Abstract: A dual core golf ball and methods for preparing portions thereof including a core having at least one core layer, a mantle having at least one layer including an amount of reinforcing polymer component and a resilient polymer component disposed concentrically adjacent the core, and a cover layer disposed concentrically adjacent the mantle, wherein the at least one mantle layer is sufficiently rigid to inhibit the resilient polymer component from substantially altering shape prior to crosslinking. The invention also includes an elastomeric composition for the mantle that includes a resilient polymer component having a predominantly 1,4-cis content, a free-radical initiator, and a reinforcing polymer component having a sufficiently low viscosity at a mixing temperature to permit substantially uniform dispersion of the polymer component with the resilient polymer component and having a crystalline melting point sufficiently low to permit mixing while avoiding substantial crosslinking.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball and methods for preparing a portion thereof including a core having at least one core layer, a mantle having at least one layer including an amount of reinforcing polymer component and a resilient polymer component disposed concentrically adjacent the core, and at least one cover layer disposed concentrically adjacent the mantle, wherein the layer of the mantle is sufficiently rigid to inhibit the resilient polymer component from substantially altering shape prior to crosslinking. The invention also includes an elastomeric composition including a polybutadiene having a high molecular weight average and a predominantly 1,4-cis content, a free-radical initiator, and a reinforcing polymer component having a sufficiently low viscosity at a mixing temperature to permit substantially uniform dispersion of the polymer component with the polybutadiene and having a crystalline melting point sufficiently low to permit mixing while avoiding substantial crosslinking.

Abstract: A hydraulic speargun has an elongated elastomeric bladder for charging the gun. One end of the bladder selectively communicates with the breech chamber at the end of the gun barrel. The other end of the bladder is connected to a pump for inflating the bladder with water under pressure. A plug and dart assembly is breech loaded into the barrel. A trigger opens a valve to release the water pressure into the breech chamber. The pressure forces the spear ended dart portion of the plug and dart assembly to separate from the breech plug end and the dart portion is launched out the muzzle end of the barrel by the force of the water. A lanyard is attached between the breech plug end and the dart end and is coiled around the plug end. As the dart portion travels from the muzzle, the lanyard is deployed through the muzzle end of the barrel.

Abstract: A projectile assembly for use in a breech loading hydraulic speargun. The assembly consists of a dart connected to a plug end. The assembly is inserted into the breech end of the speargun barrel with the plug end sealing the breech end of the barrel. A trigger mechanism on the speargun releases water under pressure into the barrel at the location of the connection between the dart and the plug. The dart separates from the plug and is ejected out the muzzle end of the barrel. A lanyard is attached between the plug remaining in the barrel and the dart and the lanyard is payed out through the barrel as the dart travels to its target. The plug end is removable from the barrel and is made buoyant for convenient retrieval of the dart.

Abstract: A lanyard retainer for use in a breech loading hydraulic speargun. A projectile is attached to the retainer and the retainer and projectile are inserted into the breech end of the speargun barrel with the retainer sealing the breech end of the barrel. A trigger mechanism on the speargun releases water under pressure into the barrel at the location of the connection between the projectile and the retainer. The projectile separates from the retainer and is ejected out the muzzle end of the barrel while the retainer remains in the barrel. The retainer has a forward spindle portion about which a lanyard is wound. The rear portion of the retainer serves as the breech seal and the shoulder between the spindle and the rear portion prevents the lanyard from unwinding onto the rear portion and helps to prevent operator entanglement with the lanyard. The lanyard is attached between the retainer and the projectile such that the lanyard is payed out through the barrel as the projectile travels to its target.

Abstract: A boundary layer polymer reservoir has bladder type side walls and is supted in a chamber in a vehicle that can be filled with sea water under pressure to provide external forces on the reservoir to eject the polymer through ports in the nose of the vehicle. The vehicle is a buoyant test vehicle that is drawn downwardly to a depth that produces a predetermined pressure in the chamber. The reservoir is elliptical with a support ring to which the elliptical side walls are peripherally attached, and which is itself attached to rails inside the vehicle.

Abstract: There is presented an elastomeric pump including a rigid outer housing deing an outer chamber and having a fluid inlet thereinto. The pump further includes an inner housing disposed within the outer housing. The inner housing is provided with rigid walls and first and second expandable members, the first expandable member having greater elasticity than the second expandable member, the rigid walls and expandable members defining an inner chamber. A fluid conduit extends from the inner chamber to the exterior of the outer housing. A rigid cage is fixed to the inner housing and is disposed over the first expandable member, and is configured to permit and limit expansion of the first expandable member.

Abstract: An impulse tank is provided in the free flood compartment of a submarine to ressurize a launcher tube from sea water that has been pumped into the tank for this purpose. The tank is defined in part by the submarine hull and in part by a diaphragm bladder that is designed to expand into the free flood compartment during this pressurization.

Abstract: An elastomeric impulse energy storage and transfer system comprising an amulator body of elastomeric material, the body having an opening at a base portion thereof, the body having in elevation a frusto-ellipsoidal configuration, and the body taken along a sectional plane parallel with the base portion having an ellipsoidal configuration, the body being adapted to receive and discharge fluid through the opening, the body being expandable and contractible in response to receiving and discharging, respectively, the fluid, the body being adapted to retain the frusto-ellipsoidal and ellipsoidal configurations when in an expanded condition, and a submarine projectile launch system having the accumulator body as a component thereof.

Abstract: A firing assembly for a stored energy projectile launcher of the type hav an energy storage device that is pressurized by a fluid. The projectile is mechanically latched in its launch tube and the aft end of the projectile cooperates with the breach end of the launch tube to define a breach chamber that communicates with and is pressurized with the bladder. A valve in a line from the breach chamber is electrically controlled to move a piston and release the mechanical latch when fluid pressure is provided to the piston chamber. The pressure used to overcome the force needed to raise the piston is taken from the energy storage device. No addition of energy to the system is required, with the exception of a short electrical impulse signal, to open a full port valve acting instantaneously on the rear face of the projectile.

Abstract: A device for storing potential energy in the form of a distended elastome bladder and rapidly converting that stored energy into kinetic energy of a working fluid for quietly ejecting a projectile from the device into the surrounding fluid medium.