Abstract: A method to retrofit a vehicle panel with a ballistic enhancement mat sta by providing a continuous batt of fibrous material. The batt is impregnated with a matrix of material that is, or can be made to be, deformable and then hardened. The batt is cut into mats shaped in an outline of the panel. An individual mat is placed on the panel and conformed to the topography of the panel to create a surface-to-surface interface between the mat and the panel. The mat and panel are fixed together at points all over the interface via an adhesive, a hook-and-loop layer, threaded fasteners or any other suitable mechanical fastening mechanism. The matrix is then hardened, whereby the mat becomes an integral reinforcement mechanism for the panel. The matrix material can be resoftened to facilitate removal of the mat if the mat needs replacement.

Abstract: A land vehicle seat assembly for absorbing explosive shocks is mounted on e vehicle's floor. The assembly has an anti-friction pad on the floor. A base plate on the pad swings around a pin fixed to the floor at the front of the plate. Horizontal shock absorbers at either side of the plate deceleratingly retard swinging of the plate. Stops at the sides of the plate limit plate swing. The assembly includes a pair of upright rails fixed to the plate and a seat slidable on the rails. A light duty unit such as a pneumatic spring or a shock absorber connects to the plate and seat. A heavy duty shock absorber, responsive only to shocks above a certain power, is connected to the plate. The heavy duty shock absorber can absorb shocks an order of magnitude greater than does the light duty unit.

Abstract: A method for determining polarization profiles of individual wavelengths hin a polychromatic source utilizes a variable filter system comprised of a retarder and a linear polarizer. Polychromatic light from the source is transmitted through the system and exits therefrom with attenuated intensities unique for each wavelength of the light. The attenuated intensities are recorded by a spectroradiometer and used to calculate Stokes parameters for each wavelength. The inherent problem of the retarder introducing a different phase differential for each individual wavelength transmitted therethrough is solved by expressing the Stokes parameters explicitly as a function of wavelength. The primary purpose of the method is to obtain the four Stokes parameters for individual bands of wavelength within a polychromatic light beam.

Abstract: A retrofit mechanism adapts a pre-existing manually steered vehicle for b manual and powered remote steering control. The mechanism's steering control subassembly mounts to a bridge of a rigid adaptor assembly fixed to the vehicle's frame. A control subassembly post passes rotatably through a web of the adaptor's bridge. The post is rotated by a motorized steering actuator mounted to a side of the bridge. A symmetric wing fixed to the post pivotally connects with two rods, which themselves pivotally connect an adapter element on the steering column. The rods lie on opposite sides of, and equidistantly from, a line extending from the central axis to the steering column axis. The wing, rods and adapter element cooperate to achieve nonbinding rotation of the vehicle's steering column within a sleeve surounding the column.

Abstract: A hitch adapter serves as a connection between a prime mover and a towed icle and permits the connection to be selectively configured for on-road or off-road travel. The adapter comprises a beam which has an eye at its fore end hooked to the prime mover and which has apertures at the aft end for engagement with the tongue of the towed vehicle. Fixed atop and under the beam are plates apertured to provide multiple arm mount sites on either side of the beam. A jointed arm swings on either side of the beam at selected ones of the mount sites and a brace arm swingably mounts on either side of the beam at other selected mount sites. The jointed arms include fixed length portions hinged to the brace arms and variable length portions hinged to the fixed length portions. The jointed arms also include releasable lock mechanisms for preventing relative movement between their fixed length and variable length portions.

Abstract: A set of interior armor panels are removably installed in a passenger vehe. At least one of the panels is a door armor panel covering a lower part of a door. Hooks on the door armor panel engage the door's sill, these hooks having ends inserted into the door through a window slot defined by the sill. Belts hold the door armor panel against the door. The belts are connected at one end to anchors on the inboard side of the door armor panel and the other ends of the belts have hooks closely fit to flanges at the periphery of the door. Buckles on the belts adjust their length. Additional armor panels are removably installed in the vehicle, the additional panels and the door armor panel together forming a ballistically continuous band of protective material within the vehicle's passenger compartment.

Abstract: A scheme for essentially instantaneous kills of fires in crew compartments s shown which is effective over a wide variety of climatic temperatures. An extinguishant is mixed according to the formula, (M.sup.+ A.sup.-).sub.sat +H.sub.2 O+fps+d @T, where A.sup.- is either an acetate in the form H.sub.2 CCOO.sup.-, chloride, or bromide, M.sup.+ is an alkali metal or ammonium, fps is a freezing point suppressant, d is a surfactant, and (M.sup.+ A.sup.-).sub.sat is a saturation level of compound M.sup.+ A.sup.- at temperature T. In one embodiment of our scheme, potassium acetate is both the (M.sup.+ A.sup.-).sub.sat and the fps in the foregoing formula. The scheme includes charging an extinguisher bottle with the extinguishant under pressure, opening a gate device connecting the bottle to a feeder line, and allowing the extinguishant to flow in the line to a nozzle. The extinguishant is then sprayed through the nozzle, which is disposed at the fire in the compartment.

Abstract: A manual braking mechanism is adapted for manually overridable remote conl. The mechanism is disposed in a generally planar region forward of a vehicle's handle bar that does not interfere with the vehicle body or a human vehicle driver. The mechanism includes a base plate releasably clamped to the vehicle's handle bar and a housing fixed on the base plate. A brake cylinder in the housing connects to a control lever swingable on the base plate about a lever axis, and the cylinder's reaction force biases the lever toward a brake releasing position. A link pivots on the plate at the lever axis, has a hinge connection remote from the lever axis and has a carrier closer to the lever axis to the hinge connection. The carrier cammingly rotates the lever as the link swings on the lever axis. The mechanism has a frame whose first leg connects to the base plate at the lever axis and the frame's second leg is releasably clamped to the handle bar.

Abstract: A collapsible, stackable cargo unit for carrying one or more vehicles has a wingable ramp by which vehicles roll on or off the unit. The ramp swings to a fixed upright position during vehicle shipment. After the vehicles are unloaded, the ramp swings down and inwardly relative to the unit so that the ramp lies flat upon a lower frame of the unit. The connection between the ramp and the lower frame includes a terminus fixed to the lower frame. The terminus has opposed upright walls defining slots, the slots having major diameters normal to the lower frame. The connection also has a floating block whose pins rotatably and slidably fit in the slots of the terminus. The connection also has an ear fixed to a post forming one side of the ramp. The ear has a slot aligned with the longitudinal axis of the post. The ear faces on the floating block, and a stud on the floating block fits in this slot. The stud and slot let the post rotate and slide on the floating block.

Abstract: An improved drive connection between the track and drive sprocket of a tr laying vehicle has a specially modified sprocket and track units. The track elements of the improved drive connection include links connecting the track units at their lateral, wells in the track units and a wall on one side of each well. The sprocket has an axle and a mounting flange or hub fixed to the axle. Outer gear teeth fixed to the hub flange protrude between the links when the sprocket engages the track while inner gear teeth fixed to the hub engage the specially configured bearing surfaces in the wells. The sprocket includes a continuous land surface having an annular portion between the inner and outer teeth and having other portions between the inner teeth. The continuous land surface contacts the walls where the sprocket engages the track.

Abstract: An adapter mechanism converts a manual throttle control to a powered manuy overidable throttle control. The manual control has a housing element, a post rotatable in the housing element and a control lever connected to the post. A first rotor plate engaged by the lever swings on the post to rotate a second rotor plate in one direction so as to translate a cable. The manual control has a return spring biassing the second plate in another direction toward a position where the cable closes the throttle. The adapter mechanism has a block-like cap on the housing element and the cap has a cavity open to the housing element. An actuator motor on the cap rotates a paddle in the first and second directions. A flange of the paddle engages a tab of the first rotor plate such that the paddle's rotation in the first direction moves the rotor elements but the paddle's rotation in the second direction exerts no force on the rotor elements.

Abstract: A low signature, low restriction, ballistically protective air intake assly for an exteriorly armored structure. The assembly is provided is comprised of one or more ducts having an entry end, an exit end and a spiralled duct portion between the ends. The entry ends communicate with an intake bell of armor material. The intake bell curves both away from the duct and out from duct openings at the entry ends. At the exit ends of the ducts are armor members faced toward the duct openings at the entry end. The armor members are positioned such that the spiralled duct portions lie between the armor members and the intake bell. Projectiles such as bullets travelling toward the entry end duct openings are either deflected away by the bell or caught by the armor member, whereby ballistic protection exists for elements in the armored structure interior to the assembly.

Abstract: A method to examine laser induced plasma or bubble formations in nonlinear limiter cells includes splitting a laser pulse into an initiation pulse, a first probe pulse and a second probe pulse. The initiation pulse is focussed at a site in the cell, so that a formation of interest occurs there. The probe pulses are converted to frequencies different from each other and different from the initiation pulse frequency. Then the probe pulses are sent through single mode fibers of different measured lengths, so that the probe pulses are retarded relative to the initiation pulse by different, controlled intervals. The probe pulses exit the fibers in coherent collimated condition and travel along a common path crossing the site. The initiation pulse will have arrived at the site and created the formation before the first probe pulse arrives, and the second probe pulse arrives at the site after the first probe pulse. Shadowgraphs resulting from passage of the probe pulses past the formation are then imaged.

Abstract: A lane marker includes a base, an illuminator, and a frangible bracket resably holding the illuminator in the lowered position on the base. A cantilever embedded in the bracket extends therefrom along the illuminator and is stronger than the bracket. The marker also includes a vertically expandable spring whose coils are compressed in a planar array against the base, one section of the spring biasing the illuminator to swing up from the lowered position. A keeper section of the spring connects to the illuminator and bears on the coils to keep them compressed against the base. An end of the keeper section latches to the base until the frangible bracket is broken. When the bracket breaks, the spring swings up the keeper section along with the illuminator so as to free the keeper section's end from the base.

Abstract: A semi-passive cooling system for an armored vehicle includes an intermittent pressure source, an accumulator for storing pressurized fluid from the intermittent source, and a mechanism to control the pressure in the accumulator. The system also includes a water reservoir and automatic controls for stabilizing pressure in the reservoir at a level lower than the accumulator's pressure. A sheet of water-absorbent, wicking skin on an exterior zone of the vehicle receives pressurized water from the reservoir in response to signals from a heat sensor at the exterior zone. The sensors signals open a valve in a supply line connected between the reservoir and the sheet, the valve remaining open for a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An igniter for an exothermic lance has an inner peripheral wall about the lance, the inner peripheral wall defining dual purpose teeth for centering the lance relative to the igniter and holding various lances of differing diameters. The teeth space the inner wall from the lance so as to form a flue between the inner wall and the lance. Outside the inner peripheral wall and concentric therewith is an outer peripheral wall thicker than the inner wall. A flammable substance is between the inner and outer walls, the flammable substance being more rapidly combustible than the inner wall and outer walls. A match head element at the fore end of the igniter is the mechanism to initiate combustion of the flammable substance, which can be a Thermit mixture. A gap between the match head element and the lance allows oxygen from the lance to enter the flue and accelerate lance ignition.

Abstract: An electrical connector that quickly clamps to or releases from a battery st has a band comprised of a flexible loop and a portion of the band remote from the loop. A flexible arm swingably mounts to the remote portion of the band, and a lever is journalled to one end of the arm. A leg of the lever connects to the loop, and the loop biases the leg away from the post. The electrical connector has a clamping configuration where the one end of the pivot arm is at a position relatively near the flat segment. The electrical connector has a post-releasing configuration where the one end of the arm is at a position relatively far from the flat segment. When the electrical connector goes from the clamping configuration to the release configuration, the one end of the arm swings through an intermediate position between its near and far positions. The arm is more elastically deformed in the intermediate position than in either the near or far positions.

Abstract: A vehicle's armor assembly has a track on the vehicle's exterior, a pair of arriers translatable along the track, and a rotatable threaded rod for effecting relative axial motion of the carriers along the track. Arms of unequal length pivot on the carriers, the longer arm having a more elongate slot than does the shorter arm. A pin closely fits the slots and connects the arms at their intersection so that the arms are translatable and rotatable relative to the pin. The armor assembly has an armor plate or like element to which is fixed a pair of hinge elements, and the hinge elements have rotational connections to the arms. The carriers, arms and hinges act in concert to move the armor element from a retracted position to a deployed position. The retracted position is near the exterior zone and is parallel thereto, whereas the deployed position is remote from the exterior zone and oblique thereto.

Abstract: A hose fitting assembly has a fitting, a spool that translates into the fitting and a sleeve sliding along the spool onto the fitting. The fitting has a bore, an exterior channel, and apertures connecting the exterior channel to the bore. Disposed at the apertures are elements radially intrudable into the bore. An ring-like spring in the channel keeps these elements at the apertures and biases them into the bore. A bevelled part of the spool forces the intruding elements and spring out from the bore as the spool's plunger portion sealingly slides in the bore. The sleeve coacts with outward motion of the spring to lock the spool to the fitting, the sleeve aligned in its locking position on the fitting by a shoulder on the fitting.

Abstract: An expansion linkage effects nearly perfectly straight translation of an ansion module relative to a trailer. The linkage has two relatively longer cross arms pivoted together at their intersection. One cross arm is additionally pivoted at its mount to the trailer and the other cross arm is additionally pivoted at its mount to the module. At opposite ends from the mounts, the cross arms have relatively shorter linkage arms pivoted thereto. The linkage arm pivoted to the trailer-mounted cross arm also pivotally connects to the module, and the linkage arm pivoted to the module-mounted cross arm also pivotally connects to the trailer. The intersection of the cross arms is 2/3 to 3/4 the distance from pivot axes at the cross arms' mount ends to pivot axes at the cross arms' opposite ends.