Abstract: A support rack has spaced vertical rails and horizontal upper, lower and intermediate rails. The horizontal rails are coupled to the vertical rails. A pivotable locking bar is between the horizontal rails. Side plates with rearward ends are attached to the vertical rails adjacent to the lower rail. The side plates have forward ends forwardly of the vertical rails. A rectangular ramp/platform has a forward edge extending forwardly of the vertical rails and a rearward edge extending rearwardly of the vertical rails and having parallel side edges. Hinges pivotally couple the ramp/platform adjacent to its forward edge to the side plates adjacent to their forward edges for movement between raised and lowered orientations. A cross support bar has ends attached to the ramp/platform adjacent to the side edges parallel with and rearwardly of the horizontal lower rail. The cross support bar is spaced above the ramp/platform.

Abstract: A hand truck ramp unit mounts to a hand truck rack unit which pivots on hinges.

Abstract: A power assisted hand truck is provided, which includes a generally vertically oriented rigid frame having a top end, a bottom end, a front load receiving side, a rear side, and a load bearing member joined to the front load receiving side of the frame. This hand truck includes a pair of hand truck wheels rotatably joined laterally towards the bottom end of the frame so that the frame, and thus the hand truck, can be wheeled about. A motor is rigidly joined to the frame and is configured to rotate a power assistance wheel, which is rotatably joined to the frame towards the bottom end of the back side such that power assisted translational motion is imparted to the frame when both the motor and the power assistance wheel are engaged. Thus, the user can engage this power assistance system to significantly reduce his or her work required to push a heavy load on the hand truck, especially when moving the heavy load up inclines.

Abstract: Multiple radar altimeters on a constellation of individual satellites in the same orbit plane relate an advanced ocean altimetry system. Earth rotation separates the respective measurement tracks of each satellite on the ocean surface. Each satellite can host a monostatic radar altimeter, which may contain a co-located transmitter and receiver that generates one surface track of ocean height measurements at nadir. Further, each satellite payload can include a bistatic radar altimeter, comprising a transmitter and a receiver located respectively on neighboring satellites. The bistatic altimeter comprises a virtual nadir altimeter that generates an additional surface track of ocean height measurements along the locus of midpoints on the surface between the satellites' nadir points.

Abstract: A radar ice sounder which employs parallel Doppler processing obtains more reliable and accurate radar ice sounding. The invention uses both incoherent and coherent techniques, in the same paradigm, to achieve simultaneously high Signal-to-Noise Ratio, high Signal-to-Speckle standard deviation Ratio, and high Signal-to-Clutter Ratio.

Abstract: A delay compensated Doppler radar altimeter which eliminates the relative delay curvature associated with the energy reflected by a scatterer located in the along-track direction of an aerial platform for which a most accurate estimation of scatterer elevation is desired. By Doppler shifting each return, the range indicated for each scatterer over its illumination history is equal to the minimum range x.sub.h experienced when the relative velocity between the aerial radar and the ground is effectively zero. Compensating each signal so that its entire along-track history can be used for elevation estimation leads to an advantage of more than 10 dB in gain improvement over existing systems, and less degradation from surface topography.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for electrolytically polishing the inside surface of tubular products such as rifled stock, or fiream or artillery barrels. The apparatus comprises a first and second reservoir in fluid communication through the tubular product with an electrolyte flow system. A cathode head is provided that is displaced from one reservoir to the other in the presence of flowing electrolyte and at a current density of between 1 and 5 amp-min/sq. in. A method of electrolytically polishing tubular products is also provided.