Abstract: This invention comprises a gas operated forward actuating pistol with a locking bolt to hold the barrel assembly closed until the bullet has passed the port in the barrel. At the passing of the bullet, the gas pressure first moves the lock bolt down freeing the barrel assembly to be pressured forward by the gas pressure. As the barrel assembly moves forward, the extractor/ejector holds the empty cartridge case to be ejected as the barrel clears end of the case. When the barrel reaches the forward stop, a new cartridge rises into position to be chambered as the barrel returns to a lock position with the extractor/ejector spring loaded to a vertical position to ensure chambering.

Abstract: A boundary layer control device for a surface which reduces turbulence by oviding forces which counteract microturbulent events occurring at the surface. The microturbulent events occur periodically with a known topography and include liftup and ejection, bursting, low-speed streak and sweep topography. The device has an array of magnet and electrode cells which are arranged to correspond with the topography arrangement of the microturbulent events. The interaction of the magnetic and electric fields within the cells generate a Lorentz force which can be directed into or out of the surface depending on the relative directions of the magnetic and electric fields. Sensors on the surface determine which cells to activate and in what direction to apply the Lorentz force to precisely counteract the microturbulent events occurring at the surface. A force directed away from the surface is used to counteract a sweep event and a force directed towards the surface counteracts a liftup event.

Abstract: An electrical igniter of a pyrotechnical gas generator including a propelling charge has a housing of its own in which pyrotechnical ignition material including an electrical ignition element and a cable end connected thereto are enclosed so that electrical plug contacts may be avoided.

Abstract: A resistant initiator for an automobile passenger restraint system which includes a shell casing having an upper chamber and a lower chamber. Contact pins connect the initiator to a mating electrical connector of a vehicle. A metal oxide varistor disposed in the shell casing provides electrostatic discharge and EMI/RFI rotection for the initiator. A glass to metal seal header is formed in the shell casing and includes an integrated circuit for igniting the pyrotechnic material disposed in a charge holder attached to the shell casing.

Abstract: A warhead has a pair of shells, each having an annular rim at one end and opening at the other end. The rims abut one another and are fastened together to define a chamber filled with explosive having a bore aligned with the openings. The explosive has sensitivity to detonation that requires axial detonation in the bore by a detonating cord to initiate explosion thereby preventing detonation by lesser stimuli. A tube extends through the openings and bore and is sized to receive the detonating cord. Opposite ends of the tube are crimped to hold the shells together. A line charge provided with a plurality of such warheads has significant pressure, shock, fragmentation energy, wire cutting ability and mine neutralization capacity as compared to contemporary devices. These improved capabilities are directly attributed to the explosive type and density of this design.

Abstract: Suspension and Release Equipment (S&RE) capable of carrying and releasing various types of weapons including bombs and missiles without the need for reconfiguration. The rack assembly of the present invention includes a plurality of separate, yet linked hook assemblies. A multi-purpose hook is employed to engage either bombs or missiles by means of three separate toes. A center toe includes a protruding arm adaptable for engaging the hook-shaped portion of a forward bomb bail lug which can be located either fourteen or thirty inches from the aft lug. The multi-purpose hook further includes a pair of outer toes including slots for engaging the opposite side rails of a missile lug. Because the multi-purpose hook is equally adaptable for engaging bomb or missile lugs, the rack assembly can be employed to carry either type of weapon. An aft mounted missile hook is adaptable for engaging a missile rail lug, and a separate hook mounted on the rack is adaptable for engaging a bomb lug.

Abstract: The fly over homing guidance system for terminal homing missile guidance is fire and forget missile guidance method wherein on board target sensing tracks the target and guides the missile to the target, but instead of being guided to a direct impact as is conventionally done, the missile is guided toward a precise distance over the top of the target, intentionally avoiding impact. A second sensor on the missile detects the leading edge of the target, such as the turret of a tank. The warhead is then fired down onto the top of the target as the missile is guided or directed over it. Further, the shot line of the warhead is substantially perpendicular to the top of the target, maximizing lethality. This allows the use of the same angle of attack and warhead for all modes of target engagement and thus maintains high lethality for every firing scenario.

Abstract: A landing gear/tail skid having at least two pivot axes (22, 24) which are subject to relative motion in response to impact loads acting on the landing gear/tail skid (10) and a contact arm (18) disposed in combination with pivot axes (22, 24). The cartridge assembly (20) includes a housing member (30) having and internal chamber (38) and a telescoping piston assembly (40) mounting within the internal chamber (38) wherein the end portions of each are disposed in combination with one of the pivot axes (22, 24). The housing member (30) and piston assembly (40), in combination, define opposed bearing surfaces (36s, 46s) which act on an energy absorbing means (50) disposed within the internal chamber (38) and intermediate the opposed bearing surfaces (36s, 46s). The energy absorbing means (50) is operative, in response to impact loads coupled thereto by the opposed bearing surfaces (36s, 46s), to react impact loads below a threshold is value without change in its critical dimension (L.sub.

Abstract: An electronic delay circuit (10) for use in a detonator (100) has a switching circuit (20) and a timer circuit (22). Switching circuit (20) controls the flow of a stored charge of electrical energy from a storage capacitor (12) to a bridge initiation element such as a semiconductor bridge (18) or a tungsten bridge. The timing of the release of this energy is controlled by timer circuit (22). Switching circuit (20) is an integrated, dielectrically isolated, bipolar CMOS (DI BiCMOS) circuit, whereas timer circuit (22) is a conventional CMOS circuit. The use of a DI BiCMOS switching circuit allows for greater efficiency of energy transfer from the storage capacitor (12) to the semiconductor bridge (18) than has previously been attained.

Abstract: A fire control system and a method for estimating periodic component of a target path. An efficient, fast-setting estimator is realized by first estimating the period and then the amplitude of the periodic component on the basis of the most recent measurements made.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a laser weapon target aim point. The method includes the step of selecting an aimpoint (42) on a target (24). The target is then engaged with a laser beam (23). The tracker (36) then receives target scene information, and detects both a target image and a target laser hit spot (40). The tracker (36) then determines the vector distance between the target aimpoint and the target laser hit spot, and drives the vector distance (70) to zero to close the loop between the target aimpoint and the target laser hit spot location. The method and system of the present invention thereby increase the probability of a target kill by enabling the tracking system to maintain a laser lock on the target aimpoint from an initial target engagement to a target kill stage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an underwater gas generator projectile launcher which includes tubular barrel having a forward muzzle end and an opposed rearward end. A projectile is positioned in this tubular barrel adjacent the forward end. An expellable closure for the forward muzzle end of the barrel means is provided. A projectile propelling piston assembly is positioned in the tubular barrel and includes a shell axially movable in the tubular barrel. This piston includes a shell having a front wall adjacent the projectile and an opposed rear wall which encloses the rearward end of the tubular barrel. This interior space is traversely segmented into a front chamber and a rear chamber by an interior plate, and this interior plate is positionable in a stationary position relative to said tubular barrel. A gas generator is positioned in the front chamber of the interior space.

Abstract: A system for controlling the tab (6) of an aircraft control surface (3) having a pair of position sensors (12 and 15) that supply information regarding the turning of the control surface (3) and the position of a jack (13), respectively, on the basis of signals generated by the sensors (12 and 15) as well as possibly on the basis of at least one parameter (p) originating from the aircraft, such as airspeed, positions of lift-augmenting devices, forces exerted by the pilot on a control, etc., and which formulates a command for the jack (13).

Abstract: An electronic delay circuit (10) useful for the delayed initiation of detonators illustrates several novel features that may be combined, including a novel oscillator (34), a programmable timer circuit (32) and a run control circuit (46). The oscillator (34) generates a clock signal determined by the rate of discharge of a capacitor (34a) relative to a reference voltage REF. A second capacitor (34b) is charged to a voltage that exceeds REF, and when the first capacitor (34a) falls below REF, an internal signal is generated and the capacitors are switched, so that the first capacitor gets charged while the second is discharged. A latch (34f) produces clock pulses in response to the internal signals. The programmable timer circuit (32) includes a ripple counter (38) and a program bank (40) that loads a count in the counter upon initialization.

Abstract: A method for automatic group tracking detects target formations and group tracks corresponding to each formation. Pseudo-observations are formed to represent missing observations in each track group. The pseudo-observations update the track states of undetected targets. Track validity estimates eliminate false tracks resulting from series of pseudo-observations. A group average velocity applied to each track in the group helps to maintain velocity stability. The operator has the option of suppressing the display of all tracks except for the leader of each group to eliminate the distraction of intra-group switching. This method can be applied to trackers that maintain a single track for each target or to trackers that maintain multiple track branches on each target, such as MHT.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for combating identified targets (F) using warheads (2) from a launching vehicle (1) flying over a target area, by separating from this launching vehicle (1) warheads (2) which act independently after separation, and including those targets which lie close to the flight trajectory of the launching vehicle (1) and those which lie well to the side of same flight trajectory. The invention is based on the use of that part of the kinetic energy of the launching vehicle (1) which the warhead (2) takes over from the same when it is separated in order to give the warhead (2) a looping trajectory or any other programmed flight trajectory, which carries it up to a starting height adapted to its active use, which lies considerably above the actual flight trajectory of the launching vehicle (1), and which, if so required, can carry the warhead (2) back to the geographical position where it was separated from the launching vehicle (1).

Abstract: A guided missile with ram jet drive, with an engine occupying the airframe cross section, with two outer air intakes in the lower area of the airframe, which lead to the tail with wake shafts, with a tail plane including four separately pivotable vanes in the form of a diagonal cross. A rigid wing arrangement is provided in or in front of the center of the missile. One drive unit with linear movement is provided for each vane. Two of the drive units are arranged longitudinally offset in the longitudinal and circumferential directions of the guided missile in each wake shaft. A kinematic connection from the drive unit to the lower vane is formed by a coupling rod each with joints at both ends. A kinematic connection from the drive unit to the upper vane is formed by a pivotable double lever each and a coupling rod with ball joints at both ends.

Abstract: A spear fishing gun having a receiver assembly that has a grip housing containing a removable trigger assembly with a spear point shaft latch bar, a trigger, and a safety pawl mounted on a shaft extending through the trigger assembly and the grip housing with an external operator, with the shaft being supported in the grip housing in a manner to increase its stability. The grip housing has a line holding and release assembly that is automatically tensioned as it is assembled to the grip housing, and a muzzle assembly is provided that permits the lateral insertion and removal of the spearpoint shaft.

Abstract: A method of disrupting a turbulent region of a boundary layer within a fluid flow passing over a surface to decrease momentum transfer, and thus friction drag, between the turbulent flow and the surface. Bending waves are generated on the surface to impose velocity and/or pressure oscillations within the turbulent region and disrupt the normal turbulent process within the boundary layer, thereby decreasing the transfer of momentum from the turbulent flow to the surface. The bending waves are preferably generated in a predominantly spanwise or normal direction relative to the streamwise fluid flow. In another embodiment, the bending waves enhance the turbulent process and increase the transfer of momentum between the turbulent flow and the surface. Bending wave actuators may bend the surface to generate bending waves within the surface itself. In another embodiment, actuators may generate bending waves within a separate material attached to the surface.

Abstract: A squib ignitor circuit (20,40) reduces the probability of an accidental airbag deployment to greatly increase the safety of an automobile. A squib (24,28,44) operates at a voltage significantly higher than the squib ignitor circuit (20,40) to produce heat sufficient to ignite pyrotechnic material. Thus, a short condition to the squib (24,28,44) does not produce an inadvertent airbag deployment. The squib ignitor circuit (20,40) forms a conductive path through an inductor (23,43) via a first transistor (21,41) and a second transistor (22,42). The inductor (23,43) stores energy. The inductor (23,43) produces a voltage substantially greater than the voltage powering the squib ignitor circuit (20,40) when the conductive path is broken. The inductor (23,43) releases the stored energy to the squib (24,28,44) generating heat. A sequence (more than one time) of storing energy and releasing energy by the inductor (23,43) is required to generate heat sufficient to ignite pyrotechnic material by the squib (24,28,44).