Abstract: A triboelectric device includes a voltage source, a polarizing amplifier, and electrodes to apply a polarizing voltage to a first material of the device. The electrodes are not fixed to the first material, allowing relative rubbing displacement between the electrodes and the first material. Preferably, a conductive second material, such as petrolatum, is provided between the first material and the electrodes. Such a device can have its properties change while in service. To accommodate this, the voltage source preferably provides an adjustable polarization voltage. The triboelectric device is useful as a transducer, and particularly useful as a hydrophone used in sonar antenna, as its mode type can be changed in the field during service to correct spurious signals or interferring noises.

Abstract: A piezosensitive device includes a material and a device that applies a polarizing voltage to the material. Embodiments of the material are piezosensitive only when a polarizing voltage is applied to them. The device can be used, for example, in electromechanical transducers of sonar antennas.

Abstract: The invention concerns the field of focusing and aiming instruments and more particularly a device for determining the direction of a target in a predetermined index mark comprising a focusing element, a resetting device for resetting the focusing element and a device for processing signals derived from the focusing element, the processing device determining values representing the direction between the focusing element and the target and transmitting the values to a display or an external system. The device is characterized in that the focusing element has a focusing member of three gyrometers arranged along three axes substantially perpendicular to one another and a controller that controls the transmission of the values representing the direction between the focusing element and the target to the display or to the external system.

Abstract: According to the process of the invention, sets of restriction fragments from the DNA of an individual are prepared, these restriction fragments being separated by size. Probes are prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA from a genome bank of the species to which this individual belongs, separation of the fragments obtained as a function of their size, labeling these probes and placing them in contact, under hybridization conditions, with the aforementioned sets of restriction fragments. Finally, selection is made of the probes (capable of hybridizing with said set of restriction fragments) which do not give hybridization profiles identical to those obtained with known probes recognizing variable number tandem repeat regions. Applications for the probes thus obtained include, particularly, processes for identifying an individual, consanguinity testing, and investigating the origin of a seed.

Abstract: A container is intended for containing a lightweight torpedo type weapon to e launched from a surface craft. The weapon includes activation structure for the batteries supplying energy to the weapon, an extraction device of the activation safety device when the weapon is launched, and a remote control connection to supply the programming of the weapon commands before it is launched. These three features are interdependent with the container, which is brought to the launching position with the weapon held in a storage position. The activation of the activation structure for the batteries and extraction device of the activation safety device, as well as the disconnection of the remote control connection, take place automatically when the weapon is launched.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention is that of spin-stabilized subcaliber rojectiles including a core integral with a sabot, and a sleeve.The sleeve includes a rear annular area lodged in a corresponding groove in the sabot and providing gastightness, wherein:the sabot includes, toward the front of the projectile, a cylindrical crown having an edge bordering the band groove;the crown includes at least three notches, separated by castellations, and extending axially at least to the band groove;the sleeve follows a profile complementary to that of the sabot, so that it enters into the notches;and the projectile possesses means for separating the sleeve into several sectors under the effect of the centrifugal force, at the time the projectile leaves the gun muzzle.Application to medium-caliber ammunition.

Abstract: The technical sector of the invention is that of explosive charges with a re-forming coating. This explosive charge is characterized by the fact that the coating includes two superimposed and contiguous plates. The plate in contact with the air has a lower density than that of the plate in contact with the explosive matter, and its compressibility is less than or equal to 50% under a pressure of 50 Gigapascals.

Abstract: The invention concerns a protective varnish applied to a caseless or combible-case round of ammunition against thermoinitiation. This varnish includes at least one reactive layer applied to the ammunition, consisting of a synthetic resin and an oxidizer with a decomposition temperature above 350.degree. C., and at least one insulating layer applied to the reactive layer consisting of a synthetic resin and a heat insulating compound. The resins are of the polyurethane, alkyd or oleophenolic type and the oxidizer is selected from the group constituted by potassium perchlorate, lead or barium chromate according to a percentage by mass varying from 1 to 20%. The insulating compound is represented by organic or mineral microballoons. The varnish may include an inner resin layer interposed between the ammunition and the reactive layer, an an outer resin layer applied to the insulating layer. Application to the rounds of ammunition of any caliber.

Abstract: The autonomous power supply for observation device with capacitive-effect electrooptical cells includes a low-voltage power source, clock or synchronization circuits, switches and circuits processing the clock signals or synchronization to control circuit creating intermittent high voltage.

Abstract: An improved nose construction for a subcaliber inertial projectile which is ired with the aid of a sabot. A hood or body is mounted on the nose portion of the projectile. The hood is made of synthetic material and includes longitudinally extending fracture zones and is of substantially cylindrical shape. The frontal portion of the hood is recessed and forms an air flow receiving surface. In lieu of a hood a body, made of a thermoplastic material or the like, may be mounted on the nose portion. This body is adapted to disintegrate as result of air friction. The presence of the hood or body on the nose portion of the projectile, as it exits from a non-illustrated gun barrel, avoids or at least reduces unfavorable air-streaming forces which destabilize the flight characteristics of the projectile and thereby favors a uniform separation of the sabot segments from the projectile. Such uniform separation reduces or completely eliminates undesirable oscillations during flight of the projectile.

Abstract: A priming composition with an elevated thermal stability, which is sensit to percussion, is disclosed. The priming composition comprises a tetrazolic ring containing primary explosive and a sensitivity additive. The sensitivity additive comprises an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent. 40 to 95 weight percent of the priming composition is the primary explosive, 2.5 to 40 weight percent of the priming composition is the oxidizing agent and 2.5 to 40 weight percent of the priming composition is the reducing agent. The priming composition is applied to heads of percussion fuses.

Abstract: Apparatus or a device for use in the jettisoning and flotation of a susped load, particularly an underwater listening buoy, comprises a parachute for suspending the load during descent between jettisoning and flotation, and at least one inflatable float for maintaining the load at a predetermined depth in a body of water. The float comprises a pillow-shaped inflatable ballonet fixed in the central portion of the parachute. It may have an inflation sleeve coupled at one end to the ballonet for inflating the ballonet with the superatmospheric pressure generated by the descent of the parachute. A tension member may be provided fixed at one end to the free end of the sleeve and at its other end to the load so as to extend the sleeve downwardly during descent. The inflation sleeve preferably is of frustoconical form and divergent toward its lower free end.

Abstract: A hydrophone is disclosed which has a cardioid-shaped directional lobe for elective reception of acoustic waves. The device comprises a cylindrical casing having an acoustic window in a rear member thereof and a piezoelectric transducer supported by an annular internally groove front member. A bottom member located in the opening of the front member and spaced from the piezoelectric transducer is provided with a wall element. A ring element is located in the groove of the front member. Cavities are thus formed between the bottom member of the wall element and between the ring element and the front part of the casing to form thin sheets of air for producing acoustic decoupling to permit reception of acoustic waves impinging on the rear member of the casing and minimizing the effect of acoustic waves received from other directions.

Abstract: This invention deals with under water towing from a ship having a central ll, the side walls of which are provided with arcuate slideways on which a carriage may run. This carriage has a yoke from which it supports a first pulley over which the tow cable is passed in its run between the thing towed and a second pulley located inside the ship. The yoke is pivoted to the carriage on the same axis as that of the cable run between the first and second pulleys so that the first pulley position is maintained against ship's roll. The carriage moves on the slideways so that the cable run between the two pulleys stays of equal length as the swell of the sea lifts or lowers the ship relative to the thing towed. The whole carriage -- first pulley assembly can be drawn into a well-head frame which can be tilted to free the well-head from obstruction.

Abstract: A simultaneously transmitting and receiving multipath sonar antenna comprs an acoustic lens which focuses received acoustic beams on a focal surface, and at least two intercalated groups of piezoelectric transducers disposed on the focal surface of the lens. The transducers of the at least two groups are tuned to different frequencies, and the transducers of each group are excited with a phase difference between one column and the next column of the same group.

Abstract: A towed device comprising two fish, carrying measuring apparatus, which m remain vertically aligned during the measurements. The device includes a carrying cable fastened to a relay fish. The fish carrying the measuring apparatus are fastened to the cable and a plurality of fins are placed over the cable to improve the drag. A diving wing pulls the cable so that the device remains vertical. The device may be used for measuring gradients of physical magnitudes at sea and in particular the vertical gradient of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A return device for a hydraulic steering mechanism of a vehicle includes an pparatus for automatically returning the wheels of the vehicle to a straight-ahead position after they are laterally pivoted by a steering wheel acting through a line of shafts. A hairpin spring is stressed by the rotation of a drum mounted on one of the shafts to create a resistance to further lateral pivoting of the vehicle wheels away from a straight-ahead position and a return force to return the vehicle wheels to a straight-ahead position. After the hairpin spring is stressed, a coil spring is tensioned by the rotation of the drum to create an additional resistance to further lateral pivoting of the vehicle wheels away from a straight-ahead position and an additional return force to return the vehicle wheels to a straight-ahead position.

Abstract: A thick folded dipole having an operating frequency which is far less than he first resonance frequency. The dipole includes a folded strand and a thick fed strand having a diameter which is about ten times greater than the diameter of the folded strand. The fed strand comprises two spaced apart cylindrical half strands having ends in the form of conical frustums and coaxial bore holes. A center conductor of a coaxial cable extends through the folded strand, the bore hole of one half strand, the space between the half strands and into the bore hole of the other half strand. Symmetrical spaced apart short circuits for matching the radiation impedance of the dipole by varying the distance between the short circuits are provided between the fed strand and the folded strand. In another embodiment there is disclosed a thick folded half dipole including a folded half strand and a thick fed cylindrical half strand.

Abstract: An apparatus provided on a self-propelled underwater device connected to base by a cable. The apparatus comprises an auxiliary propeller disposed at the rear of the device in a support to which is secured the connecting cable and which is connected to the device by a universal joint; the apparatus also includes elements for measuring the forces which the universal joint applies to the device to automatically act on the propeller to offset these forces.