Abstract: A ball bearing assembly with a spacer to prevent ball bearing failures. The spacer has a ring with a tongue that fits into a groove in a second spacer ring. One spacer ring is coupled to the outer ring of the ball bearing assembly and the other spacer ring is coupled to the inner ring of the ball bearing assembly. The spacer therefore allows relative rotation of the rings of the ball bearing assembly but prevents relative translation of the rings beyond a point which will damage the ball bearing assembly.

Abstract: A gyroscopically stabilized optical seeker for use in a cannon-launched projectile is shown to include a gimbal arrangement wherein a two-axis rate gyroscope and associated torque motors are utilized to attain the requisite stabilization however such seeker is oriented with respect to such projectile, the two-axis rate gyroscope being arranged so that the complete optical system, including the detector unit, may be mounted on the inner gimbal.

Abstract: An infrared seeker for use in a spinning projectile is shown to include a Cassegrainian telescope having a tapered optical wedge overlying the entrance aperture, such wedge being rotatably mounted to allow scanning and tracking, and a jettisonable streamlined cover overlying the optical wedge to reduce drag so long as such cover is in place.

Abstract: A rate gyroscope having a spinning mass coupled to a rotor through a pair of orthogonally disposed flexible, diametrically extending suspension arms. The spinning mass is adapted to pivot about the arms in response to a pair of orthogonal angular rates being measured by the gyroscope. The angular orientation of the mass with respect to the gyroscope housing provides an indication of the angular rates. An optical sensor system disposed within the gyroscope and supporting electronics are used to produce an electrical signal representative of the angular orientation of the mass and, hence, such signal provides a measurement of the pair of angular rates being measured by the gyroscope.

Abstract: A "free-gyro" configuration of an optical seeker is shown to consist of a focusing and reticle arrangement rotatable about a point on an axis and an optical detector array translatable along a path parallel to such axis to maintain the center of such detector array on the image plane of the focusing and reticle means.