Abstract: A gasifier for converting a carbonaceous feedstock to produce syngas comprising a cone section and a throat section; wherein the throat section comprises a throat refractory material having an inside surface and a substantially cylindrical cooling element having an inner face and an outer face in a radial direction, and a top face and a bottom face in the vertical direction, wherein the inner, outer, top, and bottom faces define a cooling cavity; and wherein the cooling element is in thermal contact with the throat refractory material on the inner face, the top face, and the outer face.

Abstract: A projectile, that can be tracked by optical means, is fitted with a special tracer incorporated into the projectile's trailing edge. The rearward facing special tracer is incorporated into a metal disk which is crimped to the projectile's metal jacket. The special tracer includes micro-prismatic features that reflect light at the incidence angle. Alternatively, the disk incorporates a fluorescent dye that is responsive to a laser emission. External emitted radiation is reflected or re-emitted from the trailing edge of the projectile, allowing for an external electro-optic tracking device to identify the position of the projectile in flight.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.

Abstract: A projectile, that can be tracked by optical means, is fitted with a special tracer incorporated into the projectile's trailing edge. The rearward facing special tracer is incorporated into a metal disk which is crimped to the projectile's metal jacket. The special tracer includes micro-prismatic features that reflect light at the incidence angle. Alternatively, the disk incorporates a fluorescent dye that is responsive to a laser emission. External emitted radiation is reflected or re-emitted from the trailing edge of the projectile, allowing for an external electro-optic tracking device to identify the position of the projectile in flight.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.

Abstract: A projectile, that can be tracked by optical means, is fitted with a special tracer incorporated into the projectile's trailing edge. The rearward facing special tracer is incorporated into a metal disk which is crimped to the projectile's metal jacket. The special tracer includes micro-prismatic features that reflect light at the incidence angle. Alternatively, the disk incorporates a fluorescent dye that is responsive to a laser emission. External emitted radiation is reflected or re-emitted from the trailing edge of the projectile, allowing for an external electro-optic tracking device to identify the position of the projectile in flight.

Abstract: A system for tracking projectiles in flight and correcting the aim of a firearm or cannon. The system allows for the observation and recording of the ballistic path of projectiles which are coated with a fluorescent die or affixed with retro-reflectors. Laser emitted radiation, preferably strobed, forms a cone of light that intersects with ballistic path of the projectile. It is possible to measure the drift and drop of an illuminated projectile at time or distance intervals. Marksman, snipers or spotters may use the system to adjust the placement of subsequent shots. An automated system may use optical detectors to measure the reflected light beam and may be coupled with a regressive algorithm to produce improved fire control solutions. Such automated systems use the measured projectiles to calculate the influence of wind on the projectile and allow for the measurement and registration of other occasion to occasion errors.

Abstract: A system for correcting the aim of a weapon which is operative to launch a projectile from a barrel on a ballistic path toward a target. A rear surface of the projectile is coated with a fluorescent dye that re-emits radiation when excited by laser radiation. The system includes a source of laser radiation (strobe) pulses that form a cone of light intersecting the ballistic path of the projectile. The strobe pulses are emitted at predetermined times (T1, T2, T3, . . . Tn) following firing of the projectile (at time T0). An optical detector receives the radiation re-emitted by a the fluorescent dye at the rear of the projectile at times (T1z, T2z, T3z, . . . Tnz) producing measurable location signals allowing the system to measure the vertical and lateral positions of the projectile at said times, where “z” is a re-emission delay and T1z, T2z, T3z, . . . Tnz are the respective times T1, T2, T3, . . . Tn each delayed by amount z.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.

Abstract: A system for correcting the aim of a weapon which is operative to launch a projectile from a barrel on a ballistic path toward a target. A rear surface of the projectile is coated with a fluorescent dye that re-emits radiation when excited by laser radiation. The system includes a source of laser radiation (strobe) pulses that form a cone of light intersecting the ballistic path of the projectile. The strobe pulses are emitted at predetermined times (T1, T2, T3, . . . Tn) following firing of the projectile (at time T0). An optical detector receives the radiation re-emitted by a the fluorescent dye at the rear of the projectile at times (T1z, T2z, T3z, . . . Tnz) producing measurable location signals allowing the system to measure the vertical and lateral positions of the projectile at said times, where “z” is a re-emission delay and T1z, T2z, T3z, . . . Tnz are the respective times T1, T2, T3, . . . Tn each delayed by amount z.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.

Abstract: A training ammunition cartridge comprises a projectile and a cartridge case with a pyrotechnic propellant. The projectile has a projectile body with at least one compartment therein forming a void and containing a material that transitions from a solid to a liquid after set-back and after exiting from a barrel of a gun. The void is of such configuration as to cause the liquid material therein to induce forces and moments that, after a period of stable ballistic flight, destabilize the projectile and shorten its flight. Alternatively, the projectile void contains a solid mass that is released to shift its position after set-back and after the projectile exits from the barrel of the gun, wherein the void is of such configuration as to cause the mass, upon shifting, to induce forces and moments that, after a period of stable ballistic flight, destabilize the projectile and shorten its flight.

Abstract: Kits or sub-systems that include sensors to measure a projectile's condition at muzzle exit. The kits or sub-systems are coupled to ballistic calculators or fire control systems that calculate aiming and programming solutions to improve shot placement, reduced dispersion and improve terminal performance. Where airburst munitions are used, the projectile is programmed when reaching a programming station beyond the barrel and the projectile is programmed with a solution that adjusts the burst location based on the measured muzzle velocity. Sub-systems, processes and sub-routines optimize “post-shot” programming using certain non-linear methods that are incorporated into fire control systems and ballistic calculators. These non-linear sub-routines are useful in establishing the optimum terminal effect of such airburst projectiles. The sub-systems are used separately or are incorporated into the weapons, to reduce dispersion and improve the terminal effects of the projectiles.

Abstract: A system for tracking projectiles in flight and correcting the aim of a firearm or cannon. The system allows for the observation and recording of the ballistic path of projectiles which are coated with a fluorescent die or affixed with retro-reflectors. Laser emitted radiation, preferably strobed, forms a cone of light that intersects with ballistic path of the projectile. It is possible to measure the drift and drop of an illuminated projectile at time or distance intervals. Marksman, snipers or spotters may use the system to adjust the placement of subsequent shots. An automated system may use optical detectors to measure the reflected light beam and may be coupled with a regressive algorithm to produce improved fire control solutions. Such automated systems use the measured projectiles to calculate the influence of wind on the projectile and allow for the measurement and registration of other occasion to occasion errors.

Abstract: A projectile, that can be tracked optically, which is coated with a fluorescent die or affixed with rearward facing retro-reflectors. Laser emitted radiation forms a cone of light that intersects and illuminates the ballistic path of the projectile. It is possible to manual measurement techniques, spotters or automated tracking of the illuminated projectile. The optically tracked projectile allows for the adjustment subsequent shots using a manual or automated optical tracking.

Abstract: A projectile, that can be tracked by optical means, is fitted with a special tracer incorporated into the projectile's trailing edge. The rearward facing special tracer is incorporated into a metal disk which is crimped to the projectile's metal jacket. The special tracer includes micro-prismatic features that reflect light at the incidence angle. Alternatively, the disk incorporates a fluorescent dye that is responsive to a laser emission. External emitted radiation is reflected or re-emitted from the trailing edge of the projectile, allowing for an external electro-optic tracking device to identify the position of the projectile in flight.

Abstract: Kits or sub-systems that include sensors to measure a projectile's condition at muzzle exit. The kits or sub-systems are coupled to ballistic calculators or fire control systems that calculate aiming and programming solutions to improve shot placement, reduced dispersion and improve terminal performance. Where airburst munitions are used, the projectile is programmed when reaching a programming station beyond the barrel and the projectile is programmed with a solution that adjusts the burst location based on the measured muzzle velocity. Sub-systems, processes and sub-routines optimize “post-shot” programming using certain non-linear methods that are incorporated into fire control systems and ballistic calculators. These non-linear sub-routines are useful in establishing the optimum terminal effect of such airburst projectiles. The sub-systems are used separately or are incorporated into the weapons, to reduce dispersion and improve the terminal effects of the projectiles.