Abstract: An orotron for generating near millimeter wavelength radiation at a selectable output frequency within a wide frequency range, in which the orotron output power is automatically tuned electronically at the selected output frequency. A piezoelectric electromechanical positioning device is connected between the two mirrors forming the open resonator of the orotron to determine the mirror separation in accordance with a position control signal. The electron beam acceleration voltage, which determines the orotron output frequency, and the position control signal are adjusted simultaneously so as to tune the output power at a single oscillation mode of the orotron resonator over a wide frequency range. In the preferred embodiment, the actual output frequency is detected and compared with the selected output frequency, and the beam acceleration voltage and mirror separation simultaneously adjusted to continuously tune and maintain the orotron output at the selected frequency.

Abstract: A shear gage for measuring the pressure reached in a firearm cartridge loed within the barrel when a high caliber gun is fired. The design of the shear gage involves the shearing of a uniformly distributed loaded circular plate at its circumferential support in the event that a predetermined maximum critical shear pressure is exceeded. Stresses due to bending and shear were analyzed to select the proper hole diameter to thickness ratio to ensure that the disc or plate fails due to a shearing failure and not a bending failure. A series of varying sized circumferential supports may also be positioned within the chamber to provide a range of critical failure pressures to more precisely estimate the actual pressure that occurs within the chamber or cartridge.

Abstract: A blast focusing technique for producing high pressure on a ground plane, in which a right circular cylinder of explosive material is positioned adjacent the ground plane with the cylinder axis orthogonal to the ground plane. The cylinder is simultaneously detonated at both ends by detonators disposed on the cylinder axis at each end of the cylinder.

Abstract: Correlation is used to enhance the temporal resolution capability of incident energy detectors for high bandwidth signals. Such enhanced resolution is attained by using a primary response of the detectors, which may be weak but which accurately replicates the temporal waveshape of the incident energy pulse. A secondary response of the detectors, which is delayed from and more powerful than the primary response, but does not track the incident energy pulse as well as the primary, is correlated with the primary response. The secondary response is preferably passed through an inverse matched filter to provide a pulse more faithfully following the incident energy pulse prior to correlation with the primary response. Circuitry is provided for performing the enhancement, and a modulating device is used to permit the detector to respond to long-duration incident energy.

Abstract: A controlled clearance piston load cell consisting of a piston and pressure acketed cylinder that has integral to its structure a system of hydrostatic bearings which provide centering of the piston in the cylinder and alignment of the piston-to-cylinder interface. Also, the geometry of the cylinder and pressure jacket is such as to provide the controlled clearance constriction at a predetermined location. When used with a controlled clearance dead weight piston gage, this self-aligning load cell can be utilized as a primary force standard in the calibration of force-measuring devices.

Abstract: A spinning ramjet vehicle is provided wherein the combustion process is enced. An injector intakes air and discharges it to an internal combustor. The combustor is separated from the vehicle body and allowed to rotate independently of spin imparted to the vehicle. The combustion process is enhanced as the spin rate of the combustor is less than that of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for aiming a gun at a target moving along a non-linear path is disclosed which relies upon the discovery that at any given moment in a non-linear path, a target is traversing an arc of a circle. Methods for calculating offsets for aiming a gun at a point further along on the arc of the circle in accordance with the determined time of flight of the projectile are disclosed.

Abstract: A high-Z cable sheathing for shielding against ionic radiation includes tubes made of high-Z material having continuous helical slits extending from end to end of each tube. A helically cut tube made of polyethelene and lead provides a highly flexible sheath for surrounding one or more cables. One or more tubes create the layers of protection over the cable. Oppositely cut helically slit tubes are used adjacent to one another so that the slits of adjacent tubes do not become mechanically aligned with one another.

Abstract: A liquid level indication device including a reed switch activating assembly having a magnet moveable in response to a change in the level of the liquid to effect the closing of the reed switch contact elements when a designated liquid level is reached. The device has a built-in time delay feature to prevent the premature actuation of the reed switch by the magnet should the liquid level in the container only temporarily drop.

Abstract: A plurality of millimeter wave power sources are arranged in a planar mat array located in a wave-beam resonator including two reflecting surfaces which are large in terms of the operating wavelength. One surface comprises a planar reflector located in relatively close proximity to the source array, while the other reflector is located in front of the array at a relatively larger distance and being partially transparent and curved, with the curvature being expressed by a pair of focal lengths which define a curvature in two perpendicular axial planes. Each source is comprised of an IMPATT or GUNN diode coupled to a short dipole or closed current loop structure, all lying in a plane parallel to the planar reflector and transverse to the longitudinal central axis of the resonator.

Abstract: A modified laminar proportional amplifier with feedback for converting the absolute pressure of a pressurized fluid to a differential pressure indicating the pressure of the pressurized fluid relative to a predetermined set-point pressure. The device includes two outlets separated by a splitter, a supply nozzle for directing a jet of the pressurized fluid toward a first of the two outlets at a velocity determined by the absolute pressure and a feedback path for deflecting the jet toward the second outlet such that as the jet increases to a maximum value and then decreases until the differential pressure between the two outlets is equal to zero when the absolute pressure of the pressurized fluid is equal to the predetermined set-point pressure. The feedback path includes an adjustable fluidic resistor and a temperature compensated flow controller for making the device insensitive to temperature.

Abstract: A cam operated spacing device is provided for securing electronic circuit boards to a chasis in spaced parallel relationship to one another and for maintaining this spacing in environments when the circuit boards are subjected to high shock and vibration. The lobes of the cam-lock device are rotated 180.degree. to cause the lobes to engage the edges of apertures in the circuit boards and secure the circuit boards in place.

Abstract: An optically implemented technique which generates the correlation function f two electrical signals. A reference signal is used in conjugation with an acousto-optic device to generate an optical field which is incident on a photorefractive crystal. This produces in the crystal a reflection phase conjugate wave front reconstructing volume hologram. A retropropagating reconstructed optical field passes back through the device which contains a second signal. This optical field is then focused onto a photodiode. The time varying component of the photodiode output is the correlation of the two signals.

Abstract: An improved fluidic position sensor employs a housing having an axially aned conduit and output orifice for discharging a jet of fluid. A sensing orifice is positioned adjacent to the output orifice for responding to a negative pressure entrainment area created by the discharged jet. The sensor measures the distance it is from an object by detecting changes in negative pressure at the sensing orifice. A standoff protrudes from the sensor at a distance to keep the sensor operating in substantially a linear range.

Abstract: A full wave fluidic rectifier which produces a direct fluidic output signal having an amplitude which increases from a very low level as the amplitude of an alternating fluidic input signal increases. In includes a nozzle for directing a fluid stream along the rectifier axis into a null venting outlet, two signal outlets which are symmetrically disposed in opposite sides of the null outlet, and two control signal inlets for applying the alternating input signal to the stream, deflecting the stream alternately toward the two signal outlets in proportion to the amplitude of the alternating input signal. The two signal outlets are connected by respective channels of equal fluid resistance to a common channel which serves as the rectifier output.

Abstract: A fluidic system is provided in which the laminar flow operating range has een increased. The fluidic system uses stacks of laminate plates in which filter means is placed between vent and exhaust laminates for breaking up eddies and flow noise created from supply nozzle and vent areas.

Abstract: A reefing line pressure reducer and a reefing line cutter assembly are deibed. The pressure reducer is an element which can be incorporated into a reefing line cutter assembly to reduce pressure at the tie-off knot of a reefing line by enlarging and rounding the surface area circumscribed by the knot. The subsequent reduction of pressure at the tie-off knot reduces the likelihood of reefing line failure and consequently, poor system performance or canopy failure. The reefing line cutter assembly consists of a pyrotechnically actuated reefing line cutter, a cutter bracket, and a reefing line pressure reducer.

Abstract: A system for sensing the angular position of a code ring of magnetic matel which is rotatable about a cylindrical housing, also magnetic material, to any one of a predetermined number of code ring settings. Either or both the cylindrical housing and the code ring include permanent magnets to provide a magnetic circuit including both of these elements. The code ring has an inner surface which carries an N-bit digital code of magnetic material in N tracks. N Hall effect digital switches are disposed on the cylindrical housing adjacent the N tracks of digital code bits, respectively. Each Hall effect digital switch senses whether a code bit is adjacent to it. The Hall effect digital switches are read by associated electronics within the housing to provide a digital signal indicating the code ring setting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser energy attenuation paint compris a laser absorption dye in combination with a resin base in a solvent.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which enables a weapon (usually on a test firing range) only when the weapon is aimed at a predetermined zone around a target. A transmitter subsystem comprising a strobe light, power supply and alignment scope is disposed at or near the target and oriented so as to transmit strobe light pulses of preselected pulse frequency, pulse duration and spectral content at a receiving subsystem. The receiving subsystem disposed at or near the weapon optically focuses the received strobe pulses on a detector, which provides electrical signals in accordance with the received pulses. These electrical signals are processed by detector electronics so that an enable signal is provided to the weapon only when a pair of pulses is detected within a preseslected time interval. In this way, the present invention prevents unwanted firing of the weapon when it is not properly aimed at the predetermined zone.