Abstract: A method of severing an extraction line connected between an extraction parachute and a cargo load when the cargo load fails to eject from an aircraft. The method comprises the steps of spacing a cutter from the extraction line; spring-biasing the cutter in the direction of the extraction line; mechanically restricting the cutter with restricting means from engaging and severing the extraction line; and disabling the restricting means in response to a radio signal from a transmitter on the aircraft so that the cutter is released and severs the extraction line.

Abstract: A reduced height log periodic antenna that may safely be positioned under the rotating blades of a helicopter sitting on the ground and still resonate in the frequency range at which the antenna was originally designed to resonate. The antenna comprises a pair of antenna booms, a first plurality of vertical antenna radiating elements connected to the booms, and a second plurality of vertical antenna radiating elements connected to the booms. In addition, the antenna includes a plurality of tuned horizontal antenna radiating elements, each tuned horizontal radiating element being connected to the top of one of the second plurality of vertical antenna radiating elements, and a plurality of tuned upwardly bent horizontal antenna radiating elements, each tuned upwardly bent horizontal antenna radiating element being connected to the bottom of one of the second plurality of vertical antenna radiating elements.

Abstract: A device for severing an extraction line connected between a cargo load and an extraction parachute when the cargo load fails to eject from an aircraft. The device comprises a cutter spaced from and spring-biased in the direction of the extraction line; a housing for the cutter; elements for mechanically restricting the cutter from engaging and severing the extraction line; and elements responsive to a radio signal from a transmitter on the aircraft for disabling the restricting means so that the cutter is released and severs the extraction line.

Abstract: An external telemetry unit for a projectile. The external telemetry unit comprises a shell adapted to be inserted between the front of the projectile body and the fuze, a flexible battery and flexible electronic circuitry encircling the front of the shell, and a plurality of contoured antennas covering the flexible battery and flexible electronic circuitry. The inside of the shell is formed to match the contour of the projectile.

Abstract: A device for sensing and capturing the state of a direct current electrical power line comprising a voltage comparator having a pair of inputs, one of the inputs adapted to be connected to the power line, the other input connected to an analog and digital I/O module for supplying a threshold voltage to the voltage comparator, a plurality of latches, an equal plurality of integrators having different time constants, each integrator connected between the output of the voltage comparator and one of the plurality of latches for supplying an integrated replica of the output from the comparator to the latch, the analog and digital I/O module also being connected to the plurality of latches for reading the states of the respective latches and for resetting any set latch, and a programmed computer connected to the analog and digital I/O module for controlling the operation of the analog and digital module and for logging the occurrence of the setting of a latch.

Abstract: A portable cannon tube cleaning method comprising the steps of pulling a trailer to the site of a cannon tube to be cleaned, adjusting the height of a main cleaner chassis assembly to be in line with the cannon tube to be cleaned, fitting the main cleaner chassis assembly against a face of the cannon tube, fitting a hollow adapter plate on the outer diameter of the cannon tube, and hauling a cleaning brush assembly through the cannon tube for as many cycles as required to adequately clean the tube for inspections.

Abstract: A portable cannon tube cleaning system that includes a trailer designed to be pulled to the field site of a cannon tube to be cleaned; a mechanism securely mounted to the floor of the trailer for providing vertical height adjustment; a main cleaner chassis assembly securely mounted to the height adjustment mechanism so that when the height adjustment mechanism is actuated the height of the main cleaner chassis assembly may be adjusted to be in line with the cannon tube to be cleaned; and a mechanism contained in the main cleaner chassis assembly for hauling a cleaning brush assembly through the cannon tube for as many cycles as required to adequately clean the tube for inspections.

Abstract: A method for removing a damaged primer from the primer chamber of a cannon. The method comprises the steps of running a starter tap into a damaged primer, and shaking the damaged primer loose from the primer chamber so that the damaged primer comes out of the primer chamber on the edge of the tap.

Abstract: A method of determining whether an improved item has a better mean lifetime than an existing item having a fully specified lifetime distribution function. A finite number n of examples of the new item are placed on life test, and the failure times of the n examples of the new item are recorded as they occur. At each occurrence of failure, the newly noted failure time is entered into a list of previously noted failure times and the most up-to-date statistical P-value is calculated for the life test so far. When the statistical P-value is sufficiently small there is statistical inference that the new item is better than the current one, and the test is ended.

Abstract: A method of disinfecting water is provided including treating water by irradiating the water with ultraviolet light and introducing silver ions to the water. The water may be treated by either initially irradiating the water with ultraviolet light followed by introducing silver ions to the water or by introducing silver ions to the water and thereafter exposing the silver ion-containing water to ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of lifting a stool-like device onto the recoil slide rails of a howitzer, sliding the device on the recoil slide rails of the howitzer until the device is centered under the breechblock of the howitzer, receiving and holding the breechblock on top of the device while permitting passage of the spindle through a hole in the device, and removing the spindle from the carrier without the breechblock dropping out of the carrier and causing bodily harm. After the spindle is removed, the breechblock can also be removed by raising the carrier and sliding the device out from under it.

Abstract: A primer removal tool comprising a starter tap, a holder for the starter tap, one or more setscrews passing through the holder and against the starter tap for securing the starter tap in the holder, a handle, a spacer bushing connected to the center of the handle, a shaft having one end connected to the starter tap holder and the other end connected to the spacer bushing, and a knurled slider on the shaft, the slider being constrained to slide between the holder and the spacer bushing. The starter tap is inserted into the center of the damaged primer; the tool is held parallel to the centerline of the cannon bore while applying forward pressure; the handle of the tool is rotated clockwise to run the tap into the primer a few turns; and the handle of the tool is rotated counterclockwise one-quarter of a turn. These steps are repeated until most of the tap is in the primer chamber. Next, the slider is gripped, pushed forward toward the primer chamber, and then quickly pulled backward against the spacer bushing.

Abstract: A stool-like device for safely removing the spindle and the breechblock from the carrier of a howitzer. The device comprises a frame; rollers connected to the frame for sliding the bottom of the frame on the recoil slide rails of a howitzer until the frame is centered under the breechblock of the howitzer; and plates connected to the frame for receiving and holding the breechblock while permitting passage of the spindle through holes in the plates so that the spindle can be safely removed from the carrier of the howitzer without the breechblock dropping out of the carrier and causing bodily harm. After the spindle is removed, the breechblock can also be removed by raising the carrier and sliding the device out from under it.

Abstract: A liquid immersed pumped solid state lasing system comprising a light source and a lasing element spaced from the light source. The light source and the lasing element are mounted in an insulated container. The top of the container is open for inputting a clear cryogenic cooling liquid into the container to totally immerse the light source and the lasing element in the liquid. Heat transfer occurs by conduction from the light source and the lasing element to the liquid thereby cooling the light source and the lasing element to cryogenic temperatures. The container has a window for the output of laser light. A plurality of electrical leads which are superconducting at cryogenic temperatures are attached to the light source. When the leads are connected to a power supply outside the container, the light source directs light on the lasing element so that the lasing element is excited and transmits a light output through the window.

Abstract: An apparatus for electronic warfare signal simulation which is used in an external test system to simultaneously test a plurality of “victim” communication systems for vulnerability to jamming. The test system includes a remote radiator of a signal free of jamming effects, and a remote radiator of one or more radio frequency control signals which represent one or more predetermined jamming threats in the low and mid bands.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing GPS positioning information to a master computer and a plurality of slave computers from only one GPS receiver. The apparatus includes a circuit adapted to be coupled between the GPS receiver and the computers for providing each computer with a replica of a positioning information signal from the GPS receiver so that each computer receives all of the positioning information it would have received if it had been connected to its own GPS receiver. In addition, the apparatus includes a circuit adapted to be coupled between the GPS receiver and the computers for providing each computer with a replica of a synchronizing signal from the GPS receiver so that each computer receives the synchronizing signal it would have received if it had been connected to its own GPS receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for digitizing an analog signal and optimizing the dynamic range of the digitized signal. Dual analog-to-digital converters are preceded by respective amplifiers with different gains for receiving an analog input signal. The digital output signal from the analog-to digital converter preceded by the amplifier of higher gain is selected and stored when it is not clipped. Otherwise, the analog-to-digital converter preceded by the amplifier of lower gain is selected and its digital output signal is stored. Once digital memory is filled, an adaptive formatting program selects the most appropriate parts of the memory words to achieve maximum resolution and dynamic range in an output word size.

Abstract: A thin foil stripper and simple non-obstructing power meter for a space based neutral particle beam system consisting of a panel of thin foils supported by resistance wires and mounted on a wheel or disk in such a manner that the surface used for stripping the beam may be changed or replaced periodically. The power meter consists of four resistors arranged in the form of a bridge, a power source (battery), a detector (voltmeter), and a display unit (recorded, etc.). Two of the resistors consist of the wires which support the foils and are nearly identical. The other two resistors are used to balance the bridge. When one of the strippers is exposed to the neutral particle beam, the support wire is heated, the resistance changes, and the bridge becomes unbalanced. The magnitude of the voltage produced is proportional to the power in the beam. The power meter is non-obstructing.

Abstract: A multiple quantum well spatial light modulator combines both optically addressed and electrically addressed portions on a single wafer. The electrically and optically addressed portions may be physically distinct or combined. To fabricate the modulator, a portion of an optically addressed multiple quantum well spatial light modulator is configured as an electrically addressed portion by pixellating that portion of the multiple quantum well wafer. The frequency of the applied voltage to the electrically addressed portion is increased such that the voltage switches faster than both the dark and illuminated screening time. The electrically and optically addressed portions may be combined or positioned side-by-side. The spatial light modulator has applications in a wide variety of low-cost, high performance pattern recognition systems. In one system, a first infrared beam impinges the electrically addressed portion of the modulator and picks up the pattern electrically written thereon (i.e., the template image).

Abstract: An apparatus for determining distance coordinates along two orthogonal axes for a computer system, where the coordinates represent the position of a cursor on a screen of a display unit of the computer system. The apparatus includes a pair of velocity detectors and an operating device such as a CPU. When the velocity detectors are moved by an operator, each of the velocity detectors detects velocities along a respective one of the orthogonal axes. The detected velocities are converted into moving distances representative of the coordinates through a calculation of the operating device.