Abstract: A firing mechanism for a rotary machine gun is disclosed. The machine gun includes a housing that rotatably mounts a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is configured to receive a plurality of ammunition rounds and includes a plurality of firing pins. The firing mechanism includes a percussion system that is disposed on the housing and operates to engage each of the firing pins as the rotor assembly rotates. The percussion system delivers a mechanical force to one of the plurality of ammunition rounds. The firing mechanism further includes an electrical contact that is connected to an electrical power source. The electrical contact is disposed in the housing to contact each of the firing pins as the rotor assembly rotates and to deliver electrical energy to the one ammunition round.

Abstract: An ammunition storage and retrieval system for a weapon is provided. The storage and retrieval system includes a main magazine having a main carrier belt that is configured to store a plurality of munitions have a first set of handling characteristics and a handoff unit that retrieves a selected one of the plurality of munitions and transfers the selected munition to the weapon. The main magazine also includes an auxiliary magazine mount. There is further provided a set of auxiliary magazines that are selectively engageable with the auxiliary magazine mount. A first one of the auxiliary magazines is configured to store munitions having the first set of handling characteristics and a second one of the auxiliary magazines is configured to store munitions having a second set of handling characteristics.

Abstract: Apparatus mountable in a projectile for utilization with a rotor-type safing and arming mechanism for post-launch self-neutralization of a projectile having a fused warhead and a stab detonator, including a launch-activated battery, an electric detonator positioned sufficiently close to the stab detonator to initiate the stab detonator upon initiation of the electric detonator, and a time delay switch circuit operatively interconnecting the battery and the electric detonator after a predetermined delay time for delivering power sufficient to initiate the electric detonator. The time delay switch circuit includes an R-C delay circuit having a delay capacitor, and an SCR connected in series between the electric power source and the electric detonator, with the SCR gate operatively connected to the delay capacitor. The apparatus also includes a pre-launch shorting circuit electrically connected in parallel with the electric detonator, and a current amplifier interconnected with the SCR and a storage capacitor.

Abstract: Apparatus mountable in a projectile for utilization with a rotor-type safing and arming mechanism for post-launch self-neutralization of a spinning projectile having a fused warhead and a stab detonator, including a launch-activated battery, an electric detonator positioned sufficiently close to the stab detonator to initiate the stab detonator upon initiation of the electric detonator, and a spin decay switch circuit operatively interconnecting a charged storage capacitor and the electric detonator upon substantial cessation of projectile spin, for delivering power sufficient to initiate the electric detonator. The apparatus includes a storage capacitor charging circuit activated by launch-induced forces. The apparatus further includes a pre-launch shorting circuit electrically connected in parallel with the electric detonator and deactivated by launch forces, and a "bleed" circuit connected in parallel with the battery activated by launch-induced forces.

Abstract: A transfer mechanism that can selectively transfer molded solid propellant charges or projectiles between a transport conveyor and respective storage magazines is described. The transfer mechanism has multiple transfer forks driven from a common drive shaft for engaging the munition(s) and selector gates driven by a gate crankshaft associated with each respective magazine for blocking or permitting the transfer controller to either transfer a projectile or one or more solid propellant charges. Each transfer fork and selector gate can be independently and selectively coupled to, or decoupled from, its respective shaft by respective coupling mechanisms under the command of a controller for coordinated transfer operation. The fork and gate coupling mechanisms, as well as a mechanism coupling the drive shaft to respective driven transfer crankshafts provide "uncoupled" positions with the respective fork or gate element or drive shaft restrained from rotary motion.

Abstract: A linked bucket carrier for safely transporting molded, solid-propellant charges between a transport conveyor and respective storage magazines is described. The propellant charge carrier includes an elongated body having an arc-shaped cross section that defines an elongated slot which is divided into compartments by spacers so that the carrier is capable of holding at least two propellant charges. The carrier may further include clamping fingers extending from the body and arranged on the body in opposing pairs, and the fingers may be pre-formed so that they define an out-of-round cross section adapted to clamp the propellant charges when the propellant charges are positioned within the body.

Abstract: An airbag inflator includes a pair of telescoping pistons slidingly mounted within a housing. Pressurization of a combustion chamber by a pyrotechnic initiator acts on one piston to pressurize a hydraulic fluid chamber, which, in turn, acts on the other piston to pressurize a liquid propellant reservoir. Liquid propellant can then be regeneratively pumped from the reservoir into the combustion chamber for combustion to generate an airbag inflation gas. A hydraulic fluid damping chamber is utilized to exert a controllable retarding force on the one piston, such as to control the rate of airbag inflation gas generation.

Abstract: In an occupant restraint apparatus for installation in a vehicle, a smart airbag inflator is provided with a piston for regeneratively pumping liquid propellant from a reservoir into a combustion chamber for ignition and combustion to generate airbag inflation gases. To control the airbag inflation rate, the piston includes a piston head slidingly received in a damping chamber filled with a magneto-rheological fluid that is pumped through an orifice during the regenerative pumping stroke of the piston. An electromagnet is selectively energized to produce a varying magnetic field to adjust the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid flowing through the orifice and thus vary a damping force exerted on the piston stroke, thereby modulating the rate of liquid propellant combustion. Electromagnet current excitation is controlled in response to a particular accident scenario.

Abstract: A projectile accelerating pulsed gas source comprises a structure including a high voltage electrode for establishing axial electrical discharges in axial gaps behind an outlet where the projectile is located. Plasma flows at right angles to the discharges into a propellant that is converted into a high pressure component of the gas pulse. The gaps are arranged so that after the projectile moves away from its initial position, power applied to the plasma via gaps close to the outlet is greater than power applied to the plasma via gaps farther from the outlet. The gaps are arranged so power applied to the plasma is substantially the same in the discharges when plasma is initially produced. The gaps include walls that are eroded differently by the discharges so gap walls close to the outlet erode faster than gap walls farther from the outlet.

Abstract: An ammunition storage and retrieval system comprises a passive magazine having left and right backs of cells arranged in rows, with each cell accommodating a projectile in vertical, base-down orientation; the cells and cell rows being defined by adjacent pairs of elongated superstructures. A projectile loading head is movably mounted by a traveling beam, in turn, movably mounted by elevated rails, such that the loading head may be translated through a center aisle to address a selected row in either bank and then through the selected row to a selected cell for downloading of a projectile therein. A projectile receiver, dependent from the loading head, includes projectile gripping arms and a projectile lifting foot, which are articulated in coordination with operation of projectile locking members mounted by the superstructures to effect downloading.

Abstract: To achieve a reduced inflation rate of an airbag in a vehicle occupant restraint apparatus, an airbag inflator is provided with a seal ring acting, in response to initial pressurization by a pyrotechnic initiator, to open injection ports, such that liquid propellant may be regeneratively pumped by a piston from a reservoir into a combustion chamber for combustion. The resulting combustion gases flow through a series of swirl chambers to increase residence time and through a plenum chamber where the combustion gases are cooled. The combustion gases exit the plenum chamber as an airbag inflation gas.