Abstract: The invention provides a method of degrading nitrate esters by exposing a spension of a nitrate ester to a combined culture of Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 24459 and Fusarium Solani IFO 31093. This allows an alleviation of environmental difficulties associated with the demilitarization of nitrocellulose base gun propellants and for the bioremediation of soils contaminated with such nitrocellulose based materials.

Abstract: A nanoporous semiconductor material and fabrication technique for use as thermoelectric elements. Starting precursors are mixed in solution so as to thoroughly dissolve in solution which is then reduced. A second phase may be added in solution to provide nanoinclusions which may be subsequently removed. A nanoporous semiconductor is formed whereby lattice thermal conductivity is greatly reduced, due to enhanced phonon scattering on the order of 10 W/cm.multidot..degree.K. The nanoporous semiconductor material may be used as the n- and p- legs in a Peltier couple utilized for a thermoelectric cooler, a cryogenic cooler, thermoelectric power generator, or a thermoelectric heat pump.

Abstract: A ferroelectric material, its fabrication technique, and use as a detector aterial, in a ferroelectric detector array is disclosed. The material is an alloy of essential pure components of Pb.sub.2 (Fe, Nb)O.sub.2 and Pb.sub.2 (Fe, Ta)O.sub.2 each with respective Curie temperatures. An essentially linear relationship is made for mole fraction compositions versus Curie temperatures of each component in the alloy, between the pure mole fractions and respective Curie temperatures of the pure components. A Curie temperature for the composition of Pb.sub.2 (Fe, [Ta.sub.(1-x), Nb.sub.x ])O.sub.6 is determined, where x is the mole fraction of Pb.sub.2 (Fe,Nb)O.sub.2 and 1-x is the mole fraction of Pb.sub.2 (Fe, Ta)O.sub.2, with x having a value greater than zero and less than one.

Abstract: A self contained protective shutter assembly for an imager eye piece inclng an eyecup, a powered shutter, switch, power supply and interface coupling.

Abstract: Lightweight low power IR locater for reflection enhanced targets with .apeq.20 microsecond pulsed IR diode laser and 26 40 microsecond synchronized range-gated image.

Abstract: A gun bore evacuator comprised of a main reservoir surrounding the gun tu a bore in the tube, ports between the main reservoir and the bore, an auxiliary reservoir surrounding said tube, ports between said main reservoir and the bore, ports between the auxiliary reservoir and the bore, and check valves between the reservoirs.

Abstract: A receptacle for receiving expended brass casing ejected from a weapon having an ejection port as the weapon is discharged. The invention comprises a hollow receptacle which is appended to the weapon with a shell casing receiving port in communication with the ejection port of the weapon for receiving shell casings ejected therefrom. The invention includes readily releaseable attaching means to permit easy emptying of the receptacle.

Abstract: A cover or apron interposed between a ballute and the aft cover of a submtion for delaying deployment of the ballute and preventing the ballute from contacting the aft cover during deployment.

Abstract: A pressure controlled pintle is employed in combination with a throttling quid, gel, or hybrid engine to provide a constant pressure and variable thrust from a single operating engine. As the propellants are throttled back and the chamber pressure drops, the pintle moves and closes the gap between the pintle and nozzle throat, thereby lowering the throat area and re-establishing the design chamber pressure related to pintle spring tension. By retaining the design pressure over a wide thrust range, the engine efficiency remains at the design value. This eliminates the drop of Isp due to pressure and keeps the cost of the system reasonable because only one engine is required. When a higher thrust is desired, a throttling valve in an injector increases the propellant flow rate, which causes a higher pressure in the combustion chamber. The constant pressure actuator moves the pintle to open the nozzle throat, which reduces the pressure to the design value. The design value may not be optimum.

Abstract: A conventional rate-stabilized IR seeker is fitted with an improvement that esults in a wider FOV as well as much-reduced image smear. The improvement comprises a circular optical wedge rotatably mounted in front of the optics assembly of the seeker sensor. The combination of the primary scan vector generated by the circulating sensor of the seeker and the secondary scan vector generated by the rotating wedge produces a scan pattern that has a wider total FOV than that of the sensor alone while at the same time providing occasional points of zero or near-zero spatial scan velocity. Such points allow collection of "snapshot" data with little or no image smear.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuze for a submunition grenade which will selfstruct electrically in the event that the mechanical primary inertial functioning mode fails to operate upon striking an intended target.

Abstract: The compound 2,4-dinitroimidazole is highly insensitive towards impact and its thermal stability is excellent. The calculated detonation properties results indicate that its performance is about 30% better than TATB. It can be prepared easily with good yield starting from inexpensive starting materials. Results from impact sensitivity, friction sensitivity time-to-explosion temperature and vacuum stability tests indicate that 2,4-dinitroimidazole is less sensitive than both RDX and HMX. Its good oxygen balance and measured heat of formation data of this material indicate that its propellant performance is good.

Abstract: A cryogenic cooler system which allows continuous and uninterrupted cooling ithin the system with minimized moving parts. A compressor assembly is included with more than one compressor so that at any one time, one of the compressors is active so as to provide a working gas pressure modulated by piston action. An expander assembly includes an expander associated with each compressor where working gas pressure expansion from the active compressor is expanded within. A conduit line couples each compressor to each expander for working gas connection between each compressor and respective expander. Heat pipe is coupled at one end to each expander for the transfer a coolant fluid to a cooling plate which includes a temperature sensor. Thermal switches within each of the heat pipes control coolant fluid flow to allow the activation of another heat pipe and associated compressor when failure of the currently operating compressor occurs.

Abstract: A night vision goggle aided flight simulation system and technique allows an flight simulator operator wearing night vision goggles to view an approximate simulation of night vision goggle aided flight. A processor generates at least one look-up table of brightness values utilizing database sources including any selected options. A scene generation computer will then generate the scene image with the contrast based on values provided by the look-up table. An image display system displays the scene at light levels with sufficient dynamic range so that approximate simulation of night vision goggle aided flight is achieved. A neutral density filter can be placed over a CRT display if the CRT display as the display system cannot produce sufficient dynamic range.

Abstract: Para-polyphenylene sulfide, a non-composite, ultrahigh-temperature-resist, thermoplastic resin, is employed for the manufacture of interceptor motor cases. The thermoplastic resin, para-polyphenylene sulfide, has a combination of properties which are of particular interest in the fabrication of interceptor rocket motor cases. Para-polyphenylene sulfide in ribbonized forth is wound directly onto the required mandrel and then fused into a solid mass. The fused, solid mass has the properties which enables it to serve as both insulator and motor case material. The manufacture of a combination insulated motor case is achieved by the following method: The equipment, first, involves the fabrication of a breakout mandrel by one of several methods. The para-polyphenylene sulfide is ribbonized by extrusion and wound down on the breakout mandrel to the required thickness and fused into a solid mass by heating to its melt temperature of about 285.degree. C.

Abstract: A dynamic rotating ballistic shield for protecting an enclosed viewing dee. A rotating inner armor sleeve around the device includes a sleeve opening. When the sleeve aligned with a cap opening of an outer armor cap which concentrically surrounds the rotatable inner armor sleeve, a substantially unobstructed field-of-view for the objective window is obtained, with substantial ballistic shield protection.

Abstract: The present invention is an initial guidance system for a missile that has o other guidance or inadequate terminal homing guidance to lock onto a target at the time of missile launch. A laser beam projected from the missile launch station is aimed toward the target. Light from the beam is reflected in random directions (scattered) from aerosol particles that are ever present in the atmosphere. This scattered light strikes light detectors that are located on the sides of the missile. When the missile flies off the direction of the target, the amplitudes of impacting light on these detectors are different on different sides of the missile. Guidance controls activated by these amplitude differences cause the missile to veer toward the center of the beam and thus fly in a direction that is more toward the target.

Abstract: The structure of this invention provides a means for shielding an optically ensitive detector, device, or components from electromagnetic fields without shielding them from the optical spectra desired to be transmitted. The structure of the invention is in the form of an optically transmissive Faraday cage or box having optically transparent material selected from optical glass and optically transparent plastic which functions as a substrate. The substrate is provided a thin film of predetermined skin depths in the form of a conductive coating selected from silver and a nickel-chromiumiron-manganese-silicon-copper-alloy. The conductive coating is applied in a thickness equivalent to a predetermined number of skin depths in order to attenuate an external electromagnetic field strength to meet the tolerance of the detector, device, or components which are to be shielded.

Abstract: A real-time wavelength detection system having an infrared detector respove to focused input radiation indicative of a source image over a given frequency range. Diffraction means positioned on a detector surface window obtaining a diffraction pattern of the focused radiation. Output means provide an output of the image and diffraction pattern. The diffraction pattern is used for determining a discrete wavelength for the given frequency range of the source detected, without substantial impairment of system imagery.

Abstract: An augmented electromagnetic accelerator apparatus which imparts an initial elocity to a projectile by use of enhanced inductance gradients and allows for the use of cylindrical projectiles by the use of a round bore, using a parallel gun rail geometry The enhanced inductance gradients are achieved by the use of an extra turn around the gun rails and enclosing the rail and the said augmented turn in laminated iron. The augmented accelerator has crossovers at the two ends (breech and muzzle end) which have minimum influences over the electromagnetics in the bore of the accelerator.