Abstract: In association with a rapid-fire gun, a power-operated mechanism for adjung two ammunition supply chutes in positions to selectively feed ammunition to the gun. One chute feeds one type of ammunition, and the other chute feeds a different type of ammunition. The power-operated mechanism can be remotely controlled from a protected location within a military vehicle.

Abstract: A phase sensing device is described which is useful for indicating the reance condition of a complex load impedance (such as an antenna), with a high degree of accuracy over the frequency range from 3 to 100 MHz. The device uses readily available transmission line and solid state components to provide a .+-. indication of the phase condition of the load; a zero crossing indicates resonance. Such a signal is useful for controlling an automatic turning mechanism that could be used in a tunable antenna. The extremely broadband operation and no physical connection to the main RF line are salient features of the device. The components are a transmission line coupler with a short pick-up wire mounted adjacent to the center conductor, two diodes with like electrodes (cathodes) connected to opposite ends of the pick-up wire, a carbon resistor between the other electrodes of the diodes, and a zero center meter across the resistor.

Abstract: A continuous process is provided for the vapor phase nitration of cellulose n a novel reactor having a gas tight housing containing a table with a perforated surface. Cellulose in porous sheet form is continuously passed into the reactor over the perforated table while continuously introducing nitric acid vapor into the housing through the perforations to provide a cushion of nitric acid gas supporting the sheet and forcing nitric acid vapor through the porous sheet. Water vapor formed in the reaction and unreacted nitric acid vapor are continuously removed from the housing, together with the nitrocellulose sheet produced. The rate at which the cellulose sheet is passed through the reactor depends on the rate at which the nitric acid is introduced and the degree of nitration desired. The cellulose can be partially nitrated by the novel process and further nitrated with nitric acid in liquid phase. The process produces a uniform nitrocellulose product suitable for use in propellants.

Abstract: A crystalline bar is doped with a rare earth. The bar is transparent to ration, such as from a laser, at a light wavelength which excites the rare earth ions in the bar and the light is modulated at the frequency at which the bar mechanically resonates.The excited ion decay radiatively by light or non-radiatively by phonons. As the phonons decay, they excite the bar to resonate mechanically. The mechanical resonance may be coupled by a piezoelectric material and measured to give information respecting the phonon activity of the excited rare earth ions.

Abstract: A primer device has a coupling device for efficiently dispersing the ignin products from a primary propellant into a main charge. The coupling device has a housing with a central chamber. This chamber has an inlet and outlet port. The housing and its inlet port are sealed over a cavity containing a primary propellant. A valve device is mounted at the inlet port for initially sealing combustion gasses from the primary propellant within the cavity. This initial interval during which the cavity is sealed, fosters thorough burning of the primary propellant. When combustion causes pressure sufficient to open the valve device, combustion products enter the central chamber of the housing. These combustion products bear upon a frangible seal, which is mounted at the outlet port of the housing. The frangible seal ruptures at a predetermined and repeatable pressure.

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: An electrical transducer for indicating the position of an element movable n a predictable path, such as angular rotation, has no electrical parts on the movable element. A magnet mounted to the movable element traces a fixed path which lies adjacent to a stationary tubular enclosure containing liquid suspending a mass of ferromagnetic, electrically conductive material, the magnet drawing the mass of particles along within the tube on movement in its fixed path. Electrodes spaced on opposite sides of the tube wall along the length of the tube are electrically coupled by the mass of particles, whereby to indicate the position of the movable element.

Abstract: An inclinometer which employs a laser light source with a transparent liq and a gas and the laws of optics to reflect the light source to a detector which provides signals for measuring the tilt angle and the direction of tilt from the local horizontal.

Abstract: The device of the invention comprises a body of dielectric material having a metallic surface on one portion thereof. An electron beam is passed adjacent a second portion of the dielectric body in order to generate electromagnetic radiation in the dielectric. A feedback loop is provided to improve the coherence of the radiation output.

Abstract: A pulse train generator comprising a shift register with feedback for proing an output pulse for every m clock pulses applied to the shift register stages. The feedback shift register normally has a maximal length 2.sup.n -1, where n is the number of stages. Clock pulses are applied to the shift register until an all-ONE condition is reached; thereupon, (m-1) additional clock pulses are applied and the states of the register stages can then be sensed. False count correction is obtained by the combination of a detector and an analog integrator.

Abstract: An electrical drive vehicle with an onboard battery and a D.C. propulsion motor having means for automatically switching the D.C. motor from a series field operation to shunt field operation upon the operator actuating the braking means to convert the kinetic braking energy to electrically energy for charging, via an intermediate storage means, the onboard battery. The switching means is a variable duty cycle transistor switching means controlling the excitation of the D.C. motor in the shunt field mode.

Abstract: Density of a sample or its concentration are sensed by a fluidic device hng a nozzle with a divider for emitting the sample and a reference fluid as layers of a single laminar jet. The deflection of the jet in a fixed force field is sensed as an indicator of density or concentration. The same device can measure acceleration transverse to the nozzle axis or attitude in a fixed force field as a function of sensed jet deflection. The sensitivity of the acceleration and attitude sensor is a function of the density of the two selected fluids used in the layered laminar jet.

Abstract: Light emitting diodes (LED) are used in conjunction with phototransistors determine the liquid-solid state of a 0.030-0.040 inch film of trinitrotoluene (TNT). Liquid TNT is collected on the surface of a rotating drum, and is subsequently cooled to a solid film and removed by a "flaking" knife. The emitted beam from the LED is absorbed when the TNT is in the solid state and transmitted to and reflected from the drum surface when the TNT is in the liquid state. The relative intensity of the reflected beam is a measure of the state of the TNT.

Abstract: A device for the passive location of irradiance display of high power infed beams at remote locations utilizing the combination of reflecting material with high thermal conductivity and an absorbing refractory material with high emissivity in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel explosive compound 1,3,5,7-tetranitroadamane, which possesses high explosive energy combined with excellent impact and thermal stability. The novel compound can be prepared by oxidation of 1,3,5,7-tetraaminoadamantane with permanganate.

Abstract: A bullet-shaped deflector located at the exit opening of a liquid nozzle nted on a fire-suppressant storage bottle stationed within a military vehicle. The deflector acts as an obstruction to reduce liquid jet issuing from the nozzle. The system is designed for liquid pressure of 750 p.s.i. and nozzle openings of about 11/4 inch diameter. The bullet-shaped deflector may have a diameter of about 5/16 inch and an axial length of about 1 inch.

Abstract: The electromagnetic energy is captured by the antenna and changes the reftivity of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) proportional to the field being measured. The LCD is illuminated by a fiber optic and this light is reflected from LCD proportional to the electromagnetic field. This field proportional light is captured by a fiber optic and transmitted to a photodetector where it is converted to an electrical signal proportional to the electric field. This electrical signal may then be displayed, recorded or processed with other information.

Abstract: A double-heterojunction diode fabricated on a single crystal fiber which is voltage and acoustically controlled so as to alternately be caused to be a laser, an optical amplifier, or a detector of optical signals. A preferred embodiment utilizes gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs). The double-heterojunction diode when electronically powered with the right polarity becomes an injection amplifier, with the addition of an acousto-optic grating of suitable period for feedback becomes a laser, and with a suitably reversed potential and different acoustic period becomes a heterodyne detector. In a preferred embodiment, the device is utilized to insert frequency controlled coherent optical or infrared signals in both directions in a fiber waveguide, amplify those signals, and detect the heterodyne difference frequency.

Abstract: A low-profile survivable antenna suitable for military use is described. pite its small size, which might be one tenth of a wavelength, the antenna has reasonable transmission range for these applications. Very little operator attention is needed in use, since a special matching circuit within the antenna network enables effective impedance matching, over a 3:1 frequency range, without necessity of switching to different matching circuits over different frequency bands. By including resistive components along with other passive inductive or capacitive elements, the reactance of the single matching circuit is made to effectively compensate the antenna's impedance over the entire frequency range. The impedance of the circuit has a decreasing positive reactance which compensates for the decreasing negative reactance, with frequency, of the antenna.

Abstract: In a military vehicle having a powered winch, the improvement comprising a able guide that includes three rollers having concave edge surfaces guidably engaged with segmental surface areas of the cable. One of the rollers is carried by an auxiliary frame that can be swung away from its normal position to thread or unthread the cable. The three rollers are equi-spaced around the cable guide space so that normal cable loads are borne by at least two of the rollers.