Abstract: The subjects of this patent are three amine azide monopropellants, dimethylaminoethylazide (DMAZ), pyrollidinylethylazide (PYAZ) and diethylaminoethylazide (DEAZ). Amine azides decompose on an iridium catalyst at 400° F. and have very low freezing points (<−65° F.). Dimethylaminoethylazide (DMAZ) has been tested and is a suitable replacement for hydrazine in monopropellant thruster applications. An amine azide can be used as a non-carcinogenic alternative for any monopropellant system using hydrazine. An amine azide could be used to replace hydrazine in thrust vector control or reactive control applications for space based applications. An amine azide could be used to replace hydrazine in divert attitude control systems in interceptor missile systems. In a gel fuel formulation the tertiary amine azide gel can have 0.5%-10% gellant. The gellant can be silicon dioxide, clay, carbon or any polymeric gellant.

Abstract: A hostile laser source location technique employs a television camera in conjunction with a rotating shutter to pinpoint the location of a hostile laser source without placing the pilot/operator at risk for eye damage. For an attack scenario the pilot/operator could then make changes in his tactics to negate the source or to continue his attack run. The shutter made of high optical density material (e.g., OD-4), except for an open aperture, provides optics protection for the camera system from both damage and dazzle. A detector is used to detect the laser pulse (flash) which immediately signals the proper frame to be frozen on a monitor. The laser source appears as a bright spot and is easily pinpointed.

Abstract: The all-optical pulse generating and amplifying system utilizes a phosphor that is excited by input light of a first wavelength and, in response, emits light of a second wavelength. The light emitted by the phosphor illuminates a bistable element which, at a pre-fixed intensity of the phosphor-emitted light, switches from non-transmissive state to transmissive state, thereby allowing the exit of light (also of first wavelength) emitted by an output light source as light pulse output of the system. An inhibitory light that also passes through the bistable element during its transmissive state quenches the phosphor light emission and returns the bistable element to its non-transmissive state and re-starts the process toward the next transmissive state. By gating the intensity, via selected non-linearity of the bistable element, of the light output in proportion to the intensity of the input light, the system can also function as an amplifier.

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: In the development of new minimum signature ducted rocket technology, the U.S. Army MICOM Propulsion Directorate has conducted studies for the development of fuel-rich gas generators for ducted rockets. The propellant formulation goals of this study include increasing burning rate, pressure exponent, and combustion efficiency without significantly decreasing fuel value. Formulations described in this application contain an energetic nitramine-prepolymer, a range of curing agents, and zirconium hydride (ZrH2) fuel element and carbon (C) as an optional fuel element.

Abstract: An ultra precision net shape forming process is disclosed which can satisfy the requirements of MMW and sub-MMW components and sabots for small caliber armor piercing ammunition. The process is well suited to both moderate and high volume applications, and offers the potential for dramatically reducing piece part fabrication costs. The process involves closely controlled high temperature compression forming of metals with cycle times of the order of one minute or less, precise replication of all die features, and very low residual stresses. The ultra precision net shape forming cycle starts following insertion of the billet/blank into an open die. In the preheat phase the press is closed to preheat position where the billet/blank is enclosed in both halves of the die but no force is applied. Following preheat the part is formed employing displacement and force control to insure a fully formed part. After holding for a preset time at the peak force, the press is then commanded back to the loading position.

Abstract: A liquid gas generator system supplies gas pressure only when it is needed. Hydrazine and hydrazine blends have been considered for liquid gas generators because of their ability to decompose at ambient conditions on an iridium catalyst to form warm (1000° F. to 1500° F.) gases. Hydrazine is undesirable because of its toxicity and high melting point (34° F.). The tertiary amine azides, which are defined hereinabove and below, are non-carcinogenic alternatives to hydrazine in liquid or gel gas generator systems. These tertiary amines azides are non-carcinogenic alternatives for use with a thermal reactor bed where exothermic reaction releases enough heat to sustain decomposition for furnishing gases for gas generator systems employed. A tertiary amine typically has three hydrocarbons moieties attached to the nitrogen atom. The tertiary amine azides of this invention can have no more than seven carbon atoms in the molecules.

Abstract: In the improved system for sled-track testing of explosive missiles having tandem warheads and crush switches, time delay boards are placed on the sled to operate in conjunction with the crush switches to detonate the tip charge and the main warhead. The actual detonation is triggered by on-board firesets, one to detonate each warhead, that are optically coupled through an opto-coupler interface board which generates fire pulses in response to inputs received from the crush switch and the time delay board. These fire pulses are, in turn, transmitted to and activate the firesets.

Abstract: In a flying object equipped with the wing deployer and locker, a torsion spring connecting the wing with the base deploys the wing upon the release of the object from its storage canister and, after the wing has reached a certain degree of deployment, a tapered tooth that protrudes from the base engages a matching slot in the wing boss to lock in the wing at the moment the wing obtains the fully-deployed position. The taper angle of the tooth and the slot compensates for manufacturing tolerances and provides a positive, solid locking action for the duration of the object's flight.

Abstract: A processing procedure for incorporating bismuth compounds into isocyanate cured hydroxy terminated binder propellants has been discovered. When added to the propellant formulation in ballistic modifier amounts (≧0.25%), bismuth salicylate and bismuth &bgr;-resorcylate significantly reduce the potlife to less than 1-hour. It was discovered that to maximize propellant potlife the temperature of the mixture at the time of the addition is critically important. The potlife of propellants containing bismuth compounds can be increased to greater than 15 hours at 70° F., when the temperature of the mixture at the addition step for bismuth, is lowered from the normal addition temperature of 150° F., to 60° F. Depending on the formulation and solids loading, the viscosity of the propellant at 60° F. is not greatly affected.

Abstract: Two liquid crystal display panels, stacked together into a flat compact unit, in conjunction with a dedicated processor producing the appropriate video signals to drive the panels, generates a pair of polarization-encoded left and right images and exhibits them as a stereo image that is viewable through a pair of standard polarized glasses. This makes it possible to obtain stereo effect at a video workstation or at a console by eliminating the bulky box-like setup or the need to project onto a screen.

Abstract: A light weight decoy for deceiving radar and forward looking infrared tracking systems. The decoy provides the same radar cross-section as that of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and is thermally massive across the entire black body spectrum. Thermal massiveness is accomplished by measuring the temperature of the decoy outer surface and the temperature of the space surrounding the decoy, obtaining the differential temperature, and radiating heat within the decoy to maintain the surface thereof at a temperature similar to that of an ICBM.

Abstract: Environmentally friendly high performance minimum signature propellants have been demonstrated for use in next generation tactical missile applications. Bismuth salicylate and bismuth citrate have each been used in propellant formulations and evaluated for processing, ballistic, mechanical, aging and signature properties. These high performance formulations have potential to replace current formulations used in some fielded tactical systems. The propellant binder network is achieved using energetic nitramine polymers where inert polymers have been the polymer of choice for minimum signature propellants. The significance of this has to do with achieving propellant specific impulses greater than 245 seconds without nitroglycerin being used in the formulation. This improves propellant safety properties during the propellant processing and the manufacturing of the final missile configurations. The Army has mandated that the next generation propellant formulations show improvements in safety to the end users.

Abstract: A thixotropic oxidizer gel comprising inhibited red fuming nitric acid (IA) as the carrier with lithium nitrate (LiNO.sub.3) suspended therein and gelled with a gellant agent of SiO.sub.2 having a mean particle size of 0.015 microns has the rheological properties which can be tailored to match those of MICOM GEL, a fuel gel.A thixotropic gelled fuel (MICOM GEL) has been of particular interest because of its increased safety, reduced sloshing, ease of pumping at zero gravity and ability to suspend high concentrations of high-energy ingredients. However, a gelled oxidizer has been desired for use with the gelled fuel to constitute a thixotropic gelled propellant system. The combination of a gelled fuel (MICOM GEL) and a gelled oxidizer is now a reality after the development of the thixotropic oxidizer gel disclosed above. Of major significance is the matching of the rheologial properties of the two gels so that an oxidizer/fuel (O/F) ratio shift does not occur with a temperature change.

Abstract: A subsystem addition to the Imaging Simplified Laser Pointing System (ISL). The subsystem in itself is a laser system to be operated off-axis within the field of view of the ISLAPS. This subsystem laser is to be used to interrogate the target. Operation of the ISLAPS at night or with low light conditions is made possible by this addition. The interrogator beam is bounced off the target. In the OA mode the receiver is looking for a retro-reflection or optical augmentation to signal the firing of the negation laser. This mode can be used at any light level. In the illuminator mode the interrogator is "opened up" to effectively spotlight the target during low light conditions. This allows for imaging, aimpoint selection and video correlation in the same manner as was done with ambient light in the original system. The use of the interrogator also makes it possible to range gate. This reduces background creating clearer images and increases sensitivity because it allows for a reduction in threshold levels.

Abstract: The scatterider guidance system is mounted on the flying object that is to e guided toward a more direct impact on the selected target. The system utilizes a designating beam of laser pulses that is emitted from the launch pad toward the target and atmospheric particles that scatter the laser pulses to calculate the guidance commands that lead the flying object to follow the laser beam closely. Upon detection by the scatterider sensors of the laser light that is scattered by the atmospheric particles, the perpendicular radial distance between the laser beam and the longitudinal axis of the object in flight is calculated by the onboard guidance electronics and subsequently used to generate the deflection commands. The deflection commands, in turn, are used to deflect aerodynamic control surfaces of the object such that the object approaches and stays close to the laser beam. This guidance system is activated as soon after launch as possible and continues until the object impacts on the target.

Abstract: The data-link and antenna selection assembly combines a group of conformal ntenna arrays with radio frequency (RF) detection, control and switching circuitry to provide up to 360 degrees of azimuth coverage for an aerial or terrestrial vehicle. The signal monitoring comprises signal detection and determination of signal frequency and strength. These are input to a switching controller which selects the best receive path and transmit path as a function of received signal frequency and strength. Use of conformal antenna arrays eliminates the requirement for cumbersome mechanical positioners.

Abstract: The semi-active laser (SAL) last pulse logic seeker utilizing a focal plane array is obtained by combining the semi-active laser last pulse logic sal processing using a single PIN photodiode with a staring imaging infrared (I.sup.2 R) focal plane array detector, such as InSb. The result is an improvement that renders the seeker capable of operating in three different modes: SAL only, I.sup.2 R only or simultaneous multi-spectral processing in SAL/I.sup.2 R. The improvement uses a single PIN photodiode detector with an imaging infrared focal plane array (I.sup.2 R FPA) detector to correlate the temporal laser returns of the former with the spatial laser returns of the latter which enables the SAL last pulse return, indicative of the true target, to be identified on the I.sup.2 R FPA. To facilitate the correlation process, the FPA can be divided into regions-of-interest (ROI) that are analyzed to determine which temporal laser pulse falls in which particular ROI.

Abstract: A high density inhibited red fuming nitric acid oxidizer gel is disclosed ich results in an improvement from 0.5% to about 1.0.% in the impulse over a baseline formulation containing 14% nitrogen tetroxide. An improvement from about 3.0% to about 6.0% is achieved in the density impulse baseline formulation. The higher density inhibited red fuming nitric acid is derived by adding from about 15 percent by weight to about 45 percent by weight percent of nitrogen tetroxide to nitric acid in an amount from about 80 percent by weight to about 40 percent by weight. The other ingredient of the oxidizer gel comprise a gellant of about 0-10 percent by weight, water from about 0-4 percent by weight, and an inhibitor agent of about 0-1 percent by weight. IRFNA is inhibited with phosphoric acid, iodine compounds, or hydrogen fluoride which is present in the oxidizer gel as an additive.

Abstract: A donor charge detonator is disclosed which has a donor charge case for caining a main explosive with means for initiating the main charge of explosive. The case design comprises a plurality of flutes formed around the outer surface of the case, and the plurality of flutes comprise valley members or grooves separated by peaks between successive grooves. The grooves and peaks of the flutes function after initiation of the main charge of explosive to cause the formation of particles from the donor charge case and the resulting explosive force to follow along the valleys of the flutes thereby forming a plurality of jets similar to linerar lines whereby the resulant shock is enhanced in a specific direction. The resulting force and the resultant shock are transferred at a higher magnitude because of the jet effect of the fluted configuration of the donor charge case.