Abstract: A method for measuring the plating on the inside of a gun barrel, including he steps of providing ultrasonic pulses against a gun barrel to be plated, and plating the inside while monitoring the echoes from said waves from the inside and outside diameters of the barrel with a plurality of transducers aligned to reflect ultrasound waves from the outside and the inside surfaces of the gun barrel. Change in time for the return of waves from the inside surface indicates the change in thickness of plating on the inside of the barrel. The change is calculated by measuring the change in time for the wave to return to its source, and multiplying by the sound velocity.

Abstract: A pair of copper rails on which a projectile is mounted forms an electrometic rail gun. One end of the rails is connected across an electrical coil which resides between a pair of Helmholtz coils made of a high temperature superconducting material. The Helmholtz coils are normally held in a superconducting state and carry large currents without the need of a voltage source. A thermal quencher is provided which is capable of removing the superconducting state by heating the superconducting circuit. When the temperature of the superconducting circuit rises above its critical temperature, the resistance of the wires will increase, causing the current to collapse. This sharp collapse of the current will cause a correspondingly sharp collapse of the magnetic field of the Helmholtz coils, thereby inducing a sharp current pulse in the force coil which produces a high-energy electric power pulse on the rails to launch the projectile. A magnetic quencher may be used in place of the thermal quencher.

Abstract: A gas mask having a facepiece comprised of three separate transparent layers secured around their peripheries in a detachable manner, the inner layer being made of soft material, the middle layer being made of material that flexibly retains its form, and the outer layer being made of material for protection against liquid agents. An eye outsert is formed from the middle layer over the area around the eyes of a wearer, and a nose cone is formed from the middle layer so as to provide space about the nose and mouth. Inhaled air is drawn through channels formed in the middle layer that extend from the periphery of the facepiece to the outsert. After passing through the outsert, inhaled air passes through a channel formed in the middle layer to the nose cone. A passageway is provided for exhaled air to pass from the nose cone. Prescription lenses for the wearer are integrally formed in a member that can be snapped into the eye outsert.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid, comprising an 8-way switcg valve for directing an inlet stream of air to one of multiple adsorber beds and then to the crew compartment of an air-tight vehicle while simultaneously directing an outlet stream of air to another adsorber bed and then to the atmosphere, whereby the inlet stream may be purified by adsorption on one bed while the other bed is regenerated. The fluid is directed by passageways in rotatable valve spools axially colinearly aligned, connected together so as to rotate simultaneously, and having ports aligned with openings in a sealed valve housing which communicate with inlet and outlet piping and absorber bed piping. Rotating the valve spool aligns various configurations of passageways and piping so as to direct the streams to different beds. The valve spools may be contained in separate housings for safety, avoiding cross contamination during switching.

Abstract: A cartridge case assembly suitable for use in recoilless weapon systems iuding large caliber weapons is provided which includes an elongated cylindrically shaped inner cartridge case having a plurality of spaced perforations substantially about the periphery of the case wall and opposite open ends; an elongated cylindrically shaped shell member mounted about the inner cartridge case to envelope the periphery thereof and provide an annular propellant charge chamber therebetween, the shell member being of sufficient strength to constrain the passage of propellant gases outwardly from about the wall of the cartridge case upon ignition of a propellant charge within said propellant charge chamber; and a plurality of spaced elongated ignitor tubes associated with said cartridge case along the length thereof, each of ignitor tubes having a plurality of spaced perforations therethrough for distribution of ignition gases to the propellant charge.

Abstract: A small arms weapon having a barrel for directing a projectile and a slide riven by recoil when firing. The weapon includes a locking block coupling the barrel and the slide during recoil. The weapon is modified for fatigue release, by selecting either cut-out portions, grooves or notches machined in the slide for controlling the direction of fatigue in the slide caused by the recoil. The weapon incurs fatigue an increase in weapon headspace during firing, so that the wear indicates a time to replace the slide before wear becomes dangerous.

Abstract: A thermally enhanced warhead utilizes a heated tungsten liner to generate explosively formed high velocity coherent molten slug to defeat armor targets.

Abstract: A weapon arranged to travel in a given orientation when in flight, has a body and a ribbon. The body has a payload casing and a spindle rotatably mounted at the rear of the payload casing. The ribbon is formed into a flexible loop for trailing behind the body in flight. This ribbon is attached to the spindle. The ribbon has an impelling surface shaped to apply a torque to the spindle when in flight.

Abstract: A launchable a fin-stabilized round having an HE warhead that is fully telescoped in a cartridge case. The round has a forward, cone-shaped nose section, a base section with a booster cavity and a high-explosive (HE) cavity located therebetween. An HE charge is positioned in the HE cavity and a booster charge is positioned in the booster cavity. A time fuze, mounted in the booster cavity, has a presettable counter that is set by the gunner at firing via a hardwire data link through an electric primer. The tiem fuze will fire the booster charge a predetermined time period after the round is launched to enable a normally disabled proximity fuze that is mounted in the nose section. The proximity fuze will detonate the HE charge upon detection of a proximate target. Also mounted in the nose section is a contact switch for detonating the HE charge upon impact with a hard target.

Abstract: A powered scrub brush having a power head module, a brush head module, and n extension shaft module. The power head module includes a positive-displacement motor and a flow-control valve. The motor may be coupled directly to the brush head module or indirectly through one or more extension shaft modules. The power head module has a liquid discharge port that is connected to a liquid discharge tube on the extension shaft module that in turn is connected to a liquid sprayer having a nozzle on the brush head module. Mechanical power is transferred from the motor to the brush via an output shaft on the motor, a flexible shaft in the extension shaft module, and a shaft in the brush head module on which the brush is removably mounted. The powered scrub brush is manually operated by regulating a flow-control valve that is connected between a pressurized water source and an inlet port on the motor. As pressurized liquid flows through the motor, the brush will rotate and liquid will be discharged via the nozzle.

Abstract: A safety stop for small arms having a slide, which keeps a catastrophic fure of the slide from causing shooter injury is disclosed. An improvement in the ejector and slide permit them to function together as a safety stop to prevent a broken slide from continuing off the back of the receiver in the event of catastrophic failure of the slide. A widened section on the ejector is accommodated in the ejector slot of the slide during normal firing of the weapon. An internal shoulder fixed relative to the slide and projecting into the ejector slot near the front of the slot is provided. Upon catastrophic slide failure during firing, the rear portion of the slide travels beyond its normally most rearward position and the internal shoulder engages the widened section of the ejector, stopping the rearward motion of the slide and precluding injury to the shooter.

Abstract: A munition and method for making a borehole in a target and for placement an explosive unit in the borehole. The munition includes an outer body having a chamber, an inner body disposed in the chamber and having a cavity, a piston disposed in the cavity forming a rear space, the outer body having a front shaped charge wall, the chamber having a first explosive and detonator, a penetrator partly disposed in the cavity and extending through a front wall of the inner body, and a second detonator and explosive disposed in a penetrator compartment.

Abstract: A recoilless propulsion unit fireable from an enclosure utilizes a releasy sealed multi-holed nozzle member to expel a fluid therefrom by a closed-breech type piston that is activated by a propellant charge. The propulsion unit after firing has minimum impact of overpressure, noise on both the launch crew and has no flash or smoke signature emitted therefrom.

Abstract: A base mounted remote set digital time fuze permits a chambered round to e power, time setting information and cartridge case firing voltage available at an electric primer terminal of the cartridge case. Fuze power, time setting information and cartridge firing are performed sequentially over the same hardwire line.

Abstract: A vapor electrical conductivity cell with sensing plates mounted on insulrs exposed to the vapor. Vapor condensation on those insulators cause errors in the conductivity measurements. The improvement of the invention keeps the insulators at a temperature higher than the vapor. The leakage errors are therefore reduced considerably.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring railroad track geometry for a pair of tracks. e instrument includes a carriage having wheels for permitting the carriage to ride on one of the tracks. An elongated cross-level bar has one end mounted on the carriage and the other end joined to a roller assembly. The roller assembly supports a pair of measuring wheels that ride on the top of the other track. A plurality of sensors are mounted on the bar for sensing the gage and cross-level of said tracks, and for measuring the linear distance that the instrument moves with respect to the tracks. A removable handle, hinged to the cross-level bar, supports a digital read-out meter for displaying the gage, cross-level and distance traversed.

Abstract: An elongate projectile for small arms use has a single unitary mass with a hollow nose cavity defined by a sharp rigid cutting edge adapted to make initial contact with the target surface and cut therethrough. The projectile then enters the target mass in an unstable flight mode. The projectile base is substantially solid such that the nose cavity, while relatively deep, does not extend entirely through the base and the projectile center of gravity is aft of its geometric center.

Abstract: An aerosol modulating nozzle with a nozzle body having a nozzle head cham and including aerosol sample flow inlet and outlets for transmitting aerosol sample through the nozzle head chamber. Also included is a sample discharge for discharging a small portion of aerosol in a predetermined direction along with a sheath of clean air. The quantity of sample discharged is modulated. Constrictions in the inlet and outlet flow tubes allow pressure fluctuations to be sustained in the nozzle head chamber. A loudspeaker operating into a closed chamber is used to generate pressure fluctuations which are transmitted to the nozzle head chamber.

Abstract: A gas particulate filter system is provided for supplying clean heated air o an operator subjected to ambient environments containing nuclear, biological or chemical contaminants. The filter unit includes replaceable radial flow canister means, centrifugal blower/heater means, continuously variable electronic control means for regulating air temperature and air flow, and clamping means for easy assembly of the components under adverse field conditions.

Abstract: A tool and corresponding method for removing folds and buckles in the matal of a propellant containment bag, in a round of ammunition, prior to the addition of explosive propellant. The tool includes a plurality of flexible fingers that are inserted into the propellant containment bag through the primer cap aperture. Once inside, the flexible fingers are expanded, pressing the propellant containment bag against the inside of the cartridge case. The tool is advanced to the far end of the propellant containment bag, thereby pulling taut the entire bag. The flexible fingers extend around the tail end of the projectile of the ammunition round, removing folds in the propellant containment bag that may interfere with the dispersion of propellant around the stabilizer fins or other features of the projectile's tail end, when propellant is subsequently added.