Abstract: A feeler gage including a pin member having a first end and an opposing end with a gage connected to the opposing end of the pin member. The gage has a first end connected to the pin and a free end projecting past a peripheral dimension of the pin. An indicator is formed on the first end of the pin member in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the gage for determining a position of the gage upon rotation of the pin member. The gage is of a predetermined thickness and is aligned with the indicator formed at the first end of the pin member. Rotation of the pin member correspondingly rotates the gage of the pin member. If the gage rotates freely, then a gap is determined to be present in the area where the gage is rotated through. If the gage does not rotate freely, then no gap exists.

Abstract: An apparatus for launching an object in a fluid environment having a tubular member with a forward muzzle end, an opposed rearward end. The object is positioned in the tubular member. Ends of the tubular member are closed by expellable members. Flood valves are located on the expellable members and, on activation, allow flooding of the tubular member by external fluid. A propellant device and an object contact member are disposed within the tubular member. When the propellant device is activated, the object contact member moves the object. These actions are controlled by a control device which first causes the flood valves to enable fluid to flood the interior region. Next, the control device causes the expellable members to be expelled from the tubular member. The control device then causes the propellant device to generate gas in a predetermined manner launching the object from the tubular member.

Abstract: An apparatus for launching an object in a fluid environment having a tubular member with a forward muzzle end, an opposed rearward end. The object is positioned in the tubular member. Ends of the tubular member are closed by expellable members. Flood valves are located on the expellable members and, on activation, allow flooding of the tubular member by external fluid. A propellant device and an object contact member are disposed within the tubular member. When the propellant device is activated, the object contact member moves the object. These actions are controlled by a control device which first causes the flood valves to enable fluid to flood the interior region. Next, the control device causes the expellable members to be expelled from the tubular member. The control device then causes the propellant device to generate gas in a predetermined manner launching the object from the tubular member.

Abstract: An underwater launcher of a vehicle in a launching tube outside the pressure hull of a submerged launch platform is unaffected by launch depth. A muzzle cap at one end of the tube communicates with ambient water and a ram plate at the other end communicates through openings with ambient water. Rigid elongate segments extend inside the tube between the cap and the plate, and a launch mechanism connected to the platform and tube has an expansion chamber sealed from ambient water and contains a gas driven turbine rotating a pump-inducer communicating through the openings with the ambient water. The pump inducer is adjacent to the plate to simultaneously displace the plate, elongate segments, vehicle, and cap in the tube and eject the vehicle. The plate, elongate segments, and cap decouple from the vehicle as it leaves the tube and safely sink away from the launch platform.

Abstract: An inflatable sealing device is used to seal a door, such as a shutter door in a submarine, when the door is closed. The inflatable sealing device includes a seal retainer positioned around the opening through a structure, such as a submarine hull or other type of wall. An inflatable seal is positioned with a retainer cavity within the seal retainer. The inflatable seal includes a seal periphery and a seal tip extending from the seal periphery. The seal periphery preferably has an elliptical cross section in a deflated state and a circular cross section in an inflated state such that the seal tip extends into a gap to seal the door when the inflatable seal is pressurized and inflated. The seal tip retracts into the seal retainer when the inflatable seal is deflated. A pressure actuator, such as a bellows, is used to pressurize the inflatable seal using an actuating fluid.

Abstract: A two way pressure relief valve for equalizing pressure between a first region and a second region. The valve has a housing with a lateral aperture in communication with the second region and a first aperture in communication between the first region and the lateral aperture. A piston assembly having an annular rim portion is retained slidably within the housing. Flutes are formed in the piston assembly for allowing fluid communication between the first region and the second region. An annular retaining piece having a second aperture therein is joined within the lateral aperture in the housing at the second region for retaining the piston assembly within the housing. A first biasing means is positioned in the housing between the first aperture and the piston assembly for biasing the piston assembly away from the first aperture. A second biasing means is positioned in the housing between the retaining piece and the piston for biasing the piston assembly away from the second region.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly including a female connector assembly and a male connector assembly configured for quick push-pull connect and for squeeze-to-release disconnect. The female and male connector assemblies are each molded of a plastics material.

Abstract: Two-way pressure release valves in a shutter reduce the force needed to rotate it from a torpedo tube while the submarine is underway at high speeds. The valves are each mounted in a separate aperture in the shutter and have a pair of biasing springs that hold opposite end surfaces coplanar with outer and inner surfaces of the shutter to prevent generation of objectionable flow-noise while underway. When the shutter is rotated to expose a muzzle door of a torpedo tube, the valves are automatically displaced by pressure differentials created to free pathways for pressure equalization. The water flowing through the valves eliminates the pressure differentials, and consequently, reduces the total amount of force that would otherwise be needed to rotate the shutter.

Abstract: A side piece for eye glasses includes a front side piece portion and a rear side piece portion. The front side piece portion includes a forward end d a rearward end with an elongated, open-ended slot formed therein. The open end of the elongated open-ended slot is directed to the rearward end of the front side piece portion. The rear side piece portion includes a forward end and a rearward end with an elongated, closed-ended slot formed therein. The rear side piece portion is additionally formed of a spring metal. A stop pin is inserted through the longitudinal slot of the rear side piece portion and fixed to the front side piece portion adjacent the rear end thereof.

Abstract: A device for precision lifting and positioning of test pieces is provided. he device has a rigid connector attachment which moves the application point of a vertical lifting force over the center of gravity of a test piece despite having a lifting attachment point at its far edge. The rear to forward adjustment is provided by a screw which moves the application of the lifting force backward and forward along the axis of a rigid connector.

Abstract: A splash protector in combination with an electrical outlet includes a shd member having a first shield portion and a second shield portion opposite to the first shield portion. A spring member is provided in connection with the first and second shield portions. An outlet cover includes an outer face with a pair of rectangular slot openings and a grounding pin opening formed therein, and an inner face having a recessed area with an outer perimeter of the recessed area encompassing at least the pair of rectangular slot openings and grounding pin opening, but less than an outer dimension of the outlet cover. A spring-supporting post is formed on the inner face of the outlet cover and projecting therefrom such that the spring member fits within facing inner sides of the first and second shield portions so that the first and second shields completely block external access to the rectangular slot openings and grounding pin opening of the outlet cover.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic power cylinder dashpot piston which formed of an elastomeric cylinder and a sleeve and having a space between the interior wall of the cylinder and the exterior wall of the sleeve, and the space is filled with a fluid. The piston is connected to a power shaft of a power cylinder. The sleeve is corrugated and is formed integrally with the cylinder so as to prevent the escape of the fluid through a joint. The interior cylinder wall is tapered from the center thereof in opposite directions so that the cylinder, engaged by a disk on the power shaft, gradually comes into contact with an end portion of the cylinder whereby the corrugations of the sleeve are compressed at one end and the other corrugations are straightened.

Abstract: A belt repair system and method is used to repair a broken belt, such as a rive belt. The belt repair system includes one or more belt couplers having first and second body portions with belt engaging members. The body portions of each belt coupler extend within the broken belt at respective first and second broken ends so that the respective belt engaging members engage with engaging regions within the broken belt at the first and second broken ends. The belt repair method includes providing an indication on the broken ends of the broken belt of the location of the engaging regions, forming the engaging regions within the broken belt at the indicated location and inserting the body portions of the belt coupler into the respective engaging regions of the broken belt at the respective broken ends. An optional adhesive or bonding material can be placed between the broken ends to strengthen the coupling of the broken belt.

Abstract: A rotary pump system includes a rotary pump, a turbine for driving the pu and a coupling interconnecting a shaft of the turbine and a shaft of the pump. A speed monitoring system determines rotational speed of the pump shaft, is programmed with selected speeds for the pump during operation, and is adapted to send a signal responsive to a difference between the determined speed and the programmed speed. A brake is engageable with the coupling, and a brake valve is adapted to receive the signal and, in response thereto, to operate the brake to conform the speed of the pump to the programmed speed.

Abstract: A high-torque quiet gear construction consists of an inner hub having a pality of circumferentially spaced arms extending radially outwardly therefrom, and an outer ring member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth extending radially inwardly therefrom. The ring member further includes a plurality of gear formations on an outer surface thereof for intermeshing with other gears. The teeth of the ring member are received in spaced relation in corresponding spaces formed between adjacent arms of the hub. An elastomeric member is received in the space formed between the hub and the ring member to form a resilient correction between the arms of the hub and the teeth of the ring member. The side surfaces of the arms and the teeth extend generally parallel to each other and at least partially overlap in a longitudinal direction. The purpose of this configuration is to place the elastomeric member in compression when torque is applied to the hub.

Abstract: A combination torpedo tube test plug and muzzle door for a torpedo tube iudes a circumferential land formed at an extreme muzzle end of the torpedo tube. The circumferential land has an inner peripheral diameter less than an inner peripheral diameter of the torpedo tube, and an inner peripheral transition surface contiguously joining the inner peripheral surface of the torpedo tube. An abutting face is formed on an end of the muzzle door facing the circumferential land. A lip extension extends from the abutting face. The lip extension includes an outer peripheral surface mating with the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential land, and a device for selectively securing the lip extension to the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential land, wherein separation of the muzzle door from the torpedo tube is prevented.

Abstract: A variable-speed rotating drive is provided. A drive shaft terminates in a hreaded piston that is received in an internally threaded cylinder. A plurality of linear actuators are distributed evenly about the circumferential periphery of the internally threaded cylinder. The drive shaft is mechanically coupled with each shaft of the linear actuators so that axial movement of the linear actuators' pistons causes the threaded piston to move axially in the internally threaded cylinder. This brings about axial rotation of the internally threaded cylinder. An actuating source is coupled to the linear actuators to cause the axial movement of selected ones of the pistons based upon the desired speed of rotation of the internally threaded cylinder.

Abstract: A variable orifice ball valve includes an external housing with a longitual fluid bore formed therethrough. A ball member is rotatably positioned within the external housing. The ball member can include first and second ball portions, with the longitudinal fluid bore formed through the ball member and a pressure port formed through the ball member. An elastically expansible sleeve member is secured to an inner wall of the ball member, the elastically expansible sleeve member including opposing end portions and a middle section. The end portions are secured to an inner wall of the ball member, the elastically expansible sleeve member defining an expansible chamber between the inner wall of the ball member and the elastically expansible sleeve member, such that a variable sized fluid port is formed on the inner surface of the elastically expansible sleeve member for restricting fluid flow by expanding the sleeve member upon introduction of a pressurized fluid through the fluid bore and pressure port.

Abstract: A projectile launching apparatus has a barrel for supporting a projectile ior to and during launch. The barrel is defined by a breech end, a muzzle end and a longitudinal launch axis along which the projectile is launched. A length of elastomeric material is fixed at its ends to opposing sides of the barrel aft of the muzzle end. Linear actuators are aligned parallel to and on opposite sides of the barrel. A guide or pulley is mounted on each of the linear actuators for linear movement therewith to positions forward of the ends of the elastomeric material. Third and fourth guides or pulleys are fixed by a frame such that the fourth pulley is positioned aft of the third pulley along the longitudinal launch axis. The elastomeric material is led along a path from one fixed end, about the first pulley, between the third and fourth pulleys, and about the second pulley to where the elastomeric material terminates at its other fixed end.

Abstract: A cable connector assembly is provided to eliminate or minimize dynamic durbance on the body shell surface of a vehicle in motion. The vehicle includes a body shell having a recessed portion which includes a cable connector receptacle and a connector housing. The connector housing does not protrude from the vehicle and is smooth with the body shell contour. The connector housing includes a female electrical connection portion. Adjacent the connector housing in the recessed portion of the body shell is a hinged closure plate which is controlled by a compression spring. When the vehicle is at rest, an electrical cable is connected to the connector housing and the closure plate is pushed into the recessed portion of the body shell. When the vehicle is put in motion, the closure plate spring decompresses to force the closure plate to close and seal the recessed portion of the body shell. The closure plate and the connector housing form a uniform and smooth surface which blends with the contour of the body shell.