Abstract: A projectile for gun ammunition of 50 caliber or less, the projectile including an outer jacket having a longitudinal centerline and which houses one or more cores made up of a powder or mixture of powders comprising a frangible disc including a central region thereof formed of a compressed unbonded quantity of particles of at least one metal powder and an outer peripheral skin defined by melded ones of said at least one metal powder particles. Manufacture of the disc, a projectile including the disc and a round of gun ammunition including the disc-containing projectile are disclosed.

Abstract: A projectile for being propelled toward a target includes a cylindrical body of Type 55 Nitinol that has a soft martensitic state that is readily deformed by rifling in the bore of a gun barrel to form grooves which ride on the rifling to spin the projectile. The Nitinol has a low coefficient of friction with the steel barrel and is sufficiently strong to prevent shedding particles or depositing projectile material in the bore. On impact with the target, the Nitinol undergoes a strain-induced shift to an ultra-high strength state in which the projectile is capable of remaining intact and concentrating its full energy on the small area of contact for maximal penetration and damage to the target instead of mushrooming widely and spreading its energy over a wide area as conventional projectiles do. Projectiles in the form of bullets, shotgun slugs, penetrating warheads, caseless ammunition and artillery shells are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrothermal ignition device for igniting a powder propellant charge (4), which comprises at least one electrically-conductive wire (11; 15; 19; 22), that extends, at least partially, through the propellant charge, and can be connected to a current source (3). The electrically-conductive wire (11; 15; 19; 22) is coated with a pyrotechnical ignition mixture (12; 16; 20)so that the ignition device can have a low electrical-energy requirement and be easily adapted to the different requirements placed on it. A mixture on a potassium perchlorate-zirconium (KClO4—Zr) base has proven to be an advantageous ignition mixture.

Abstract: A modular missile assembly includes a pair of modules which are separately transported and handled until just prior to firing, when they are coupled together. A forward payload-carrying module includes a forward canister which encloses a missile payload section, for example, consisting of a penetrator rod, fins, and ancillary sub-assemblies. An aft booster module includes a missile propulsion section, encased in an aft canister. Prior to firing, suitable forward and aft modules are selected, are individually loaded into a launch tube, and are coupled together. In this coupling the missile payload section and the missile propulsion section are coupled together to form a missile, and the forward and aft canisters are likewise coupled together to form a combined canister assembly. Division of the missile into separate payload and booster modules facilitates handling as compared to unitary missiles. The modular design also allows increased flexibility.

Abstract: A nuclear steam supply containment system employing prefabricated component supports that are surrounded by steel concrete forms and anchored to the floor liner of a nuclear containment. The prefabricated component supports extend through the concrete forms and a reinforce concrete slab cap to a support elevation for the component. A second inner steel concrete form can be employed to form an annular concrete channel through which the supports extend. The center of the inner form can be filled with a sand-like substance, radiation absorber material or concrete grout.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placement of continuous pre-split, gel explosive in an elongated borehole or cavity. An anchor is attached to one end of a selected length of continuous gel explosive. A suitable anchor is a flexible, plastic “pilgrim's hat” with a hole in the narrow, closed end. The size of the anchor depends on the width of the borehole; the flared skirt should be narrow enough to permit insertion of the anchor into the hole but wide enough to resist removal. One end of the explosive charge is pressed through the hole in the anchor. The remainder of the length of explosive is placed inside a tubular member, such as PVC pipe. The loaded pipe then is inserted into the borehole or cavity with the anchor leading. The pipe is used to push the anchor back into the hole to the desired depth. Then, the pipe is withdrawn. The flexible skirt on the anchor engages the sidewall of the borehole and thus resists removal with the pipe.

Abstract: A bullet, bullet jacket, and method of making the bullet and bullet jacket. The bullet jacket comprises a predominantly copper outer shell and a predominantly zinc lining. The bullet comprises the bullet jacket and a bullet core. The bullet jacket is made by forming a predominantly copper sheet and a predominantly zinc sheet. The two sheets are then adhered to one another by cladding or roll bonding, and shaped such that they can fully encase a bullet core. The bullet is then made by using conventional means to seat and enclose the bullet core within the bullet jacket of the present invention.

Abstract: An initiator header subassembly for an inflation device, such as “air bag” safety system, includes an electrically conductive grounding tab having an outer perimeter, and a mass of an insulating material secured atop the grounding tab, the mass of an insulating material having a top surface, a bottom surface and a sidewall extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The initiator header subassembly includes two electrically conductive pins extending completely through the grounding tab and the mass of an insulating material. A first one of the electrically conductive pins is electrically interconnected with the grounding tab and a second one of the electrically conductive pins is electrically isolated from the grounding tab. The sidewall of the mass of an insulating material is in substantial alignment with the outer perimeter of the grounding tab.

Abstract: A war games land mine includes a fluid supply mechanism, a housing and a sealing device. The fluid supply mechanism is configured for containing and selectively releasing therefrom a pressurized fluid. The housing has an interior surface, a first orifice and a second orifice, the first orifice of the housing being fluidly coupled with the fluid supply mechanism. The sealing device is movably mounted within the housing, the sealing device having a first side and a second side. The first side and the interior surface of the housing define a first chamber therebetween, the first chamber being fluidly coupled with the first orifice. The second side and the interior surface defining a second chamber therebetween, the second chamber being fluidly coupled with the second orifice and configured for being substantially filled with a marking agent.

Abstract: A gas generator according has a polymeric closure and an igniter subassembly comprising an igniter and a polymeric gas generator body. The gas generator body and the polymeric closure define a hermetically sealed combustion chamber for receiving a gas generant. The igniter receives an electrical current and ignites the gas generant. The generated gas can be used in vehicle occupant safety devices including seat belt pretensioners, airbags, compressed gas vessel openers, and other devices requiring a rapid pulse of high-pressure gas.

Abstract: A weapon system and projectile are disclosed. The projectile incorporates a rheological fluid, the viscosity of which is adjustable in the presence of an appropriate field of energy. The weapon system includes a launching device (e.g., a gun) for firing the projectile and an energy field generator coupled to the launching device. The energy field generator provides the appropriate field of energy about the projectile to increase the viscosity of the rheological fluid. The projectile can be non-lethal when the rheological fluid has not been subjected to the field of energy and can be made more lethal when the rheological fluid has been subjected to the field of energy.

Abstract: A short-action firearm has a chamber and bolt assembly with unique pressure, length and diametric relationships. The overall length of the chamber has a ratio to a diameter thereof, at a predetermined location on a wide portion of the chamber, of no more than about 4.2. Such diameter is at least about 0.53 inch, and the length of the wide portion of the chamber has a ratio to such diameter of no more than about 3.33.

Abstract: Projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target, such as a human or animal target. The projectile systems provide effectiveness by impacting the target with sufficient force to cause the target to move into a simultaneously radially dispersing inhibiting/marking substance contained within a capsule of the projectile system. In preferred embodiments, the projectile system includes a generally spherical frangible projectile that is optimally filled to greater than about 50%, more preferably about 75% to 99% of its total volume, most preferably to about 90% of capacity, with the substance to be delivered to the target. One or more frangible projectiles are configured to fit with a shell casing configured to fit within a delivery device.

Abstract: The non-lead hollow point bullet of the instant invention comprises a mixed construction slug further comprising, a monolithic metal insert having a tapered (preferred conical) hollow point tip and a tapered (preferred conical) tail protrusion, and an unsintered powdered metal composite core in tandem alignment with the insert. The core has a hollow tapered (preferred conical) cavity tip portion coupled with the tapered (preferred conical) tail protrusion on the insert. An open tip jacket envelops at least a portion of the insert and the core. The jacket is swaged at the open tip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a primer tube (1), notably for the propellant charge (4) of artillery ammunition (2). The primer tube (1) is formed of a tubular body (8) accommodating a priming composition (14). It is characterized in that the tubular body (8) incorporates at least one receiving surface (25) oriented so as to receive the propellant gas pressure generated when the propellant charge (4) is ignited, said gas acting to propel the primer tube (1). The pressure receiving surface (25) is a disk (20) arranged substantially radially to the tubular body (8).

Abstract: A non-lethal projectile system for non-lethally inhibiting a living target, multi-functional launching devices for delivering the non-lethal projectile systems to a target, methods of assembling the non-lethal projectiles, and tactical methods of the use of the non-lethal projectile, the non-lethal projectile consists of a projectile body to be impacted with a living target and an inhibiting substance within the projectile body, wherein upon impact with the target, the inhibiting substance is dispersed on and about the target. In a variation, the projectile body ruptures upon impact releasing the substance. In another variation, the inhibiting substance is a powdered substance comprising a powdered pepper derived substance, for example, oleoresin capsicum or capsaicin.

Abstract: An electro-pyrotechnic initiator suitable for use in igniting a pyrotechnic generator of gas for inflating an air bag, said initiator being connected to an electric cable comprising two conductive wires, said initiator comprising: (i) a thermosensitive charge which is carried by a heating resistive element consisting of a resistive strip and which is initiatable by said heating resistive element, ((ii) an electric circuit connecting said resistive element to said conductive wires, and (iii) means of electromagnetically protecting said electric circuit, said heating resistive element, said electric circuit and said means of electromagnetically protecting being integrated into a circuit of conductive strips which are joined to said conductive wires and which are printed on a support, said support being in the form of a thin parallelepedial card with two opposite flat faces, said conductive strips being printed on the same face of said support to provide a complete circuit comprising said conductive strips, t

Abstract: A cartridge having an electrothermal ignition device, in which, ignition conduits extend axially through a first propellant-charge powder (4) filling a cartridge sleeve (5), with the conduits essentially comprising an electrical wire (11-13) that is guided axially through a tube (14-16) comprising a second propellant-charge powder. Propellant-charge-powder tubes (14-16) comprising an optically transparent propellant-charge powder are used so that even cartridges (1) having a first propellant-charge powder (4) that is difficult to ignite can be ignited rapidly and reliably, requiring the smallest possible quantity of electrical energy.

Abstract: A spin-stabilized projectile has a projectile body and a guide band being circumferentially mounted on an outer face of the projectile body. The guide band includes a plurality of axially adjoining partial guide bands. One of the partial guide bands is a first partial guide band made of copper, a copper alloy or another soft metal. One of the partial guide bands is a second partial guide band made of soft iron and axially adjoining the first partial guide band. A total axial length of all second partial guide bands is between 5% and 50% of the total axial length of the guide band.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for altering the appearance of valuable articles comprising at least a reservoir (22) filled with a fluid adapted to soil said articles and a pyrotechnic charge (24) associated with said reservoir (22) for opening the latter to release said fluid on said articles. The (each) reservoir (22) is substantially defined by a wall made of a fragmentation material adapted, by the effect of the pyrotechnic charge (24), to produce a multitude of scattered elementary splinters. The invention is applicable to suitcases for the transport of funds.