Abstract: An assembly for armoring an amphibious vehicle against projectile penetrations, the amphibious vehicle having a hull, the assembly including a rigid spall generating sheet, the rigid spall generating sheet having a thickness and an outer surface; a buoyant sheet fixedly attached to and extending inwardly from the rigid spall generating sheet; and a multiplicity of fasteners interconnecting the rigid and buoyant sheets with the amphibious vehicle's hull, the buoyant sheet incorporating a low density, nonabsorbent hardened foam material; the buoyant sheet functioning for vehicle buoyancy enhancement and for defining a spall dispersal space overlying the hull and underlying the rigid spall generating sheet.

Abstract: A projectile launching device, comprising a housing having a barrel at one end, an air pulsator within the housing having an inlet and an outlet, a pump communicating with the inlet of the air pulsator for pumping air into the air pulsator to pressurize the air therein, a projectile chamber within the barrel for receiving a projectile to be launched, and a valve in the outlet of the air pulsator which is normally closed to permit the pump to pressurize the air therein to a desired level, the valve being openable to produce an air pulse discharge therefrom into the projectile chamber, and thereby launch the projectile from the barrel at a velocity according to the force applied to the projectile by the air pulse discharge.

Abstract: An integrated grip and rail system is provided. Included is a firearm and the firearm grip. The grip is configured to be disposed in front of the magazine well and provide a stable grip point which does not allow a user's thumb or other appendage to be disposed between the grip and magazine well. The grip is configured so as to not interfere with the pivoting relationship between the weapon upper and weapon lower during partial or complete disassembly of the weapon. The rear region may also have a portion extending rearward along at least part of each side of the magazine well to form feed ramps as a part of the magazine well extension. Included is a magazine well extension mechanically coupled to a forearm rail system for mounting to the firearm.

Abstract: Composite materials in various shapes and sizes and in various configurations for use in ballistic armor confined in cylindrical and dome shaped enclosures; held under pressure to increase the impact absorption factor. An armor comprising an auxiliary layer disposed in front thereof at a determined distance wherein said layer comprises pre-stressed members arranged in a spacious pattern. A method is proposed for manufacturing of pre-stressed structure and armor by expanding the cavity into which ceramic materials are inserted so that pressure is applied to the ceramic materials.

Abstract: An elastomeric O-ring compressed between a laminated plastic grip panel and a pistol grip frame provides a vibration dampening structure for a pistol. The elastomeric O-rings are placed around fastener bushings on the grip frame. The grip panels are secured to the grip frame by inserting threaded fasteners through fastener holes in the grip panel into the fastener bushings. Each O-ring is received by the grip panel in a corresponding annular recess that has a depth that is less than the diameter of the O-ring. When the threaded fasteners are tightened, the elastomeric O-rings are compressed between the grip frame and the grip panel. The compressed O-rings prevent loosening of the threaded fasteners by improving the vibration dampening characteristics of the pistol and by increasing frictional pressure between the grip panel and the head of each threaded fastener.

Abstract: A bomb rack lock, as part of a bomb rack, comprising a plunger movable to engage a bomb rack linkage to be alternately secured and released and a solenoid body coupled to and operable to support the plunger. The plunger and the solenoid body are movable relative to each other and the bomb rack linkage and the solenoid body is movable between a first position and a second position. The bomb rack lock also includes a sensor to determine whether the solenoid body is in the first position. The plunger is movable to engage and disengage the bomb rack linkage with the solenoid body in the first position. In the second position, the solenoid body prevents engagement between the plunger and the bomb rack linkage.

Abstract: A paintball assembly capable of channeling air line or pipe inside of the paintball assembly using a transfer rod is disclosed. The assembly includes a main valve, an air pipe, a bolt, a hammer, and a U-shaped rod. While the main valve is configured to propel a paintball utilizing pressurized gas, the air pipe supplies and channels the pressurized gas to the main valve. The bolt guides or pushes the paintball into a firing chamber, and the hammer manages or controls the main valve for propelling the paintball upon pulling of the trigger. The U-shaped rod is used to synchronize the movement of the bolt and the hammer. In one embodiment, the U-shaped rod is configured in such a way that at least a portion of the U-shaped rod is structured around the air pipe to reduce contact with the air pipe.

Abstract: A firearm-magazine interface for replacing an existing firearm-magazine interface of many existing firearms such as assault rifles, namely AK series (AK74, AK47, etc.) provides a lock that holds open the bolt after a last round is fired from a magazine. The firearm-magazine interface also includes a single-button magazine eject. After firing the last round, a bolt-hold lock is urged upwardly in the path of the returning bolt and catches a face of the bolt, thereby locking the bolt open until the magazine is replaced with a replacement magazine, at which time a bolt-hold release paddle pulls the bolt-hold lock downwardly, releasing the bolt to chamber a first round from the replacement magazine.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductive ink bridge wire EED on either a flat or curved substrate, wherein a finely detailed bridge wire EED is printed on the substrate using a nano-particle conductive material applied with a commercially available piezoelectric drop-on-demand ink jet printer—which bridge wire is subsequently coated with a first primary explosive layer, an optional second transition explosive layer, and a third secondary explosive layer—such that upon creating a current through the bridge wire EED, the bridge wire is heated and the explosive layers detonate in turn, and in turn initiate the detonation of the device to which the detonator is attached.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method for providing a destruction or detonation chamber (1, 9 and 27) intended for the destruction of ammunition products and other explosive products with an easily replaceable internal detonation and fragmentation protection (23-25). A particular characteristic of the detonation and fragmentation protection (23-25) according to the invention is that it comprises a large number of identical segments, which can take the form of a small number of interacting and mutually complementary variants, and which are all characterized in that they are relatively easy to handle and can be delivered to the interior of the destruction chamber (1, 9 and 27), where they are fitted in place through the closeable aperture (29), which in operation of the destruction chamber is used to charge the explosive material that is to be destroyed therein.

Abstract: A landing gear for an aircraft, having mounting means fitted to the fuselage of the aircraft; at least one wheel; and at least one supporting arm having a first end portion connected to the mounting means, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and to which the wheel is suspended. The first end portion of the supporting arm has a seating portion fitted in rotary manner to a pin connected to the mounting means and extending crosswise to the supporting arm; and an electrically controlled actuator is fitted to the seating portion, and is activated selectively to rotate the supporting arm, about the pin, between a first and second operating position defining a stowed in-flight configuration and a lowered landing configuration of the landing gear respectively.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to high-volume and cost-effective methods for producing non-spherical metal particles, particularly methods for producing metal cubes having rounded edges. The metal cubes having rounded edges are useful as ballistic shot in shotshell loads for hunting, where the particle shape imparted by the disclosed process packs to a higher density than spherical shot in the same volume.

Abstract: An improved Rail Adaptor System/Rail Accessory System (RAS) which attaches to a firearm. The rail is top opening, modular, and free floats the barrel. Provided is a rigid, lightweight, strong platform for mounting firearm accessories. Heat transmission from the barrel assembly to the user is limited. The user is also protected from ventilated gases originating from the operating system. A quick detachable top rail section is provided so that the gas system may be easily accessed. This removable top section of the rail is what makes this device unique because the RAS may be installed without removing the barrel, gas system, front sight base, flash hider or the barrel nut. The herein described RAS is adaptable to a wide variety of firearms with the use of conversion parts. The top tail “returns to zero” on reinstallation allowing the remounting of various optics and electronic gun sites without the need to realign them.

Abstract: A removable, non-permanent trigger extension that does not require gunsmithing and is operable with a firearm to provide a contact surface adapted to be manipulated by a user to actuate a trigger assembly of the firearm, wherein the contact surface is disposed a location spaced from a location of the trigger and a rifle stock operable with the trigger extension and the firearm.

Abstract: An IM type steel cartridge whose base contains a central bore there through—within which bore is a steel base plug holding a primer cup, the base plug being held in place by a low melt, 220 to 250 degree F. melt eutectic solder—wherein, if the cartridge is subjected to an unforeseen thermal or kinetic event, the solder will melt, the base plug ejected, and the propellant will vent rather than explode. The solder bond between the base plug and the cartridge case within which it is held is capable of resisting the from about 72,000, to up to 90,000 psi, force generated within the firing chamber of the weapon by the ignition and firing of the cartridge.

Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus having a frame, at least one handle, a control housing, and a mounting plate wherein a plurality of firing cartridges from a multi-cartridge electric discharge weapon may mounted on the mounting plate, permitting an available multi-cartridge electric discharge weapon to be converted from a fixed or vehicle mounted position to a hand-carried position where it may be carried, aimed, and fired as a conventional weapon. Certain embodiments disclose a rail system permitting handles and accessories to be mounted thereupon and used in conjunction with the mounted electric discharge weapon. A method for converting a multi-cartridge firing electrical discharge weapon from a fixed or vehicle-mounted status to a hand-carryable status.

Abstract: Embodiments of a non-lethal delivery canister, a bomber/perpetrator threat-mitigation system, and methods of mitigating bomber and perpetrator threats are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the non-lethal delivery canister may include a shell, a plastic-fabric liner within the shell to hold the shell together, and an entrapment device within the liner. The shell may be configured to break away and disintegrate after launch and prior to target impact to help ensure non-lethality. In some embodiments, the delivery canister may include an exhaust-gas generator (EGG) to generate a high-pressure gas, and an exhaust-gas director within the liner to direct the high-pressure gas generated by the EGG into the liner cause the entrapment device to expel.

Abstract: Pistols and methods of manufacture are provided. A representative pistol includes a slide, at least part of the slide being made of plastic; wherein the pistol is a small caliber pistol or pistol for low-impulse ammunition or training pistol. A representative method for manufacturing a pistol includes: forming a slide of the pistol, with at least part of the slide being made of plastic; wherein the pistol is a small caliber pistol or pistol for low-impulse ammunition or training pistol.

Abstract: A Method of Producing a hybrid tile metal matrix composite armor is disclosed. First, dense ceramic plates are placed within the mold cavity and may rest on spacer(s) that separate the bottom surface of the ceramic plates from the base of the mold cavity to create a space therebetween. The plates are further positioned within the mold cavity to create a controlled space between any adjacent plates. A second set of spacers may be placed on the plates top surface to create a space between the mold cavity cover and the ceramic plates top surface. A plurality of ceramic plates and spacers may also be stacked into multiple layers according to the shape of the mold cavity and desired ballistic resistance. The mold cavity is next infiltrated with liquid metal under pressure forming a hybrid metal matrix composite structure with an encapsulating aluminum rich skin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a warhead (10) for attacking particularly half-hard and/or soft targets, wherein the warhead comprises a splinter-forming casing (1) and an explosive material positioned in the casing (1). The warhead (10) further has a front plate (2) having a splinter formation, into which a distance sensor (3) is integrated. An igniter (5) for the explosive material and a stabilizing strap for adjusting perpendicular flight characteristics on the way to the target are located in the rear part of the warhead (10), wherein the initiation of the igniter (5) is determined by a property of the target to be attacked, namely, the parameter of a defined height from the target.