Abstract: A method of retaining a suspension system includes creating a negative pressure within an air spring such that a longitudinal member is retained in a substantially fixed position relative to a chassis component when the longitudinal member is placed in an unloaded condition. When there is no pressure in the air spring, the air cell is deflated and the suspension is mechanically bottomed out. By further introducing a negative pressure into the air cell with the gas feed, a partial vacuum is formed and the air cell collapses in upon itself. The collapsed air cell grips the piston thereby immobilizing the air spring. Accordingly, when the vehicle is lifted and the air suspension becomes unloaded, the longitudinal member is maintained relative to the chassis component by the immobilized air spring to thereby prevent the air cell from being inverted and damaged.

Abstract: The terminal effectiveness of fin stabilized, subcaliber armor piercing projectiles depends primarily on the impact velocity at the target. The aerodynamic drag and related velocity decay experienced over the trajectory from the gun to target is reduced by shortening the length of the acceleration transfer interface between subcaliber projectile and discarding sabot. This applies for multiple annular grooves and helical grooves. Special groove configurations to reduce the pressure drag and related boundary layer shock wave interaction are disclosed. The reduction in length of the acceleration transmitting interface permits its location to a position aft of the point of boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow and therewith to take advantage of the low frictional coefficient of the laminar boundary layer over a large portion of the subcaliber projectile. The resulting reduction in aerodynamic drag is particularly effective for mid caliber projectiles.

Abstract: In an air suspension system of a vehicle the height of the vehicle platform is maintained in use by height control valves. To facilitate loading, the height may be adjusted by an operator by overriding the height control valves by means of a selector valve. The height may then be adjusted by a Raise/Lower valve. If the operator omits to return the selector valve and/or the Raise/Lower valve to their normal condition, the selector valve is reverted to its normal condition by a pilot line connected to a service brake line so that the vehicle automatically returns to its normal ride height on the first brake application. Alternatively the valve may be operated by a solenoid connected to the brake light circuit so that the service brake line is not affected. In an alternative arrangement, the suspension system height is adjusted by two manually-operable spring-return valves. Again, a selector valve reverts to a condition in which ride height is attained on application of the service brake.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fin-stabilized discarding sabot projectile for employment from a rifled barrel and is particularly suitable for automatic cannons having calibers from 12.7 to 70 millimeters. The full rate of spin commensurate with the rifling twist of a specific barrel and the muzzle velocity is imparted to the projectile during launch using a rotating band which is fixed and an integral component of the discarding sabot. The discarding sabot design involves the in-place injection molding of the sabot body, including a seal with obturator, onto the fin-stabilized projectile. The absence of slipping rotating band provides for a rugged sabot configuration which is particularly important for ammunition employed from automatic cannons. Launching at full rate of spin results in large centrifugal forces acting on the components of the sabot which provides for instantaneous and precise sabot separation upon projectile exit from the muzzle.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fin-stabilized projectile for employment from a rifled barrel and is particularly suitable for automatic cannons having calibers from 12.7 to 70 millimeters. The full rate of spin commensurate with the rifling twist of a specific barrel and the muzzle velocity is imparted to the projectile during launch using a rotating band which is fixed and an integral component of the discarding sabot. Subsequent to exit from the muzzle of the gun the rate of spin of the projectile is decelerated rapidly by aerodynamic damping to avoid potential adverse effects due to Magnus moments. The aerodynamic design of the fins is such that the projectile spin reaches a steady state rate of spin which is at least 50 percent larger than the nutation frequency of the projectile. By means of this spin tuning resonance instability and roll lock-in are avoided over the operational range of the projectile.

Abstract: A transistor logic output device is provided with an active element discharging transistor coupled between the base of the pulldown element transistor and ground or low potential for actively controlling a route to ground or low potential for diverting and discharging the so-called capacitive feedback Miller current generated during the low to high potential transition at the output of the device resulting from base-collector junction capacitance in the pulldown element transistor. The active element discharging transistor is controlled at its base by the potential at the collector of the phase splitter element and is coupled to follow changes in voltage at the phase splitter collector for receiving base drive current during the transition from low to high potential at the device output and when the phase splitter is not conducting.

Abstract: A TTL transistor logic tristate output device particularly suitable for common bus applications including transistor and diode means for feedback of a portion of current from any output load and from stray capacitances to drive the pulldown element to greater conduction and accelerate sinking of current from the output to ground during transition at the output from high to low potential, said transistor means also arranged to block paths from the output to ground through the enable gate when the output is in the high impedance third state. Means for blocking current flow from the output through the device to high potential is also described.