Abstract: Apparatus and method for enhancing the electrical conductivity of conductive composite materials and the product of the process are disclosed. An electric current is caused to flow in the composite to drive down the resistivity to levels of 10 ohm-cm or less.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for enhancing the electrical conductivity of conductive composite materials and the product of the process are disclosed. An electric current is caused to flow in the composite to drive down the resistivity to levels of 10 ohm-cm or less.

Abstract: A bus boarder for a wheelchair and its occupant and for the ambulatory impeded, embodies an elevator platform which is mounted within the entrance area at the front of the bus. The floor and the steps at the entrance are removed and a U-shaped reinforcing frame forms a well for the elevator platform. The elevator platform and its operating mechanism are so constructed that the doors open against each side of the entrance opening as originally provided for the bus. The elevator platform is lowerable to the ground or curbstone with the steps folded into a ramp for the wheelchair which is moved thereon by its occupant or an attendant and onto the platform. A fare box is mounted on a pivoted arm which is rotatable horizontally into a well in the bus dashboard, so as not to impede either the vertical motion of the elevator platform, or the maneuvering of the wheelchair thereon. The wheelchair occupant enters the platform backwards if the chair is of extended size, or if of standard size either forward or backward.

Abstract: A bus loader for a wheel chair and for the infirm embodies a platform which is mounted within the entrance area at the front of the bus. A minimum change in the standard bus is achieved by removing the bottom and intermediate steps at the front entrance and mounting the loading mechanism within the resulting recess. The loading mechanism is so constructed that the doors will swing in at each side of the opening in a manner in which they are normally operated. The platform is moved to the ground or curbstone, the wheel chair is moved thereon and retained in position and the platform, wheel chair and occupant is raised and the platform advanced toward the bus driver and lowered upon the floor permitting the wheel chair occupant to drop a fare in the fare box. A rail is provided on the forward and inner sides of the platform so that the physically handicapped and the infirm may stand upon the platform and be raised into the bus thereby reducing the time required for loading the bus.

Abstract: A laser-excited marking system wherein a laser beam is used to mark information on an article. A laser beam from a laser is directed onto a scanner unit which includes positionable mirrors for reflecting the laser beam onto the article. The positionable mirrors are positioned in accordance with control signals from a controller to reflect the laser beam in two dimensions. Information consisting of alphanumeric and symbolic characters is provided as an input to the controller. The controller includes a general purpose computer which is programmed to develop control signals for the scanner unit whereby the character information input to the controller is marked by the reflected laser beam on the article. Stored within the computer is a listing containing a two-dimensional dot matrix representation of each alphanumeric and symbolic character, each such dot matrix being referred to as a character matrix.

Abstract: 1. An igniter for a miniature solid propellant rocket containing a propellant grain and a nozzle comprising in combinationA. a solid propellant grain having a central burning perforation extending substantially the length thereof;A.sub.1. a housing enclosing the grain in which the housing is closed at the front end and open at the rear end;B. a pyrotechnic coating on substantially the entire surface of said propellant grain;C. an electrical ignition wire extending substantially the length of the perforation of said propellant grain, said ignition wire being comprised of first and second sections, said first section being bare resistance wire and said second section being an insulated return wire connected to the bare resistance wire at its front end located in the forward end portion of the perforation; andD.

Abstract: A rocket motor construction wherein a convolutely wound propellent strip forms a fuel grain disposed within the rocket motor casing. The fuel grain consists essentially of double base propellent having a plateau or mesa burn characteristic and is shaped to provide a plurality of rearwardly extending blades connected to a convolutely wound margin of the strip. The blades cooperate with each other and with the rocket motor casing to define flow channels between angularly adjacent blades and between adjacent convolutions thereby providing flow channels for combustion product.