Abstract: In order to provide an economical method for producing a weapon barrel, in which a considerable plasticisation of the barrel inner wall and thus of the twist profile is avoided when armour-piercing ammunition is shot, in particular in the case of an intense firing sequence, it is proposed not to introduce the twist profile of the weapon barrel into a barrel blank, the material of which has its end strength already as a result of hardening and tempering, but has a lower strength level (approximately 800-1000 MPa). Only once the twist profile has been formed by extrusion or hammering is the steel hardened and tempered to a predefined strength value >1000 MPa, and is the barrel blank that is provided with the twist profile mechanically processed further.

Abstract: To reduce the mass of a sabot having a pull and a push function, it is proposed that the sabot comprise mutually separate sabot parts, wherein at least one sabot part is configured such that it performs the pull function and at least one sabot part is configured such that it performs the push function. The sabot parts are nested. This can be implemented in the form of cylindrical nesting or in the form of tangential nesting. In the case of the cylindrical nesting, the outer sabot part encloses the inner sabot part along an interface. In the case of the tangential nesting, the sabot parts are divided into sabot subsegments. The latter are nested in alternating fashion in the tangential direction such that a pull-sabot subsegment and a push-sabot subsegment are nested in alternating fashion in the circumferential direction. To provide sufficient sealing, the sabot subsegments overlap one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a penetrator (1) for a projectile having a tail unit, in particular a subcaliber kinetic energy projectile, comprising a main body (10), the main body (10) having at least one partial region (12, 12?, 12?) with longitudinal recesses (20, 20?, 20?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a sabot (1) which comprises multiple sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3). The sabot (1) or the sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) are characterized by having a structural design at an end (10) opposite the shooting direction such that a low degree of flexural rigidity is achieved at said end (10). A sabot (1) with three sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) is preferred. The sabot (1) or the sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) have a rear part (3) as a push part and a front part (4) as a pull part. In order to optimize the shape and weight, the front part (4) and the rear part (3) have recesses (5, 6) in the sabot (1) or in the sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3). Braces (8, 9) are integrated between the recesses (5, 6), or the recesses (5, 6) are introduced between braces (8, 9).

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for determining presence of a gas (103) is provided, the apparatus (100) comprising: one or more retarders (109) to spectrally modulate polarisation of received radiation in accordance with a plurality of polarised spectral modulation profiles which are offset in phase from each other, the radiation output from the one or more retarders (109) comprising radiation having polarisation spectrally modulated in accordance with the said plurality of polarised spectral modulation profiles in a common beam of radiation; one or more polarisers (147, 148); and radiation detectors (142, 144) to detect radiation output from the one or more retarders (109) filtered for respective polarisation states by the one or more polarisers (147, 148), the detectors (142, 144) selectively and separately detecting on different detectors at the same time polarised radiation conforming to each of at least first and second of the said polarised spectral modulation profiles to thereby provide at least respective first and

Abstract: To reduce the mass of a sabot having a pull and a push function, it is proposed that the sabot comprise mutually separate sabot parts, wherein at least one sabot part is configured such that it performs the pull function and at least one sabot part is configured such that it performs the push function. The sabot parts are nested. This can be implemented in the form of cylindrical nesting or in the form of tangential nesting. In the case of the cylindrical nesting, the outer sabot part encloses the inner sabot part along an interface. In the case of the tangential nesting, the sabot parts are divided into sabot subsegments. The latter are nested in alternating fashion in the tangential direction such that a pull-sabot subsegment and a push-sabot subsegment are nested in alternating fashion in the circumferential direction. To provide sufficient sealing, the sabot subsegments overlap one another.

Abstract: In order to provide an economical method for producing a weapon barrel, in which a considerable plasticisation of the barrel inner wall and thus of the twist profile is avoided when armour-piercing ammunition is shot, in particular in the case of an intense firing sequence, it is proposed not to introduce the twist profile of the weapon barrel into a barrel blank, the material of which has its end strength already as a result of hardening and tempering, but has a lower strength level (approximately 800-1000 MPa). Only once the twist profile has been formed by extrusion or hammering is the steel hardened and tempered to a predefined strength value >1000 MPa, and is the barrel blank that is provided with the twist profile mechanically processed further.

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for determining presence of a gas (103) is provided, the apparatus (100) comprising: one or more retarders (109) to spectrally modulate polarisation of received radiation in accordance with a plurality of polarised spectral modulation profiles which are offset in phase from each other, the radiation output from the one or more retarders (109) comprising radiation having polarisation spectrally modulated in accordance with the said plurality of polarised spectral modulation profiles in a common beam of radiation; one or more polarisers (147, 148); and radiation detectors (142, 144) to detect radiation output from the one or more retarders (109) filtered for respective polarisation states by the one or more polarisers (147, 148), the detectors (142, 144) selectively and separately detecting on different detectors at the same time polarised radiation conforming to each of at least first and second of the said polarised spectral modulation profiles to thereby provide at least respective first and

Abstract: A polarimetry apparatus comprising a plurality of flexible light conduits each having first and second ends, and a respective polarization modulator associated with each light conduit, wherein each light conduit is configured to receive incident light from a different predetermined region in space via the first end, and deliver said light to a detector unit via the second end, and wherein the polarization modulator is configured to modulate the polarization of the light to enable a partial or complete polarization state of the incident light to be determined by the detector unit for each light conduit.

Abstract: A polarimetry apparatus comprising a plurality of flexible light conduits each having first and second ends, and a respective polarization modulator associated with each light conduit, wherein each light conduit is configured to receive incident light from a different predetermined region in space via the first end, and deliver said light to a detector unit via the second end, and wherein the polarization modulator is configured to modulate the polarization of the light to enable a partial or complete polarization state of the incident light to be determined by the detector unit for each light conduit.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel compositions of matter which may advantageously be used as lubricants or pressure transfer media or else for functional liquids and lubricant additives. The lubricants according to the invention are the reaction products of an electro-philic addition of linear or branched, aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids, carboxylic anhydrides, carbonyl halides or novel neoacids to the double bonds of fatty acids, esters thereof and/or of other fatty acid derivatives and also of synthetic esters. Owing to their increased oxidation resistance compared to the starting materials and also their low toxicity, the novel class of synthetic esters based on oleochemicals may find use in novel environmentally compatible lubricants, pressure transfer systems, functional liquids and lubricant additives.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel compositions of matter which may advantageously be used as lubricants or pressure transfer media or else for functional liquids and lubricant additives. The lubricants according to the invention are the reaction products of an electro-philic addition of linear or branched, aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids, carboxylic anhydrides, carbonyl halides or novel neoacids to the double bonds of fatty acids, esters thereof and/or of other fatty acid derivatives and also of synthetic esters. Owing to their increased oxidation resistance compared to the starting materials and also their low toxicity, the novel class of synthetic esters based on oleochemicals may find use in novel environmentally compatible lubricants, pressure transfer systems, functional liquids and lubricant additives.

Abstract: A drive unit for a forming machine, comprising a rotary drive and a knuckle-joint drive for a gear transmission operating a ram, the knuckle-joint drive being operationally connected through a gear transmission to the rotary drive. To improve the drive rigidity as regards a forming machine and to be able to improve the drive-unit design and to relatively easily match the drive unit to the specific requirements of different forming methods, the gear transmission offers a periodically varying transmission ratio, at least two mutually engaging non-circular gears being used of which the pitch curves are designed in such manner that in conjunction with the knuckle-joint drive, and especially in conjunction with a subsequent crank drive, the motions of the ram will be optimally matched thereby to the particular work method.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drive unit for a forming machine, comprising a rotary drive and a knuckle-joint drive for a gear transmission operating a ram, the knuckle-joint drive being operationally connected through a gear transmission to the rotary drive. To improve the drive rigidity as regards a forming machine and to be able to improve the drive-unit design and to relatively easily match the drive unit to the specific requirements of different forming methods, the gear transmission offers a periodically varying transmission ratio, at least two mutually engaging non-circular gears being used of which the pitch curves are designed in such manner that in conjunction with the knuckle-joint drive, and especially in conjunction with a subsequent crank drive, the motions of the ram will be optimally matched thereby to the particular work method.

Abstract: In a process for destroying and removing tooth material by means of pulsed infrared laser beams, in order to reduce the damage to the surrounding tissue without simultaneously impairing the effectiveness of the removal, it is propsed that prior to the irradiation with the laser beams, the tooth material be covered with a layer of liquid of between 10 and 200 micrometers thickness which absorbs the laser radiation.