Abstract: Improvements in or relating to field howitzers A light weight field howitzer includes a barrel which is supported by a cradle constructed from hollow members and which is pivotally mounted about a trunnion bearing secured to a chassis. The trunnion bearing lies on the barrel axis and is positioned beyond the limit of maximum recoil of the barrel. Front stabilisers and rear trail support legs are provided to spread the load of the howitzer and spades are rigidly secured to the chassis. The howitzer includes a single hydraulic accumulator arrangement constituting a combined recoil buffer and recuperator system. A barrel elevating means is provided comprising a geared manual means assisted by a precompressed gas system.

Abstract: A light weight field howitzer includes a barrel (101) which is supported by a cradle constructed from hollow members (119,119A) and which is pivotally mounted about a trunnion bearing (113) secured to a chassis (117). The trunnion bearing (113) lies on the barrel axis and is positioned beyond the limit of maximum recoil of the barrel. Front stabilizers and rear trail support legs are provided to spread the load of the howitzer and spades are rigidly secured to the chassis (117). The howitzer includes a single hydraulic accumulator arrangement (136,177,185,130,189,119) constituting a combined recoil buffer and recuperator system. A barrel elevating means is provided comprising a geared manual means (115,116,153,149,139) assisted by a precompressed gas system (114,119A).

Abstract: A drive device for the breech mechanism of a gun comprises driving and driven members connected to first and second elements, respectively wherein one of the elements is movable with respect to the other. The driven and driving members are separable as the elements move apart and re-engage as the elements come together. The connections between the members and elements permit the driving and driven members to execute a rotary motion about a common axis when the members are engaged together whereby energy is transferred from the driving member to the driven member.

Abstract: A structure comprises a first component subject to loading and connected to a second component via a load transmitting member so that the loading exerted by the first component is imposed on the second component. The first component includes a surface secured to a complementary first surface of said load transmitting member and the second component includes a surface secured to a complementary second surface of said load transmitting member. The load transmitting member and the second component are formed of materials having relatively superior and inferior mechanical properties, respectively and the area of said surface of the second component is greater than the area of said surface of the first component. The first component may be an antenna and the second component a radome for a submarine formed of, for example, syntactic foam. The load transmitting member may be formed from fibre-reinforced plastics material.

Abstract: A first member, such as a primer cartridge (33), is inserted in an aperture in a second member, such as a chamber (8) in a gun breech block (4,5), by means of an apparatus such as a primer loader (52), comprising a tubular member whose bore (16) serves as a guide for positioning the first member and which is aligned with the aperture in the second member. A fourth member, such as a ramming rod (19), may be provided to move the first member into the guide and thence into the aperture as the fourth member advances from a first to a second position. In the case where the primer cartridge passes across a gap (18) in order to enter the aperture, the fourth member may be arranged to advance an additional distance to a third position wherein the additional distance is not less than the width of the gap, the additional distance being the permitted movement of a fifth member, such as a slidable bush (38), between two positions.

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: An apparatus for processing fuel gases, in particular for a fuel cell, includes primary and secondary catalytic oxidation means for the oxidation of carbon monoxide in a reformed fuel gas flow. Small quantities of oxygen required for the secondary oxidation are provided by passing the oxygen through a first oxygen permeable membrane. The oxygen may be supplied as air, pure oxygen or an oxygenated solution. An oxygen fuel supply to the fuel cell may additionally be humidified by allowing water to pass from a water flow across a further membrane into the oxygen supply. Oxygen passing across the further membrane in the opposite sense to the water may serve to oxygenate the water for supplying to the first membrane.

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: Methods for applying coverings to surfaces by casting at least a portion of the covering in a mould from a solidifiable liquid mix. The mould may be applied directly to the surface or to an already cast layer of the covering. In another embodiment an outer portion of the covering is cast in a mould and is affixed to the surface, or to an already cast layer of the covering, so as to define a void between the outer portion and the surface or already cast layer. The void is filled with solidifiable liquid mix.

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: Coverings are applied to a surface by means of a member capable of temporarily holding the covering and urging it against the surface with adhesive interposed between the covering and the surface. The covering may be held by the member by means of suction and be urged against the surface by air pressure. The member may be mounted on a first articulated arm whose movement can be controlled by an operator who may be situated on a working platform mounted on a second articulated arm. The covering may be an acoustic tile for application to the surface of a submarine hull.

Abstract: Thermally resistant materials comprise an elastomer, particulate iron oxide, and at least one other particulate additive selected from the group consisting of aluminum silicate and silicon carbide. The material may be in the form of a self-supporting element or in the form of a coating.

Abstract: An electrical cable has one or more electrical conductors (1A, 1B, 1C) enveloped in electrically insulating material (2A, 2B, 2C, 3, 5, 13). At least some of the electrically insulating material is formed of a composition having an elastomer, an oxide of iron and silicon carbide.

Abstract: A frictional joint between a first member and a second member is dismantled by means of a hydraulic nut fitted onto an external screw thread of the first member. The hydraulic nut acts on a separation ring having an external screw thread engaged with an internal screw thread in a co-axial recess provided in the second member.

Abstract: A structure to be subjected to bending and fatigue loading comprises two components having different stiffness connected together. Deflection of the more flexible component is accommodated by the interposition of an intermediate member of varying flexibility between the components or by providing the less flexible component with a flexible portion to act as a fulcrum for the deflection. The components may be a radar-transparent cover and a mounting therefor for use in a submarine.

Abstract: A flexible shaft-coupling device comprises an annular first coupling member having circumferentially spaced vanes extending radially inwardly from its inner periphery and a second coupling member located within the annular coupling member. The second coupling member has circumferentially spaced vanes extending radially outwardly so as to protrude into the spaces between the vanes of the first coupling members. Resiliently distortable pads are located between adjacent vanes to enable torque to be transmitted between the vanes by compression of the pads. The pads are formed of laminations of resilient and less resilient materials. The device may be located within one end of a hollow shaft connected to the annular first coupling member.

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: A flexible coupling comprises first and second annular members each carrying circumferentially spaced load transmitting members which are interengageable to form an annular interlocking array. Each load transmitting member has a resilient pad bonded to it and located between it and the load transmitting member adjacent thereto in the array. Each pad is bonded to an end piece for driving engagement with the adjacent load transmitting member and comprises a generally parallel sided laminar assembly of resilient and less resilient elements.

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.