Abstract: A magazine is provided with anti-syphon members, mounted atop the partitions of a multi-bay magazine, which operate in conjunction with drag-reducing rollers to prevent spurious syphoning movements of an ammunition belt from one bay to an adjacent bay as the belt is being withdrawn from the latter to a magazine exit port. To provide for bidirectional ammunition belt withdrawal, the anti-syphon members are pivotally mounted in pairs operating to permit belt withdrawal from the bays over the rollers and directly to an exit port, while inhibiting syphoning belt movements from bay to bay.

Abstract: A proximity fuzing system for missile warhead utilizes an electrostatic probe to detect the electric field inherently associated with an airborne target. The probe plates are oriented perpendicular to the missile longitudinal axis and are short circuit loaded to develop a probe current signal whose initial slope is analyzed to qualify the target being engaged on a near-miss trajectory as a valid target and whose first zero current crossing is utilized as a trigger point for detonating the missile warhead before the missiles reaches a position of minimum miss-distance relative to the target.

Abstract: An ammunition magazine assembly is provided with a plurality of permanent partitions for subdividing the magazine interior into a plurality of bays and a plurality of optional separators readily removably installed to subdivide selected bays into bay sections. The bays accommodate belts of large caliber ammunition, while the bay sections accommodate belts of small caliber ammunitions. The magazine box is further equipped with a plurality of operational exit ports, all capable of accepting either a modular closure cover or a modular feed chute for either large or small caliber ammunition. The magazine assembly is thus readily adapted to bidirectional feeding of an ammunition belt or belts of one caliber or bidirectional feeding of belts of different calibers.

Abstract: To inhibit potentially damaging cold startup of a hydrostatic unit in a vehicle transmission, a portion of the makeup fluid pump to the hydraulic pump and motor loop circuit of the hydrostatic unit is directed through a branch line including a viscosity insensitive, flow regulating fluidic element and a viscosity sensitive fluidic element. The latter element develops a fluidic signal varying as a function of fluid viscosity, which is utilized to control a valve to prevent over-pressurization of the loop circuit and to control a transmission controller to condition the transmission to neutral until the hydraulic fluid warms to a safe operating viscosity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for reducing PCB concentration in an electrical induction apparatus containing a dielectric fluid with greater than 500 ppm PCB to a level of less than about 50 ppm PCB. Dielectric fluid containing greater than 500 ppm PCB is drained from an electrical induction apparatus, and the drained apparatus then is filled with tetrachloroethylene as a first interim dielectric fluid. The apparatus is then electrically operated with the first interim dielectric fluid so as to attain about an equilibrium PCB concentration in the first fluid. The first interim dielectric fluid then is drained from the apparatus and replaced with fresh tetrachloroethylene as a second interim dielectric fluid. The apparatus then is electrically operated with the second interim dielectric fluid so as to attain about an equilibrium PCB concentration in the second fluid.

Abstract: A fluorescent light source for backlighting a liquid crystal panel display consists of one or more u-shaped fluorescent elements in which the portion of the lamp segments containing the electrodes are bent at right angles to the principal light emitting portion. The low light emitting area in the vicinity of the electrodes is thus moved out of the light emitting area resulting in uniform light emission over the entire active area of the light source.The instant invention relates to a light source for a liquid crystal display and, more particularly, a light source utilizing fluorescent elements in which the low level emissions in the vicinity of the electrode portions of the lamp are kept out of the light emitting plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable gain distributed amplifier for use at microwave frequencies, and fabricated in a monolithic microwave integrated circuit format. In the amplifier, the attenuation is varied, based upon digital control of a dual gate segmented FET. The amplifier has a nearly flat insertion phase and amplitude response, and an insertion phase response that varies only slightly between gain settings. The amplifier employs segmented dual gate field effect transistors as the gain elements, having their signal input and signal output electrodes which provide shunt capacities (C.sub.G1S, C.sub.DS) interconnected with serial inductances to form separate low pass transmission lines having relatively high cut-off frequencies. The amplifier has means to insure stability and uses Chebyshef equal ripple techniques to linearize the amplitude and insertion phase response.

Abstract: To improve the performance and life of a charging current-conducting commutating switch in an inductor storage-type electromagnetic launcher, the energy expended in propelling a mass through a breech rail gun section at a high velocity is utilized to generate a current in the breech section rails which flows through the commutating switch in opposition to the inductor charging current. The switch is opened in coordination with the movement of the mass through the launcher with little or no arcing when the current therethrough has been depressed to a minimal level to commutate inductor discharging current into the rails of a longitudinally aligned launch rail gun section of the launcher to accelerate the mass therethrough to a high exit velocity.

Abstract: A diming circuit for a hot cathode fluorescent lamp is operated in a push-pull mode whereby the hot filaments are alternately the cathode and the anode. Both filaments thus experience similar degradation with time at all brightness levels, thereby enhancing and lengthening the life of the lamp.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp structure having a light transparent jacket surrounding the lamp. The chamber between the lamp and jacket is filled with a fluid (or mixture of fluids) which transitions between the liquid and vapor phases. The fluid extracts heat when the lamp wall temperature rises above a predetermined temperature causing the fluid to vaporize. The fluid condenses to form a partial vacuum in the chamber below that temperature.

Abstract: To guide a cam follower through the intersection of crossing portions of a cam track, a crossover mechanism is provided with a pair of crossover cam members which are separately, telescopically reciprocated to momentarily insert cam segments into the intersection in properly timed relation with the arrival thereat of the cam follower in its movement along either of the crossing track portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for epitaxial processing using metal organic molecular beams. The MOMBE apparatus employs a manifold for supplying metal organic vapor to a reactor which is operated under vacuum. The manifold includes a bubbler in which MO vapor is formed and mixed with a carrier gas. The bubbler provides flexible, three parameter control of the MO reagent permitting use with MO reagents of low vapor pressure. A compensation flow is provided parallelling the reagent flow and employing four valves which are ganged and switched so as to supply the MO carrier gas mixture either to the reactor line or to the vent line and maintain equal flows and pressures during this switching operation. The apparatus is capable of forming very thin reproducible epitaxial layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to the distribution of radio frequency signals using optical fibers between a centrally located radar transmitter/receiver and remotely located transmit/receive modules associated with the elements of an active phased array. The invention avoids the need for remotely located lasers, by using the optical carrier generated at the central location for both transmission, when it is modulated by the transmitter and supplied to each T/R module over an optical path; and for reception, when it is supplied to each T/R module unmodulated. An optical switch and an optical modulator in the T/R module permit the antenna return to be converted to an optical format for supply over a second optical path to the central receiver. The arrangement may be further simplified by selecting a simple optical device to perform both the optical switching and optical modulation function in each T/R module.

Abstract: An ammunition resupply system includes a chain ladder ammunition conveyor having carrier elements configured to accept either of two different calibers of ammunition. The ammunition conveyor is trained in a serpentine path back and forth between adjacent pairs of guide shelves supported one atop another in stacked relation. The guide shelves are integrally formed with opposing round engaging and round control surfaces between which the ammunition rounds are conveyed to provide positive round guidance and control effective in maintaining the ammunition round properly positioned between adjacent pairs of conveyor carrier elements.

Abstract: An ammunition feeding system includes an endless, ladder-type conveyor trained throughout the interior of a magazine in a serpentine formation consisting of a plurality of straight line sections and interconnecting turnaround sections. The conveyor includes a succession of carriers which are adapted to assume a closed, ammunition round retention condition while in the straight line sections and to automatically open while in the turnaround sections to effect round handoffs to any transfer station located thereat for live round-spent round exchanges with respect to the carriers as they transit the turnaround section. Guides are positioned at the other turnaround sections to preclude round handoffs by the opened carriers.

Abstract: To provide positive, uninterrupted control and guidance of ammunition rounds being transferred through a transfer zone to and from an ammunition conveyor in an ammunition handling system, a set of commonly mounted, rotary control members are provided with a plurality of angularly spaced, radiating control elements whose free ends provide separate control surfaces which guidingly engage and move with the ammunition rounds as they are being transferred in opposite directions through the transfer zone.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission includes a mechanically driven hydraulic pump connected in hydraulic circuit with first and second hydraulic motors. The hydrostatic outputs of the first and second motors are respectively applied to the ring and sun gears of a planetary gear set whose carrier constitutes the transmission hydrostatic output. Acceleration under low speed, high torque conditions is achieved by varying the displacements of the pump and second motor, while the first motor is removed from the hydraulic circuit and the ring gear is braked. At an appropriate shift point, the first motor is inserted into the hydraulic circuit and the ring gear is released, such that further acceleration is achieved by varying the displacements of the pump and both motors in coordination.

Abstract: A linear linkless ammunition feeding system includes a magazine in which a major portion of an endless ammunition conveyor is supported in serpentine formation on upper and lower sets of opposed rails. Screw feeder elements convey this serpentine formation linearly to an exit end of the magazine where the serpentine conveyor loops thereof are successively unwrapped from the rails by a first shuttle mechanism and accelerated to conveyor gun firing velocity. A second, identical shuttle mechanism stationed at the entrance end of the magazine decelerates the conveyor coming from the gun and wraps it into serpentine loops on the rails.

Abstract: A cylindrical casing accommodates an operator pistion and a power piston separated by a fixed barrier which serves to define with the former a reservoir and with the latter a power chamber. A piston rod affixed to the operator piston extends through the barrier into manual brake actuating relation with the power piston. Hydraulic fluid under pressure is introduced to the reservoir from which it flows through barrier passages, past a check valve, into the power chamber and out through venting ports formed in the piston rod. To apply vehicle brakes linked to the power piston, the operator piston is manually propelled toward the barrier, and the power piston is thus forced away from the barrier by the piston rod, resulting in rapid transfer of hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the power chamber. The venting ports then close, such that the power chamber is pressurized to exert a brake power assisting hydrostatic force on the power piston.

Abstract: An infinitely variable steering transmission is constructed to utilize the unidirection, continuous outputs of a pair of traction drive units for accelerating and decelerating a track-laying vehicle through a first forward and reverse propulsion range and a plurality of higher forward propulsion ranges and for developing steering power in all ranges. The transmission includes a pair of interconnected output planetary gears sets and a single input planetary gear set for combining the traction drive unit outputs and the constant speed input from a suitable prime mover for first and third range propulsion and steering power. Second range propulsion and steering power is obtained exclusively from the traction drive units in a manner to also provide steer cancellation, a continuous drive unit stroking pattern, and synchronous range shifting.