Abstract: A high strength braided thermosetting resin cord acts as a core for an escape line. A series of knobs of a foamed resin are threaded onto the core at spaced intervals with a second series of smaller knobs of a foamed resin located between each adjacent larger knobs. Each of the knobs are bonded with a thermosetting resin to the core. A high strength thermosetting resin is braided over the knobs and core, and one end of the cord is secured to a support member of an airplane to provide an escape line.

Abstract: A fatigue resistant rivet in which the head has a distal frusto-conical portion and a proximate frusto-conical portion relative to the shank thereof. The proximate portion has a conical surface with a smaller angle relative to the rivet axis than the conical surface of the distal portion.A method of securing a fatigue resisting rivet to a work piece including the steps of first deforming the proximate portion to be pressure fit on a countersink to provide residual clamping strain/stress at the base of the countersink and deforming the distal portion to be pressure fit on the countersink to provide a residual claiming strain/stress adjacent the top of the countersink, and deforming the distal and proximate portions against the countersink to provide seal and clamp action between the rivet head and the countersink.

Abstract: A two plane assembly (100) having a first, substantially horizontal plane (140), and a second plane (160) at a compound angle with respect to the first plane, is mounted to a reference surface (112), established by optical or other suitable means. An inclinometer pair (146, 148; 170, 172) is affixed to each plane, with each inclinometer of a pair disposed orthogonally with respect to the other. The values from the inclinometers are recorded and the assembly is then mounted to a platform to be aligned. The pitch, roll and azimuth of the platform is adjusted such that the output from each inclinometer agrees with its recorded value, thereby accomplishing platform alignment.

Abstract: A fatigue resistant rivet in which the head has a distal frusto-conical portion and a proximate frusto-conical portion relative to the shank thereof. The proximate portion has a conical surface with a smaller angle relative to the rivet axis than the conical surface of the distal portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a wheeled vehicle which can be positioned, controlled and operated by a single individual. The apparatus operates on one wheel of the wheeled vehicle and moves the vehicle by rotating the one wheel. The apparatus includes a drive which engages both the wheel and the surface along which the vehicle is moved and an idler roller which also engages the wheel. The idler roller in its engagement with the wheel produces a reaction force for the apparatus which reacts the driving torque input to the drive. The idler roller produces the essential effect needed to accomplish the one-man operation noted above.