Abstract: The present inventions pertain to a method of applying a solid protective coating to articles, to a system capable of depositing a solid film layer on articles, and to hermetically sealed articles. In particular, films are deposited on fused quartz substrates, optical fibers, and other items requiring a hermetic seal by a single or multiple beams laser-induced chemical vapor deposition [LCVD]. According to the present inventions, the protective layer can be deposited on the articles to be hermetically sealed in an open environment at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature whereby the coating process may occur outside the confines of an enclosure. A coaxial precursor and non-reactive laminar gas jet configuration insulates the deposition area from oxygen and other aerial impurities.

Abstract: Protection against blast and ballistic damage is improved by encapsulating or sandwiching rigid inclusions (for example, tiles) or a rigid plate by a high-strain rate hardening elastomer. Typical high-strain rate hardening elastomers include polyurea and polyurethane. If desired, the inclusion or plate may be wrapped in a cloth and/or fabric before encapsulation/sandwiching. The armor may be used independently of a substrate or may be attached by any means to a substrate that it is intended to protect.

Abstract: A mounting system for a cylindrical object such as a spotting rifle is provided. First and second U-shaped brackets are coupled to a base such as a launching device. Each U-shaped bracket has first and second legs extending from a common base. The two U-shaped brackets are oriented such that the first and second legs of one U-shaped bracket are perpendicular to the first and second legs of the other U-shaped bracket. Each U-shaped bracket slidably receives a sleeve between its first and second legs. Each sleeve is attachable to the bracket's common base such that the position of the sleeve relative to the bracket's common base is adjustable. A locking mechanism is provided with each U-shaped bracket/sleeve combination to lock the sleeve laterally between the first and second legs of the U-shaped bracket. The two sleeves are coaxially aligned.

Abstract: Energetic compositions and the process for obtaining same for use as the itable composition in infrared-emitting decoy flares, for high-temperature ignition compositions, and the like, are disclosed. These compositions are attained by combining a fluorinated hydrocarbon, either in a liquid state or as a water emulsion, with a powdered metal fuel such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium or zirconium to yield volatile solvent free energetic compositions.

Abstract: A confinement cylinder is disclosed having opposite end regions and a cenl region, each acting as reservoirs for holding liquid metal for a metal vapor laser discharge device. The confinement cylinder is located at the central region of the discharge chamber of the laser device and allows the liquid metal to be raised to a temperature sufficient so that the liquid metal may transition into its vapor state, find its way back to the discharge chamber, and actively participate in the production of lasing.

Abstract: Hazardous gases within a fluent mixture such as polluted air, are treated exposure to corona discharge within reaction zones of a plurality of reactor modules to effect chemical breakdown for pollution abatement purposes. Electrical pulse energy delivered to the reaction zones to effect corona discharge therein, is monitored to optimize pollution abatement by suppression of thermal arcing within the reaction zones.

Abstract: A system and process for on-demand generation of inert, non-flammable gases and water vapor to decrease the available atmospheric oxygen in the ullage of a hydrocarbon fuel storage tank to a level that will not support combustion of the hydrocarbon fuel, is disclosed. One, or more, of a variety of non-Halon, fire suppressor charges are selectively contained in one or more gas generating cartridges. The gas generating cartridge(s), when activated, cause release of these charges to promote rapid chemical reactions and supply inert, non-flammable gases and water vapor to the tank ullage. Activation is accomplished in aircraft by, either pilot action or, by pressure and temperature sensors contained within the hydrocarbon fuel tank.

Abstract: Rotary mechanical splices between axially aligned optic fibers are seated der axial compression within bays recessed into the body of a holding tray on which a retention lid is fastened in a position to which it is guided by fins on its underside received in grooves formed in the tray body. In such position of the lid on the tray, the lid underside surface covers access formations and the bays between the fins having portions covering fiber slots in the tray through which the optic fibers extend in alignment with their splices.

Abstract: An automatic repeater station, sometimes called a relay system, is disclo. The relay system receives signals, preferably at one band of frequencies, then filters and restores their inherent information, and finally transmits the restored information, preferably at another band of frequencies. Unlike the prior art systems utilizing transceivers and electronically tunable filters, the present invention uses separate receivers and transmitters and is devoid of electronically tunable filters.

Abstract: A Josephson break junction device suitable for highly sensitive electronic detecting systems. A superconductor film such as YBa.sub.2 Al.sub.3 O.sub.7 is deposited on a substrate such as a single-crystal MgO. The film is fractured across a narrow strip by at least one indentation in the substrate juxtaposed from the strip to form a break junction. A transducer is affixed to the substrate for applying a bending movement to the substrate to regulate the distance across the gap formed at the fracture to produce a Josephson turned junction effect. Alternatively, or in addition to the transducer, a bridge of a nobel metal is applied across the gap to produce a weak-link junction.

Abstract: Corrosion resistant seal-coatings are formed on anodized aluminum by immeon in aqueous solutions containing trivalent chromic compounds with an alkali added near or slightly beyond the precipitation of insoluble basic compounds. Trivalent chromium seals formed on the anodized aluminum when tested in 5% NaCl salt spray chamber showed improved corrosion resistance. After a post-treatment in a peroxide or permanganate solution, the corrosion resistance for the anodized aluminum showed even greater improvement in the salt chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides instantaneous passive range measurement oard an aircraft for determining the range between the aircraft and a target. The target may either be stationary or a slower moving vehicle. Calculation of the desired range is achieved using the formula: Range=(S/S')V(Cos a)(Cos b) where "S"=apparent target size; "S'"=rate of change of apparent size; "V"=ground velocity; "a"=azimuth angle from aircraft heading to target; and "b"=elevation angle from the aircraft heading to the target. The apparatus consists of an automatic video tracker, a video camera, and a servo controlled aiming platform. The video tracker provides target size data. Resolvers on the aiming platform are utilized to determine the azimuth and elevation angles from the aircraft axis to the target. The azimuth angle is added to the aircraft drift angle to determine the total azimuth angle from the aircraft heading to the target. The drift angle and ground velocity are obtained from the aircraft inertial system.

Abstract: An improvement to a vibration-damping structural component of the type hag viscoelastic material sandwiched between two outer structural layers of stiffness material is disclosed. An inner layer of stiffness material having two predominant surfaces is positioned between the two outer structural layers of stiffness material and is fixed along an edge of one of the two predominant surfaces to one of the two outer structural layers of stiffness material along a line thereon corresponding to a nodal line of vibration. The remainder of the two predominant surfaces is fixed to the viscoelastic material. During flexural vibrations, the inner layer displaces in-plane with respect to the inner surfaces of the outer layers, causing greater shearing in the viscoelastic material, and therefore causing greater vibration damping in the structural component.

Abstract: A submersible acoustic generator for projection of sound waves into a body f water comprises a tubular resonator, open at its lower end and closed at its upper end, and having a multiple-plate thermoacoustic stack located near the upper end between a pair of heat exchangers which set up a temperature gradient in the stack. The upper heat exchanger is heated by a chemical fuel, and the lower heat exchanger is cooled by the surrounding water. The resonator is gas-filled, and the wavelength of the oscillations produced is approximately twice the length of the resonator. A portion of the resonator tube can be surrounded by a coaxial tube which serves as an impedance matching stub. The stack plates can be made anisotropic by means of embedded copper wires. In alternative versions of the apparatus, the resonator can have two stacks, one near the open end and the other near the closed end, and the temperature gradient in the stack can be established cryogenically.

Abstract: A method of measuring the position of a liquid surface within a vessel is scribed. An optical fiber is provided which has first and second ends and has an energy-absorbing element of a predetermined length disposed upon a portion of the cladding thereof such that there is a thermal interface between the energy-absorbing element and the cladding. The optical fiber is then positioned in the vessel so that the energy-absorbing element disposed thereon extends a known distance into the vessel along a known depth gradient of the vessel and so that the energy-absorbing element will intersect the liquid surface over the anticipated range of positions thereof. Single-frequency, coherent light is then transmitted through the core of the optical fiber by launching it into the first end of the optical fiber. A pulse of energy is applied across the entire length of the energy-absorbing element to heat it, and then the transmitted light is received from the second end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides instantaneous passive range measurement oard an aircraft for determining the range between the aircraft and a target. The target may either be stationary and on the earth's surface, or a slower moving vehicle. Calculation of the desired range is achieved using the formula: Range=[Sin a/Sin b] V; where "a"=angle from aircraft heading to target, "b"=turning rate; and "V"=ground velocity. The apparatus consists of an automatic video tracker, a video camera, and a servo controlled aiming platform. A resolver on the aiming platform is utilized to determine the angle from the aircraft axis to the target. This angle is added to the aircraft drift angle to determine the total angle from the aircraft heading to the target. The video tracker is utilized to determine the turning rate of the aiming platform.

Abstract: A remotely piloted vehicle control and interface system is provided. A penal computer equipped with an RS232 serial communication port passes an ASCII character(s) as a serial data stream. A shift register device converts the serial data stream to a parallel data character and continuously generates a status signal indicating one of the presence or absence of the parallel data character. A central processing unit, responsive to the status signal, compares the parallel data character with a set of valid control characters to generate a control signal when a match occurs therebetween. A transmitter, responsive to the control signal, transmits a radio frequency control signal to the remotely piloted vehicle.

Abstract: A sandwich construction is disclosed that provides alternating offset and jacent corrugated strips secured between upper and lower face sheets. The peaks of one strip are adjacent the troughs of an adjacent strip. The peaks and troughs can have flattened portions and the face sheets can be secured to said portions.

Abstract: An anti-armor warhead assembly includes an open-ended cylindrical warhead se defined by a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section has a constant inside diameter D.sub.1. The second section has a constant inside diameter D.sub.2 and connects the first section and the third section. The third section is defined by an inside diameter D.sub.3. The relationship between the diameters is such that D.sub.1 <D.sub.3 .ltoreq.D.sub.2. A hollow conically shaped charge liner is axially aligned and fitted within the warhead case. Explosive material fills the first section of the warhead case about an outwardly facing surface of the charge liner. A retaining ring fitted on the third section retains the charge liner and the explosive material in the first section. An end cap fitted to the first section has an initiator coupler formed therein for housing a primer charge used to detonate the explosive material.

Abstract: A photoconductive switching device is disclosed that has an enhanced speed of response so that its closed (low) and open (high) resistive states are obtained in response to optical illumination in the less than nanosecond regime. The enhanced speed of response is achieved by neutron irradiation of a material preferably comprising GaAs:Si:Cu. An application of the improved photoconductive switching devices is disclosed which allows the realization of a high-power, frequency-agile RF source topology.