Abstract: A bullet-shaped deflector located at the exit opening of a liquid nozzle nted on a fire-suppressant storage bottle stationed within a military vehicle. The deflector acts as an obstruction to reduce liquid jet issuing from the nozzle. The system is designed for liquid pressure of 750 p.s.i. and nozzle openings of about 11/4 inch diameter. The bullet-shaped deflector may have a diameter of about 5/16 inch and an axial length of about 1 inch.

Abstract: In a military vehicle having a powered winch, the improvement comprising a able guide that includes three rollers having concave edge surfaces guidably engaged with segmental surface areas of the cable. One of the rollers is carried by an auxiliary frame that can be swung away from its normal position to thread or unthread the cable. The three rollers are equi-spaced around the cable guide space so that normal cable loads are borne by at least two of the rollers.

Abstract: A military vehicle comprising a hull that is equipped with a rotary turret nd an external gun thereabove; external power means is provided to elevate the gun bodily and turn the gun in the elevation plane. The gun is equipped with at least one ammunition supply tube that can be periodically replenished from an ammunition storage means in the hull without human assistance (other than actuation of control switches or valves).

Abstract: In a vehicle wherein road wheel travel is controlled by a hydraulic damper hose flow is controlled by a spring-urged metering valve, the improvement wherein the valve spring comprises a helical spring having a constant load-deflection curve and a plurality of coned spring disks having variable load-deflection curves. The preferred suspension for cross-country operation exhibits a relatively hard response to minor bumps, a soft floating response to major bumps, and a comparatively hard snubber-like response to abnormally large bumps. Movement in the rebound direction can be substantially unrestricted, controlled by conventional springs, or controlled by spring stacks similar to those described herein. Conversely, for operation on hard surfaced roads the major control functions could be reversed.

Abstract: A fuel injection system wherein the fuel pressure can be varied or adjusted n accordance with different engine loading conditions. The system includes an accumulator and a source of high-pressure gas for raising the accumulator pressure in accordance with step increases in the fuel pressure. A pressure-operated piston valve is provided to communicate the accumulator with the gas pressure source or with an atmospheric vent, as necessary to raise or lower the accumulator pressure.

Abstract: A tracked vehicle having power mechanism for temporarily increasing the suspension force on the centermost roadwheels and decreasing the suspension force on the endmost roadwheels during a vehicle turning action. The temporary change in distribution of the suspension force tends to reduce skidding forces that impede vehicle turn action.

Abstract: A recoil-operated gun wherein combustion gases are bled from the gun barrel gainst an end surface of a bolt-operating piston that is slidably disposed in a stationary cylinder carried by the gun receiver. A system of radial grooves and annular pockets is provided in the confronting surfaces of the piston and cylinder to store residue associated with the combustion gases, thereby preventing frictional build-ups and premature wear or jamming due to residue accumulations in the sliding interfaces.

Abstract: A bolt formed of two separate members, one of the members defining the shank and wrench-engagement portions of the bolt, the other member defining a work-engagement washer-flange surface. This two-member construction minimizes the amount of upsetting required to form the wrench-engagement portion of the bolt, with resulting reduction in total energy costs to form the bolt. The two-member construction provides other advantages, such as possible use of harder, higher tensile strength materials having improved wear characteristics, the elimination of a potential stress riser condition at the juncture of the shank and head portions, and possible use of different materials for the shank and head flange areas of the bolt.

Abstract: Noise reduction mechanism for an engine, especially effective during idling nd operation at low RPM, is disclosed. Under those conditions, engine exhaust noise often represents a predominant part of the total vehicle noise. The noise reducing mechanism comprises a flow-throttling element that substantially closes the main exhaust passage when the engine is in the low-speed range; the exhaust gas and noise is forced to flow through a more effective muffling device to reduce the noise at the exit end of the system. At high engine speeds, the throttling mechanism is deflected to a maximum flow condition for avoidance of undesired back pressure in the exhaust system.

Abstract: A fire-suppressant mechanism especially designed for suppressing near-expive fires or slow growth fires in military vehicles. The mechanism includes a thick-walled bottle or container partially or wholly filled with liquid fire-suppressant, such as Halon 1301. A chemical gas-generating cartridge is located at one end of the container for substantially instantaneously generating a very high gaseous pressure within the container, thereby very rapidly expelling the liquid suppressant from the container onto an emergent fireball.

Abstract: Means to mount an element to be powered on a drive shaft are shown. The eent to be powered fits against a shoulder on the shaft. A retainer ring is next slipped onto the shaft against the element, and a snap ring is put in place in a groove in the shaft. Three plugs in the retainer ring are screwed against the element to clamp the assembly longitudinally between the shoulder and the snap ring.

Abstract: Electrical control system for a video tracker, including circuitry for maintaining the size of the target substantially constant relative to the tracking window, thereby improving the accuracy of the target shift detection circuit. Additional circuitry is provided for enhancing contrast between the target and the background scene, thus preventing loss of the target due to inadvertant sensing of grey clutter instead of the true target.

Abstract: A motor-driven winch wherein the motor is at least partially contained win the winding drum, thereby providing a compact small size unit. The space within the drum also contains a speed reducer of the differential motion type. Speed reducer design is such as to achieve very large speed reduction within a relatively small space, thus contributing to a compact overall design.

Abstract: A cabinet having special utility in patch panel-formation of electric cirts in analog computers. The patch panel is removed from the computer and mounted in an inclined attitude atop the cabinet for easy viewing of circuit holes in the panel face. The cabinet includes cable-storage trays in close proximity to the patch panel, whereby the technician is able to readily select an appropriate length cable for plug-on connection to the panel, necessary to form various electrical circuits. After the panel has been wired it is remounted onto the front face of the analog computer; the cable terminations extend through the panel into electrical connection with terminals permanently located in the computer.

Abstract: An engine air cleaner comprising a cylindrical housing containing an annu perforate cleaning medium and a set of pre-cleaning baffles in the housing space surrounding the cleaning medium. The baffles maintain the dust-laden gas in a swirling condition, thereby centrifugally forcing heavy dust particles away from the cleaning medium surface. A scavenger fan removes heavy dust particles from the housing before such particles can contact the cleaning medium.

Abstract: A recoil-operated gas assisted gun having a linked ammunition feeder means nd a link guide housing arranged so that the links are separated from individual rounds of ammunition as said rounds are introduced into the gun chamber. The link guide housing contains three sets of deflectable pawls that project into the chute defined by the housing. As the linked ammunition is fed upwardly through the chute the pawls snap into positions underlying the links for the three uppermost ammunition rounds; the pawls collectively bear the weight of the linked ammunition system, thereby accurately positioning the uppermost ammunition round and avoiding possible jamming due to variations or changes of the linked components as the length of the link system lessens. A retractor plate is slidably positioned on an outer face of the link guide housing for moving the pawls out of registry with the ammunition rounds, e.g. when it is necessary to download ammunition out of the chute.

Abstract: An armor-piercing projectile comprises a penetrator core carried within a scarding segmented sabot equipped with a plastic spinner band. While the core-sabot assembly is traveling through a rifled gun barrel the plastic band interengages with the rifling to impart spin to the assembly. The rifling severs the spinner band so that when the assembly exits from the barrel the sabot segments are centrifugally slung off of the penetrator core. The core continues its flight toward the target. Improved separation of the segments from the core is achieved because the sabot is constructed so that the severable band is the initial mechanism for retaining the sabot segments on the core during feeding and chambering. The separation lines between the core and sabot segments are pre-established by molding alternate segments in two sequential steps. Also, the segments are mechanically locked together, providing a predictable separation mechanism.

Abstract: Mechanism for suppressing fires in military vehicles, especially in engine ompartments and in relatively inaccessible areas beneath the turret-basket units of such vehicles. The mechanism includes a plurality of fire condition sensors for energizing an alarm device and/or an electric switch that controls the discharge of fire suppressant vapor toward the developing fireball. The system is flexible in that it provides for automatic suppression of near-explosive fires and manual suppression of slow growth fires.The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

Abstract: A wheeled transporter attachable to a multi-ton cargo container for lifting nd lowering said container, and moving same overland. The transporter includes separate transporter units attachable to each end of the container for building a trailer unit. Each unit is structured to permit high wheel travel for improved operation over rough terrain.

Abstract: A connection between a shaft and a component such as a gear, fan impeller, rank arm, etc, wherein the shaft is provided with axially spaced abutments to sandwich the component against axial displacement along the shaft surface. At least one of the shaft abutments is acutely angled to the shaft axis so that the abutments cooperatively form a wedge-containment system; the component material between the spaced abutments is wedged against rotation around the shaft.