Abstract: A pointing device comprises a substrate having a fixed pivoting hole area defined by a hole through a conductive surface that is coated with electrically conductive material and comprises four segments of patterned resistive materials. Each segment includes a plurality of spaced thick film pieces that may include radially extending strips, substantially Rectangular blocks, or substantially circular pieces. An electrically conductive force disc is supported by is a movable conductive spring or sheath to pivot relative to the pivoting hole area and rotate over the resistive surface of the substrate. The deflection of the conductive spring allows the force disc to contact portions of the conductors of the substrate, and the spring or sheath to contact portions of the conductors inside the pivoting hole area, generating electrical outputs to a microcontroller.

Abstract: A fuel heater for vaporization of an alcohol fuel from a fuel line to an internal combustion engine for delivering vaporous fuel to a carburetor. The fuel heater includes a stack of generally planar foraminous PTC heaters that are arranged in a container having an insulated interior defining a fuel flow path having an inlet and an outlet and are separated from each other by generally flat ring-like conductive spacers with electrically conductive ears having conductor receiving holes therein. Alternate conductive spacers are disposed in two channels in a housing and connected to opposite sides of a power supply whereby said PTC heaters can raise the temperature of the incoming fuel and vaporize it. Alternative ears of the electrically conductive spacers are radially offset from each other whereby one row of ears is disposed in one channel and another row is disposed in the other channel.

Abstract: A resistance heating apparatus for rapidly heating a liquid or gas to a desired temperature includes a porous mat of fine electrically-conductive elongated elements selected from the group consisting of metal coated non-metal whiskers and polycrystalline metal whiskers electrically connected at their points of contact by metallization from the gaseous phase or by electron beam welding so as to be electrically conductive. The porous mat is disposed in and substantially fills all of the length of an electrically non-conductive tubular structure having an inlet opening at one end and a discharge opening at the opposite end. The tubular structure may be conical in shape with the inlet end being larger than the outlet end. Heating current may be supplied directly to the mat by electrodes connected thereto or the current may be induced therein from an induction means around the tubular structure.

Abstract: An electric heating device for heating fluid media includes a plurality of disc-shaped porous bodies each consisting of a plurality of felted togehter polycrystaline metal whiskers grown out of a gas phase and connected each to one another at their points of contact. A plurality of disc-shaped electric heating elements alternate with the bodies to form a column for connection to a voltage source. The total electrical resistance of the elements is greater than the total electrical resistance of the porous bodies. In one embodiment the bodies and elements are both porous and form a longitudinal passage along the column and means are provided for delivering fluid medium to one end of the passage to be heated as it flows lengthwise of the column. In another arrangement the bodies and elements are centrally apertured to form a central longitudinal passage and means are provided for delivering the fluid medium to one end of the passage.