Abstract: A solid fuel propellant motor casing is described, the casing comprising a body portion for containing the propellant, the body portion also including at least one detachable end closure portion, the closure portion being maintained in position relative to said body portion by retaining means, the retaining means being held in position with engagement means on an inner surface of said body portion and located radially with respect to said body portion by locating means against resilient biasing means, said locating means being responsive to temperature such that said locating means melt at a predetermined temperature allowing said resiliently biased retaining means to move radially inwardly of said body portion and allow said at least one closure portion to be ejected from the casing.

Abstract: A device for initiating burning of an explosive or propellant material subjected to external heating prior to detonation is described, the device comprising at least two materials, at least a first one of which materials melts at a temperature below the temperature at which detonation of said explosive or propellant material is induced and reacts with said second material to produce an exothermic reaction to cause initiation of burning in said explosive or propellant material.

Abstract: A pretensioner for a vehicle seat belt retractor of the type having a rotatable take-up reel on which seat belt webbing can be wound, which comprises: (i) an elongate pressure chamber; (ii) a plurality of projectiles located in the pressure chamber, (iii) gas generator for generating a high-pressure gas within the pressure chamber so as to propel the projectile along the pressure chamber; (iv) a drive surface upon which the projectiles impinge when propelled along the pressure chamber by the high-pressure gas, the drive surface being connected to, or comprising a part of, the rotatable take-up reel of the vehicle seat belt retractor and arranged to be driven by the impinging projectiles so as to rotate the rotatable take-up reel in a belt retraction direction when impinged upon by the projectiles, so as, in operation, to take up slack in the seat belt webbing, and to pull the seat belt webbing against the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: An aircraft cargo container (10) is provided with one or more expandable regions for expansion under blast loading thereby to absorb a portion of the blast energy from a blast within the container (10). The absorbing means may comprise corrugated or concertina shaped sheets (20, 22, 34) which expand under blast loading and together with a blast absorbing material (24). The sheets (20, 22, 34) and material (24) may be provided in one or more panels (12, 14) and/or at one or more edged if required.