Abstract: A composite armor having at least one sheet of HHS and at least one sheet of aluminum. The sheet of HHS is adhered to the sheet of aluminum with a sheet of adhesive material.

Abstract: A press with a pressure chamber and at least one elastomeric pressure vessel. The pressure vessel is filled with a substantially incompressible fluid that is in fluid communication with a pressurized source of the fluid. Two closable cylindrical press halves and a plurality of cylindrical bands that slidably engage able over the ends of the press halves. Two closable press halves and a plurality of spaced-apart and hinged reinforcement arm pairs. Each arm pair is spaced from, yet connected to, each adjacent arm pair so that all arm pairs may be opened and closed together. An elastomeric press bladder for a hot isostatic press. The bladder is sized to fit one end of the pressure chamber and has a circumferential embedded metal ring. The circumference of the bladder has molded lip edges having at least one cross-section complimentary to at least one shaped hollow in respective bladder/press mating parts.

Abstract: An article of armor. The article has a composite article with an exposed edge and a wrap layer wrapped around at least a portion of the exterior surface of the composite article and around at least a portion of the exposed edge. The article of armor may be a helmet.

Abstract: An armor configuration has a curtain of overlapped plates of steel in close fitting flexible pockets disposed in front of, and temporarily displacable into, a space. The pockets hold the plates in overlapped alignment and the armor configuration has, inside the space, a space-filling resiliently compressible material. The armor configuration optionally has ballistic material backing layer behind the space.

Abstract: A novel hand carried ballistic shield is disclosed. Optimal shields have a shield plate, a forestock seat, and a forearm carrier generally provided as a plurality of adjustable straps. If fixed to the plate, the straps are aligned at an upward forearm angle; if the carrier is rotatably adjustable with straps mounted on the rotatable plate, the angle of the forearm relative to the horizontal lever of the shield plate can be individually adjusted to achieve an optimum upward angle of the forearm to avoid anatomical strain, and to place the forestock hand just below the forestock seat. The forestock seat is formed in the shield plate at an upper corner of the plate and inset in an upper corner cut-out in the plate. The bottom of the cut-out desirably has a rounded profile to optimally receive the forestock of the primary weapon. The seat is positioned in the shield plate to be just above where the forearm straps position the user's hand.

Abstract: A press with a pressure chamber and a lid. The chamber is filled with a substantially incompressible medium and the medium at least partially encloses an elastomeric pressure vessel. The vessel is filled with a substantially incompressible fluid that is in fluid communication with a pressurized source of the fluid.

Abstract: A helmet with a cover, liner and core. The liner includes an edge trim hidden pocket for containing the core between cover and liner. The core is made of semi-flexible ballistic material, and the liner and cover are configured to be assembled and locked together with a mechanical snap lock.

Abstract: A press with a pressure chamber and a lid. The chamber is filled with a substantially incompressible medium and the medium at least partially encloses an elastomeric pressure vessel. The vessel is filled with a substantially incompressible fluid that is in fluid communication with a pressurized source of the fluid.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite article from a work piece at elevated temperatures and pressures. The method steps include disposing within a pressure chamber the work piece in contact with a mold, disposing a substantially incompressible medium in the chamber so that the medium is capable of transferring a substantially uniform predetermined pressure to the surface of the work piece, disposing within the substantially incompressible medium a fluid filled elastomeric vessel in fluid communication with a source of high pressure fluid so that the vessel is capable of causing a substantially uniform predetermined fluid pressure to the substantially incompressible medium, and causing the vessel to produce a pressure in the range of 400 to 20000 psi (2.8 to 138 MPa) to be applied to the substantially incompressible medium.

Abstract: A system for managing elongation and stress dispersal in a bladder used during a deep draw high pressure process. Resilient bladder material is slitted at concentric or peripheral intervals from the bladder edge(s). The slits above are offset from slits below, such that as the bladder is stretched with deformational forces, the slits are widened, and as deformation forces are abated or relieved, the bladder and its slitting reassume their pre-deformation configurations.

Abstract: High pressure composite materials presses are disclosed. Methods and machinery to preform deep draw composite materials with active stretching are also disclosed.

Abstract: An armor composite is disclosed having a relatively rigid backed support layer and a relatively softer, flexible core, with the flexible core serving as the impact layer for a projectile. In some embodiments, the flexible core is composed of two or more fibrous thermoplastic layers forcibly combined using heat and pressure. A method for making armor is disclosed that has the steps of providing one or more fiber and thermoplastic layers, gelling the layers, degassing the layers, applying isostatic pressure to the layers, and solidifying the consolidated layer under isostatic pressure to provide a rigid backed support layer.

Abstract: A fiberglass composite improved with break layers spaced between the layers of fiberglass.

Abstract: A wedging gasket with an outer relatively rigid member with a surface that is in mating press fit relationship to a vessel or lid to be sealed. The gasket also has a slightly angled inner slightly resilient member appropriately shaped to mate with a respective other part of the vessel or lid to be sealed, generally in something less than an interference fit.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite article from a work piece at elevated temperatures and pressures. The method steps include disposing within a pressure chamber the work piece in contact with a mold, disposing a substantially incompressible medium in the chamber so that the medium is capable of transferring a substantially uniform predetermined pressure to the surface of the work piece, disposing within the substantially incompressible medium a fluid filled elastomeric vessel in fluid communication with a source of high pressure fluid so that the vessel is capable of causing a substantially uniform predetermined fluid pressure to the substantially incompressible medium, and causing the vessel to produce a pressure in the range of 400 to 20000 psi (2.8 to 138 MPa) to be applied to the substantially incompressible medium.

Abstract: A press includes a pressure chamber filled with a substantially incompressible medium that at least partially encloses an elastomeric vessel filled with a substantially incompressible fluid that is in fluid communication with a pressurized source of the same fluid. Method and systems employing the press are also disclosed.

Abstract: A press includes a pressure chamber filled with a substantially incompressible medium that at least partially encloses an elastomeric vessel filled with a substantially incompressible fluid that is in fluid communication with a pressurized source of the same fluid. Method and systems employing the press are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of using a hot isostatic press to make an article of armor is disclosed. A plurality of fiber layers interposed with a plurality of resin layers is laid in the hot isostatic press as a layered combination. An omnidirectional pressure is applied to the layered combination, and the combination is degassed as the pressure is applied.

Abstract: A press includes a pressure chamber filled with a substantially incompressible medium that at least partially encloses an elastomeric vessel filled with a substantially incompressible fluid that is in fluid communication with a pressurized source of the same fluid. Method and systems employing the press are also disclosed.

Abstract: A press includes a pressure chamber filled with a substantially incompressible medium that at least partially encloses an elastomeric vessel filled with a substantially incompressible fluid that is in fluid communication with a pressurized source of the same fluid. Method and systems employing the press are also disclosed.