Abstract: A versatile carrier projectile for receiving and ejecting differently-sized ejectable payloads such as guided missiles and incendiary bombs is described. The payloads are disposed in successive, longitudinally spaced relation within a central cylindrical body of the projectile, with successive ones of the payloads being separated by a spacer disc. Each spacer disc carries an outwardly biased blocking rod. The outer end of each blocking rod terminates in engagement with a sawtooth-shaped groove on the inner periphery of the cylindrical body, so that the forward propulsion of the successive payloads through the cylindrical body is accomplished under a steady spring load of the blocking member on the inner wall of the cylindrical body. The front and rear portions of the cylindrical body are respectively secured to the shell head and the ignition charge container by shear pins.

Abstract: The specification discloses an optical technique for retrieving images of geometric shapes from a cluttered background in a photographic record by means of amplitude and phase filters configured according to the particular shape sought to be retrieved. A Fourier transform of the record is filtered with filters of both types and light representing the desired shape, if present, is brought to a focus in an image plane.

Abstract: The underwater charge launcher linearly ejects a small, water-propelled explosive charge into the water from the open end of an ejection barrel trailed in the water behind a seismic exploration vessel. The charge is detonated, after a one to two-second delay, when a percussion-ignitable delay cap in the end of the charge impacts a firing member positioned adjacent the open end of the ejection barrel. The firing member includes a firing pin mounted on a rotatable, spring-biased striker plate having a U-shaped rim. When a charge is ejected from the barrel, the primer cap impacts the firing pin. The kinetic force of the ejected charge acting against the firing pin overcomes the moment of inertia of the striker plate, causing it to rotate the firing pin out of the path of the charge. The charge is supported and guided by the unobstructed portion of the U-shaped rim of the striker, as the charge is ejected out of the launcher. After a preset delay, the charge detonates when it is a safe distance from the launcher.

Abstract: A system for removing impurities from the surfaces of liquid dip seals and or wetting the metal surfaces of liquid dip seals in nuclear components. The system comprises an ultrasonic transducer that transmits ultrasonic vibrations along an ultrasonic probe to the metal and liquid surfaces of the dip seal thereby loosening and removing those impurities.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for severing tubular members whereby one or more shaped charges are positioned adjacent the interior walls of the tubular members and detonated to thereby sever the tubular members. The apparatus of the invention is adapted to be placed within a tubular member and includes a remotely extendible framework having remotely detonatable shaped charges attached thereto. The apparatus is of a size such that when the framework is not extended, the apparatus passes through constrictions contained within the tubular members, and when extended, the framework is positioned transversely to the axis of the tubular member with the shaped charges positioned adjacent the interior walls thereof.

Abstract: A searchlight apparatus which may be mounted on an aircraft, such as a helicopter. The exemplary apparatus comprises a tubular post which may be mounted in the craft for rotation about its axis. A control rod may pass through the post, extending between a bracket which is hinged to the post at the outer end and a handle at the inner end of the post. This control linkage system allows an operator in a helicopter to aim the lamps on a one-to-one ratio merely by aiming the handle.

Abstract: A trenching charge case having an upper casing part and lower casing part separately injection moulded from an electrically conductive plastics material, and formed with interengaging screw-threads to join the parts together with the cone of the case clamped between them, each of the parts of the casing being nestable with other like parts and the lower casing part comprising a depending wall to stand off the base of the cone from the surface to be excavated.

Abstract: A two-cylinder, two-cycle engine for an outboard motor includes a pull-rope starter unit and an alternator driven, capacitor discharge ignition system. The alternator includes an annular permanent magnet secured within a flywheel skirt and includes a pair of circumferential opposite poles with diametrical spaced neutral areas. A stator assembly is mounted within the annular magnet and includes a semicircular core with a charging coil at each end. The coils are connected to charge a capacitor unit which is discharged through a control rectifier. A trigger coil is connected to the gate of the rectifier and is mounted in coplanar relation between the chargingcoils. The trigger coil is wound on a pole aligned with and spaced from the stator core with the coil and pole rotatably mounted by a housing having an integral cam for positioning a throttle lever. The housing rotates through a selected segment of the core.

Abstract: Detonation of an acceptor charge by a donor charge across an intervening where the two charges are not axially aligned is achieved by shaping the respective charges to control the direction of the fragments of the donor charge and their impact pattern upon the acceptor charge.

Abstract: A flying body, rotating about its rolling axis, supplies reference signals, in accordance with its angular position, to a control device which produces Cartesian horizontal and vertical control signals. The reference signals effect production of a sawtooth voltage in which each pulse corresponds to a 360.degree. rotation of the flying body. Each voltage pulse produces at least three function potentials spaced from each other by 90.degree., and these function potentials are individually compared with the Cartesian control signals to produce respective pulse width modulating output potentials. These latter are combined to produce a control signal potential which is transmitted to the flying body and which is phase rigid with respect to the rolling position thereof and contains control information for a single control force producing device, on the flying body, with the control information being separate for the vertical and horizontal signal directions and in a timed sequence.

Abstract: 1. A cast, combustible composition comprising: granular ammonium nitrate; catalytic amounts of a powdered combustion catalyst intimately mixed with the ammonium nitrate, said catalyst being selected from the group consisting of zirconium hydride, cobalt, nickel, alloys of cobalt, nickel, and zirconium, and the oxides of cobalt and nickel; and an elastic, combustible, crosslinked, resinous fuel consisting of a copolymer which is preponderantly methyl acrylate in sufficient amount to fill the voids between the granules of ammonium nitrate and catalyst.

Abstract: A warhead with a disintegrating jacket to house several projectiles, in picular splinter projectiles. The projectiles are each equipped with an ignition and backfiring system and fall to earth individually after disintegration of the warhead jacket. They are then fired upwards by means of the backfiring charge ignited by the ignition system, the charge explosive then being detonated. The ignition system of each projectile consists of a time-delay fuze and an impact fuze. The time-delay fuze is initiated when the projectile impacts with relatively soft ground and ignites the backfiring charge after adjusted times differing at least partly for the individual projectiles. The impact fuze, however, effects an immediate ignition of the backfiring charge when the projectile strikes relatively hard ground.

Abstract: An auxiliary aerodynamic or hydrodynamic control assembly is provided for a vehicle, such as a guided missile, travelling in a fluid medium, which assembly comprises a number of, say three, control surfaces each carried at the inner end of an arm that is mounted at its outer end on a pivot situated at or near the periphery of a housing of circular cross section, the arm pivots being spaced equidistantly around said periphery. In its neutral or undeflected position each arm extends radially inward from the respective pivot and the control surface it carries, which is generally in the form of a circular arc centered on the pivot, lies retracted wholly within the housing. Angular movement of each arm about its pivot in one direction or the other causes one or the other half of the respective control surface to project from the housing. Different combinations of movement of the several control surfaces give rise to moments in roll, pitch or yaw.

Abstract: A warhead for a device such as a missile, includes a plurality of explosive ody or explosive charge assemblies arranged one behind the other in an axial direction and each assembly comprises a plurality of adjacent circumferentially arranged portions or segments which are arranged around one or more gas producing ejection cartridges. The warhead includes an outer casing or jacket which has a plurality of longitudinally extending breaking means, which are distributed around the circumference preferably to overlie the boundary lines between two adjacent charge portions of each assembly. The gas producing ejection cartridges are ignited by ignition means, for example, such as a time igniter in the head or nose of the warhead.

Abstract: A hydraulic speed control controls the fuel rate to an internal combustion engine. A fluid pump pumping in proportion to engine speed provides fluid to a piston in a cylinder. The position of the piston in the cylinder is attaind by a balance between the incoming fluid from the pump and the fluid flow from two outlets. Resistance to flow from one of the outlets is controlled by an accelerator valve. The position of the piston is coupled to the fuel flow controller for the engine. An economizer retards the motion of the piston toward high fuel flow rates and aids the motion of the piston toward low fuel flow rates.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel handling grapple carriage having a bearing with a lubricant reservoir that is capable of being refilled when the bearing and reservoir are submerged in a lubricant pool. The lubricant reservoir supplies lubricant to the bearing while the bearing allows a small amount of lubricant to leak passed appropriately placed seals creating a positive out flow of lubricant thereby preventing foreign material from entering the bearing.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing the annulus defined between a substantially cylindrical rotatable first riser assembly and plug combination disposed in a substantially cylindrical second riser assembly and plug combination of a nuclear reactor system. The apparatus comprises a flexible member disposed between the first and second riser components and attached to a metal member which is attached to an actuating mechanism. When the actuating mechanism is not actuated, the flexible member does not contact the riser components thus allowing the free rotation of the riser components. When desired, the actuating mechanism causes the flexible member to contact the first and second riser components in a manner to block the annulus defined between the riser components, thereby sealing the annulus between the riser components.

Abstract: A ballistic missile guidance apparatus for compensating the trajectory of a allistic missile just prior to thrust termination by comparing the nominal trajectory with the actual flight parameters encountered during the powered stage of the flight and introducing compensating corrections to provide for an accurate ballistic flight. The comparison is made by storing the nominal kinematic parameters and comparing thereto the actual flight parameters obtained from the inertial guidance system.

Abstract: A pressure gas reservoir for supplying pressure gas to control mechanisms of a projectile which is to be discharged from a gun tube by means of a propellant charge comprises a projectile body which has a reservoir therein with a wall portion which is adapted to be exposed to the pressure gases of the propellant charge and includes check valve means in the wall portion permitting the inflow of the pressure gases into the reservoir during firing for the storage therein, and for the subsequent use in operating the control mechanism.

Abstract: Presence of a substance in a gaseous medium is detected by introducing a controlled quantity of the gaseous medium into a variable volume chamber including a cylinder having a hemispherical end wall with optically polished internal surface, and adiabatically compressing the gas by means of a piston reciprocable with the cylinder. The face of the piston opposite the hemispherical end wall of the cylinder is also of hemispherical contour. Upon adiabatic compression of the gas the temperature thereof increases to produce spectral emissions from the gaseous constituents, modulated in accordance with the recurrent variation of volume of the chamber. A detector is provided to sense any emissions occurring within the chamber at the wavelength of the substance in question.