Abstract: A link wire (20) arrangement for use in a non-explosive initiator (10) includes a link wire (20) received within a pair of tubes (24,26), each tube having its outer end formed into a loop (28) and its opposite end crimped (30) to physically and electrically secure the tubes to the included link wire (20). The tubes (24,26) are encapsulated within an insulating body (16).

Abstract: The initiator (32) has a hollow spool housing (34) with sidewall slots (42,44) and within which is received a shaft (54) to be releasably retained. Spool segments (46,48) are placed within slots (42,44) and have parts extending into the housing bore (50) obstructingly engaging the shaft (54) preventing its removal. A spring coil (82) wound over the spool segments (46,48) holds them in place. Cartridge assembly (62) is releasably secured to the housing (34) and includes a link wire (72) for securing one end of the coil (82). The link wire (72) is destructible by passing an electric current therethrough exceeding a certain value.

Abstract: A first stage structural support beam (22,50) with flanges (12,14; 52,54) separated by an integral web (16) has the web stretched to increase the web height by a value .DELTA. following which a set of corrugations (34,48,62) is formed into the web. The resulting beam (38,40,50) has substantially increased weight-to-load characteristics as compared to the first stage beam.

Abstract: A combination baton (11) and hand grip (18) is unitized as (10). A strap (12) extends through an opening (44) in a canister (14) which is rotatably mounted onto the baton (11). To extend the strap (12), a thumb of one hand is placed in thumb ring (46) and the strap pulled outwardly from the canister (14) by the other hand. To store the strap, a thumb is inserted into the thumb ring (46) and the other hand rotates the baton (11). An alternative embodiment has the storage housing (60) rotatably mounted to the baton shaft (54) by a pair of cylindrical rings (62) affixed to the shaft by threaded members (64).

Abstract: An antenna (10) is provided by a metal layer (12) deposited on a dielectric substrate (16) which is etched to form a pair of symmetrical slot sections (20,22) having facing edges which increasingly curve away from each other to a maximum spacing point which is the antenna aperture (26). A linking slot (32) interconnects the slot sections (20,22) at a feed point (30) spaced from the aperture (26). High frequency electrical voltage applied at the feed point (30) achieves launch of an electromagnetic wave from the aperture (26). An alternative feed network uses a 180.degree. hybrid (60) providing simultaneous horizontal and vertical polarization operation.

Abstract: A reflectance modulator (10) includes a reflective plate (16) with a plurality of slots (18) forming a slot matrix of square portions (20). Side wall plates (22) are each slidingly received within a slot (18) forming a plurality of black body cavities (24) facing incoming radiation. Actuators (28) support the reflective plate (16) with respect to an object surface (12) and are energizable to modify the spacing of plate (16) from the surface (12) changing depth of the cavities (24) and reflectance of radiation.

Abstract: Restraining and tensioning apparatus (10) for a cargo tie-down belt (12) has a chassis (26) with a fluted spindle (98) onto which the belt is wound, ratchet gears (120,122), tensioning lever (28), and two pairs of locking pawls (136, 138, 148, 150), each locking pawl being engaged by an individual spring urging the pawl into contact with a ratchet gear.

Abstract: A golf training for resting receipt on a ground plane in use, comprising:an elongated first member having an end directed generally along a direction it is desired to hit a ball with a golf club, said member including a straight line edge with adjacent measuring marks and along which a user's feet are located;a second member pivotally and slidably interconnected with the first member by threaded means to extend transversely away from said first member during use, said second member having first and second parts which respectively extend away from opposite sides of the first member;a third member removably secured to an end portion of the second member by threaded means and having an edge that is continuously convexly curved away from the first member, said curved edge providing a clubhead guide to following during the takeway, downswing and follow through of a golf swing said third member further including a strip extending along and immediately adjacent to the curved edge which is of a color that differs fro

Abstract: A notch antenna (10) has a metallic notch element (20) deposited on a dielectric substrate (12), which element has a smooth continuously curved edge located adjacent a substrate edge (18). A metallic ground plane (28) is located adjacent the substrate edge (18) spaced very closely to element 20 at one end and at a gradually increased spacing moving away from the one end. An electromagnetic field transmitting coaxial cable (30) with ferrite beads (44) received over its outer conductor for reducing spurious radiation is located on the opposite side of substrate (12,14). The cable center conductor (34) is connected to a metallic strip (38) that is located on the same side of substrate (12,14) as the coaxial cable and tracks the same path as the notch element (20) on the opposite side of substrate (12). The antenna (10) is fed by electromagnetic energy at the closely spaced region of the element (20) and ground plane (28).

Abstract: An electrical initiator (10) includes spool halves (12,14) releasably held together by a coiled retaining wire (42). A link wire (42) also holds a spool (46) fixed to spool half (12) against connector body 16 and the other spool half (16). A cavity on the interior of the two spools physically retain a tensilely loaded shaft (18). An electric current passing through the link wire (42) causes it to become brittle and break releasing the spool halves and contained shaft (18).

Abstract: An optical seeker (10) has an objective lens group (12) with a wide field of view (e.g., up to about 180 degrees). Light energy from objects within a field of regard is focused by the objective lens group (12) onto the end of a congruous overlay rod (24) and on exiting the rod it is acted upon by a two-dimensional matrix shutter (46) to selectively pass only one small zone (50) while suppressing passage of the remainder of the light energy. A light sensing array 22 is of such size as to merely accommodate one zone (50) at a time.

Abstract: A method is provided for image processing to remove noise and improve smoothing of nonimpulsive noise while preserving major identifying edges of the image, all of which are accomplished corresponding to a prescribed scale of interest. The method achieves nonlinear cluster filtering relying upon a maximum entropy principle. A single scale parameter governs filtering by dictating the spatial extent of neighboring data used for clustering. This, together with the signal characteristic (e.g., variation in gray scale) determines the scale parameter in the output space. The described method is unsupervised and data driven.

Abstract: A recreational rocket (10) has a nose cone assembly (18,33) movable with respect to the main rocket body 12 between two limits. Each of a pair of fins (20) on the nose cone assembly (18,33) has a hinged aileron (22). The ailerons (22) are held in a straight path course by a limit bar (37) on body (12) when the nose cone assembly is at one limit. Plastic members (42) pull the ailerons (22) into glide mode position against the edges of stanchion plates (38).

Abstract: A movable divider wall (28) for a drawer (10) includes a cam (32) secured to each opposite end, which cam is relatively compressible across a first direction and only slightly compressible across other directions. Channels (20, 22) are secured to the internal surfaces of opposing drawer panels and each presents a longitudinal recess (24) facing toward the other which are so dimensioned as to receive a cam (32). With the cam relatively compressible direction extending transversely of the recess (24) the cam (32) and divider wall (28) may be adjustably positioned within the drawer. Rotating the divider wall to a position where the cam slightly compressible direction is transverse to the channel recesses locks the cams and divider wall relative to the drawer.

Abstract: The described system prevents unauthorized operation of an automotive vehicle under the control of a separable engine control module (10) and signal source or memory device (12). A wire scrambler (22) and interface module (24) are interconnected between the engine control module (10) and memory device (12). A key device (20) having a fixed coded signal source (53) on being received within a lock cylinder (26) energizes a crossbar switch matrix (44) in the interface module (24) which effectively provides a correct wiring relationship between the engine control module (10) and the memory device (12). Connector parts (16, 30) are secured together in a manner that would destroy connector contacts if separated.

Abstract: A light-weight sheet metal fastener (10) is formed from a single flat metal blank (20) to include first and second pairs of opposite side wall members (22, 24) having parts formed into leaf spring members (49), all surrounding a threaded sleeve (16) unitary with a center plate (12). The side wall members (22, 24) extend through a panel (14) opening (60) during mounting and the spring members lock against fastener removal.