Abstract: A self-glowing solid material comprises a man-made metal mixture containing at least one rare earth metal and an oxide of iron. The material is inducible by flame initiation to self-glow with yellow-to-red colors (577-to-700 nanometer wavelengths). A stealth tracer ammunition comprises a projectile body having a tip and a base, and a solid pellet disposed in the base. The pellet may be made from the above-mentioned self-glowing solid material or another suitable material. The pellet becomes incandescent as a result of being heated when the ammunition is fired. The incandescent pellet emits a glow observable only from behind when the ammunition travels downrange after being fired. An illuminant comprises a bimodal blend of a man-made metal mixture containing at least one rare earth metal and an oxide of iron. The bimodal blend is a blend of smaller-sized fragments and larger-sized pellets. The illuminant is capable of ignition and dispersion in response to ballistic energy to create illumination.

Abstract: A cover for use with an optic device to hold and display shooting information. The cover may have resilient retention members that allow a display to be releasably attached and detached from the cover. The display may be made from a single substrate or multiple substrates in order to make the shooting information contained thereon highly visible in a variety of conditions and shooting preferences. The display may further be customized by a user to include desired DOPE information and then printed onto the single or multiple substrates. A system and method for creating custom DOPE charts is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gun, especially an air gun or firearm, comprising a barrel arrangement (1) that has at least one barrel element (2) forming at least part of a barrel of the gun, and a silencer element (3) that is or can be fastened to the barrel element (2); in order for the silencer element (3) to be fastened to the barrel element (2), at least one clamping element (12) that can be or is fastened within the silencer element (3) is used to be able to axially clamp or axially clamp the silencer element (3) against at least one contact element (5) located or formed on the barrel element (2).

Abstract: An upper receiver assembly for a firearm having an upper receiver with an integral barrel nut, a handguard assembly and a barrel nut assembly with a barrel and lock nut is provided. The barrel is received by the upper receiver and is secured directly to the upper receiver using the lock nut. The upper receiver also includes an integral handguard mounting member to which the handguard assembly may be directly attached. The upper receiver assembly allows the user to attach both the barrel and handguard assemblies directly to the upper receiver, independently of one another.

Abstract: An electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve and a heater. The heater may be a strip heater applied to or a coil wrapped around an external surface of the proportional control valve. The system may further include a latching isolation valve. A secondary fluid control branch can be included, and the fluid control branches can be in parallel. The electronic pressure regulation system can be included in an all-electric satellite. Another electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve, the proportional control valve including two independently-controlled coils for magnetostrictive actuation.

Abstract: A sub-mass projectile for a firearm includes a core having a relatively lower mass than a standard projectile for the firearm. A force inducer is associated with the core. The force inducer has an interface that interacts with the firearm. The interface includes a bearing surface with a relatively larger outer diameter than a standard projectile for the firearm. The bearing surface bears against a surface of the firearm during operation so as to increase resistive forces between the sub-mass projectile and the firearm to a magnitude sufficient to approximate the kinetic forces of a standard mass projectile on the firearm during operation.

Abstract: A novel locking mechanism is provided for a noise suppressor mount for a firearm. The locking mechanism comprises a muzzle attachment comprising a plurality of locking positions, a collar, and a locking arm comprising a locking notch, wherein the collar rotates to move the locking notch in a circular direction into a locking position. In some cases, the locking mechanism further comprises a protection arm comprising a blocking arm, wherein, with the locking notch moved into the locking position and without a muzzle attachment being fully inserted within the collar, the protection arm is set to an engaged state in which the blocking arm has been extended toward the central portion of the collar, thereby preventing subsequent full insertion of a muzzle attachment, and wherein, with the locking notch moved into the locking position and with a muzzle attachment fully inserted, the protection arm is set to a disengaged state.

Abstract: An apparatus implementable on a firearm may include a takedown pin and a pivot pin. The takedown pin holds together a rear portion of lower and upper receivers of the firearm. The pivot pin holds together a front portion of lower and upper receivers of the firearm. Each of the takedown pin and pivot pin respectively includes a head and a generally cylindrical shank extending from the head toward a distal end thereof opposite the head. The shank is configured with: (1) a first groove track extending along a longitudinal axis of the shank, (2) a second groove track parallel to the first groove track and extending along the longitudinal axis of the shank, and (3) a linking groove track extending around the longitudinal axis of the shank and linking the first groove track and the second groove track.

Abstract: A tethered aerostat with a ground based deployment, extended duration and recovery system to accommodate a weather vaning deployed aerostat while maintaining a supply of a lift gas by having a rotatable tether pipe and a hollow tether. Included is a rotatable tether pipe device assembly with rotor and stator components disposed in an air tight housing assembly to provide a ground based gas maintenance system. An aerostat deployment buoyancy control maintenance and combined recovery platform is provided. The tethered aerostat systems and method increase deployment duration and allow more systems to be controlled and maintained on the ground without interrupting aerostat operational capabilities.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can deliver a package to a delivery destination. Packages delivered by a UAV may be lowered towards the ground while the UAV continues to fly rather than the UAV landing on the ground and releasing the package. Packages may sway during lowering as a result of wind or movement of the UAV. By modulating a rate of descent of a package, a package sway may mitigated. The lowering mechanism includes wrapping a tether in various directions around the package such that the package rotates in a first and second direction as the package descends. Additionally, a rip-strip lowering mechanism that separates under tension to lower the package and a rappel mechanism that slides the package down a tether may be used. Accordingly, the tether can control a descent of the package assembly.

Abstract: An aircraft propulsion assembly includes: a gas generator coupled by a coupling mechanism to a thrust generator having a structural torque transmission gearbox, and a rigid cradle rigidly supporting the thrust generator in a first suspension plane and the gas generator in distinct second and third suspension planes, the cradle being for securing to a structural element of the aircraft via a vibration-filtering flexible connection.

Abstract: A load detent assembly for restricting creep of a rotating assembly of an actuator used to actuate an aircraft flight control surface. The load detent assembly includes an engagement member having circumferentially spaced engagement surfaces/protruding portions, and a load detent having a stoppage member radially biasable towards the engagement member for interengagement between the engagement surfaces to restrict creep of the rotating assembly. One of the engagement member or the load detent is configured for rotation radially inward of the other of the engagement member or the load detent through at least 360 degrees of rotation. The other of the engagement member or the load detent is configured for being fixed radially outward of the one of the engagement member or the load detent.

Abstract: A brace for stabilizing a handheld device such as a handgun against a user's forearm includes a vertically elongated body adapted to detachably engage a portion of the handheld device, and an arm pivotably connected to a portion of the body. The pivotable arm is selectably moveable between a stowed position wherein the arm is vertically aligned with the body, and a deployed position wherein the arm provides a surface against which a user's forearm is removably receivable to stabilize the handheld device when the body is engaged with the handheld device.

Abstract: An insulation system comprises a first insulation blanket and a second insulation blanket. The first insulation blanket extends circumferentially within a curved body. The second insulation blanket extends circumferentially within the curved body and covers a zero position of the curved body. A portion of the second insulation blanket covers a portion of the first insulation blanket so that the portion of the second insulation blanket is between the portion of the first insulation blanket and the curved body to form an overlap. The overlap is positioned within a range having an absolute value of 5 to 40 degrees from the zero position of the curved body.

Abstract: A firearm assembly includes an insert including a front strap, a leading member, a dowel member located at a lower end of the leading member, and a floorplate flexibly coupled to a lower end of the front strap, wherein the front strap and leading member extend between an upper end of the insert and a lower end of the insert; a follower configured to move vertically in relation to the insert; a rear strap removably attachable to the floorplate; and a spring disposed above the floorplate, wherein the front strap and rear strap are internally disposed in the spring and the follower is removably attached to an upper end of the spring.

Abstract: A firearm magazine is provided that includes metal feed lips and a plastic body. In the upper part of the cavity of the plastic body of the magazine, a shoulder is included in which the metal feed lips are located. At least one vertical groove may be included on one of the walls of the shoulder of the plastic body. The metal feed lips are attached to the plastic body, potentially by at least one opening and by at least one corresponding projection, which may be formed on the adjacent walls of the plastic body and the feed lips.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to techniques for launching high-altitude balloons. In one aspect, a balloon launching system is provided. The balloon has a balloon envelope, a payload attached to the balloon envelope and a launching projection. The launching system includes a releasable restraint attached to the balloon between an apex and bottom of the balloon envelope. The releasable restraint is arranged to temporarily hold the balloon envelope. The launching system also includes a payload positioning assembly. The payload positioning assembly is configured to position the payload during launch of the balloon and includes a member configured to attach to the launching projection. When attached, the member is also configured to maintain the position of the payload relative to the balloon while the releasable restraint is temporarily holding the balloon envelope.

Abstract: A ramrod for a muzzleloader is provided. The ramrod includes a shaft having a knob releasably and rotatably coupled to one end thereof. The knob may have a central bore therein, and the shaft may be inserted into the central bore. The knob may include an internal bearing, wherein the shaft rotates with respect to the knob by operation of the internal bearing in response to rotation of a bullet during loading a rifle with the bullet, wadding, and a propellant charge.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a trigger assembly and related method for a firearm (e.g., an AR, SR-25, or M4 style rifle, or another type of firearm). The trigger assembly minimizes inadvertent discharge of the firearm by blocking the trigger from rearward pivoting until pressure is applied to the center portion of the trigger. The system and method employ a configuration wherein a camming surface is engaged with a machined portion of the lower receiver once the trigger assembly is connected to the lower receiver via a pivot that extends through the trigger assembly and at least a portion of the lower receiver.

Abstract: A firearm slide accessory includes a charging handle member including an upper member and a lower member. Both the upper and lower members are formed with internal serrations that mate with external serrations of a slide. One or more fasteners secure the upper and lower members together.