Abstract: A deformable structure is subjected to a plurality of reduced pressures, causing a bulge in the surface of the deformable structure above a separation in the deformable structure. The cross sectional area of the bulge is measured for each reduced pressure in a plane parallel to the surface of the deformable structure. When the cross sectional area of the bulge does not increase with a reduction in the pressure, the cross sectional area of the bulge approximates the area of the separation. The depth of the separation is calculated using the change in cross sectional area of the bulge per change in pressure.

Abstract: A deformable structure is subjected to a plurality of reduced pressures, causing a bulge in the surface of the deformable structure above a separation in the deformable structure. The cross sectional area of the bulge is measured for each reduced pressure in a plane parallel to the surface of the deformable structure. When the cross sectional area of the bulge does not increase with a reduction in the pressure, the cross sectional area of the bulge approximates the area of the separation. The depth of the separation is calculated using the change in cross sectional area of the bulge per change in pressure.

Abstract: A deformable structure is subjected to a plurality of reduced pressures, causing a bulge in the surface of the deformable structure above a separation in the deformable structure. The cross sectional area of the bulge is measured for each reduced pressure in a plane parallel to the surface of the deformable structure. When the cross sectional area of the bulge does not increase with a reduction in the pressure, the cross sectional area of the bulge approximates the area of the separation. The depth of the separation is calculated using the change in cross sectional area of the bulge per change in pressure.

Abstract: The run-flat tire has a tread for contacting a ground surface and a belt package with belt plies interior to the tread for support of the tread. A plurality of radially reinforced carcass layers are positioned interior to the belt plies and include at least one carcass layer that extends between spaced apart annular beads. The tire has a pair of sidewalls each extending radially inward from shoulders at lateral edges of the belt package to the annular beads. The sidewalls have a plurality of sidewall stiffening members to support the tire during a loss of inflation pressure. The carcass layers are disposed with the sidewall stiffening members to help support the run-flat tire with a loss of inflation pressure.

Abstract: The tread of a rib type tire is modified to provide draft angles in lateral grooves of selected ribs to compensate the tire's residual aligning torque (RAT). This allows the vehicle to have straight ahead motion with no steering pull. The draft angles are achieved by inclining the radial centerline of the lateral grooves to be sloped forward on one side of the midcircumferential plane and sloped backward on the other side of the midcircumferential plane. The centerline draft angle results in tread blocks sloped forward and backward during forward motion of the vehicle. The sloping tread blocks produces an effective rolling radius change on selected ribs of the tread pattern. Effective rolling radius of selected ribs is a concept introduced to explain the physical relationships that exist in the contact patch of the tire with the ground surface.

Abstract: A device for the accelerated loading of muzzle-loading firearms is disclosed. The device comprises a cylinder, having a plurality of vertically located bores, rotatably mounted to a base having a single through hole. The device is positioned over the muzzle of the firearm, facilitated by a countersunk hole in the base; the cylinder is rotated until a bore containing a prepared load is in position over the through hole. When this is done, gunpowder falls into the barrel of the firearm and the patch and ball are then pushed through and into position with a priming rod. The vertical surface of the cylinder has a plurality of transparent windows which allow the viewing of the interior of each of the cylindrical bores. Each of the windows is marked with graduations to indicate the volume of the corresponding bore which allows the accelerated loading of powder into the device and allows the user, when in the field, to visually verify the amount and condition of the powder residing in the device.