Abstract: A sabot is provided which is composed of a plurality of sabot segments which engage and form a shell surrounding a bullet of improved configuration. The inner surface of each sabot segment matches and is complimentary to the adjacent outer surface portions of the bullet body. The bullet body has a pair of axially aligned conical parts adjacent to and spaced apart from each other, each conical part increasing in diameter as the conical part extends away from the other conical part. Between the conical parts, the bullet has an extended central portion serving to separate and interconnect the conical parts.

Abstract: A full metal jacket hollow point bullet is disclosed which has the jacket extending fully within the hollow open front end of the bullet. A plurality of radial slits through the jacket within the hollow front end extend from the axis to the mouth of the hollow front end. These slits form prongs therebetween which project outward upon upset of the bullet in soft tissue.

Abstract: A phase stabilized ammonium nitrate mixed crystal structure is produced by the addition of potassium fluoride. Thus the undesirable abrupt expansion and contraction of ammonium nitrate in the temperature range of use in rocket motor propellants and explosives (-55.degree. C. to .lambda..degree. C.) is eliminated. The mixture is made by the addition of between about 3% to 5% and preferably about 3.5% by weight potassium fluoride to the ammonium nitrate by a nonhazardous aqueous method.

Abstract: An igniter bag for a cannon cartridge is disclosed which comprises a generally toroidal annular bag of combustible fabric such as cotton or rayon containing an ignition powder. The bag has a plurality of radial seams separating the bag and the powder contained therein into separate adjacent compartments within the bag so that movement of the powder within the bag is substantially restricted. This construction prevents side to side shifting of the ignition powder during storage, handling and loading of the cartridge.

Abstract: A combustible bayonet type primer for combustible cannon cartridge cases comprises a primer head assembly adapted to be inserted in a cartridge case, a tubular housing made of a combustible material, an igniter strand axially disposed in said housing, and a confining means for confining one end of the igniter strand so that the initial ignition rate is about 1000 m/s. The ignited strand in turn ignites a black powder charge contained within a cloth bag within the tubular housing. The housing is an unpressurized container for the igniter strand and the black powder charge and is consumed during the burn of the propellant bed along with the igniter strand and the combustible case.

Abstract: An ammunition cartridge comprises a combustible tubular case having a threaded open end having a uniform density of plastic resin at said end. A generally cup shaped head having a cylindrical peripheral wall provided with threads corresponding to said threaded open end is engaged with the threaded end so as to close the end. The resin is preferably a polyurethane resin and the threads are preferably 60 degree stub threads.

Abstract: An electric primer using an intrinsic conductive pyrotechnic mixture is improved by the addition of a carbon layer between the inner and outer electrodes and the mixture. The carbon layer provides a parallel resistive current path between the electrodes in addition to the path through the conductive mixture. The addition of a carbon layer also increases the operable temperature range of the primer. The high energy firing threshold of the intrinsically conductive pyrotechnic mixture and the additional dissipative current path through the carbon layer coact to further reduce the sensitivity of the primer to RF radiation and ESD hazards.

Abstract: A sabot bullet having a bullet body and sabot segments defining an outer cylindrical surface in surrounding relationship to the bullet body. The bullet body has a pair of spaced conical parts interconnected by a central part of cylindrical configuration. The central part increases the strength of the bullet body and assures that the bullet body will not break at the central part during penetration of the bullet body in a target. Another embodiment of the sabot bullet includes a bullet body having a front part of metallic material and a rear part of a second material, such as plastic or the like. The second part, being lighter in weight than the first part, reduces the overall weight of the bullet body to assure a higher velocity of travel of the bullet body with greater accuracy due to its lighter weight. An armor piercing sabot bullet is also disclosed.

Abstract: A submunition dispensing system is disclosed which includes inflatable bladders expandable from collapsed to inflated conditions in response to fluid pressure. The bladders are mounted in cavities of a carrier frame underlying subpacks of submunitions. The bladders lie adjacent to the support and central structures of the frame defining the cavities. Each bladder can be configured to have either an unpleated or a pleated configuration in the collapsed condition. The bladder can also be configured for expansion to an overall constant diameter outer shape or to a generally conical outer shape in the inflated condition. Expansion to the conical shape imparts a velocity gradient to the subpack. The dispensing system also includes retaining assemblies for releasably retaining the subpacks in the cavities against the collapsed bladders and a gas generator disposed in a passage of the central structure of the carrier frame.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for manufacturing a flechette load, a series of operative steps are carried out to produce a matrix-supported load of flechettes held in a desired array. First, a load of flechettes are mounted by a die end cap in a desired array in which at least the trailing end portions thereof are exposed and disposed in closely spaced side-by-side relation. Next, the die end cap is assembled to a die body such that at least the exposed trailing end portions of the flechettes are placed in the mold cavity of the assembled die. A mixture of expandable thermoplastic beads and, preferably, a bond weakening agent is also placed in the mold cavity with the mixture surrounding the exposed trailing end portions of the flechettes therein. Finally, the mixture is heated so as to produce in the mold cavity directly on and about the exposed trailing end portions of the flechettes a matrix in the form of a solid foam body of a thermoplastic foam material.

Abstract: An arcjet thruster has a body defining a constrictor and nozzle constituting an anode and forming an arc chamber. An elongated rod constitutes a cathode spaced from the constrictor by a gap generally coextensive with the arc chamber. An electrical potential is applied to the anode and cathode to generate an electrical arc in the arc chamber from the cathode to the anode. Propellant is supplied to the arc chamber with generation of the arc so as to produce thermal heating and expansion of the propellant through the nozzle. The thruster employs several features which improve its performance. One feature relates to the use of propellant blends with high specific impulse additives. Another feature relates to injection of the high specific impulse additive into the bulk propellant feed at the region of the cathode tip.

Abstract: An electric primer has an intrinsically conductive pyrotechnic mixture consisting of a metal powder fuel, an alkaline oxidizer, and a sensitizing fuel. The primer mixture preferably consists of about 27% titanium metal powder, about 68% potassium chlorate, and 5% boron as the sensitizing fuel. Lead thiocyanate may also be added as a further sensitizing fuel. The primer is advantageously adapted for use in airbag inflators in an automobile passive restraint system.

Abstract: A moisture seal is designed for a shotshell having a biaxially oriented plastic tubular body. The seal is a composite of a thermally conductive layer and a thermoplastic such as high density polyethylene laminated together. The rim portion of the inner layer of high density polyethylene is bonded or fused to the tubular body to seal the shot load end without destroying the biaxial orientation of the tubular body adjacent the rim portion. The moisture seal may be installed inside the tubular body and fused to the inside surface of the tubular wall or may be installed in place of or over the end closure and fused to the outside surface of the tubular body.

Abstract: An industrial shotgun is provided with a pistol type hand grip assembly, a remote trigger mechanism, and a hanging support bracket at approximately the center of mass of the industrial gun. The remote trigger mechanism includes a remote trigger coupled from the hand grip to the trigger through a horizontal linking bar. The trigger is disengaged from the remote trigger when the breech block is opened. The hand grip includes a dead man safety which prevents remote trigger actuation unless the thumb operated dead man safety is depressed and the breech block is fully closed.

Abstract: In combination with a cartridge case having a tubular wall and a head closing one end of the wall, a primer disposed through the head and a propellant charge in the case, a collapsible basewad is disclosed which comprises a unitary body between the charge and the head. The unitary body has an upwardly concave upper portion opening to the propellant charge and a generally cylindrical base portion. The upper portion is deflectable. These portions and the tubular wall define therebetween an annular cavity rearward of the propellant charge. This cavity is collapsed upon ignition of the propellant charge by deflection of the upper portion thereby reducing the recoil felt by the shooter without adding any parasitic weight to the projectile load. The upper portion of the basewad preferaly has an inverted truncated hollow cone shape.

Abstract: A shotshell having a maximum interior volume is disclosed comprising a tubular casing wall made of the biaxially oriented high density polyethylene, and injection molded basewad also made of high density polyethylene molded in place at one end of the tubular casings to close the end. The basewad has a skirt portion fused to the tubular wall to bond the basewad and the tubular casing wall together while maintaining the biaxial integrity of the tubular casing wall.

Abstract: An improved training cartridge has a plastic case skeletonized at its leading portion and defining a powder chamber at its trailing portion closed by an integral forward wall. The location of the wall is preselected to tailor the internal volume of the powder chamber to substantially equal that of the quantity of propellant charge employed by the cartridge so as to retain the charge in a fixed position in the chamber adjacent the primer. The configuration can either include a plastic bullet for training with projectiles having limited (reduced) range, or be made without a bullet, for those training exercises requiring blanks.

Abstract: A monolithic catalyst bed for use in a catalytic gas generator includes catalytically-active metal screens having central openings and being composed of fine particles of catalyst supported by wires arranged in grid-like fashion. The bed also includes an injector tube having an end portion disposed through the central openings of the metal screens for mounting the metal screens in closely spaced side-by-side, stack-like relation extending outwardly from and radially about the tube end portion. The injector tube end portion is closed at its outer end and defines a passage for receiving an axial inflow of liquid propellant. The bed also includes an injector body supporting the injector tube and disposed at one end of the stack of metal screens, and a base plate mounted about the injector tube end portion adjacent to the closed outer end thereof and disposed at an opposite end of the stack of metal screens so as to define an annular space therebetween and about the injector tube end portion.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for manufacturing a flechette load, a series of operative steps are carried out to produce a matrix-supported load of flechettes held in a desired array. First, a load of flechettes are mounted by a die end cap in a desired array in which at least the trailing end portions thereof are exposed and disposed in closely spaced side-by-side relation. Next, the die end cap is assembled to a die body such that at least the exposed trailing end portions of the flechettes are placed in the mold cavity of the assembled die. A mixture of expandable thermoplastic beads and, preferably, a bond weakening agent is also placed in the mold cavity with the mixture surrounding the exposed trailing end portions of the fletchettes therein. Finally, the mixture is heated so as to produce in the mold cavity directly on and about the exposed trailing end portions of the flechettes a matrix in the form of a solid foam body of a thermoplastic foam material.

Abstract: A monopropellant propulsion system has a tank which includes a liquid chamber and a gas plenum. A monopropellant liquid is contained in the liquid chamber, and a monopropellant gas generator communicates with the gas plenum and the liquid chamber. The gas generator is operable to generate pressurized monopropellant gas in the gas plenum upon receiving monopropellant liquid from the liquid chamber. A one-way flow control valve controls flow of monopropellant liquid from the liquid chamber to the monopropellant gas generator. There is always a standing supply of pressurized monopropellant gas in the gas plenum such that a thrust chamber communicating with the gas plenum will always be supplied with gas. A thrust-generating mechanism is disposed in the thrust chamber in the form of an integrated valve and nozzle.