Abstract: An inflatable RADAR signal device that is capable of rising above the surface of the water when deployed and that reflects RADAR emissions. The signal device is a self-contained, small, independent system that can withstand being present in a maritime environment, including being submerged in the water and/or being located on a vessel in the water, for an extended amount of time. The device includes a housing that houses one or more deflated balloons that are constructed of a material that, when inflated, rise above the level of the water and that reflect RADAR emissions. The device includes at least one gas cylinder for inflating the balloon(s), and a mechanism to trigger release of the balloon(s) from the housing including a mechanism to trigger release of the gas from the gas cylinder(s) to inflate the balloon(s).

Abstract: A payload launch system is described that provides one launch solution suitable for multiple applications. A payload, such as a UAV, is launched from a sealed launch tube using compressed gas or other energy source. The launch tube can be used to transport and protect the payload from harsh environments for extended periods prior to launch.

Abstract: A payload launch system is described that provides one launch solution suitable for multiple applications. A payload, such as a UAV, is launched from a sealed launch tube using compressed gas or other energy source. The launch tube can be used to transport and protect the payload from harsh environments for extended periods prior to launch.

Abstract: An inflatable RADAR signal device that is capable of rising above the surface of the water when deployed and that reflects RADAR emissions. The signal device is a self-contained, small, independent system that can withstand being present in a maritime environment, including being submerged in the water and/or being located on a vessel in the water, for an extended amount of time. The device includes a housing that houses one or more deflated balloons that are constructed of a material that, when inflated, rise above the level of the water and that reflect RADAR emissions. The device includes at least one gas cylinder for inflating the balloon(s), and a mechanism to trigger release of the balloon(s) from the housing including a mechanism to trigger release of the gas from the gas cylinder(s) to inflate the balloon(s).

Abstract: An expendable oceanographic probe includes a body having a weighted nose section and an after body having a tail for stabilization. A spool of wire is paid out through the tail of the after body for coupling to a data acquisition system. The expendable oceanographic probe also includes a sensor exposed to the seawater for measuring a seawater property and for providing a signal representing the measured property to the data acquisition system over the wire. A pressure sensor of the probe is exposed to the seawater for determining the depth of the probe as the probe descends into the seawater with respect to the measured seawater property by perturbing the measured parameter signal at a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for making a reconstituted coherent metal strand from scrap metal is disclosed, the strand being severed into suitable lengths to provide an intermediate product for subsequent processing such as into bar stock. The intermediate product has at least the outer periphery thereof fully dense so as to eliminate or minimize interior oxidation. The method comprises conversion of the scrap metal to "regularized" chips or blocks which are force-fed generally vertically downwardly through a fixed aperture to define a stream of metal pieces having a minimum density of 15-30% and which stream forms a column of said chips generally supporting itself, the stream is rapidly heated by a combination of electrical inductive energy and percolating hot gases produced by the combustion of fossil fuel (the fossil fuel is burned in a controlled manner to provide a self-generated reducing atmosphere permeating said stream).

Abstract: A method of converting scrap or other small pieces of metal into a useful, commercial product while maintaining the metal in a solid state. According to the process, the pieces are maintained together for further processing. They are impacted, while heated, to produce a metal body and thereafter subjected to continued impaction so that the pieces forming the body are welded together into a cohesive, homogeneous slab. There is also disclosure of a novel press and method of operating the press. The press is of the harmonic type. Its novel aspects include control of movement of novel platens during rotation of shafts which drive the platens and perimetral constraint of a workpiece being forged to achieve rapid impaction and self feed of a workpiece.