Abstract: A directional control system for ballistic projectiles, including a projectile capable of being fired from a gun, a tracking device within the projectile capable of sensing and identifying a preferred target direction, a moveable mass located within the projectile, an electromagnetic mass-shifting device within the projectile capable of reversibly moving the mass from a first position to a second position whereby the flight path of the projectile is controlled. The directional control system may be used with a projectile which has no externally protruding bodies. The system includes at least one microprocessor programmed to obtain input from the tracking device and to perform calculations to determine movements of the mass. The moveable mass is positioned to shift the momentum vector perpendicular to the central longitudinal spin axis of the projectile when in motion.

Abstract: A system for clearing anti-personnel mines includes a vehicle, a blast shd on the front of the vehicle, and arms pivoted to the blast shield. A roller wheel subassembly is connected to the arms by cables or chains. Cross members fastened diagonally between the arms minimize side to side swing of the arms on the blast shield while allowing the arms to swing up and down relative to each other. The vehicle has a boom for lifting the arms and roller wheel subassembly. The arms connect to the boom by another chain or cable that slides through an eye on the boom so that the chain or cable accommodates relative vertical swing of the arms. The roller wheel subassembly has an axle and roller wheels on the axle, the inner diameter of the roller wheels being greater than the axle's diameter. Annular spacers on the axle alternate with the wheels, the spacer diameters being larger than the wheels' inner diameters but smaller than the wheels' outer diameters.

Abstract: A laser sight assembly comprising a casing adapted for fixing to a gun, etc., a socket member mounted in the casing, and a laser module mounted in the socket member and controlled to emit a laser beam for guiding the eye, wherein the casing is comprised of two symmetrical shells connected together by screws and defining a ball socket. The socket member is a hollow, spherical, split socket turned in the ball socket and positioned at the designed angle within the casing by a frictional force. The laser module has a detachable power control device fastened thereto by a screw joint for operation control, and is turned with the socket member within the ball socket to the desired angle.

Abstract: Means to prevent a firearm from accidentally discharging during the process of releasing the safety mechanism, such prevention of accidental discharge being accomplished by preventing or rendering less probable one or more of the following: 1) a trigger being unintentionally pressed back, 2) an unintentionally pressed-back trigger being displaced, and 3) an unintentionally displaced trigger releasing the firing pin.

Abstract: A side-impact airbag is essentially tubular and formed from two substantially identical panels. One of the panels is shortened, as by pleating and stitching. The resulting airbag, when inflated, has a unique assymetrical shape which minimizes any tendency to slap against a vehicle's occupant.

Abstract: A pest-trapping device that enables quick and easy containment of one or more rodents such as mice or rats. The device includes a container that may be easily manufactured in a unitary piece. A dowel is fixed between opposing walls of the container. A rodent access ramp spans a distance from the surrounding floor to the dowel. An entry hole is located adjacent to the ramp connection to the dowel to provide a rodent path into the container. A baited spinner is rotationally placed on the dowel so that a rodent travelling up the ramp, through the entry hole, and along the dowel will climb atop the baited spinner and lose its balance. The rodent will then be trapped in a well portion of the container. The well may be empty or may contain a quantity of fluid sufficient to drown the rodents. The spinner is preferably formed in the shape of an hourglass.

Abstract: A new Firearm Piercing Tool Attachment Device for attaching a piercing tool to a firearm having a cleaning port. The inventive device includes a body having a hollow section and a second section, the second section being receivable within the cleaning port of the firearm, a spring-biased pin disposed within the second section for removably attaching the second section to the cleaning port, and a plurality of retaining set screws for removably attaching the piercing tool handle to the hollow section.

Abstract: In a seeker head for target tracking missiles or projectiles, an imaging optical system with an optical axis is mounted on a rotor. The rotor is mounted for universal swivelling motion in the missile. It rotates about its geometrical axis. Thereby, the rotor is stabilized in inertial space as a gyro. The optical system images an object scene on a circular array of detector elements. The rotor can be caused to make controlled precession and nutation movements by control loops with attitude pick-offs and a torquer coil such that the optical axis of the optical system makes a cyclic spiral movement over an extended field of view, in a seeking and target acquisition mode, is then precessed towards a detected target, the nutation amplitude, in a pre-phase mode, being made equal to the target deviation, and, eventually, in a target-tracking mode, makes a circling movement within a limited area in the field of view containing the target.

Abstract: The present invention provides coolable exhaust nozzle flap and seal assemblies having liners that are spaced inward and apart from their respective flap and seal cool walls, to form a cooling passage therebetween that converges in the axial downstream flow direction. One embodiment provides single wall multi-hole film cooled nozzle flap and seal liners particularly for use individually or in combination on convergent and divergent hollow flaps and seals for variable exhaust nozzles. Flap and seal coolable assemblies may be unitary structures that are integrally fabricated or formed such as by casting.

Abstract: A guided artillery projectile is provided for use in improving its accuracy while spinning. The projectile includes an artillery shell, a plurality of movable fins, fin actuators for two-dimensional steering, a fin control for the fin actuators, and a guidance unit for the fin control. A method of guiding an artillery projectile is also provided.

Abstract: A coupler for attaching a suppressor to a firearm flash hider. The coupler includes a main body, an inner collar, and an outer collar. The main body defines a through bore configured to closely receive the flash hider at one end and for the passage of the bullet at the other. The main body defines a first threaded portion proximate the central portion thereof, the threads being right-handed threads. The main body defines a sound suppressor attachment device at the second end thereof. The inner collar defines a through bore oriented coaxially thereto. A first end of the through bore is configured to receive the first end of the main body. Proximate the second end of the inner collar, the through bore defines a second inner diameter dimensioned to receive the firearm flash hider. The inner collar carries a plurality of locking fingers, each pivotally mounted on the inner collar via a pivot pin.

Abstract: A fish trace (10) has a trace line (11) with projections (12) spaced along it, and the projections (12) are selectively engaged by two spaced legs (21) of a resilient clip (13), the leg ends being returned over the legs and the return portions (27) thereby defining a mouth through which the trace line (11) can be simply passed, and a projection (12) can be retained between the legs (21) in a clip (13) by the legs (21) and their return portions (27) and consequent entrapment of the trace line (11) adjacent opposite ends of the projection (12), the legs (21) having to be again deflected for the trace line and projection to come away from the clip. The entire trace can be free of knots which otherwise reduce the line strength.

Abstract: As voltage and frequency dependent multiple payload dispenser system in which a variable voltage or frequency signal source is used to selectively fire squibs based on the pass voltages and pass frequencies of a filter network. The filter network is placed near, or incorporated into, the payload dispenser itself or attached to the magazine, reducing system wiring.

Abstract: A protected platform isolates its user from crawling insects. The platform has a central tarp area sized to comfortably accommodate the user. Around the periphery of the tarp is a raised boundary. A tape is attached to this boundary so that it presents an adhesive surface to any crawling insect attempting to traverse the boundary. The adhesive surface is downwardly disposed to protect it from debris or grass. The boundary can inflatable and can also contain foam to add rigidity.

Abstract: A holder for feeding components, such as primers or bullets, into a reloading machine is disclosed. The component holder is an elongate strip having notched longitudinal margins for indexing the strip as it progresses through the reloading machine. The strip includes a plurality of receptacles for holding components. Each receptacle has an inner surface that is a combination of a cylindrical portion, a prismatical portion, and a transition portion which cooperate to allow easy loading of the component into the strip and which firmly holds the component in place. The holder also includes an engagement portion so that successive holders may be ganged together to provide a continuous component holder for continuous reloading operations. A tape is applied to at least one side of the holder to cover the component held therein.

Abstract: An elongated support plank structure longitudinally extends transversely through the cabin area of a helicopter and has outer end portions projecting outwardly beyond opposite sides of the helicopter. A pair of 30 mm machine guns are mounted on the plank end portions and are supplied with belted ammunition from magazine boxes mounted on the plank within the cabin area via flexible feed chutes interconnected between the magazine boxes and interiorly rollered feed adapters interconnected between the outer ends of the feed chutes and the inlets of the machine gun feeder mechanisms. The 30 mm machine guns are secured to the outer plank end portions by specially designed mounting structures each having a cradle portion with axis-adjustable roller assemblies that engage the gun and essentially preclude lateral movement thereof relative to the cradle, but permit roller-guided longitudinal gun recoil movement, during firing of the gun.

Abstract: A digital remote pyrotactic firing unit for the controlled selection and ignition of a pyrotactic device. An operator manually selects a specific output channel, which generates a Binary Code Decimal signal. The binary code decimal signal is received by a remote ignition circuit unit that is connected to the pyrotactic device and generates an ignition signal from being energized by an enabling firing circuit.

Abstract: Rifling for the barrel of a firearm includes a first gain twist region for increasing the rotational velocity of a bullet as it travels from the breech towards the muzzle end of the barrel, and a second region in which the rifling is of a constant twist so that the bullet exits the muzzle end of the barrel at a constant rotational velocity. The bore defined in the barrel is tapered in a direction from the breech end to the muzzle end so that the diameter of the muzzle opening of the barrel is less than the diameter of the breech opening. The angle of the rifling is variable with the rate of the gain twist of the rifling. The gain twist of the rifling in the barrel is formed by a button, preferably having a sinusoidal shaped periphery, which is pulled through the barrel during the manufacturing process. The smooth periphery of the button prevents shredding of the barrel when the button is twisted at different speeds to provide the variable gain twist of the rifling in different sections of the barrel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for guiding a missile in alignment onto a moving target. In particular, the guidance computer of the system has a first unit for estimating the state of the missile and the movements of a target on the basis of the measurement of the position of the missile with respect to a datum axis, obtained by angular deviation measuring means, and by using a model of the dynamic behavior of the missile as well as kinematic model of the target. Additionally, the guidance computer has a second unit linked to the first unit for deriving tracking orders and datum values for slaving the missile, and a third unit linked to the first and second units for deriving the control order applied to the missile and the first unit.

Abstract: A weapons launching system (20) is located in an internal weapons storage compartment of an airplane, preferably a widebody aircraft. The system includes a monorail assembly (22) supported by a rail frame (24), and a number of carriage trucks (26) movably engaged with the monorail assembly (22). The carriage trucks (26) deliver weapons (27) via the monorail assembly (22) to a launch bay (28) located near one end of the storage compartment. The carriage trucks (26) include handling-release units (30) for picking up and moving weapons (27) within the storage compartment and for releasing the weapons (27) out the launch bay (28). A portion of the weapons are initially held by the handling-release units (30), while the remaining weapons are supported on stationary support units (34) located in the rail frame (24).