Abstract: A voltage reference circuit for use with a low-voltage detector or like circuit includes a voltage source, a proportional-to-absolute-temperature circuit connected to said voltage source. The proportional-to-absolute-temperature circuit has a positive temperature coefficient and produces a reference voltage that is substantially independent of the source voltage. A diode having a large negative temperature coefficient is connected in series with the proportional-to-absolute-temperature circuit. The negative temperature coefficient characteristics of the diode are chosen so as to completely offset the positive temperature coefficient of the proportional to absolute temperature circuit. As such the voltage reference has a value which is substantially independent of temperature and the voltage source. The proportional-to-absolute-temperature circuit and the diode combination draw only a small current from said voltage source.

Abstract: A solar reference flight roll position sensor is mounted on a flight vehi having a longitudinal flight axis. The sensor, a photodetector, senses the angular position of the vehicle with respect to the sun about the flight axis. The sensor includes a lateral effect photodiode for generating first and second photocurrents in response to the position of a beam of sunlight illuminating the active surface of the photodetector. An opaque screen having an aperture is superimposed above the surface of the photodetector such that a different section of the surface is illuminated by sunlight passing through the aperture for different roll angles of the vehicle. The photocurrents are processed to form a discriminant that is a function of roll position. Roll rate is determined by measuring the rate of change of the roll position.

Abstract: An autoloader for loading ammunition from plural cavities of a magazine to breech of a gun, comprises a base having a pair of jointed links pivotally connected thereto. Actuators are connected to the links for pivoting the links from a low storage position near the magazine to an extended loading position near the breech. A loading head is fixed to the end of the links and carries a slidably mounted carriage assembly. A gripper assembly is connected to the end of the carriage assembly for receiving and gripping the flange of a round so that it can be extracted from a cavity of the magazine. With movement of the carriage assembly, the round is pulled onto the load head and guided by a guide tube fixed to the load head. The jointed links are then moved to bring the load head near the breech whereupon the carriage assembly is slid forwardly to introduce the round into the breech.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved locking assembly mounted on a door assembly f a SOC and including a plurality of segmented linear bolts peripherally-disposed about the door assembly for engaging cooperating latches mounted on the container body and operatively connected to handle assemblies for latching and unlatching the locking assembly to permit opening and closing of the door assembly of a SOC and wherein each handle assembly is provided with a key operated combination lock.

Abstract: A conversion kit for allowing an M16 rifle to fire .22 caliber ball and bk ammunition in semi-automatic and automatic firing modes, comprises a bolt replacement which replaces the standard bolt in the rifle. The bolt replacement moves in the rifle receiver and is engageable with a sear trip bar of the conversion kit. The sear trip bar interacts with an automatic sear of the M16 rifle to permit automatic fire. A spring loaded detent is provided in the conversion for engaging a detent slot in the replacement bolt, to hold the bolt face against a chamber insert, to avoid bouncing of the bolt for automatic and burst firing modes. For the firing of blank cartridges, a shaft is provided in a chamber insert for reducing the diameter of the chamber insert to preclude the feeding of ball cartridges. An orifice in the shaft allows for escaping gases to leave the blank cartridge, but produces back pressure so that the replacement bolt can be cycled for blow back operation.

Abstract: An armor piercing convertible fin saboted round for a machine gun includes penetrator on which a fin group is mounted so that the penetrator can extend into a prelaunch sabot with the fin group arranged around the penetrator. The fin group advantageously carries a pin which engages in an elongated groove defined on the penetrator and permits the fin group to slide along the body of the penetrator during launch so that it may move from a forward position adjacent the tip of the penetrator rearwardly during launch to an end position in which it is engaged adjacent the end of the penetrator and stabilizes the penetrator during flight.

Abstract: A projectile and sub-projectile assembly including a centering tube positable within a chamber of the projectile to retain the sub-projectile positioned in the projectile. An expandable locking ring is positionable within the projectile through an opening in the rear of the projectile and engageable with a groove. A tube flange cooperates with the tube and the locking ring to maintain the locking ring within the groove and to fix the tube in a centered position substantially coaxial with the projectile. An expulsion piston arrangement is provided including sub-projectile engagement surfaces and sealing elements to seal the chamber from an expulsion charge chamber having an expulsion charge. Upon ignition of the expulsion charge, hot gases act on the piston which acts on the sub-projectile to disengage a base plug from the projectile to allow expulsion of the sub-projectile.

Abstract: The invention provides an improvement in a conventional recoil system comsing a piston-cylinder arrangement, wherein a piston driven by recoil energy forces hydraulic fluid out of the cylinder through an orifice to dissipate recoil force. The invention provides an additional flowpath for hydraulic fluid, which contains a servo valve for controlling the pressure in the cylinder so that the desired recoil peak pressure/time curve can be achieved for any firing impulse. The invention also includes sensors for measuring hydraulic fluid pressure and the initial velocity of the recoiling parts imparted by the firing impulse, and a controller means including a microprocessor for calculating or determining the desired peak pressure based on this initial velocity and available recoil distance and transducers for measuring any variation of pressure from the desired peak pressure and applying an appropriate voltage to the servo valve to control the pressure and achieve the desired peak pressure during the recoil cycle.

Abstract: In an electrical detonator, an electrical circuit includes a network for rging the fire pulse capacitor. After battery activation and gun launch, but before arming, the circuit (via an n channel MOS transistor within the CMOS) operates to ground the fire pulse capacitor. At "arm minus 50 msec", the n channel is turned OFF and the p channel transistor is turned ON. This charges the fire pulse capacitor to the battery voltage within 50 msec. The CMOS issues an "ARM COMMAND" to fire the piston actuator (PA) discharging the fire pulse capacitor until PA fires. The fire pulse capacitor is recharged in the 50 msec interval between ARM and FIRE. Logic within the CMOS is used to monitor the fire pulse capacitor. These circuits will detect premature voltage on the fire pulse capacitor and DUD the fuze.

Abstract: This invention provides a method used for radiographic inspection of matel within a container, where the container is a dense material and the contents to be radiographically inspected are of a less dense material.