Abstract: The invention relates to a hermetically sealed ballistic projectile having nose, material containing shell and a piston. The nose has a rearwardly increased diameter and a rearward region of decreased diameter, the shell has a forward most region of mating diameter with the rearward region of the nose and is in fixed but frangible contact with the nose. The piston is in hermetic sealed engagement with the inner surface of the forward region of the shell with its forward surface proximate the rearward surface of the nose. Material is used to fill the interior space of the shell between the piston and the rearward inner surface of the shell. The materials can be of a liquid, semi-liquid, slurry or solid consistency and are explosive, hypergolic, incendiary or otherwise reactive or inert, and contained in a single or a plurality of separate component containing compartments.

Abstract: A latching pin is held in a mating hole by a retaining wire prior to firing f a guided projectile to lock together a canard frame and an intermediate body which is part of a canard deflecting mechanism. Upon launch, the retaining wire is sheared by an inertia-driven shear mass but the latch pin is maintained in the latching condition by centrifugal force imparted to the canard frame and intermediate body during launch. Following launch, the canard frame and intermediate body are despun by aerodynamic drag on canards. Once despinning has proceeded sufficiently to reduce the centrifugal force to a value low enough to be overcome by a resilient member, the latch pin is withdrawn from the mating hole and relative rotation of the intermediate body and the canard frame are permitted to thus begin deflecting a pair of deflectable canards for producing aerodynamic lift to steer the projectile.

Abstract: A segmented sabot utilizes a double ramp configuration and a centrally poioned obturating band in alignment with the center of gravity of an in-bore projectile to improve the uniformity of the shear traction forces at the interface between the sabot segments and a subcaliber projectile, to reduce propellant gas blow-by and to enhance projectile in-bore and trajectory stability. The increased uniformity of shear traction forces between sabot and projectile interfaces and propellant gas self-sealing design permits a reduction in sabot weight of sufficient magnitude to increase the velocity of the projectile at the muzzle exit.

Abstract: In a round assembly having a propellant and an igniter for activating the opellant, a thermoelectric power supply comprising a plurality of junctions, which are coupled to the propellant for sensing the propellant temperature, and means of generating a voltage in response to the temperature sensed by the junctions.

Abstract: A mortar fire control system for indicating azimuth, elevation and cant alar orientations of a mortar barrel. The system comprises a 3-axis optical head mounted adjacent the mortar barrel which emits light pulses in two predetermined directions, 90.degree. apart, towards aiming stakes. Two aiming stakes located at approximately 50 meters and 100 meters from the mortar are aligned along one of the predetermined directions while a third aiming stake is situated 90.degree. away from the first two aiming stakes and at a distance of approximately 50 meters from the mortar. Each of the aiming stakes is provided with an optical transponder for receiving the light pulses emitted from the optical head and for retransmitting a light pulse to said optical head. The light pulses received by the optical head are converted into digital information representative of the azimuth, elevation and cant angular orientations of the mortar barrel relative to predetermined initial values of each of these three parameters.

Abstract: A Z-transfer device transfers rounds of ammunition between laterally misaned feeding and receiving apparatus by permitting the rounds to slide laterally with respect to each other while remaining parallel. Each round is retained in a bucket which is permitted to slide on a shaft with respect to adjacent buckets and each bucket is guided in a Z-shaped path between in-bearing and off-bearing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an integrating angular accelerometer ich has a neutrally buoyant mass, thereby eliminating the detrimental effect of high shock and vibration loads. The accelerometer includes a housing and an inertial mass positioned in the housing, arranged for relative rotation with respect to the housing. An annular channel is provided between the housing and the inertial mass, located about the acceleration sensitive axis and dimensioned to cause fluid flow upon relative rotation of the housing and inertial mass in the direction of relative rotation. The fluid contained within the channel is a viscous fluid having a density equal to that of the inertial mass so as to achieve a neutral buoyancy of the inertial mass. A splitter for blocking fluid flow in the channel is provided so as to produce a differential pressure which corresponds to the relative angular rotation of the inertial mass and housing.

Abstract: An improved switch actuator, for safe and arm applications requiring utmost ependability in order to preclude a premature or false arming sequence, utilizes a plurality of simultaneous input signals from independently coded pneumatic, optical and electrical sources to drive a rotary switch. A rotary fluidic valving plate is used to decode non-uniform input optical signals into a uniform cyclical output pressure signal which is used to drive a fail-safe, reversible pneumatic gerotor type motor. A geneva mechanism is used to mechanically couple the prime mover to an output gear to activate a switch. Alternatively, an electrical switch may be incorporated within the housing of the actuator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved firearm magazine with directed ring forces. A magazine tube is composed of a rectangular center section with a cylindrical housing section at each end of the tube. Helical springs are installed within the cylindrical sections to provide the biasing force required to feed rounds into a weapon. An alternate embodiment describes three cylindrical housing sections separated by two rectangular housing sections. The cylindrical housing sections are provided with the helical springs of unequal stiffness to provide a required unbalanced load distribution.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fiber disseminator conduit comprised of a vertical cmn having two sources of a gas (normally air) wherein one source provides a continuous stream of a suspension gas (such as air) to effect dispersion and separation of the particles or fibers and cause the particles and fibers to rise to a test portion thereof and a second source of intermittent gas stream below the first source to raise clumps of the particles and fibers to the first source of suspension gas.

Abstract: An ionization detector unit innovatively adapted to provide mobility to the nit and to render it especially suitable for convenient "field-use" in point-source sampling and monitoring of the compositional characteristics of a gaseous medium such as, for example, the ambient atmosphere, and in emitting a discernible electrical signal which in response to a perceptible change in the compositional characteristics in the medium being monitored by the detector will be altered sufficiently to activate, or trigger, a suitable alarm or warning mechanism.

Abstract: A gas comparison probe contains first and second sensor elements isolated om each other. Air is drawn across a surface to be monitored and directed onto the first sensor element. Air is drawn from a location spaced away from the surface to be monitored and directed onto the second sensor element. A flow constrictor in the air flow path to one of the sensor elements is used to calibrate the outputs of the two sensor elements under known conditions before attempting to monitor air flow which may contain a gas to be detected.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for using one laser range finder to calibrate another imilar range finder. The range finder under test receives a simulated return pulse from the transmitter of the second range finder. An external trigger initiates the transmitter of the range finder under test and a short time later initiates the transmitter of the second range finder. The transmitted beam of the second range finder is directed into the receiver of the range finder under test and it halts the range readout thereof. This range readout is compared to the reading on an external timer arranged to measure the time interval between the emission of the transmitted beams of the two range finders.

Abstract: The invention relates to a firing mechanism for high acceleration applicans having a body member having a first chamber, a second chamber and a web member separating the first chamber from the second chamber. A first spring is positioned within the first chamber and a second spring is positioned with the second chamber. A firing pin is positioned substantially in the first chamber and has a spring retaining section at its forward end and a release cam mechanism at its rearward end. An arming pin is positioned substantially in the second chamber and has a spring retaining section at its rearward end and a release cam mechanism at its forward end. The release cam mechanism of said arming pin is dimensioned to interlock with said release cam mechanism of the firing pin with the two release cam mechanism and is positioned within the web member and is restrained against release by the web member.

Abstract: An improved buffer for small arm weapons utilizes a pair of fluid containing reciprocating chambers to attenuate recoil forces by limiting fluid flow in relation to chamber travel between the pair. In the second chamber of the pair a flow control element moves in the direction of a restricting member when the fluid pressure drop through the flow control element reaches a predetermined point. The flow restricting member limits fluid flow through the flow control element when the flow control element travels to a point proximate the flow restricting member. Fluid flow in the opposite direction is substantially unrestricted by the flow restricting members.

Abstract: A disintegrable projectile is disclosed which utilizes thermal energy obted from the conversion of the kinetic energy of the air moving past the projectile to cause its fragmentation. The projectile employs an air intake nozzle axially disposed in the nose portion of the projectile and a resonance tube located in the body portion of the projectile in thermal contact therewith. The resonance tube develops the thermal energy which is transmitted to the body portion to cause the fragmentation thereof. The projectile of the present invention is intended for use in gunnery training and practice conducted within limited size training and practice ranges, where civilian personnel and property may be in proximate location.

Abstract: A guided artillery shell is provided with a set of tail fins which are std within the shell assembly prior to the firing of the shell and during barrel traversal, and are automatically deployed upon muzzle exit by a mechanism responsive to the change in pressure upon muzzle exit and centrifugal force.

Abstract: A discarding sabot munition utilizes a plurality of gusset strengthened st segments to structurally support and spacially position fore and aft bore-riding sabot members to reduce connecting mid-section mass. Radially disposed gusset plates permit a fin-stabilized projectile to be safely launched by a reduced mass sabot with increased velocity and kinetic energy.

Abstract: A variable resistance gas sensor controls the output frequency of a varia frequency tone generator. A tone decoder monitors the output frequency of the tone generator. When the gas concentration attains a predetermined threshold value, the tone decoder produces an output signal which activates a latch circuit to energize an alarm device. The latch circuit continues to energize the alarm device even after the gas concentration is reduced below the threshold value until manually reset.

Abstract: A synthesized target system utilizes emitters in the microwave or laser frequency for generating an electromagnetic energy curtain. Detectors are operatively disposed for detecting reflections within the energy curtain caused by penetrations of the curtain by one or more projectiles. A monitor is connected to the output of the detectors, and a recorder is used for storing the data output of the monitor. The event of passage of projectiles through the energy curtain, and their location upon penetration thereof, is monitored, scored, recorded and can be printed out, in hard-copy form, in real time. Physical targets and down-range human intervention therewith are eliminated.