Abstract: A spall backing material contiguously attached to an armor plate at least suppresses the formation of lethal armor spall from being propelled from the inner surface of the armor plate when the outer surface of the armor is impacted by a weapon with sufficient impact to release high velocity spall from unprotected armor. When the impedance of the spall suppression armor is equal to or greater than the impedance of the armor plate, the formation of lethal spall in the armor will be prevented. When the spall backing material is reduced in thickness to minimize weight and has an impedance lower than that of the armor plate, or a more powerful weapon is used, armor spallation will occur but will be suppressed by the spall backing material to minimize lethality.

Abstract: A wide angle trapezoidal periscope is disclosed having an upper trapezoidal housing and a smaller lower trapezoidal housing secured to said upper housing having optics sealed therein which include parallel upper and lower windows and parallel upper and lower mirrors. When used on military vehicles, the lower trapezoidal periscope housings are inserted within evenly and closely spaced trapezoidal openings in the rim of a hatch and are secured to the hatch with corner connectors to clamp non-parallel walls of said upper housings within about 1/8 of an inch of the adjacent non-parallel walls of the next adjacent trapezoidal housing. Each periscope provides a vertical field of view of about 43.degree. and a horizontal field of view of about 140.degree..

Abstract: A thrashing system for a vegetable harvester including a plurality of tines on an oscillating shaker head which engage vines and shake the fruit such as cucumbers, from the vines. The fruit is collected on a cross conveyor and the vines are pulled through at least one pair of pinch rolls for discharge on the ground. A full width blower directs high pressure air across the cross conveyor to lift and spread the vines allowing disconnected fruit to fall therethrough onto the cross conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for controlling the movement of flat bottomed articles in a plurality of different directions relative to a supporting platform. The article is supported on a plurality of clusters of helical, freely rotatable rollers mounted on a plurality of shafts. Selected ones of the shafts, or groups of shafts, each lying in one of a plurality of zones, are selectively driven in a clockwise direction, a counterclockwise direction or are held stationary. Selective control of the shafts enable the apparatus to move the article parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform in two selected directions, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in two selected directions; diagonally of the longitudinal axis in four selected directions, and either clock or counterclockwise about an axis normal to the flat bottom of the article.

Abstract: A variable force tree shaker is disclosed which includes a non-rotatable housing having a two-piece shaft journaled therein. A fixed weight is rigidly connected to the shaft and an adjustable weight is pivotally connected to the shaft. At least one hydraulic cylinder is formed in the fixed weight and receives a piston which is connected to the adjustable weight by a piston rod. While the shaft is driven, an hydraulic controller directs hydraulic fluid into said at least one piston which moves the adjustable weight between a balanced position diametrically opposed to the fixed weight providing no shaking forces to the shaft, and a plurality of unbalanced positions imparting shaking forces of different intensities to the shaft.

Abstract: A variable force tree shaker is disclosed including a rotatable housing supporting a weight fixed to the housing and a movable weight, with the movable weight being capable of being moved between a balanced position and a plurality of unbalanced positions while the housing is rotating at a shaking speed. Hydraulic fluid is controllably directed into the housing between the fixed and movable weights to move the movable weight while the housing is rotating.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the concentration of microbial cells in a flowable fluid by dividing the fluid into a sterile permeate and a retentate reducing the pH of the retentate in an electrolytic cell, heating the retentate to reduce the concentration of microbial cells therein and increasing the pH of the permeate in an electrolytic cell and combining the retentate and permeate.

Abstract: An autoloading method and apparatus is disclosed for a turret mounted gun that is pivoted horizontally relative to the turret and must be lowered to a substantially horizontal 0.degree. position for loading selected cartridges from a magazine conveyor, ejecting empty cartridge cases and misfired cartridges from the gun and turret, assisting in replenishing cartridges from outside the turret into the magazine, and off-loading cartridges from the magazine. A partition divides the turret into two compartments with a gunner and a commander located in one compartment and the mechanical components of the autoloader and breech of the gun located in the other compartment. When the gun is returned to the 0.degree. position for ejecting an empty case, the site of the director system remains on target. The turret is preferably mounted on a military land vehicle.

Abstract: An end connector for double-pin track shoes or the like receives a pair of pins having arcuate grooves therein. The connector includes pin receiving openings having small diameter pin engaging arcuate surfaces, and large diameter arcuate grooves therebetween which nest arcuate portions of a spring therein. The spring also includes resiliently stressed portions that snap into the arcuate grooves in the pins when assembled, and a cap screw operatively connected between two walls of the connector clamps the connector onto the pins, thus providing double protection for maintaining the connector on the pins.

Abstract: The outer surface of an elongated metal component such as a bar is rapidly heated by an induction coil and is thereafter cooled by a quenching spray while being subjected to tensile forces so high that the center portion of the bar approaches yield causing the bar to elongate slightly. The tension on the bar is released thereby obtaining high residual compressive surface stresses in the cooled outer layers of the bar which define an annulus and which shortens the bar slightly until compressive stresses in the surface layers equal the tensile stresses acting on the central sections of the bar thereby greatly improving the fatigue life of the bar.

Abstract: An autoloading method and apparatus is disclosed for a turret mounted gun that is pivoted horizontally relative to the turret and must be lowered to a substantially horizontal 0.degree. position for loading selected cartridges from a magazine conveyor, ejecting empty cartridge cases and misfired cartridges from the gun and turret, assisting in replenishing cartidges from outside the turret into the magazine, and off-loading cartridges from the magazine. A partition divides the turret into two compartments with a gunner and a commander located in one compartment and the mechanical components of the autoloader and breech of the gun located in the other compartment. When the gun is returned to the 0.degree. position for ejecting an empty case, the site of the director system remains on target. The turret is preferably mounted on a military land vehicle.

Abstract: An adjustable control station for an aircraft loader for transferring containers between a controllably driven loader conveyor and a conveyor in cargo aircrafts of different sizes. The control station includes a unique movable platform constructed of three easily assembled major components including a stationary support structure and a movable platform which supports a console with front and rear control panels thereon. The movable platform is moved to a position close to the aircraft thereby enabling an operator thereon to simultaneously actuate controls for the loader conveyor and the aircraft conveyor while observing the containers movement. A front rail of a handrail may be vertically adjusted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing a plurality of plates of predetermined size through at least one precision processing station for accurately and economically performing machining functions or the like on the plates. Aligned group of plates are presented to an input end of the apparatus by fork lift trucks and after processing the group of plates, the process plates are aligned, and removed from the apparatus by fork lift trucks or the like thereby greatly reducing labor costs and providing a more accurately machined product.

Abstract: The turn tilt table is preferably mounted on a self propelled mobile vehicle for carrying a test article such as a military vehicle weighing up to 70 tons. The mobile vehicle is driven to a plurality of test sites at which radar beams or the like are directed against the test article for determining vehicle radar signatures or the like. During testing, the turn tilt table may be tilted anywhere between a horizontal position and 45.degree. from the horizontal; and may be pivoted 360.degree. about an axis normal to the plane of the turn tilt table to any of a plurality of positions within 360.degree.. If vehicles are being tested, a ramp is connectable to the table to allow the vehicle to be driven onto or off the table.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing a continuous supply of clean air at a desired temperature to the crew compartment of a vehicle when in an environment contaminated by nuclear, biological or chemical warfare agents. Exhaust gases from the vehicle's engine is used to drive a first compressor which directs compressed and heated air to a precooler, an aftercooler, a heat exchanger and a pressure swing adsorption system which removes all known contaminates from the air providing clean output air. The clean air is expanded and cooled by a turboexpander which drives a secondary compressor and a coolant air compressor. A temperature controlled circuit is provided to control the temperature of the air throughout the circuit and in the crew compartment at the desired levels.

Abstract: A horizontal force balance shaker includes a horizontal shaking head supported for horizontal movement by parallelogram linkages. Counterweights are secured to concentric shafts for rotation at the same speed in opposite directions about an axis thereby causing the shaker head to oscillate horizontally. The axis may be oriented horizontally or vertically, and the shaking head may be advantageously used in row crop harvesters such as grape harvesters.

Abstract: A hand operated control for a rough riding vehicle is disclosed and includes a truncated sphere having a soft hand grip movably mounted thereon. A position sensing mechanism is partially encompassed within said truncated sphere and is connected to the soft hand grip and a computer for sending control signals to the vehicle. The soft hand grip is held from movement by firmly gripping the hand grip to the truncated sphere, and is controllably moved relative to the truncated sphere about a center within the grip of the hand to transmit control signals to the vehicle such as direction of movement signals when the grip on the hand grip is relaxed.

Abstract: The multipurpose vehicle of the present invention is designed to operate in and around dry docks and wharfs and its capable of lifting and moving propellers from propeller shafts within areas confined by a ship's rudder and to carry the propeller to an area away from the ship to be lifted to the wharf by crane. The propellers may weigh as much as 75,000 pounds and be 23 feet in diameter. The vehicle may also be used to accurately position keel blocks and haul blocks weighing up to 25,000 pounds in positions to support a ship. The vehicle may be lifted by crane out of dry dock to test padeyes for safety and certification by applying up to a 50,000 pound pulling force to the payeyes. The vehicle's upper arm can be extended to about 40 feet high or can be lowered to a level permitting the vehicle to pull or carry articles into buildings on the wharf.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for first heating surfaces to be welded together by one or two induction coils placed therebetween and upon raising both surfaces to a forging temperature forcing said surfaces together with sufficient force to weld the surfaces together. The heating and upsetting steps occur when the surfaces are in a substantially inert atmosphere.

Abstract: A system and method provides a continuous supply of clean air at a desired temperature to the crew members of a combat vehicle when in an environment contaminated by nuclear, biological or chemical warfare agents. The contaminated air is initially compressed by energy received from the exhaust gases from a combustion power unit of the vehicle, the initially compressed air is then cooled to increase its density and is then compressed and cooled a second time before being passed through a pressure swing adsorbent system which continuously removes all known contaminants from the air, and is then expanded and changed in temperature to provide clean air at a desired temperature to personnel within the vehicle. The energy released from the air during expansion is used to compress the air the second time thereby providing a very energy efficient system.