Abstract: A guidance system (30) for a missile comprising a sensor (20) mounted on the missile and having a fixed line-of-sight relative thereto. The body fixed sensor (20) provides a first signal representing frames of image data. A processor (40) identifies a target in the frames of image data and provides a second signal representative of the location of the centroid thereof. A conventional tracker (36) follows the target and provides a third signal representative of an aim point of the missile. A controller (44) then changes the velocity vector of the missile in response to the second and third signals. In a specific embodiment, the body fixed sensor (20) provides first and second frames of image data. The system (32, 34) subtracts the first and second frames of image data and ascertains a growth center of the target. The processor (40) compares the image growth center to the aim point and provides an error signal in response thereto.

Abstract: An ignition element (106) for heating temperature sensitive ignitable material (86) in an air bag inflator comprises an electrically conductive first material layer (142). An electrically conductive second material layer (144) has a portion (146) spaced from and overlying a portion (148) of the first material layer (142). A lossy dielectric material (180) is disposed between the overlying portions (146, 148) of the first and second material layers (142, 144). A high frequency alternating electric field is applied to the first and second material layers (142, 144). The temperature sensitive material (86) is located adjacent the ignition element (106). The temperature of the dielectric material (180) increases to a temperature sufficient to cause ignition of the temperature sensitive material (86) in response to the application of the high frequency alternating electric field to the dielectric material.

Abstract: A missile launcher for use on a surface vessel includes an array of vertical sleeves each being of a size to receive a missile carrying container. The sleeves are maintained in a linear array by means of a series of frames and the lower, or breech, ends of the sleeves are collectively connected to a plenum into which water is injected during a hot launch of a missile. A selected one of the sleeves does not carry a missile but rather, functions as an exhaust or gas take up for the exhaust gases of the other missiles.

Abstract: There is provided a method of transporting a nuclear fuel substance capable of increasing an amount of storing the nuclear fuel substance of a transport vessel by lowering the neutron effective multiplication factor by arranging neutron absorber plates among a plurality of nuclear fuel storing drums for storing the nuclear fuel substance, or at the inside of the respective nuclear fuel storing drums in transporting the nuclear fuel substance.According to the present invention, in transporting the nuclear fuel substance by containing a pile of the plurality of nuclear fuel storing drums in series for storing the nuclear fuel substance in the transport container along the vertical central axis of the transport container having substantially the bottomed cylinder shape, the neutron absorber plates each including a component for absorbing neutrons are interposed among the respective nuclear fuel storing drums on planes orthogonal to a vertical central axis of the transport container.

Abstract: The invention consists, after launching (1) a vehicle (9), in guiding (2) the vehicle (9) towards the mine (5; 6) by means of a sonar coupled to a tactical control station (12) of a hunter (8), fulfilling the functions of classification and permanent monitoring of the position of the vehicle (9) relative to the mine (5; 6), in releasing a locating means (13), carried by the vehicle (9), once the vehicle (9) has arrived at a determined distance from the mine (5; 6), making it possible to fulfil a target designation function by interacting with the vehicle (9) and the tactical control station (12) of the hunter (8), then in communicating (3) to the vehicle (9), by means of the tactical control station (12), the navigation parameters necessary for its attack strategy as a function of the type of mines (5; 6) encountered, and its position referenced by the fixed locating means (13), and in destroying (4) the mine (5; 6) according to the attack strategy acquired by the vehicle (9).

Abstract: A forwardly-rotatable, driven-drum, land mine clearing tool has a plurality of robust, easily-repairable tool spokes extending radially from the outer surface of the drum. The land mine clearing tool is connected to the front end of a tracked vehicle and is operatively raised and lowered from the tracked vehicle. The drum and tool spokes engage the earth of a land mine field in a milling action, which grinds and destroys some land mines while triggering detonation of other land mines.

Abstract: A cartridge loader for a revolver, the loader having a casing with a series of cartridge bores located on a bore circle locus of points having a larger diameter then the chamber circle locus of points for the revolver. The casing's bores preferably each have two flatted side wall portions that aid in defining the tubular wall of the bore, one of the flatted wall portions of each cartridge bore being adjacent one of the flatted side wall portions of an adjacent cartridge bore.

Abstract: An explosive blast shield has two connected parts, a foraminous inner shield surrounded by an impervious outer shield. The inner shield has an open lower end to absorb an explosive blast of water and gas, as from an underwater explosion. The inner shield, whose area is about 20% holes, blocks most liquid from entering the space between the two shields, but gas passes readily through the holes to equalize the pressure across the inner shield. The shield may include a chimney at the upper end for release of gas and a hold-down to prevent the shield from being blown upward.

Abstract: The construction and arrangement of projectile bearing surface interfaces rearward and forward of a recessed surface chamber of the projectile interface conjointly with the interfaces of bore wall areas segmented by recessed bore chambers which in conjunction effect the deployment/transport/dispersement/development/modulation and transformation of explosive propellant charges sequentially primed and activated rearward and forwardly of the projectile along the bore and in bore wall chambers captively converting high static gas pressure to expansively relieved dynamic propellant gas pressure directly at the projectile reducing firearm barrel recoil while energizing projectile movement along the bore in a closed-system of thermodynamic propellant energy for free flight purposes.

Abstract: A cooling system for a missile launcher having a plurality of missile-containing cells connected to a common plenum. Disposed in the plenum beneath each missile is an impingement plate in the path of hot exhaust gas from the missile. A cooling water injection nozzle is arranged below each impingement plate and is supplied with cooling water during a hot missile launch to cool the hot exhaust gas and the plenum.

Abstract: A projectile having a longitudinal axis, a sensor disposed in the substantially pointed front end of the projectile for detecting a respective target, and electronics connected to the output of the sensor for igniting a correction charge to effect a correction of the flight path of the projectile by a predetermined angle (.delta..sub.0). In order to install the apparatus for flight-path correction into the respective projectile completely and in a space-saving manner, so that, unlike in known projectiles, corresponding evaluation and signal-transmission units in the respective weapon carrier can be omitted and complicated gyroscopic systems in the projectile can be omitted, the sensor determines the angle (.delta.) between the longitudinal axis of the projectile and the line (target line) connecting the projectile and the target, and when an angle (.delta..sub.0) is reached that is identical in size/magnitude to the deviation caused by the respective correction charge, the electronics ignite this charge.

Abstract: At a reactor bottom, varieties of work are performed by a working apparatus, the work includes inspecting, cleaning and recovering radioactive corrosion products and other foreign matters deposited or stuck onto a foot mirror of a reactor pressure vessel in a light-water cooling reactor, and cutting, grinding and welding structural members in relation to the foreign matters. The working apparatus includes a body case having a shape of a vertically long tube, having an opening formed in a peripheral surface thereof. The body case being suspended from above the reactor pressure vessel to be installed over an upper end of a control rod driving mechanism housing which is vacant after withdrawal of a control rod driving mechanism from the housing.

Abstract: A muzzle loader rod assembly of the present invention is an elongate sectioned rod, preferably made of brass is disclosed. At one remote end of the rod, a slide telescopingly surrounds the rod and is removably secured thereto by means of a set screw or similar fastener to prevent rattling when the product is in the field and to further secure the parts together. A wide variety of tools can be secured to the end of the ramrod accessory tamper portion and coupler including bullet removers, patch removers, tampers, cleaning tools, brushes, and the like. In use for bullet removal, the bullet removal member is secured to one end of the accessory tamper end of the rod, and then tapped in place by dropping the reciprocating slide. No particular real strength is required to do this. When the bullet extractor is removed, the accessory coupler becomes a tamper. The bullet tamped into the powder with an empirically determined number of strokes of the dropped slide which imparts uniformity of tamping to each charge.

Abstract: A speed sensor for a ship, more particularly, a thin speed sensor which can be mounted in the hull of the ship and remain flush with the outer surface of the hull. The transducer assembly for the speed sensor is composed of two thin piezoelectric transducers mounted in a spacer plate that locates them in an exact position relative to each other. A baseplate and a coverplate are affixed by appropriate adhesive techniques to each side of the transducers to create a single transducer assembly. Holes through the baseplate and spacer plate permit electrical contact to each side of the transducers so that they may be stimulated to generate acoustic waves. The entire transducer assembly is significantly thinner than the hulls of most watercraft. Thus, a large hole completely through the hull is not necessary. Rather, a shallow recess approximately equal to the thickness of the transducer assembly is made in the hull to countersink the transducer assembly flush with the hull.

Abstract: A process for fabricating nuclear fuel rod cladding tube comprising beta quenching a zirconium alloy billet consisting essentially of from 0.5 to 3.25 weight percent niobium, from 0.3 to 1.8 weight percent tin, the balance of the alloy being essentially nuclear grade zirconium with incidental impurities by heating to a temperature in the beta range above 950.degree. C. and rapidly quenching the billet to a temperature below the .alpha. plus .beta. to .alpha. transformation temperature to form a martensitic structure; extruding the beta-quenched billet at a temperature below 600.degree. C. to form a hollow; annealing the hollow by heating at a temperature up to 590.degree. C.; pilgering the annealed hollow; and final annealing the pilgered annealed hollow to a temperature up to 590.degree. C.

Abstract: A launcher is disclosed having means for directing and concentrically spreading, as well as dispersing, exhaust gases created by an internal combustion of an object, such as a missile, that is operatively launchable therefrom. The concentric duct provides the directing, spreading and dispersing means and cooperates with a cup having means to arrange a port in operative relationship with an exhaust outlet of the object being launched. The cup which mates with the concentric duct has one of its ends open to the ambient so that the exhaust gases are lead into and out of the concentric duct so as to be concentrically dispersed into the atmosphere.

Abstract: The apparatus for inspecting the rods of a cluster insertable in the core of a nuclear reactor comprises a body provided with sliding guide means for rods in m different orientations of the cluster, m being a submultiple of the number n of rods in the cluster, and a measurement jig carrying n/m heads (16) for eddy current examination and n/m probes (18) for ultrasound scanning placed on different guide paths. Each ultrasound probe (18) is constituted by an annular support surrounding a rod path and carrying a ring of individual transducers. The transducers are connected to a circuit for sequentially exciting the transducers in successive groups, causing the tube to be scanned circumferentially, and for electronic focusing towards the surface of a tube travelling on the path.

Abstract: A shoulder-launched multiple-purpose assault weapon having a modified spotter rifle with a top-mounted rocket launcher tube is provided. The spotter rifle forms the base structure of the weapon and all weapon controls are located on the spotter rifle. The spotter rifle has several dual-function mechanisms which perform the combined functions of assembly and safing, bolt-locking back and cartridge ejecting, simultaneous adjustment of both open and optical sights, firing, selectively, of both the spotter round and the rocket round. The combination of these dual-firing mechanisms provides a lighter weight, better-balanced and smaller weapon. The reduction in parts count improves reliability and lowers cost. Other improved features include an adjustable spotter rifle barrel used to match the boresight of the rocket tube and an improved locking mechanism. A dual function trigger assembly operated two sears from a single trigger.

Abstract: A process for fabricating nuclear fuel rod cladding tube comprising beta quenching a zirconium alloy billet consisting essentially of 0.3 to 1.8 weight percent tin, 0.1 to 0.65 weight percent iron, the balance of the alloy being essentially nuclear grade zirconium with incidental impurities by heating to a temperature in the beta range greater than about 1000.degree. C. and rapidly quenching the billet to a temperature below the .alpha. plus .beta. to a transformation temperature to form a martensitic structure; extruding the beta-quenched billet at a temperature between 600.degree. and 750.degree. C. to form a hollow; annealing the hollow by heating at a temperature up to about 700.degree. C.; pilgering the annealed hollow; and final annealing the pilgered annealed hollow to a temperature up to about 700.degree. C. to form the nuclear fuel rod cladding tube comprising the alloy having a microstructure of Zr.sub.

Abstract: A leak detector and shut-off apparatus shuts off hydraulic fluid downstream o prevent the hazards attendant hydraulic failure such as loss of fluid and fire. A first sensor is coupled to a supply line for hydraulic fluid to produce pressure differential force F.sub.s, which is representative of the flow of hydraulic fluid. A second sensor is coupled to a return line for hydraulic fluid to produce pressure differential force F.sub.r that is representative of flow of hydraulic fluid. A compensator creates representation F.sub.c of the rate of accumulation of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit downstream of the device and a safety margin. A shutoff mechanism is connected to the first and second sensors and the compensator to shut off the supply and return lines when F.sub.s is greater than the sum of F.sub.r and F.sub.c.