Abstract: A firearm has a frame, a magazine fitted in the frame and holding a plurality of cartridges including a top cartridge, a slide displaceable longitudinally on the frame above the magazine and its top cartridge along a longitudinal slide axis between a front position and a rear position, and a barrel centered on a barrel axis, displaceable longitudinally on the frame between respective front and rear positions, and having a rear end formed with a rearwardly open cartridge-receiving firing chamber. Pivot structure engaged between the barrel and the frame pivots the barrel on the frame between a firing position with the barrel axis substantially parallel to the slide axis and with the firing chamber transversely offset above the top cartridge and a loading position with the barrel axis forming an acute angle with the slide axis and with the firing chamber aligned longitudinally with and open downwardly toward the top cartridge.

Abstract: A firearm cartridge with a pre-pressurizing charge and a main propellant charge. The pre-pressurizing charge is located adjacent the rear end of the projectile. The pre-pressurizing charge can burn and exert pressure on the main propellant charge without igniting the main propellant charge.

Abstract: In a two-stage railgun accelerating apparatus, a flying object is initially accelerated by acceleration gas produced by a gas gun. The initially accelerated flying object is led through an introducing pipe to an inlet of a railgun section of the two-stage railgun accelerating apparatus. A position and a velocity of the flying object are detected by a position detector and a velocity detector provided in the introducing pipe. According to the results of detection, both a voltage is applied to the railgun section and the acceleration gas is irradiated just behind the flying object with a laser beam, such that a dielectric breakdown of the gas is effected to generate plasma of good quality for accelerating the flying object.

Abstract: An adapter for use in an SKS type carbine to permit attachment and detachment of a standard box magazine. The adapter includes a forward latch projection which engages the fixed attachment site of the carbine, and a rear projection, the side edges of which seat on an internal shoulder of the stock of the carbine. The rear projection also includes a cutout portion configured to engage a front portion of the top of the box magazine.

Abstract: A device for loading and unloading cartridges into a magazine used in semi-automatic firearms. More particularly, the improved device can universally unload, easily and quickly, all currently manufactured foreign and domestic firearm magazines. The device also universally loads all currently manufactured foreign and domestic pistol magazines.

Abstract: An electro-thermal gatling gun (12) includes a plurality of gun barrels (46) and a gun rotor (10) defining a plurality of channels (30). Each channel (30) guides a breechblock (32) between a rear position (50) and a breech position (52). Each said guide channel (30) is aligned with and rotatably fixed to one of the plurality of gun barrels (46). A cam guide (49) moves the breechblocks (32) reciprocally and in series from the rear position (50) to the breech position (52) as the gun rotor (10) rotates. An electro-thermal round (60) includes a projectile (62) and a casing (64) and is electrically connected to one of the breechblocks (32) when the breechblock (32) is in the breech position (52).

Abstract: In a device and method for predicting a future muzzle velocity of an indirect fire weapon 3, 7 means 9, 11 responsive to a measurement of muzzle velocity are adapted to implement an adaptive empirical prediction method to predict the future muzzle velocity. The invention also relates to an aiming system and method for an indirect-fire weapon 3, 7. The system comprises a muzzle velocity measuring device 5, and predictor means 9, 11 responsive to an output of the muzzle velocity measuring device 5 for determining a new elevation setting from the weapon. Preferably, the predictor means utilizes an adaptive empirical prediction method such as a Kalman Filter or neural network.

Abstract: A weapon stabilization system for an unbalanced gun tube pivotally mounted on a tank turret or other movable platform is disclosed. The system includes a muzzle position controller which accounts for flexion of the gun tube and which comprises a muzzle reference sensor and a muzzle deflection feedback circuit. The muzzle reference sensor provides a signal indicative of deflections of the gun tube. The muzzle deflection feedback circuit is responsive to this signal to adjust the position of the gun tube in a manner that accounts for the deflections of the gun tube. The gun tube is positioned using a hydraulic actuator with pressure feedback to the stabilization system. The system includes a feedforward controller to compensate for the positive pressure feedback due to dynamic external accelerations acting on the unbalanced gun tube.

Abstract: A reactive armor box for protecting armor surfaces comprising a base for achment to the armor surfaces, a plurality of walls extending from the base at an angle to provide an enclosed space, a plurality of explosive cassettes disposed within the enclosed space and supported and contained within the walls, and a top, attached to the walls to contain the cassettes in the enclosed space, which has radar absorbing characteristics for absorbing radio waves of the radar to avoid detection of the protected armor surface and to protect the armor surface from projectiles utilizing radio frequency guidance seekers. The top and the entire structure of the box on the invention may be formed of a light weight composite material which has the radar absorbing characteristics or the box may be formed of conventional metals with only the top surface of the box being formed of the radar absorbing materials.

Abstract: A gun stock adapted for absorbing recoil energy in a shoulder firearm which includes a stock butt portion and a stock grip portion interconnected by at least one compressible strut having an adjustable length cylinder where one end thereof is secured to the stock butt portion. A tubular shaft is telescopically disposed within the cylinder with its free end attached to the stock grip. A plug is disposed within the cylinder carrying a rod coaxial with the cylinder whose free end is disposed within the tubular shaft. A stack of disc shaped springs are coaxially positioned within the tubular shaft and are circumscribed around the rod, the stack being between the stock grip and the plug and adapted to be compressed upon movement of the shaft into the cylinder upon the firing of the gun.

Abstract: A combustion chamber 42 for an axial flow rotary machine 10 is disclosed. Various construction details are developed for controlling the production of emissions such as carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen. In one embodiment, the combustion chamber has a pilot zone 108 which extends axially and a main zone 106 axially adjacent to the pilot zone which has a divergent outer wall having a divergent end region 178 through which locally swirling gases are injected into swirling gases from the pilot zone 108.

Abstract: A flip-up leveling device is designed to be easily attached to an existing hand-held firearm. The purpose of the device is to eliminate sideways tilting or canting of the firearm during aiming. The device can be attached directly to the firearm or to a telescopic sight which is mounted to the firearm. A bubble spirit level is mounted on a pivoted carrying arm so it can be pivoted upward to an easily visible use position or downwardly to a protected storage and transport position. The device does not interfere with the field of view of the existing sight system it supplements. The device does not require any modification of the existing sight system.

Abstract: A firearm with gas operated recharge mechanism, which includes a barrel with internal bore, a slide which is movable with respect to the barrel and which is adapted to operate the components of the firearm as to recharge it. The firearm further includes a cylinder whose interior is connected with the internal bore of the barrel as to receive pressurized gases upon firing and a piston installed in the cylinder and adapted to move rearwardly under the gas pressure as to displace the slide. A return compression spring is associated with the slide. A gas chamber has an inlet and an outlet, the inlet communicating through gas duct with the internal bore of the barrel and the outlet communicating through gas duct with the interior of the cylinder as to connect them.

Abstract: The invention provides a three layer liner for armor to reduce spall and the spall angle. The liner provides a high impedance.The liner is formed by layers of silastic rubber with tungsten powder. Successive layers have a decreasing concentration of tungsten powder, causing the density of the successive layers to decrease. This decreasing density causes the high impedance of the liner. The liner is made by casting a layer of the silastic rubber with the tungsten powder mixed in with a second layer of silastic rubber with a lower density of tungsten powder. The material is then pressed into a sheet. One side of the sheet is wet with silastic rubber and merged with a fabric layer.

Abstract: A two-piece safety trigger for a handgun or pistol fabricated from high impact polymer is provided in which a lower portion comprising approximately the entire lower half of the trigger face is pivotable relative to the upper portion. The lower trigger portion includes a rearwardly extending latch portion which, when the lower trigger portion is in its forward position, serves to engage the frame of the gun to prevent firing movement of the trigger in the event the gun is dropped or otherwise impacted. The lower trigger portion is biased to its forward position by a flexible spring finger disposed within the upper portion and is adapted to be overcome when the user squeezes the trigger in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A double action pistol with a decocking mechanism as known per se, having an improved trigger mechanism by which the force that has to be exerted for firing the pistol from a decocked state is significantly smaller than with state of the art double action pistols.

Abstract: A receptacle for receiving expended brass casing ejected from a weapon having an ejection port as the weapon is discharged. The invention comprises a hollow receptacle which is appended to the weapon with a shell casing receiving port in communication with the ejection port of the weapon for receiving shell casings ejected therefrom. The invention includes readily releaseable attaching means to permit easy emptying of the receptacle.

Abstract: A muffler for a large caliber gun having a gun tube includes a transition section fitted around the gun tube and engaging the gun tube for preventing the escape of residual combustion gases caused by a firing of the gun. Attached to the transition section is at least one pressure vessel which defines a pressure chamber for containing residual combustion gases and attenuating pressure waves. A vent stack is coupled to the pressure chamber at a port of the pressure chambers and an exhaust blower is disposed in the vent stack for removing residual combustion gases from the pressure chamber between firings. A valve, disposed in the vent stack between the pressure chamber and the exhaust blower, closes during firings of the gun and opens between firings for permitting the exhaust blower to remove residual combustion gases from the pressure chamber. At least one baffle and orifice assembly in the pressure chamber serves to attenuate pressure waves.

Abstract: Ammunition for an electronically activated simulated firearm includes a combustible powder contained in a plastic casing having electrically conductive pins which mount in a barrel portion of the firearm. The powder charge is less than 2 grains of an oxidizer, a fuel, and a color enhancer to provide the smoke and flash of a real weapon without producing any significant noise or creating danger.

Abstract: A protective shield, comprising a frame. The frame having a frame top, a frame bottom, frame sides, and frame upper sides between the frame sides and frame top. The shield further having a front panel and a back panel, each made from a bullet-proof plastic fabric such as KEVLAR. The shield has a viewing window, made of a transparent bullet-proof material, such as LEXAN. A shield inner channel is mounted between the front panel and back panel. A first extension is mounted within the shield inner channel that slidably extends from the shield bottom for use, and retracts for storage.