Abstract: A drive device comprises driving and driven members, and first and second elements, one of the elements being movable with respect to the other. Energy derived from the coming together of the elements is stored, preferably hydraulically, and transferred to the driving member. Advantageously, the drive device is applied to a gun whereby the device may be used to drive the breech opening and closing mechanism and/or the loading tray. The first and second elements include the beating plate and a part of the breech structure. Energy to be stored and transferred is obtained from the recuperation of the gun after firing.

Abstract: The invention is drawn to an electrical power generation system and a method of electrical power generation. The system includes a supply of hydrogen-containing fuel and a reformer for obtaining hydrogen therefrom, a supply of oxygen and a material for producing an exothermic reaction. The system also includes a fuel cell and means for disposing of waste products arising from the fuel cell and other parts of the system, a control means and heat exchange means for regulating flow streams and balancing the heating and cooling requirements. The reformer comprises a reforming chamber, inlet and outlet for the fuel. Also the reformer includes a second chamber which surrounds the reforming chamber and a preheating chamber. Fins extend through a wall separating the reforming and surrounding chamber.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical generating plant, especially for use in a submarine, having dual modes of operation and which comprises a fuel cell which requires a supply of gaseous hydrogen and a supply of gaseous oxygen in order to generate an electrical output. First supply means supplies to the plant a hydrogen-containing compound, preferably methanol, which is liquid at NTP and which can undergo an endothermic reaction to liberate gaseous hydrogen, and second supply means is provided which is selectively operable for supplying to the plant liquid hydrogen peroxide in a first mode of operation and air in a second mode of operation. A reformer is connected to the first supply means and causes the hydrogen-containing compound to undergo the endothermic reaction with liberation of gaseous hydrogen, whereas a decomposer is selectively connectible to the second supply means, in the first mode of operation, and is arranged to decompose the hydrogen peroxide exothermically so as to liberate gaseous oxygen.

Abstract: An electrical generator drive which comprises a power source able to transmit power at a rotational speed which may fluctuate substantially in service, an electrical generator which requires a rotational input of power at a substantially constant speed, and a controllable drive transmission of high rotational inertia coupling together the power source and the electrical generator. The drive transmission comprises an epicyclic gear having an input member driven by the power source, an output member coupled with the electrical generator, and a reaction member, a monitoring device responsive to fluctuations from a predetermined value in the rotational speed of the output member, and a control device including a hydraulic pump/motor unit coupled with the reaction member and controllable by the monitoring device in order to vary the relative rotation between the reaction member and the other members of the epicyclic gear so as to maintain a substantially constant predetermined speed of the output member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for induction hardening of the flank, root and tip surfaces of the teeth of a gear so as to provide surface-hardened layer along said surfaces. An electrically energizable inductor head carries out traversing movement along the space between a pair of adjacent gear teeth, the inductor head having an external profile substantially matching the profile of the space between the gear teeth and having the height of the inductor head less than the depth of the space between the root and tip surfaces of each pair of gear teeth.

Abstract: There is disclosed article handling apparatus (10) which is primarily intended for transferring ammunition shells to and from a storage magazine in a mobile weapons system such as a tank or warship. The apparatus comprises a storage magazine having a storage rack on which the articles can be stored, and an indexing-type conveyor for traversing the articles along the storage rack. The conveyor moves through an indexing cycle in which it has a starting position in which it is engageable with a first batch of articles, causes one increment of traversing movement of the batch, releases itself from the engaged first batch, returns to the starting position and engages with a second batch of articles. A restrainer is provided, including a cam bar, which operates to locate any articles which may be present on the storage rack against up and down movement and also against traversing movement while the apparatus is in its storage mode.