Abstract: The invention relates to an improved watercraft cover, as well as its method of use. In some embodiments, the watercraft cover's support structure is normally irreversibly integrated into or retained by a sheet of the watercraft cover, and the support structure and the sheet are collapsible together for portability without separating the support structure and sheet. The invention also provides for improved retention systems useful for retaining the watercraft cover on the watercraft. Watercraft covers in accordance with the present invention are particularly useful for providing improved portability while preventing water collection.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved watercraft cover, as well as its method of use. In some embodiments, the watercraft cover's support structure is normally irreversibly integrated into or retained by a sheet of the watercraft cover, and the support structure and the sheet are collapsible together for portability without separating the support structure and sheet. The invention also provides for improved retention systems useful for retaining the watercraft cover on the watercraft. Watercraft covers in accordance with the present invention are particularly useful for providing improved portability while preventing water collection.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved watercraft cover, as well as its method of use. In some embodiments, the watercraft cover's support structure is normally irreversibly integrated into or retained by a sheet of the watercraft cover, and the support structure and the sheet are collapsible together for portability without separating the support structure and sheet. The invention also provides for improved retention systems useful for retaining the watercraft cover on the watercraft. Watercraft covers in accordance with the present invention are particularly useful for providing improved portability while preventing water collection.

Abstract: A vacuum debulking table for fiber reinforced thermoplastic prepreg includes a base, a base table mounted to the base, and a platen mounted to the base table. The platen has a frame and the base table includes a vacuum aperture located within the frame. A vacuum pump is connected to the vacuum aperture. The platen includes a heat generator. The table further includes tooling conforming to the frame and a kit to be debulked. A pair of opposing pressurized cylinders is coupled to the base at a first end. A top cover is mounted to the base and attached at a second end of the opposing pressurized cylinders. The top cover includes a flexible bladder. An insulator is mounted to the base table surrounding the platen. An insulation cover blanket is configured to be drawn between the insulator and top cover. An activation switch activates a programmable controller connected to the pressurized actuator control, the heat control and the vacuum control.

Abstract: Coating composite material sabot parts for reducing depleted uranium corrosion and sealing the surface of a machined composite sabot commences with cleaning the composite material sabot parts. Rinsing the composite material sabot parts, drying the machined composite sabot, and wiping the composite material sabot parts with a solvent follows cleaning. A moisture resistant insulator film is applied on the composite material sabot parts. Excess material is abrasively removed and additional coats are applied. The parts are wiped with a solvent between coats.

Abstract: A compression mold apparatus for compressing a segment has a base having an elongated and substantially semi-circular mold cavity and an end plate including a blade mounted thereon. The mold cavity has a top opening. A ram is aligned with the top opening. The ram includes two fixed opposing planar flank surfaces. The two fixed opposing planar flank surfaces are nominally centrally separated by a ram groove for mating with the blade while allowing linear movement within the mold cavity. A ram press is connected to the ram for translating the ram linearly along the blade within the mold cavity. A plurality of cartridge heaters is mounted in the base and arranged around the mold cavity for heating the segment.

Abstract: A welding method controls the welding temperature, welding cycle time, and welding pressure for fabrication of composite structural parts. A welding unit welds multiple plies of thermoplastic prepreg into welded multi-ply assemblies by concentrating welds along the thermoplastic prepreg plies at localized and strategic positions. Two platens weld a plurality of the multi-ply assemblies into a layup using a plurality of heated pins. The heated pins are hollow to reduce surface heating during welding and are non-uniformly shaped to allow indexing of the layup. After the layup is cut into a plurality of thermoplastic prepreg segments along a layup pattern, the thermoplastic prepreg segments are indexed according to the weld marks impressed by the non-uniformly shaped heated pins. The thermoplastic prepreg segments are formed into kits or wedges by stacking smaller thermoplastic prepreg segments on top of larger thermoplastic prepreg segments.

Abstract: A propellant load arrangement for a large caliber ammunition cartridge case accommodating a ballistic projectile includes a plurality of relatively flat shaped segments of propellant assembled face to face in an ordered arrangement. The faces of the segments of the arrangement are optionally parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge case and essentially occupy the entire available propellant volume of the case. The outer peripheral geometry of each segment of the ordered arrangement is shaped to match the corresponding cartridge casing interior geometry and each segment of the ordered arrangement also has a shaped central interior recess opening as required of a geometry matching the corresponding geometry of any interfering internal cartridge part and any projectile geometry present. Relatively cool-burning segments can be combined with relatively hot-burning segments in stratified arrangements to provide a cooler boundary layer and reduce tube erosion.