Abstract: An explosive powder charge operated setting tool includes a housing (1), a piston guide (13) for a driving piston (9) located in the housing. The driving piston (9) can be propelled from an initial rearward position through a bore (18) in the piston guide (13) into a forward driving position by gases generated from an ignited cartridge charge (12) in a cartridge chamber (10) located rearwardly of the initial rearward position of the driving piston. A channel (18a, 18b) is located in the housing in flow communication with the cartridge chamber and communicating with the guide bore (8) in the piston guide (13). A check valve (5) is positioned in the channel (18a, 18b) and forms a storage space closed to the ambient atmosphere and made up of a section (18a) of the channel (18a, 18b) closer to the forward driving position of the driving piston and of the guide bore (8). The check valve (5) can be closed by the gas in the storage space.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a plasma generation device particularly adapted to an electrothermal-chemical propulsion system. The device comprises a membranous conductive substance having structural compositions which enable the formation of a continuous and volumetrically distributed plasma arc. The membranous substance is versatile and operates, inter alia, as a fuse wire, plasma incubator, plasma container, plasma distributor, plasma infusion and permeation media as well as a fuel container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for radar detection of spectral moments and other spectral characteristics of echoes includes an agile antenna which directs an antenna beam in a direction for a dwell interval. A clutter filter reduces clutter. In order to eliminate the need for fill pulses to stabilize the clutter filter, the clutter filtering is accomplished by matrix multiplication of the echo signal in each range bin by the inverse of the covariance matrix for that range. This reduces the dwell at each range interval, and provides a stream of pulse-to-pulse information at each range interval. The pulse-to-pulse data in each range interval is spectrum analyzed to extract the desired spectral information, which is displayed.

Abstract: A firearm with a trigger, a hammer, an automatic sear, and a selector switch connected to a rotatable firing control cam for selecting among types of firing selections of the firearm. The types of firing selections include safe, semi-automatic, limited automatic burst, and fully automatic. The control cam has a section with a general cross-sectional mushroom shape that is contacted by a leg from the automatic sear. The leg has a bend and extends under a center of the control cam in at least two positions of the control cam.

Abstract: A missile diverter for controlling yaw and pitch includes several valve housings secured to an inside surface of a bridge or to a removable cylinder. The valve housings are secured in aligned positions by a layer of integral cured insulation. Gas valves are placed in the housings, and control lines are connected to the valves to allow remote control of the valves during flight. Cups loaded with propellant are secured in place near the valve housings. The valve housings, valves, cured insulation, and propellant cups are then overwrapped and secured within the outer shell of a missile. One method for making the missile diverter includes the step of applying a quantity of uncured insulation to an inside surface of a bridge and to an outside surface of each valve housing. Each valve housing is then positioned within the bridge and the insulation is cured to form an integral layer that holds the valve housings in their aligned positions and forms a hot gas seal.

Abstract: Two or more laser light pulses with certain differing temporal lengths and peak pulse powers can be employed sequentially to regulate the rate and duration of laser energy delivery to fuel mixtures, thereby improving fuel ignition performance over a wide range of fuel parameters such as fuel/oxidizer ratios, fuel droplet size, number density and velocity within a fuel aerosol, and initial fuel temperatures.

Abstract: Electronic firearm for firing electrically activated ammunition comprising a system control means for controlling and regulating firing, diagnostic functions, power consumption, and a process for operating the firearm.

Abstract: A precision flyer initiator forms a substantially spherical detonation wave in a high explosive (HE) pellet. An explosive driver, such as a detonating cord, a wire bridge circuit or a small explosive, is detonated. A flyer material is sandwiched between the explosive driver and an end of a barrel that contains an inner channel. A projectile or "flyer" is sheared from the flyer material by the force of the explosive driver and projected through the inner channel. The flyer than strikes the HE pellet, which is supported above a second end of the barrel by a spacer ring. A gap or shock decoupling material delays the shock wave in the barrel from predetonating the HE pellet before the flyer. A spherical detonation wave is formed in the HE pellet. Thus, a shock wave traveling through the barrel fails to reach the HE pellet before the flyer strikes the HE pellet. The precision flyer initiator can be used in mining devices, well-drilling devices and anti-tank devices.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an environmentally insensitive initiator, including: an electro-explosive device responsive to an electrical signal of unique voltage and frequency applied to the electro-explosive device, the unique voltage and frequency being such that are not otherwise present in a well completion operation. An example of voltage and frequency is 350V at 900 Hz. In another aspect, an initiator insertable in a housing insertable in a well casing, the initiator having a contact which is grounded when the initiator is uninstalled, to protect against unintended currents, but which becomes ungrounded by the act of inserting the initiator in the housing. In a further aspect, an initiator including a dual-function fuse.

Abstract: A flame cannon for producing an explosion, the cannon including a tank, an effect valve, a nozzle and an ignitor, the tank coupled to a carbon dioxide source and a propane source, the tank and sources used to pressurize liquid propane therein. The nozzle forms a substantially linear and non-atomizing channel. When the effect valve between the tank and nozzle is opened, the pressurized liquid propane is forced through the nozzle and forms a liquid propane column thereabove which begins to disburse into the atmosphere wherein it is ignited to form a mushroom-shaped explosion.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of determining the position of roll of a rolling flying object, in particular for the guiding of a ballistically flying projectile/rocket with roll equalization. A field strength of the earth's magnetic field, in particular a field-strength vector, is used to determine the position of roll of the flying object.

Abstract: A device for protecting a vehicle or structure against attack by a shaped-charge munition includes at least one deployable bag fastened on an external wall of the vehicle or structure. The bag is inflated by a generator in response to the detection of an attack. As a result, the invention provides an effective protection against attack by shaped-charge munitions whatever the angle of incidence of these charges.

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes combustible fluid (18) and a pair of electrodes (102,104). The electrodes (102,104) have a corresponding pair of surface portions (126,128) which are spaced from each other across an electrode gap (130). An ohmic heating element (120) bridges the gap (130) in an ignitable heat transferring relationship with the combustible fluid (18). The heating element (120) has a pair of opposite end portions (132,134) which are mounted on, and fixed to, the surface portions (126,128) of the electrodes (102,104). The surface portions (126,128) of the electrodes (102,104) have arcuate contours facing oppositely across the gap (130).

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 thin film bridge initiator for initiation of explosives includes a thin film resistive element of a selected composition of Nichrome, alternately Tantalum Nitride either of which is evaporated upon (in the case of Nichrome) or sputtered upon (in the case of Tantalum Nitride) an alumina substrate. A prime explosive mix is contained against the initiator film elements by a positive retention contactor assembly.

Abstract: A semiautomatic firearm having a rotating cylinder is provided. The cylinder has a plurality of chambers adapted to receive a cartridge and is rotatingly supported in a housing by a cylinder pin whereby each of the chambers of the cylinder is positionable in one of a loading position, a firing position, and an ejecting position. The cylinder pin is reciprocally movable between a retracted position wherein the cylinder pin is disengaged from a firing mechanism and an extended position wherein the cylinder pin engages the firing mechanism so as to cock the firing mechanism. The cylinder pin is movable from the retracted position to the extended position in response to gas pressure generated by the firing of a cartridge disposed in the chamber of the cylinder positioned in the firing position acting on the cylinder pin so as to move the cylinder pin from the retracted position to the extended position.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the deployment and maintenance of a belt of autonomous sensors fitted out with warning sensors to monitor the area surrounding one or more sensitive points. It relates especially to anti-missile and anti-aircraft warning systems for naval surface ships against missiles and aircraft flying at low and very low altitudes. It consists in controlling the paths of the drones solely by means of their radius of curvature for which they receive an instructed value from the reference point or points. This instructed value is encoded by a frequency of a radioelectric signal sensitive to the Doppler effect. A modification of this instructed value of radius of curvature as a function of the signal of a proximity sensor makes it possible to avoid all problems of collision and to keep the drones at equal distance from one another. This mode of control proves to be particularly efficient and, at the same time, very simple.

Abstract: An internally air cooled turbine blade for a gas turbine engine of the type including a trailing edge section, leading edge section and mid chord section wherein each section includes a straight through radial passage communicating cooling air from the root to the tip of the blade, and the radial passages (feed channels) on the pressure side and suction side supply the cooling air to the film cooling holes in the airfoil surface and the radial passage (feed chamber) in the mid chord section replenishes the feed channels with cooling air through replenishment cooling holes interconnecting the feed channels and feed chamber. The rotation of the blade imparts a centrifugal pumping action to the air within the feed chamber for maximizing the cooling effectiveness of the cooling air. The air discharging at the tip cools the tip of the blade and provides tip aerodynamic sealing and the leading edge and trailing edge are similarly fed cooling air.

Abstract: A firing circuit that is used for a lightweight launcher for propelling rets is disclosed. The firing circuit generates a pulse for firing the rocket launcher and comprises first and second capacitor banks. The first capacitor bank acts as low impedance energy source, in which power is developed to supply sufficient energy to initiate the rocket motor squib which, in turn, ignites the rocket motor of the rocket. The second capacitor bank acts as a high voltage, low impedance source whose energy is used to charge a capacitor internal to the rocket. The capacitor internal to the rocket, is part of the rocket warhead fuse. The capacitor internal to the fuse is used to initiate the detonator of the rocket warhead when the rocket terminates flight at target.

Abstract: A shoulder-launched multi-purpose assault weapon with a removable rocket tube and spotter barrel is provided. The rocket tube and spotter barrel assembly is a standard receiver and trigger assembly. The grouping of the tube and barrel in a single removable assembly allows quick field replacement for either repair or reconfiguration of the weapon to a different rocket size. The sight assembly is also removable by sliding the sight out of dovetail attachment points. A further benefit is that different rocket tube assemblies may be pre-boresighted at the factory, thereby also reducing field assembly time.