Abstract: A composite sabot including an anti-splitting ring connected to the composite sabot body, to prevent the sabot from splitting during discard. The composite sabot includes sabot petals with fibers oriented in the radial direction and a front scoop for gathering air particles. The anti-splitting ring is mounted to the front scoop portion of the composite sabot where splitting initiates. The anti-splitting ring may be a variety of shapes and materials and attaches easily and inexpensively to any sabot.

Abstract: A welding method controls the welding temperature, welding cycle time, and welding pressure for fabrication of composite structural parts. A welding unit welds multiple plies of thermoplastic prepreg into welded multi-ply assemblies by concentrating welds along the thermoplastic prepreg plies at localized and strategic positions. Two platens weld a plurality of the multi-ply assemblies into a layup using a plurality of heated pins. The heated pins are hollow to reduce surface heating during welding and are non-uniformly shaped to allow indexing of the layup. After the layup is cut into a plurality of thermoplastic prepreg segments along a layup pattern, the thermoplastic prepreg segments are indexed according to the weld marks impressed by the non-uniformly shaped heated pins. The thermoplastic prepreg segments are formed into kits or wedges by stacking smaller thermoplastic prepreg segments on top of larger thermoplastic prepreg segments.

Abstract: A missile severance device for severing a structural surface member of a body is constructed of a pair of plate members separated by a collapsible liner member ring. An explosive charge is contained with the volume defined by the pair of plate members and the liner member ring. One of the plate members includes a booster explosive charge that serves to detonate the explosive charge so as to collapse the liner member ring and create a directed jet toward the structural surface member intended to be cut.

Abstract: A simplified tailored composite architecture for use in fabricating a composite sabot where the composite sabots are fabricated from a number of wedge kits. The resultant composite sabot includes a front scoop having a scoop angle. The simplified tailored composite architecture includes a panel adapted to be formed into a wedge kit. The panel has a number of plies of prepreg materials oriented in a number of different directions, where one of the number of different directions includes the direction of dominant homogeneous fiber orientation. A pattern within the panel includes selected prepreg segments rotated so that the direction of dominant homogeneous fiber orientation in the selected prepreg segments is aligned to be substantially parallel to the at least one dominant scoop fiber orientation when the panel is subsequently formed into a wedge kit.

Abstract: A shaped charge explosive warhead assembly is composed of a one piece shaped charge liner including an explosive initiation charge, and a main explosive charge which surrounds the shaped charge liner. The one piece shaped charge liner includes a forward thin wall section and an integral tail end section having a common longitudinal axis of symmetry. The forward thin wall section includes wall portions having a trumpet or other selected shape, and the tail end section includes a plurality of symmetrically located spoke-like apertures extending radially from the longitudinal axis of symmetry and further includes a central bore hole extending from an end surface of the tail end section and in communication with the spoke-like apertures. The spoke-like apertures and bore hole of the tail end section are filled with the explosive initiation charge. A detonator is coupled to the explosive initiation charge within the bore hole.

Abstract: A miniaturized bulkhead with a barrier member having a thickness in the range of less than 0.05 inches thick for separating explosive charges on opposites sides. The miniaturized bulkhead is manufactured from an age hardened nickel-base alloy. First and second cavities are separated by the barrier member integral with the initiator body. The first cavity is filled with an explosive donor charge, and the second cavity is filled with an explosive acceptor charge. The composition of the age hardened nickelbase alloy includes nickel in the range of 50-55 percent by weight.

Abstract: An improved shoot-through warhead cover is constructed of a low density material, such as polyethylene foam, in a dome-like shape. An anterior surface of the shoot-through cover is configured so as to be in proximate mating relationship with the exterior surface of an EFP liner member. The exterior surface of the cover is also aerodynamically contoured to match the external shape of a receiving warhead delivery vehicle body.

Abstract: A discriminating deceleration sensing electrical switch assembly is enclosed within a munitions projectile for providing an electrical circuit path between a pair of electrical contacts upon deceleration of the projectile being greater than a selected deceleration threshold value. The discriminating deceleration electrical switch assembly includes a switch support having a bore hole for holding a spherical mass or ball. A tactile dome switch or snap switch is juxtaposed between an electrical contact assembly, including a pair of electrically conductive surface regions, and the spherical mass. The components are arranged along the munitions firing axis such that, upon sufficient deceleration along the firing axis, a force acting on the spherical mass will cause the dome switch to deform and contact the conductive surface regions to provide switch closure.

Abstract: An optical storage medium with gray scale capability comprising: a plurality of facing substrates in series; alignment layers disposed on one or both sides of the substrates to give alignment layer pair(s) wherein at least one of the alignment layers of each of the alignment layer pair(s) is an optical alignment layer, and wherein the optical alignment layer(s) comprise anisotropically absorbing molecules or moieties; liquid crystal layers disposed between the alignment layer pair(s); wherein, each of the liquid crystal layer(s) comprises three or more alignment regions having three or more different alignment states; and, wherein the different alignment states are controlled by exposure of optical alignment layer(s) with polarized light of a wavelength or wavelengths within the absorption band of the anisotropically absorbing molecules or moieties therein, is described. The invention is also directed to compact disc, erasable compact discs, photographic storage devices, and storage displays.

Abstract: A solid propellant composition of an oxidizer, a fuel, a binder, and at least one other additive has an improved binder system comprising a non-crystalline polyether having a molecular weight of 1250-9000 (such as Teracol TE and ER-1250/25) and an energetic plasticizer (such as BuNENA, EthylNENA, TEGDN, and DEGDN plasticizers). Propellants of this invention can be used, for example, in ground-launched interceptors, air launched tactical motors, and space boosters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid, boron-containing, inorganic oxide resin containing unsaturated organic groups. The resin can additionally comprise the units .brket open-st.M-O.brket close-st., where M can vary from one unit to the next and is selected from Si, Ti, Al, Ba, Zr, Li and Hf. Also disclosed is a process for inhibiting the oxidation of carbon-carbon composites by impregnating the composite with such resins, cross-linking the resin and pyrolyzing to convert the resin to a ceramic material.

Abstract: A security system for detecting a gunshot event. A communication link, and a number of pole units are arranged in a dense grid. Each one of the pole units includes a microphone and a signal conditioning and thresholding unit coupled to the microphone. The signal conditioning and thresholding unit outputs a detection signal in response to an event when an output signal from the microphone exceeds a peak background average. A data acquisition and signal processing unit is coupled to the signal conditioning and thresholding unit for discriminating gunshot events. The data acquisition and signal processing unit remains in a powered down stand-by mode so as to conserve energy until a detection signal is received. The data acquisition and signal processing unit includes apparatus for identifying a gunshot event by measuring an initial pulse time duration and subsequent pulse pattern features, and a communication interface coupled at an input to the data acquisition and signal processing unit.

Abstract: A delivery head assembly is provided for forming a tape band from a plurality of tows and applying the band as superimposed layers in a helical pattern on to a mandrel to produce non-uniform cross sectional articles. This head assembly is composed of a distribution section, ribbonizing section, coating section, add section, and compaction roller.

Abstract: Acidic polysaccharides crosslinked by reaction with di- or polyanhydrides. The use of anhydride-crosslinked hyaluronic acid as a treatment for arthritis, as a drug delivery vehicle, to reduce the incidence of post-operative adhesion formation, to promote the healing of chronic wounds and ulcers, and as a component of cosmetic formulations.

Abstract: Liquid and pathogen impermeable island wound dressing which can be adhesively bonded to the skin surrounding a wound is provided with a liquid and gas permeable exudate absorbing pad, and a plurality of sequentially removable liquid and microorganism impermeable, gas and moisture vapor permeable cover sheets disposed adjacent to and covering the pad.

Abstract: Arylazo and poly(arylazo) dyes having at least one core radical selected from naphthyl or anthracyl and having at least one 2,3-dihydro-1,3-dialkyl perimidine substituent, a guest-host composition comprising a liquid crystal host solvent and the arylazo or poly(arylazo) dichroic dye, and a liquid crystal display comprising the guest-host composition, are disclosed.

Abstract: A system is provided for producing a three dimensional object from a reactive liquid medium capable of being solidified. The object is constructed from many successive layers of the solidified reactive liquid medium when subjected to appropriate synergistic stimulation. A reservoir contains both the reactive liquid medium and an underlying supporting, substantially immiscible, non-reactive liquid medium. To begin forming the object, a platform within the reservoir is initially positioned at a depth equal to the thickness of a first layer to be solidified, and continues to support the object being constructed. The synergistic source radiates toward the reactive liquid medium and imaging apparatus defining a three dimensional object of required configuration selectively controls the size and shape of that part of a new two dimensional layer to be solidified. At least part of the new layer is solidified, after which a further layer is applied.

Abstract: The present invention provides shaped medical devices adapted for implant and subsequent in-vivo disintegration within a human or animal body. In one embodiment, the medical device is fabricated from a matrix polymer component, e.g., a lactam, which has a ceiling temperature (Tc) within the range of from about 40.degree. C. to about 76.degree. C. Decomposition of this device is accomplished by heating the device in-vivo to a temperature at or above the ceiling temperature of the matrix polymer component. In another embodiment, the medical device is fabricated from an end-capped polyoxyalkylene matrix polymer component characterized by a depolymerization temperature of at least about 40.degree. C. and a ceiling temperature of 76.degree. C. or less after removal of the end-cap group. In a third embodiment of the invention the medical device comprises a matrix polymer which is insoluble or only slightly soluble in normal body fluids and which exhibits a Tc below 40.degree. C.

Abstract: An island wound dressing comprising a fenestrated base layer, an absorbent pad positioned in the base layer fenestration, and a liquid and microorganism impermeable, gas and moisture vapor permeable cover sheet.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of altering the water content of a hydrogel comprising treatment of said hydrogel with a liquid dehydrating composition. There is further provided a method of altering the water content of a hydrogel-containing medical device. The medical devices of the present invention comprise a hydrogel having a water level ex vivo lower than the thermodynamic equilibrium water level when in vivo. These medical devices comprise a hydrogel contacted with a liquid dehydrating agent, wherein said medical device has a lower water level ex vivo than the thermodynamic equilibrium water level when the medical device is in vivo.