Abstract: A large eddy break-up device for towed acoustic arrays for reducing the f noise due to the (TBL) around the towed array is described. It includes two identical halves, each having a circumferential airfoil and two flat flanges which are used to secure it to a coupling on the towed acoustic array and also to integrate the two halves using fasteners. The circumferential foil interferes with the flow noise and large eddys are broken up into easily dissipating small eddys of higher frequency.

Abstract: An electrical device is provided for the conversion of low-molecular-weight molecules, such as methane, into higher weight molecules, such as heptane and octane. The reaction chamber contains an array of parallel dielectric tubes, with a semiconducting layer beneath their inner surfaces which carries a current. During operation, electrons strike the inner surfaces of the tubes, ionizing molecules absorbed on the surfaces, which are then accelerated by the electric field and are carries to a new surface location, where they combine with absorbed molecules there to form a variety of new larger molecules. Excess hydrogen in the ionized condition is removed, being accelerated by the electric field to the opposite ends of the tubes. Under some conditions of operation, large molecules can be segmented into smaller ones.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gas jet device within at least one movable nozzle in rotation, enabling the creation of one or more thrust forces providing for the guidance-control of a carrier. The guidance-control device has a nozzle unit to which a nozzle is fixed. The nozzle, through the movable nozzle unit, is put into rotation by a rotation-driving device which may be, for example, a rotation-driving device. This pneumatic control device has a control piston provided with a rack device and cylindrical chambers. Through a gas distribution system, these cylindrical chambers undergo pressure variations which give the piston a translational motion. This piston transmits a rotational motion, through a toothed wheel, to the nozzle unit and, hence, to the nozzle. With a gas generator feeding the nozzle or nozzles, and with the guidance-control mode being chosen, all that remains is to position the nozzle or nozzles according to the desired aperture angle to obtain the desired direction.

Abstract: Removable front sight for the barrel of a firearm has an upper blade portion, a generally rectangular base portion and a lower shank portion. The base portion is adapted to fit into a correspondingly shaped recess and the shank portion is generally cylindrical in shape to fit into an upwardly opening bore formed in the upper surface of the gun barrel and adjacent the muzzle end thereof. A longitudinal hole extends from the muzzle end of the barrel, communicates with the bore, and terminates rearwardly thereof to provide a housing for a combination spring and detent disposed therein. The detent is urged forwardly by the spring to engage, releasably, a groove in the shank having an axially opening entry portion and a detent receiving cavity angularly offset from the groove. A pin extends across the longitudinal hole and fits into a trough formed in the upper edge portion of the detent to limit the stroke of the detent.

Abstract: An apparatus including an illumination member cooperative with a mechanical bolt, whereupon in a lowered position the apparatus effects blockage of an associated trigger of the firearm within the firearm mechanism while in a raised second position and effects electrical contact to further effect illumination of an indicator to provide visual indication of the firearm in a selective firing position. Alternatively, the mechanism may be oriented to effect illumination during the safety being in an engaged position with the associated trigger. Further modifications of the invention include a selective cover to overlie the illumination member, as well as a selective polarized lens support member to permit orientation of a variety of lenses into operative association with the illumination member to accommodate various light conditions in a shooting environment.

Abstract: A guided missile with a hot-gas generator, whose gas penetrates a plurality of blow-out nozzles, which are arranged at regular intervals along the circumference and extend essentially perpendicularly to the longitudinal missile axis, whereby the flow rate of the gas through the individual blow-out nozzles can be regulated by a control device. The control device has a star coupling, which contains a number of arms corresponding to the number of blow-out nozzles, whereby each arm has a positioning element assigned to it, the corresponding blow-out nozzle can close completely or partially, and each arm has a control element assigned to it.

Abstract: A scavenger for purifying inert gas mixtures to remove Lewis acid and oxidant impurities therefrom, comprising (i) an inert inorganic support, and (ii) an active scavenging species on the support, formed by deposition thereon of an organometallic precursor and pyrolysis thereof at a selected elevated temperature. The organometallic precursor is an alkyl metal compound comprising a metal of Group IA, IIA, and/or IIIA, wherein the pyrolysis temperature may range from about 150.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C., depending on the specific alkyl metal compound employed as the precursor. Also disclosed are: a corresponding method of making the scavenger; a process for purifying inert gases by contacting same with the scavenger; and a vessel containing a bed of the scavenger, useful as an apparatus for purifying inert gases.

Abstract: The present invention entails a safe weapons system for a firearm. In particular, the safety system of the present invention comprises a non-fireable slug specifically designed to be received and accepted within a firing chamber forming a part of the firearm. The non-fireable slug includes an outer cylindrical tapered wall that is generally tapered to conform to the taper of the firing chamber itself and the slug is specifically sized such that it is designed to assume to seized or secured position within the firing chamber intermediately between opposed end portions of the firing chamber. Safety is realized because of the position occupied by the slug within the firing chamber. The position occupied by the slug within the firing chamber makes it practically impossible for the firearm to be chambered with a live ammunition round.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recoil-redirecting mechanism for a gun which includes a frame, a gun barrel assembly having a barrel and a receiver with a bolt therein. The gun barrel assembly is slidably mounted to longitudinally reciprocate on the frame between a forwardmost position and a rearwardmost position. Means for firing the gun when the gun barrel assembly is substantially at its forwardmost position is provided. The recoil-redirecting mechanism includes a recoil-absorbing spring, a fixed pulley mounted on the frame, and a travelling pulley mounted on a longtudinally-reciprocating block which is longitudinally slidable relative to the frame substantially parallel to and independent from the gun barrel assembly. A cable having a first end fixed relative to the frame operably extends over and is reversed in direction by the travelling pulley, further extends over and is reversed in direction by the fixed pulley, and has a second end fixed to the gun barrel assembly.

Abstract: The invention is an air-to-subsurface missile system which has an acoustic oming torpedo and a directional sonobuoy held in the missile behind the torpedo by a cowling means which includes fins for aerodynamic stability. When the missile reaches the desired location in a body of water, the torpedo and sonobuoy are released. The sonobuoy has the ability to search for targets and to communicate both with the homing torpedo and with a tactical command station. Thus the torpedo can be guided to a target by the sonobuoy and command station, even at ranges at which the torpedo could not locate a target with its own homing system.

Abstract: A hand guard removably mountable on the barrel of a firearm such as a rifle. The hand guard is formed in two complementary mating housing components joined in a vertical plane which contains the longitudinal axis of the barrel. The housing components together define a convection chamber which envelops a substantial length of the barrel of the firearm. The joined housing components are generally of pear-shaped cross section having a broadened, flattened bottom member and a narrow, tall chimney member. Heat from the barrel of the firearm creates convection currents in the convection chamber as cooling air is drawn through inlet ports in the bottom member, around the barrel, and out through exhaust ports in sidewalls of the chimney member. A heat shield is carried by each of the housing components and is positioned between the barrel and the outer housing.

Abstract: The explosive initiator features an angled fiber optic adapter connected thereto. The initiator includes an elongated tubular cartridge with a longitudinal passageway having input and output ends and an explosive disposed therein downstream of a transparent sealing window and upstream of an output closure. The adapter has an elongated passageway therethrough with input and output ends and divided into a first portion at an angle of preferably 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the cartridge and a second portion in line with the cartridge. A mirror lens is positioned in the adapter passageway at the intersection of the two portions for reflecting a light beam from an optical fiber in the inlet end of the adapter to the cartridge passageway and focusing the light beam on the window. Preferably the second portion of the adapter is rotatably mounted to the cartridge.

Abstract: A method of seismic exploration uses recordings from both surface receivers and buried sensors to determine the full elastic effect of the near surface layer on an applied seismic wave. The surface receivers are arranged relative to the seismic source location so that rotational effects may be detected. Buried sensors are located so that vertical effects may be detected. This full elastic effect may be used in subsequent seismic data acquisition to reconcile the effect of the near surface so that the response of the underlying rock formations may be known.

Abstract: A magnetic coupler and the use of such couplers to place a plurality of etroacoustic transducers around a lengthy single conductor trunk cable is described. The magnetic couplers are used to place the electroacoustic transducers in any randomly selected configuration. They allow the use of a single conductor trunk cable so as to facilitate the deployment of the system at a relatively low cost.

Abstract: A light weight and compact geophone assembly for detecting transient seismic signals along orthogonal axes. The geophone assembly having a plurality of geophones arranged within close proximity of each other within a compact housing. The geophones are interconnected to a conductor cable passing through the housing in a unique water-tight sealing arrangement. At the cable entrance into the housing, the conductor cable is surrounded by a tapered boot compressed about the cable by a sleeve which in turn is fixed in place by a locking nut. The locking nut is received by complementary threads at the cable entrance into the housing. When tightened, the locking nut forces the compression sleeve over the tapered surface of the boot, compressing the boot about the cable. In addition, the locking nut and compression sleeve urge the boot in compression between the cable and the housing. Located atop of the housing is a bubble leveling device.

Abstract: A firearm scope which is coupled in axial alignment with a firearm barrel includes a number of components. A tubular scope barrel is provided. An objective lens assembly is coupled to one end of the tubular scope barrel for receiving a target image. An erector lens assembly is disposed within the tubular scope for processing the target image. An ocular lens assembly is coupled to the opposite end of the tubular scope barrel for viewing the target image. A reticle is provided in the tubular scope barrel, and is visible through the ocular lens for defining an aiming point in the target image. A means for visually indicating the tilt of the firearm scope and barrel from vertical is provided in the tubular scope barrel, and is visible through the ocular lens assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for igniting a gas generating propellant grain which is susceptible to shattering when suddenly exposed to pressure above a predetermined pressure. The apparatus comprises a housing having a peripheral side surface, an axial end surface and a longitudinal central axis. An ignitable material is contained in the housing. The ignitable material develops hot gases, flame and pressure within said housing upon combustion of the ignitable material. The peripheral side surface of the housing ruptures at a pressure which is substantially less than the predetermined pressure at which the propellant grain shatters to direct the hot gases and flame radially of the longitudinal central axis of the housing to ignite the propellant grain.

Abstract: A delay detonator for causing actual detonation of a device a predetermined period of time following ignition as required by a wide variety of military and civilian operations. The detonator comprises a conventional primer, an expansion chamber separated by a screen from a first-fire combustion section, a delay column, two successive combustion sections separated by a screen, and a detonator output assembly.

Abstract: A safety device for locking a rifle, pistol or revolver so that it can not be accidentally discharged. The device operates by occupying the barrel of the gun and projecting into the breech. It is locked in place by a digital padlock which is used because it is difficult for children and unauthorized persons to open while being easy for an authorized person to open in the dark. Use of the device requires removal or displacement of parts of the weapon, increasing the safety provisions and guarding against accidental firing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maximizing the shear wave energy imparted into the soil upon the impacting of a base plate by an impact mass from a seismic generator. A seismic generator is disposed at an angle relative to a line generally perpendicular to the surface to the ground. The angle varies with soil conditions and the angle is determined by locating an accelerometer on the base plate of the generator and observing the horizontal acceleration rate as indicated by the accelerometer. If the acceleration rate exceeds a predetermined value, the anguular disposition of the generator s changed to decrease the angle either manually or automatically until the acceleration rate no longer exceeds a predetermined value.