Abstract: A new joint for use in combustible cartridge case munitions which reduces e risk of combustible cartridge case and case base and seal assembly separation during routine handling and minimizes the problems related to dechambering, comprised of a seal mated to the case base and into the exterior of the combustible cartridge case.

Abstract: A projectile for use as a range limiting type of projectile is provided. projectile is used with a selective cartridge in a smooth bore gun. This projectile has a body member and a connecting tail cone, which provides projectile roll and which provides velocity decay and high drag to limit projectile range. The tail cone has a conical outer surface which has a plurality of canted grooves.

Abstract: A power control arrangement for a Stirling engine includes a sleeve mounted in each cylinder for axial movement and a port in the sleeve leading to a dead space. The port is covered by the piston at a position that is determined by the piston position and the axial adjustment of the sleeve. The compression phase of the Stirling cycle for that piston begins when the port is covered, so the position of the sleeve is used to set the Stirling engine power level.

Abstract: A four piston hydraulic pump driven by a four cylinder free-piston Stirling engine has four stepped pistons operating out of phase in pairs. The hydraulic fluid pumped between the hydraulic cylinder can be tapped for hydraulic power. The stepped pistons give the option of utilizing low flow/high pressure, or high flow/low pressure. The non-utilized flow ensures that the timing between pistons will always remain correct. Since the arrangement is symmetrical, it remains balanced.

Abstract: A gas bearing for the axially reciprocating displacer and power piston members in a free piston Stirling engine includes a bearing sleeve having a pair of interconnected annular pressure plenums formed by ribs on the outer surface of the sleeve which form a seal with the inner walls of a cylinder in which the sleeve is seated. The outer side of the raised ribs provide a second set of interconnecting drain plenums. A source of a high pressure gas, pressurized internally by the engine itself, is connected to the pressure plenum which communicates with the axially reciprocating members through a multitude of narrow orifices. The bearing gas is drained into the second or drained plenum through a large number of larger sized orifices.

Abstract: A free piston Stirling engine having a hermetically sealed vessel enclosing a working space which can be charged with a working gas under pressure. A displacer, mounted in the working space at the cold end by a spring diaphragm member, to circulate the working gas through a heater, a regenerator, and a cooler to create a pressure wave in the working gas which acts against a power piston to produce output power. The spring diaphragm member provides an effective decrease in the area of the cold end of the displacer which causes the thermodynamic system to provide motive power for maintaining the oscillation of the displacer, supports and centers the displacer in the working space, and functions as a spring to return the displacer towards its center position when it is displaced toward the cold or hot end.

Abstract: A reciprocating-to-rotating motion conversion and power control device for a Stirling engine includes a hub mounted on an offset portion of the output shaft for rotation relative to the shaft and for sliding motion therealong which causes the hub to tilt relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft. This changes the angle of inclination of the hub relative to the shaft axis and changes the axial stroke of a set of arms connected to the hub and nutating therewith. A hydraulic actuating mechanism is connected to the hub for moving its axial position along the shaft. A balancing wheel is linked to the hub and changes its angle of inclination as the angle of inclination of the hub changes to maintain the mechanism in perfect balance throughout its range of motion.

Abstract: A free-piston Stirling engine compressor includes a hermetic vessel enclosing a working space in which a displacer reciprocates for displacing working gas through a heater, regenerator and a cooler so as to create a pressure wave. The pressure wave acts on an engine diaphragm to displace fluid in an adjacent hydraulic chamber to drive a power piston on a power stroke. The power piston acts in the hydraulic chamber against an adjacent compressor diaphragm to compress a gas in a compression space and expell the compressed gas through an exhaust valve. A control system is provided for adjusting the mean pressure in the engine working space to maintain a predetermined proportional relationship between the mean pressure in the compression space and the engine working space.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel combustor for a Stirling engine includes a shell mounted on the engine, and air inlet and exhaust ports formed in the shell. An annular cylindrical recuperator communicates with the inlet and exhaust ports for preheating the combustion air with the heat from the exhaust. An annular burner surrounds the dome shaped engine heater head for mixing gaseous fuel with the air and burning it at the outer peripheral edge of the heater head. The combustion products converge upwardly in a narrow space between a ceramic partition and the heater head dome so that the heat flux is constant. The combustion products exhaust through a axial hole in the center of the ceramic partition and travel back outward over the top of the partition to the annular recuperator.

Abstract: A free-piston Stirling engine usable as a heat pump has a closed vessel filled with helium working gas which is heated at the bottom end and cooled at the top end. The vessel contains a displacer supported for axial reciprocal oscillation on a gas spring post mounted on the vessel. The displacer shuttles the working gas from end to end in the vessel, alternately heating and cooling the gas. The vessel is sealed with a flexible diaphragm which flexes in response to the pressure wave generated in the vessel as the working gas is alternately heated and cooled. When the diaphragm flexes, it displaces hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber and drives a power piston for driving a linear alternator and a gas compressor. A gas spring operating on a second hydraulic cylinder on the other side of the power piston stores part of the energy of the piston stroke and returns it for the return stroke.

Abstract: A free-piston Stirling engine usable as a heat pump has a closed vessel filled with helium working gas which is heated at the bottom end and cooled at the top end. The vessel contains a displacer supported for axial reciprocal oscillation on a gas spring post mounted on the vessel. The displacer shuttles the working gas from end to end in the vessel, alternately heating and cooling the gas. The vessel is sealed with a flexible diaphragm which flexes in response to the pressure wave generated in the vessel as the working gas is alternately heated and cooled. When the diaphragm flexes, it displaces hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber and drives a power piston for driving a linear alternator and a gas compressor. A gas spring operating on a second hydraulic cylinder on the other side of the power piston stores part of the energy of the piston stroke and returns it for the return stroke.

Abstract: A fuze device to self-destruct a spinning projectile when the primary fuz system, such as mechanical time fuze or point detonating fuze, fails to function. The fuze utilizes separate locking devices which are each responsive to acceleration environments that a projectile experiences in a normal launch and flight. A setback pin, double resiliently mounted detents, spin detent, armed indicator, shutter, rotor, plunger, plunger lock and sac assembly containing silicone grease pressed on by blades of the rotor combine in a mechanically complementary design which insures that this self-destruct fuze may not be assembled armed in a projectile but will fire a projectile in which it is assembled in response to terminal deceleration of the projectile.