Orbital Sciences Corp. and GRC International Inc. plan to develop a hand-held detector to trace minute amounts of chemical warfare agents such as the deadly nerve gas Sarin, which was released in a Tokyo subway recently.
This Cassette Fastener Delivery System can reduce downtime on automatic riveters caused by malfunctioning bowl-style component feeders. With the cassette system, rivets are sorted and oriented when the cassette is loaded, not when it is mounted on the machine. The cassettes, which hold up to 5,000 fasteners, are compatible with all C-frame riveting machines. They are available for solid and blind rivets, screws, hi-locks and other fasteners. Ateliers de la Haute-Garonne, Flourens-Toulouse, 31131, Balma, France.
The Apollo 670 Cordax CMM is the largest Apollo-line computerized milling machine with 670,000 cu. in. of measuring volume. It has an X axis of 2 meters (80 in.), a Y axis of 3.5 meters (140 in.) and a Z axis of 1.5 meters (60 in.). The machine has a linear accuracy of 0.009 mm., volumetric accuracy of 0.029 mm. and repeatability of 0.005 mm. Features include a patented four-side, wrap-around ring bridge structure that surrounds the measuring area with a rigid frame, low-mass aluminum alloys and inertia-free Soft Touch handling.
Portable lubricant dispensers are custom-built in capacities of 75-100 gal. to handle light, medium or heavy viscous materials. Cartridge heaters are available. The dispensers feature rugged 10-gauge construction with a ``V'' bottom or flat-bottom tank. An automatic or manual hose reel can hold up to 100 ft. of hose. The dispensing nozzle features an easy-to-use pistol grip operation. W.W. Engineering Co., 4321 W. 32nd St., Chicago, Ill. 60623-0831.
The PointWatch Hydrocarbon Gas Detector relies on infrared sensing technology. It measures 2.5 in. in diameter and is 8.9 in. long. The explosion-proof enclosure is available in aluminum or stainless steel. A multi-layered filter system protects the optics from dirt and water, and the optical assembly is heated to prevent condensation. Calibration is not required to ensure reliable operation. Silicones, hydrides and halogens, which can damage catalytic detectors, will not harm the IR unit.
Jim Vasil has been named industrial distribution sales manager of IRC Inc., Boone, N.C. He was Southeastern regional distribution manager for AVX Corp.
Serge D. Buchakjian has been appointed vice president-international business development for AlliedSignal Aerospace's Government Electronic Systems, Teterboro, N.J. He was regional director of aerospace and defense systems for Smiths Industries' International Div., Stamford, Conn.$end 16 WHO'S WHERE North America for Swissair
Microdot K-Serts NAS1394 and NAS1395 inserts, size -3 and above, have been approved by Boeing and may now be sold to that company or its subcontractors. The inserts provide high resistance to torque-out and pull-out by using positive locking keys driven into parent material to prevent rotation. K-Serts studs with positive locking keys also are available. They provide a strong thread and maximum resistance to torque pull-out. The inserts and studs meet Mil-Spec requirements and are available in titanium, inconel 718, A286 and aluminum/lithium. Microdot, 190 W.
The SLD series of ultra-precision network resistors range from 50-30,000 ohms with a power rating of 0.25 w. Each resistor is a network of two matched elements combined with a three-terminal component. The series is available with an absolute resistance tolerance of 0.05-1% and matching tolerance of 0.02-1%. All models offer a temperature coefficient of resistance 0.4 ppm./C with either 2.5 ppm. or 5.0 ppm tolerances. TCR tracking is dependent upon the resistance ratio and ranges from +/-0.5 ppm./C to +/-3 ppm./C.
John T. Tucker, vice chairman of Midcoast Aviation Inc., has won the National Air Transportation Assn.'s William A. Ong Memorial Award. Other award winners are: J. Robert Duncan, chief executive officer of Duncan Aviation, Distinguished Service Award; Gary Ward, maintenance supervisor for Stevens Aviation, General Aviation Distinguished Service Technician Award; and Loretta Scott, director of the Grand Prairie (Tex.) Airport, Airport Executive Partnership Award.
The Fischerscope X-Ray System XDV is a simple solution for automated coating thickness measurement and analysis for difficult applications, including dual and triple coatings, alloy coatings and P% in electroless nickel coatings. The system's Fischer Thickness Management PC-based software nearly eliminates the need for calibration standards. The XDV is equipped with a large, slotted measurement chamber that is easy to access. A programmable head measures the piece from top to bottom.
Roland H. Moore, 2nd, has been appointed counsel to the Miami law firm of Herman Roof Henry&Gordon. He was director of legal affairs for Eastern Airlines.
Europe's Ariane 5 heavy booster program is beginning its final series of critical propulsion and software tests to clear the 2.5-million-lb.-thrust vehicle for its first mission. The flight is scheduled to lift off from French Guiana late this year.
IN THE U.S., AIR CARGO GROWTH for scheduled airlines slipped in April, reflecting a slowdown in the nation's economy, according to preliminary data compiled by the Air Transport Assn. Compared with April, 1994, cargo traffic increased only 7.4% to more than 1.4- million revenue ton miles (RTM). Freight and express accounted for more than 1.2 million of that figure, with mail totaling 188,535 RTM. Since January, air cargo has grown 11.7%, to more than 4.9-million RTM compared with 4.4-million RTM at the end of April, 1994.
Anders Bjorck has been named public relations director by Scandinavian Airlines System, effective in August. He has been managing director of the Swedish Travel and Tourism Council.
The four-nation Eurofighter 2000 flight test program has resumed after an 11-month hiatus--with two prototypes now flying--and is expected to gain momentum this year as more development aircraft take to the air.
Airbus Industrie officials including Managing Director Jean Pierson will be subpoenaed to testify before a French court that is investigating the crash of an A330 heavy transport during flight test last June. The Toulouse Court of Justice will determine whether to bring charges of involuntary homicide in the June 30 crash, which occurred during a certification test flight. The proceeding is similar to a grand jury investigation in the United States. Seven crewmembers and observers on board were killed.
SURVEYING TOOLS, WHICH HAVE LED TO GPS accuracy improvements for all applications, will get an assist from a high-precision GPS processor developed by Leica Navigation and Positioning Div. Leica's SR399 geodetic GPS receiver will have a new Dual Code chip, which uses carrier wave and code measurements on both the L1 and L2 frequencies even in the presence of Anti-Spoofing (A-S). The Defense Dept. uses A-S to deny access to the L2 frequency, which is needed for real-time ionospheric correction, to all but military users.
SQUADS OF MICRO-ROBOT ``ants'' have been successfully built and programmed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Boston. Groups of the tiny, cooperative devices someday could perform tasks too difficult or dangerous for humans, such as finding and removing unexploded ordnance. Each 1.5-in.-long ``ant'' incorporates powered treads, antennas that detect obstacles, and an infrared transmitter and receiver to communicate.
