Abstract: A strain gauge pick-up for the measurement of a test piece. This pick-up ludes two tapping points mounted on a pair of rigid elbow members. The elbow members are spaced a predetermined distance apart, and their spacing varies as the tapping points are applied to the test piece. The elbow members are attached to the deflection plate which flexes as the spacing between the elbow members changes. A wire strain gauge is positioned on the deflection plate and senses the flexing motion. Several pick-ups can be integrated so that their tapping points are substantially colinear.

Abstract: A container is disclosed for storing a heat storage medium which changes ween solid and fluid states to store and release heat, characterized in that the container includes flexible walls which are displaced to vary the volume of the container in accordance with changes of the volume of the heat storage medium when in the solid state. The container includes at least one biasing device which normally biases the resilient walls toward an inwardly contracted condition for storing a first volume of the heat storage medium in the fluid state. During initial removal of heat from the medium, the medium changes from its fluid to its solid state, and upon further removal of heat from the solid medium, the density of the solid medium increases, thereby resulting in a decrease in the volume of the solid medium with the container remaining in its initial contracted condition.

Abstract: Device for the thermal decomposition of liquid fuel in which the fuel is roduced into a recess in a porous body of metallic foam material contained in a closed housing. The latter may be a combined reaction chamber and propulsive nozzle of a rocket propulsion unit or be used as a gas generator, for example, as a carburettor device leading to an internal combustion engine. The porous body of metallic foam material may be heated by an electrical heating coil wound around the housing.

Abstract: A glow discharge apparatus consists of a discharge tube with an anode at end and a cathode at the other end. The anode has a flat surface facing the end of the discharge tube, and gas enters the tube via an annular gap formed between the flat anode surface and the end of the tube. The gas flowing in is thus directed initially radially over the anode surface and helps to cool at this surface. It is advantageous if the anode is able to move axially to alter the width of the annular gap. The gas can flow into the annular gap at the speed of sound.

Abstract: A projectile fired from a gun barrel, aimed in straight flight upon a small arget, has a massive armor-piercing body spacedly surrounded by a sleeve which defines with its outer surface a ring channel that may also serve as a combustion chamber for generating additional thrust. The sleeve, whose cylindrical outer periphery provides guidance in the gun barrel, is axially divided into a rear portion rigid with the massive body and a relatively slidable front portion. In an initial forward position of this front portion, an annular shutter mounted on its inner surface obstructs the ring channel by engaging an annular shoulder on the body, the sleeve then effectively acting as a sabot which blocks the escape of combustion gases from the gun blast.

Abstract: Heat exchange method and apparatus are disclosed which include the use of o non-mixable media of different temperatures that are brought in direct contact with each other to effect the transfer of heat from the heating medium to the heat storage medium. One of the media is normally a fluid and the other is preferably a substance -- such as a crystalline material -- which is operable between solid and liquid phases, whereby the latent heat produced by the phase transition is utilized in the heat exchanging process. Owing to the non-mixability of the two media, the first medium is bubbled through the second in direct heat exchanging contact when the second medium is in the liquid phase.

Abstract: A separation device for releasing parachutes from loads enables an attacht to be made between the parachute and the load before the load is dropped and when the load reaches the ground the load is automatically released from the parachute by operation of the device.The device consists of a hook-shaped body attachable to the parachute lines, the load lines being located in the hook. An ejector member is spring urged towards an ejection position of the load lines and a holding element serves to prevent ejection until after the parachute has operated. While falling, tension holds the load lines on the hook and on reaching the ground the ejector member operates to release the lines from the hook.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for determining the concentration of nitric oxide n a gas mixture, particularly exhaust gases, wherein a beam from a hollow-cathode tube is directed through a modulator, an absorption cell containing a gas mixture with an unknown concentration of nitric oxide, and a monochromator, to a beam detector. A readout arrangement displaying the concentration of nitric oxide gas is operatively connected to the beam detector.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus for measuring flow rates in gas sams and includes an optic component and an electronic component. The optic component starts with a focussed laser beam which is passed through a beam splitting prism so as to define two partial beams which, in turn, pass through a lens system so as to have two adjacent remote focal points. Particles in the gas stream passing through the focal points, which are located therein, reflect light in the form of reflected light beams which pass through a further lens system to pulse generators which, when actuated, generate a start pulse and a stop pulse with these pulses controlling the formation of a saw toothed wave controlling the amplitude of the generated wave, and the generated wave being directed to binary converter means and collector means which, in conjunction with an oscilliscope provides a visual wave having an amplitude indicative of a flow rate.