. A screw as in claim 23, wherein the energy required to insert the screw into a Beech wood work-piece is less than about 70 pound-inch-second.
26. A screw as in claim 23, wherein the energy required to insert the screw into a Beech wood work-piece is less than about 60 pound-inch-second.
27. A screw as in claim 23, wherein the energy required to insert the screw into a Beech wood work-piece is about 53 pound-inch-second.
28. A wood screw comprising:
a head including a recess for accommodating a driving tool; and
a shank coupled to the head and having a threaded section,
wherein the energy required to insert the screw into a Beech wood work-piece is less than about 90 percent of the energy required to insert a European standard screw into the work-piece.
29. A screw as in claim 28, wherein the energy required to insert the screw into the work-piece is less than about 80 percent of the energy required to insert a European standard screw into the work-piece.
30. A screw as in claim 28, wherein the energy required to insert the screw into the work-piece is about 70 percent of the energy required to insert a European standard screw into the work-piece.
31. A screw as in claim 28, wherein the energy required to insert the screw into the work-piece is less than about 60 percent of the energy required to insert a European standard screw into the work-piece.
32. A screw as in claim 28, wherein the energy required to insert the screw into the work-piece is about 53 percent of the energy required to insert a European standard screw into the work-piece.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A quick disconnect assembly for precise connection and disconnection of components, the quick disconnect assembly comprising:
a first component having a first fitting and a second component having a second fitting, wherein the first fitting is configured to seat against the second fitting;
a receiver secured to the first fitting, wherein the receiver is configured to correspondingly house the second fitting upon selective insertion of the second fitting into the receiver, wherein the receiver includes a contact face, a fork end brace, and a threaded aperture;
a fork having a contact face, a base portion, and two legs with leg ends, the base portion including a securement knob with threadings, wherein rotation of the securement knob advances or retracts the threadings;
whereby insertion of the ends of the legs under the fork end brace of the receiver and rotation of the fork legs about the fork end brace causes the contact face of the fork to seat against the contact face of the receiver, and whereby tightening of the securement knob causes the threadings of the fork to secure into the threaded aperture of the receiver, thereby securing the fork against the receiver.
2. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 1, wherein the legs of the fork are shaped and sized to seat over the second component.
3. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 1, wherein securing the fork to the receiver affixes the second fitting against the first fitting and within the receiver.
4. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of depressions, and the fork legs include a plurality of protrusions that are positioned and configured to correspondingly mate with the depressions in the receiver, and wherein insertion of the ends of the legs under the fork end brace of the receiver and rotation of the fork legs about the fork end brace causes the protrusions on the fork legs to seat into the depressions within the receiver when the fork is secured against the receiver.
5. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 1, wherein securing the fork against the receiver creates substantially evenly distributed pressure between the first fitting and the second fitting.
6. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of protrusions, and the fork legs include a plurality of depressions that are positioned and configured to correspondingly mate with the protrusions on the receiver, and wherein insertion of the ends of the legs under the fork end brace of the receiver and rotation of the fork legs about the fork end brace causes the depressions in the fork legs to seat onto the protrusions on the receiver when the fork is secured against the receiver.
7. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 1, wherein the threadings penetrate through the base portion of the fork.
8. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick disconnect assembly secures the first component to the second component without the use of loose parts or tools.
9. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 1, wherein the fork is operatively connected to the second component.
10. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises an amplifier, the first fitting comprises a mating wave guide fitting, the second component comprises a wave guide, and the second fitting comprises a wave guide end fitting, whereby the quick disconnect assembly is used to secure the wave guide to the amplifier in an antenna system.
11. A quick disconnect assembly for precise connection and disconnection of components, the quick disconnect assembly comprising:
a wave guide having a wave guide end fitting and an amplifier having a mating wave guide fitting, wherein the wave guide end fitting is configured to seat against the mating wave guide fitting;
a receiver secured to the mating wave guide fitting, wherein the receiver is configured to correspondingly house the wave guide end fitting upon selective insertion of the wave guide end fitting into the receiver, wherein the receiver includes a contact face, a fork end brace, and a threaded aperture;
a fork having a contact face, a base portion, and two legs with leg ends, the base portion including a securement knob with threadings, wherein rotation of the securement knob advances or retracts the threadings;
whereby insertion of the ends of the legs under the fork end brace of the receiver and rotation of the fork legs about the fork end brace causes the contact face of the fork to seat against the contact face of the receiver, and whereby tightening of the securement knob causes the threadings of the fork to secure into the threaded aperture of the receiver, thereby securing the fork against the receiver.
12. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 11, wherein the legs of the fork are shaped and sized to seat over the second component.
13. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 11, wherein securing the fork to the receiver affixes the second fitting against the first fitting and within the receiver.
14. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 11, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of depressions, and the fork legs include a plurality of protrusions that are positioned and configured to correspondingly mate with the depressions in the receiver, and wherein insertion of the ends of the legs under the fork end brace of the receiver and rotation of the fork legs about the fork end brace causes the protrusions on the fork legs to seat into the depressions within the receiver when the fork is secured against the receiver.
15. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 11, wherein the fork creates substantially evenly distributed pressure between the first fitting and the second fitting.
16. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 11, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of protrusions, and the fork legs include a plurality of depressions that are positioned and configured to correspondingly mate with the protrusions on the receiver, and wherein insertion of the ends of the legs under the fork end brace of the receiver and rotation of the fork legs about the fork end brace causes the depressions in the fork legs to seat onto the protrusions on the receiver when the fork is secured against the receiver.
17. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 11, wherein the threadings penetrate through the base portion of the fork.
18. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 11, wherein the quick disconnect assembly secures the first component to the second component without the use of loose parts or tools.
19. The quick disconnect assembly of claim 11, wherein the fork is operatively connected to the second component.
20. An antenna system including a quick disconnect assembly for precise connection and disconnection of components, the quick disconnect assembly of the antenna system comprising:
a wave guide having a wave guide end fitting and an amplifier having a mating wave guide fitting, wherein the wave guide end fitting is configured to seat against the mating wave guide fitting;
a receiver secured to the mating wave guide fitting, wherein the receiver is configured to correspondingly house the wave guide end fitting upon selective insertion of the wave guide end fitting into the receiver, wherein the receiver includes a contact face, a fork end brace, and a threaded aperture;
a fork having a contact face, a base portion, and two legs with leg ends, the base portion including a securement knob with threadings, wherein rotation of the securement knob advances or retracts the threadings;
whereby insertion of the ends of the legs under the fork end brace of the receiver and rotation of the fork legs about the fork end brace causes the contact face of the fork to seat against the contact face of the receiver, and whereby tightening of the securement knob causes the threadings of the fork to secure into the threaded aperture of the receiver, thereby securing the fork against the receiver.

What is claimed is:

1. A cryogenic valve device comprising a valve body defining a cryogenic fluid flow duct, a shutter element disposed in the duct and connected to a control rod for moving said shutter element between a closed position in which it closes the duct and an open position in which the cryogenic fluid flows freely along the duct, thereby controlling the flow rate of the cryogenic fluid, the valve device further comprises a pneumatic actuator comprising a chamber defining two cavities and containing a piston in connection with the control rod, the cavities being fed with a control gas for positioning the piston in any position between the closed position and the open position of the shutter element, and an intermediate chamber at positive pressure relative to the surrounding pressure and disposed between the actuator and the valve body in such a manner as to thermally decouple the actuator from the valve body and isolate the actuator from the surrounding environment.
2. A valve device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate chamber comprises a thermally insulating spacer.
3. A valve device according to claim 1, wherein the control rod further comprises a thermally insulating spacer for thermally decoupling the shutter element from the piston.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator, the intermediate chamber, and the valve body include respective casings, said casings being interconnected in leaktight manner so as to confine the control gas and the cryogenic fluid inside the device.
5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate chamber includes an opening connected to a leak-recovery device.
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the leak-recovery device is connected to a measuring appliance for detecting malfunction of the valve or of the actuator.
7. A valve device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate chamber includes first and second openings to enable a sweeping fluid to flow through said chamber.
8. A valve device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes means on its outside surface for increasing the inflow of heat thereto.
9. A valve device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes insulating material on its outside surface to limit heat exchange between the actuator and the outside.
10. A valve device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic actuator is of the linear actuator type for actuating a shutter element in the form of a valve member, the piston of said actuator having a rod connected to the control rod via coupling means for transmitting linear movement to the control rod connected to the valve member so as to move the valve member between the closed position in which the valve member is in contact with a seat provided in the duct, and an open position in which the valve member is raised vertically to a distance from said seat.
11. A valve device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic actuator is of the pivoting actuator type for actuating a pivotal shutter element of the butterfly type, the piston being connected to the control rod by a crank for transmitting pivoting movement to the control rod connected to the butterfly so as to position the butterfly in an arbitrary position between the closed position and the open position.
12. A valve device according to claim 11, further comprising an insulating spacer interposed between the control rod and the crank for reducing heat exchange between the actuator and the pivotal shutter element.
13. A valve device according to claim 11, further comprising an insulating spacer interposed between the control rod and the pivotal shutter element to reduce heat exchange between the actuator and the shutter element.
14. A valve device according to claim 11, wherein the piston includes first and second insulating spacers disposed respectively on either side of a connection point between the crank and the piston to reduce heat exchange between the actuator and the shutter element.
15. A valve device according to claim 11, wherein the crank is made of a thermally insulating material.
16. A valve device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator further comprises first and second control gas delivery circuits, said delivery circuits forming heat exchangers with the actuator or the valve body.
17. A valve device according to claim 1, further comprising a pipe for taking cryogenic fluid, the pipe being connected between the duct and a control gas feed opening for the chamber, said pipe including means for vaporizing the cryogenic fluid that has been taken, and a pipe for reinjecting the control gas which is connected between a control gas exhaust opening of the chamber and the duct, said pipe including means for condensing the exhausted gas.
18. A valve device according to claim 1, wherein the control gas has a saturation temperature or a critical temperature that is substantially equal to or greater than the temperature of the cryogenic fluid present in the duct.
19. A valve device according to claim 18, wherein the control gas used in the actuator is dry nitrogen.
20. A valve device according to claim 18, wherein the control gas used in the actuator is dry air.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for launching an aircraft having an envelope for receiving a lift gas that is lighter than air, the method comprising:
introducing the lift gas into the envelope of the aircraft so that the aircraft is buoyant and the lift gas is substantially separate from a second gas in the envelope;
releasing the aircraft such that a longitudinal axis of the envelope extending between first and second distal ends thereof is oriented at an angle of at least about 45 degrees relative to horizontal while the aircraft ascends; and
venting gas from the envelope as the aircraft ascends.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said introducing step comprises introducing helium into the envelope as the lift gas.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said venting step comprises venting air from the envelope such that the envelope maintains a substantially constant volume.
4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising connecting a buoyant balloon to the first end of the envelope such that the balloon lifts the first end of the envelope.
5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising providing a gas bag in the envelope and at least partially filling the gas bag with the lift gas such that the gas bag lifts the first end of the aircraft.
6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising at least partially filling the envelope with the lift gas such that the lift gas raises the first end of the envelope, rotating the longitudinal axis of the envelope from a generally horizontal orientation to an angle of at least about 45 degrees relative to horizontal.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said introducing step comprises injecting the lift gas through a tubular channel extending into the envelope and proximate an upper portion of the envelope to minimize mixing of the lift gas in the envelope.
8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising at least partially venting the lift gas from the envelope and receiving air in the envelope such that the aircraft descends with the envelope in a substantially filled configuration.
9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising repeating said introducing, releasing, and first and second venting steps in order to repeat the launching of the aircraft.