Abstract: An attachable, ablating shield comprises a metalized sheath for fitting closely over, for covering, and for protecting an electronics section in a missile from external electromagnetic radiation, particularly from high-energy radio frequency radiation, during launch. The sheath has weakened seams so that the sheath will separate from the missile when a seam is split. The sheath splitting system comprises an explosive device located near a seam, a detector for sensing the firing of the rocket motor, and a transfer line therebetween for receiving a motor-fire signal from the detector and for transferring a corresponding signal to the explosive device to split the sheath. A preferred embodiment employs a low-explosive and a transfer line that is a high-intensity shock pulse tube. The transfer line ablates with the sheath.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the pressure and thermal impingement effects of a supersonic exhaust gas plume emanating from a rocket motor nozzle. A disrupter body positioned within the exhaust plume along the central longitudinal axis thereof disrupts and disperses the plume concentration. The body has a central passage through which a portion of the exhaust may pass. The body and passage are sized and shaped to provide a flow area normal to the exhaust flow less than the cross-sectional area of the exhaust plume at the position of the body. The reduced flow area causes the exhaust flow to undergo a normal shock wave upstream of the body before passing through and around the body at a subsonic velocity. The presence and configuration of the body disrupts and disperses the plume concentration, and the reduced flow velocity significantly reduces the downstream pressure and thermal effects of the exhaust gas plume.

Abstract: An antenna feed structure for use with a parabolic reflector in amplitude-comparison monopulse radar applications employs a dedicated transmit feed centered within a four-port receive array of conventional element spacing to eliminate the need for a circulator or other transmit/receive device while retaining satisfactory receive array performance. Isolation pins placed around the transmit port act to decouple it from the receive ports, and a double waveguide run to the transmit port reduces uneven heating and related phase imbalance in adjacent receive waveguide runs.

Abstract: A dissipator device comprises a container having an inlet for connection to a rocket exhaust and a plurality of exhaust orifices of smaller dimensions than the inlet for exhaust flow out of the container in a plurality of different directions. A deflector member is positioned in the container in alignment with the inlet in the path of incoming exhaust gases for deflecting the flow. A disrupter member is positioned between the inlet and deflector member, and has a through bore defining an orifice of area less than the exhaust flow area at the plane of the disrupter member, so that exhaust gases flow both through and around the disrupter member, substantially reducing the downstream pressure and impingement heat transfer.

Abstract: A seal for a piano hinge for preventing passage of electromagnetic energy through the hinge; said seal comprising a first sealing member of conductive material comprising a connecting section for attachment to and for electrical contact with one hinge leaf and an arcuate section shaped to fit over the hinge knuckles, and a second sealing member of conductive material comprising a connecting section for attachment to and for electrical contact with another hinge leaf and an arcuate section for overlapping and for making electrical contact with the arcuate section of the first sealing member. Preferably the sealing members are of hard copper alloy. Another embodiment includes a detachable sealed hinge assembly wherein the hinge includes three leaves; an attached leaf, an insertion leaf, and an attachable leaf.

Abstract: A ring-wing assembly for use in combination with a missile or mortar adapted to be launched from a launch tube or barrel allows attachment of large lifting surfaces to the projectile as it is launched from a barrel. The ring-wing assembly generally comprises a stop ramp for generally encircling a missile body. The stop ramp having a forward-tapering ramp portion, and a sleeve assembly comprising a sleeve for encircling a body of a missile and a plurality of wings peripherally mounted on the sleeve. The sleeve has a rear inside tapered portion having a taper angle that is less than that of the ramp portion of the stop ramp. In use, the sleeve assembly is mounted on the nose end of a launch barrel. Upon missile launch, the sleeve assembly slides over the missile body until encountering and engaging with the stop ramp whereupon the sleeve assembly travels with the missile for extending the range and controllability of the missile.

Abstract: A rigid packaging material having a coating of heat-sealable, anti-static plastic. A fiberboard sheet substrate is coated with a lamina of polyethylene made electrostatic-free by the addition of an organic anti-static compound. When skin-packaged with a film of heat sealable, anti-static plastic material, a static-sensitive item is completely enclosed by a static-free barrier package.

Abstract: A stripline tapped-line filter is disclosed including a first substrate upon which a plurality of N hairpin resonators are disposed alternately on opposite surfaces of the first substrate. Each one of the hairpin resonators is in a parallel coupled relationship with an adjacent hairpin resonator disposed on an opposite surface of the first substrate. The first and last hairpin resonators each have an interconnected member disposed on the substrate for respectively coupling a signal into and out of the plurality of N hairpin resonators. Second and third substrates are included with each being respectively located adjacent to ones of the plurality of N hairpin resonators on opposite surfaces of the first substrate. First and second groundplanes are included with each respectively located adjacent the second and third substrates.

Abstract: A dual mode target seeking system for airborne vehicles which operates under two different frequencies simultaneously includes a radio frequency antenna comprising a slotted plate defining a ground plane with an image plate positioned in front of the ground plane at a distance chosen such that multiple reflected rays are in phase with each other and with waves incident on the image plate. The slotted plate and image plate have aligned central openings through which an electro-optical system for operating under a chosen electro-optical frequency range, for example under infrared frequencies, projects. The electro-optical system includes a detector unit positioned behind the antenna and a focussing system for directing incoming electro-optical radiation into the detector unit. The focussing system includes first and second lenses mounted in the openings in the image plate and slotted plate, respectively.

Abstract: A radar return suppressor for use in concealing and camouflaging mobile targets such as trucks, artillery and like vehicles. One or more lengths of a support member attachable to the target and components support and position a radar signal attenuator between the target and the anticipated radar source. In one embodiment, the attenuator is a multiplicity of closely spaced flexible plastic strands having radar signal absorbing material dispersed in the strands to form a labyrinth to entrap and absorb the radar signal. In a second embodiment the labyrinth of strands is replaced by an intertwined plastic vine-like structure secured in the support member for absorbing the energy of the radar signal.

Abstract: A retention collar rigidly attaches to a missile guidance assembly, and a transport cart lifts, supports, transports, and lowers the retention collar and thereby a retained assembly. The retention collar comprises a pair of trunnions for attachment to a workpiece, such as a missile guidance assembly, and for positioning on opposite sides of the workpiece. The transport cart includes a movable base with a frame attached thereto. The frame includes left and right side frame members which support a pair of rotatable bearing members so positioned to engage a corresponding one of the retention collar trunnions. A slot in each bearing member engages a collar trunnion. The slots include a bearing position at which the trunnion is held and which is raised or lowered by rotating the bearing member. The trunnions may also be rotated while at the bearing position. A frame/bearing locking pin selectively prevents rotation relative to the frame of the rotatable bearing member.

Abstract: An exhaust dissipator device for a rocket exhaust has an inlet for connection to the exhaust and a plurality of smaller exhaust orifices spaced around its surface to dissipate the flow into a plurality of smaller jets. A deflector surface in the direction of exhaust flow into the container acts to further dissipate the flow and deflect it out of its original path. This may comprise an internal surface of the container, or a separate deflector plate spaced from the container surface.

Abstract: A rigid packaging material having a coating of heat-sealable, anti-static plastic. A fiberboard sheet substrate is coated with a lamina of polyethylene made electrostatic-free by the addition of an organic anti-static compound. When skin-packaged with a film of heat sealable, anti-static plastic material, a static-sensitive item is completely enclosed by a static-free barrier package.

Abstract: A bearing friction testing apparatus includes a bearing support structure having a support arm with a bearing mount for mounting a test bearing with a bi-directional load support ring for attachment to the bearing race with a pendulum attachable to the support ring for adding one direction of force and a tension line attached to the ring for applying a second direction of force transverse to the first direction of force with a pendulum latching device for latching the pendulum in a loaded position and releasing the pendulum with a measuring instrument for measuring the rate of decay in the amplitude of oscillation of the pendulum.

Abstract: An open-loop system for controlling a plant, including a sampling circuit for providing an actuating signal as a series of impulse signals, and a computer for providing a control signal to operate the plant in response to the actuating signal in accordance with a control function defined by a control algorithm based upon a calculated response of the plant in an equivalent closed-loop linear control system. The computer provides the control signal as a function of time following the application of each impulse signal. The control algorithm is a time-domain algorithm based upon an inverse LaPlace transform of the equivalent system. The interval between impulse signals, as defined by the sampling rate, is on the order of the time constant of the equivalent system; and the computation speed of the computer is sufficiently fast to provide a control signal that is effectively continuous relative to the operating dynamics of the plant.

Abstract: A two-dimensional optical correlation apparatus includes a transmissive optical mask having a transmissivity pattern corresponding to a two-dimensional reference image and an input image buffer that stores a sequence of pixels corresponding to a raster-scanned input image. The input buffer includes a subimage frame corresponding to a particular segment of the raster-scanned format. As the pixels are serially shifted through the image buffer, every subimage in the input image appears at some time in the subimage frame. The subimage frame is connected to an array of optical emitters. As the input image pixels are serially shifted, the emitter array produces a succession of two-dimensional optical signals corresponding to the succession of input image subimages shafted through the subimage frame. The output of the emitter array is projected onto the transparent mask.

Abstract: A self-erecting wing structure for increased missile performance and maneuverability without significant sacrifice of payload space includes a wing pivotally attached to an air frame in a retracted position in which the wing is both rotated about its spanwise axis relative to an erected position and pivoted forward alongside the air frame. Rotational components enable passing air to swing the wing to the erected position when it is released from the retracted position during flight. A secondary wing surface is included that automatically deploys to increase wing area.

Abstract: A system for providing information to alter the software of an electronic data processor embedded in an electronic module includes a remote reprogramming module that conducts a sequence of operations to provide data to the processor which the processor uses to reprogram itself. The system employs a data link having a bi-directional transmission path connecting the processor and the reprogramming module. A controlled switching circuit is provided at each end of the transmission path. Under normal operating conditions, the transmission path is used to transit a function signal for a function performed by the electronic module. Periodically, the processor operates one switching network to capture the path for transmission of a reprogramming inquiry signal to the reprogramming module. At the same time, the function signal is diverted to an alternate path internal to the electronic module.

Abstract: The electro-optical correlator performs pattern-recognition by forming the columnar dot product of an input image with a reference image at video through-put rates. The correlator incorporates an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the input-image data, a plurality of serially arranged delays having a delay time equivalent to one input-image data line, each delay for receiving in turn the digitized input data and for producing a parallel output signal, and a vertical column of photodiodes for receiving the respective multiple parallel delayed signals and for converting same to an optical output. The optical output is fed through a lens, reference image mask, and lens unit and is focused on a plurality of photodiodes that are connected to a time-delay-and-integrate (TDI) array. The data from the time- delay-and-integrate array are clocked through an analog-to- digital converter which produces the final system output. The time delay and integrate array may be a charge-coupled device (CCD).

Abstract: A coupler for electrically-isolating two conductive sections of fluid-passing line includes two nonconductively-interconnected pieces of tubing for insertion in the line. The pieces of tubing each have a divergently-flared end, and the flared ends are nonconductively-interconnected within two dielectric wafers. Each wafer has a tapered hole extending through it that matches the flared ends and enlarges to a face on the wafer. The flared ends are each bonded within a separate one of the tapered holes in a position recessed from the face with the flare of the end paralleling the taper of the hole, and the faces are bonded together with the larger ends of the tapered holes aligned and the flared ends sealed in fluid communication with an electrically-nonconductive gap between them.