Abstract: An inductive look angle sensor for a guided missile radiation seeker in which the optical system of the seeker is secured to a gimbal ring that is mounted by bearing mounts to a gimbal post that is stationary with respect to the missile airframe, and the gimbal ring is adapted for rotating back and forth relative to the airframe during a missile roll cycle when the look angle of the radiation seeker relative to the airframe is not zero degrees, is disclosed. The sensor includes a first coil wound on the gimbal post; a second coil wound on the gimbal ring for inductive coupling to the first coil; a signal generator coupled to one of the two coils for providing a first alternating signal having a predetermined frequency; and a demodulator coupled to the other coil and the signal generator. The first and second coils are located relative to each other for enabling the other one of the two coils to inductively respond to the first signal by providing a second signal.

Abstract: In an anticollision device, a moving object heading in a given direction along a movement vector and having a relative speed vector directed towards an obstacle is fitted out with at least two antennas sending out a microwave signal liable to be received by the obstacle. The device furthermore comprises reception means and means to analyze the echoes received from the obstacle, the analyzing means determining the variation with respect to time of the angle .theta. between the movement vector and the relative speed vector, a substantially zero variation of the angle .theta. indicating a risk of collision. Application to the equipment of motor vehicles to prevent collisions, notably in the event of poor visibility.

Abstract: A missile comprising a missile body having a missile tip housing, a seeker head mounted into the missile tip housing and a positioner which selectably positions the seeker head in either an extended, seeking, position or a retracted, cruising, position.

Abstract: A potential target scenery image data is filtered and complex-multiplied h synthetic discriminant functions to produce a two-dimensional, cross-correlated surface. The surface is then analyzed to determine the spatial coordinates of the target, if any.

Abstract: A radar absorbing holster for use with an electromagnetic radiation generating device is disclosed. The radar absorbing holster comprises a rigid housing having a closed end and an open end defining an inner cavity. The housing has electromagnetically reflective properties, and an electromagnetically absorbing foam layer that is disposed on the inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of processing seismic data containing multiples, which method generally includes as a step, determining the two-way travel time to a suspected multiple generating event. This method includes the application of a normal moveout operation to the recorded seismic trace utilizing the primary event velocities. Once the normal moveout has been applied to the data, all of the events in the trace are shifted downward in time by an amount of time equal to the two-way travel time to the suspected multiple generating event as previously determined. Once the normal moveout operation and the two-way travel time shift have been applied to the trace, a reverse normal moveout operation is applied to the trace utilizing an extended velocity function, which is a function of the original primary and the velocity within the suspected multiple generating layer. The resulting trace is now a trace containing only multiples.

Abstract: An alarm system for distinguishing between an empty and a malfunction condition for a firearm having a breech block catch lever operated by the magazine follower to lock the breech block in the open position when the firearm is empty may include an indicator device and a switching system responsive to the catch lever being operated by the magazine follower to lock the breech block in the open position for setting the indicator device to a first state to represent that the magazine and chamber are empty and the breech block is locked open and not malfunctioning and responsive to the catch lever being unoperated and the breech block being free for setting the indicator device to a second state to represent that the firearm has stopped firing because of a malfunction.

Abstract: A diaphragm for use with an electro-acoustic transducer includes a diaphragm portion, an edge portion and a supporting portion. The diaphragm portion is molded by a synthetic resin material, such as polypropylene or the like. The edge portion is molded integrally with the supporting portion by a thermoplastic synthetic resin material and provided at the outer peripheral side of the diaphragm portion. The edge portion is molded integrally with the diaphragm portion by dichromatic molding.

Abstract: A method for measuring the frequency of continuous wave and wide pulse RF signals using multi-purpose, commercial-off-the-shelf test devices, such as an RF signal down converter, a digitizer and a signal processor. The method is based on digitizing the RF signals and dividing the digitized data into blocks of discrete data points. An initial estimated frequency is calculated for the first block of data and used to generate a synthetic signal. The synthetic signal and individual block of data under analysis are summed and tested by a discrimination function through an iteration process to arrive at an estimated frequency for each block of data points. The results are averaged to arrive at the final calculated frequency for the RF signal. The method is suitable for real-time calculations of the RF signal frequency.

Abstract: Methods for providing an image at the surface of a formation surrounding a borehole in real-time include associating resistivity measurements with a predetermined number of preselected toolface positions. The resistivity measurements are subjected to data compression and transmitted uphole by MWD telemetry. At the surface, the compressed resistivity measurements are associated with the preselected toolface positions and with a calculated translational distance value. The resistivity measurements are decompressed and/or converted to pixel information. The pixel information is arranged according to toolface position and translational distance to create a high resolution of the formation. These processes are repeated over time so that the image created represents the formation over a selected distance.

Abstract: A device for firing a projectile for de-arming purposes, comprises a barrel for housing a projectile and an explosive charge. A sleeve surrounds the barrel, so as to define an annular chamber accommodating solid or liquid recoil absorbing material. Radial ports interconnect the barrel and the annular chamber so that when the projectile is fired the annular chamber is pressurized and the recoil absorbing material is expelled rearwardly from the chamber, so as to counteract recoil.

Abstract: An acoustic detector in a mud pulse telemetry system includes a bypass loop in parallel with a section of the main mud line that supplies drilling mud to a drill string. The detector includes a pair of pressure sensing ports in the bypass line, and one or more pressure transducers for detecting the pressure at different locations in the bypass loop so that the differential pressure can be measured. The bypass loop has a small internal passageway relative to the main mud supply line and may include a constriction so as to create two regions in the passageway that differ in cross sectional areas. Forming the pressure sensing ports in the regions of differing cross sectional areas allows the pressure transducers to more precisely detect the mud pulse signals. Because of its relatively small cross sectional area, only a small fraction of the drilling mud flows through the bypass loop. The bypass loop may thus be constructed of hydraulic hose and a relatively small rigid body having a central through bore.

Abstract: A firearm for firing cartridges (2) which may in at least one embodiment fire caseless cartridges (2), having a barrel (1) pivoting around a pivot point (11) from a firing position to a loading position, and back to the firing position. A fixed wall (16) is positioned behind chamber (19) when barrel (1) is in the firing position, which absorbs the recoil of a fired cartridge (2). A plug (6) may be used to seal chamber (19) when firing caseless cartridges (2). The pivoting movement of barrel (1) may be activated against spring (4) by gas pressure from a fired cartridge (2) escaping from a hole (3) in barrel (1). Residual gas in barrel (1) may be used to move rammer (7) against spring (8) and rammer (7) then chambers a cartridge (2). Barrel (1) then returns to the firing position.

Abstract: An air-breathing, propulsion-assisted projectile designed to be rocket or gun launched and capable of accelerating to hypersonic velocities includes a body having an encompassing cowl, an air compression section, an engine assembly located adjacent the air compression section, and a nozzle section located adjacent the engine assembly. The engine assembly includes apparatus for fuel storage and delivery to a combustion region. The rear end portion of the cowl is configured to direct the exiting combusted air-and-fuel mixture over the nozzle section of the body.

Abstract: A system for providing pitch, yaw, and roll control during the flight of a rocket-propelled vehicle combines a vectorable nozzle with jet vanes. The vectorable nozzle provides yaw and pitch control, while the jet vanes provide roll control. Anti-rotation pins extend from the vehicle housing into longitudinal slots within the vectorable nozzle to allow vectoring movements and prevent rotation of the nozzle. The jet vanes are rotatably mounted on shafts within the nozzle exit cone to receive and guide combustion products passing through the nozzle. The jet vanes may be jettisoned after an initial high-angle-of-attack maneuver is completed and the vehicle gains speed, after which roll control is provided by aerodynamic fins. The jet vanes may also be formed of material which erodes after the initial maneuver, thereby reducing the loss of thrust caused by the jet vanes.

Abstract: A muzzle-loading firearm having a breech loading receiver including a locking mechanism movable between an open position and a locked position; a barrel having a breech end engaging the receiver and a bore extending from the barrel's breech end; and a firing module receiving plug positioned within the barrel's breech, the plug including a chamber axially aligned with the barrel bore to receive an ejectable firing module having an igniter within a chamber.

Abstract: A process for preparing vertical seismic profiles (VSP) by bore drilling using, as the seismic source, the vibrations generated by the drilling bit. A cross-correlation between the bit signal and the signals collected by seismic geophone lines, is determined in which the bit signal is processed by arranging a plurality of several types of detectors on the bore drilling facility. A plurality of traces are recorded, in which the signal/noise components have different characteristics. These can be separated by means introducing filter functions by operating either on their Fourier Transforms or on the basis of their statistic distribution.

Abstract: A novel gun rest or gun stand comprising a foldable bipod having a pair of rigid legs movably maintained in close proximity to one another by a flexible member, and detachably secured to one another by a clasping retainer member.

Abstract: A method for measuring the principal axis of fracture-induced formation anisotropy. Amplitude vectors are measured from CMP gathers oriented along in-line and cross-line wavefield trajectories. The amplitude vectors are resolved with the known orientations of the seismic lines of survey to estimate the azimuth of the anisotropic axis.

Abstract: An arrangement for rewarding tongue-retraction exercise therapy performed by swallowing-impaired surgical and disease patients is disclosed. The achieved therapy includes execution of an oral sucking act (as opposed to lung originated suction) in combination with provision of a patient communicated incentive feedback signal measurement of the sucking act pressures --pressures below atmospheric pressure. The patient communication includes a visual bar graph related display and in the disclosed apparatus is provided with a plurality of four scale ranges in order to accommodate patients of varying swallowing act impairment. The achieved base of tongue strengthening exercise has been found to enable swallowing recovery in weeks in lieu of the expected months (or never) that is normally seen in severely impaired surgical or disease patients. A discussion of the swallowing act and its impairment behavior is included.