Abstract: An improved suspension system for a vehicle having a body-supporting frame and a wheel-supported axle. A pair of air spring units are laterally spaced adjacent the opposite ends of the axle. Each of these air spring units has a lower air spring seat, an air spring body, and an upper air spring seat. The lower air spring seat members are attached to the top to the axle. A top mounting plate secures the upper air spring seat members to the frame. The top mounting plates are sloped inwardly such that their inward side lies at a vertical height lower than their outward side. The center of the upper air spring seat members are laterally offset in an inboard direction with respect to the center of the lower spring seat members.

Abstract: An acoustical laminate comprising multi-ply glass fabric impregnated with an epoxy resin and a method of manufacturing the laminate. The laminate may be bonded to suitable backing, such as a honeycomb core with a solid backing, to produce an acoustical panel. The panel provides excellent, substantially linear, sound absorption characteristics.

Abstract: A heave alleviation and control device for a surface effect ship having a central plenum chamber pressurized from a source of pressure interconnected to a stern seal plenum chamber by a duct. The duct contains a first valve positioned between the inlet from the central plenum chamber and the outlet to said stern seal plenum chamber for controlling the flow of pressurized gas therethrough. The rear wall of the duct has an opening therethrough to the atmosphere. A second valve is positioned adjacent the opening within the duct to control the flow of gas under pressure therethrough. The two valves are interconnected by levers to a piston translatable within a cylinder for simultaneous movement with the piston. One side of the piston is exposed to the central plenum chamber pressure and the opposite side is exposed to a source of hydraulic fluid under a preselected pressure. Directional movement of the piston is provided by the pressure differential between the sides of the piston.

Abstract: An improved windshield for a transit vehicle. The windshield comprises a pair of windshield sections horizontally separated by a vertical divider. Each of the windshield sections are positioned at different angles from a common vertical axis whereby at night the interior lighting of the vehicle is reflected rearwardly from the interior surface of the windshield section in a manner which prevents interference with the forward vision of the operator through the windshield sections.

Abstract: A folding seat and wheelchair restraint assembly having a vehicle passenger seat and a barrier assembly. The vehicle passenger seat has a seat back portion and a seat bottom portion that is pivotally attached to the seat back portion whereby the seat bottom portion, which is normally horizontally oriented, may be pivoted to a vertical orientation. A restraint arm assembly is pivotally secured to the underside of the seat bottom portion in such a manner that it may be pivoted in a substantially horizontal plane when the seat bottom portion is folded upwardly in its vertical orientation. The barrier assembly has a complete seat belt unit with a retractable seat belt member and a non-retractable seat belt member attached to the barrier assembly. The retractable seat belt member is mounted on said barrier within a casing that is positioned on the barrier wherein it may also function as a support surface for the seat bottom portion of the folding seat when it is in a substantially horizontal position.

Abstract: A base drive regulator for a transistor operation in a switching mode comprising a series transistor regulator between the source of drive voltage and the base of the switching transistor and a diode with its anode element connected to the base of the series transistor regulator and its cathode connected to the collector of the switching transistor. The material used for construction of the switching transistor, series regulator transistor and the diode has similar electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A passive stern seal for a plenum chamber of an air cushion marine vehicle comprising a front rectilinear planar seal member with an upward extending curvilinear rear tip, a plurality of front seal member supporting stay members adjacent to the underside of the planar seal, and pivotally attached to the vehicle at their forward surfaces, strut members pivotally attached and extending from the front planar seal member adjacent the curvilinear tip; a rear seal member extending from an attachment to the vehicle downward and to an attachment to the front planar seal member forward of the curvilinear tip, the free end of the strut members are attached to the upper surface of the rear seal member and a plurality of forming members are attached between the rear seal member and the vehicle. The forming members cooperate with pressure within the stern seal and form at least one transverse convolute in said rear seal member.

Abstract: A combination fan jet engine nozzle plug and muffler. The combination comprises a nozzle plug structure formed from a plurality of inwardly slanted spaced apart elements. The elements form outwardly open and inwardly closed cavities. The cavities' openings are covered by porous skin material attached to the elements.

Abstract: A base drive inhibit circuit for positive and negative phase transistors of a switching amplifier. The circuit comprises a pair of comparators for comparing the voltage between the collector and emitter elements of the transistors with an appropriate reference voltage, and provides a signal to supply base drive voltage, when their associated output transistor is in a forward biased state and the level of reference voltage is less than the level of voltage between the collector and emitter. A logic control circuit supplies base drive voltage to one of the transistors when both a drive signal from an external source is in a proper polarity state and the output signal from the comparator indicates that the transistor is in a forward biased state.A timer is provided to delay base drive voltage to either transistor when the base drive signal is in a transition between polarity states.

Abstract: A liquid interface diffusion process is provided where a thin deposit (from 1/2 to 4 mils) of nickel (and/or cobalt) having 4-12 weight percent boron is plated on the nickel or cobalt based alloy faying surfaces. In the case of honeycomb sandwich, the plating is applied to the edge of the core or on the facing sheets and the assembly held together in intimate contact and exposed to a temperature sufficient to cause the Ni-B eutectic to melt. At the eutectic temperature a liquid is formed which makes a metallurgical joint. Upon further time at temperature the boron is diffused into the substrate so that isothermal solidification occurs and the boron is diluted to a small concentration. Sufficient time is allowed (on the order of one or more hours) so that the melting point at the joint area is essentially the same as the substrate and the joint is comparable to a diffusion bond.

Abstract: A base drive regulator for regulating the base drive voltage of the output transistor of a switching amplifier. The inputs of a comparator are separately connected to a reference voltage of either an independent source or the base of the output transistor and to a resistor network connected between the collector and emitter of the transistor. The output from the comparator is utilized to indirectly control the conductivity of the output transistor to maintain the output transistor just at saturation.