Abstract: A universal joint is provided for transferring thrust and torque forces from a rotatable means for driving to a rotatable means to be driven. The joint has a pair of end housings each connected to a respective rotatable means at one end thereof and having a socket formed at the other end thereof. A shaft has a socket formed at each end thereof and one shaft socket and one end socket cooperative to receive a ball. The thrust forces are transferred through abutting surfaces on the sockets and the ball. Each socket also has one end of an individual plate attached thereto. The other end of each plate is slidably received by a slot formed in the respective ball. The two slots on each ball are formed one hundred eighty degrees apart and the longitudinal axis of one of the slots is rotated ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the other one of the slots.

Abstract: In a power driven roller conveyor having a plurality of rollers each connected to a shaft and a plurality of driven sprockets one of which is rotatably mounted on each of the shafts, a torque-responsive coupling is interposed between a driving member connected to each sprocket and a driven member connected to each shaft so that the rotation of any roller will be interrupted if the resistance to rotation exceeds a desired value, thereby permitting articles on the conveyor to be stopped and accumulated without undue scuffing and wear on the articles or on the rollers. The coupling consists of a wobble plate which is connected to the driven member for oscillating movement about a center coincident with the axis of the shaft and which has a surface disposed transversely to the axis of the shaft and facing the driving member. The wobble plate is spring urged toward the driving member.

Abstract: Method of severing fibrous material, comprising contacting the fibrous material with a moving cutting member constituted of particles of an abrasive material and a high polymeric binder.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for warp knitting machine elements includes a means for absorbing forces generated during the course of knitting. These forces are transferred to at least two surfaces thereby reducing the size and weight requirements of the working elements permitting the warp knitting machine to operate at higher speeds.

Abstract: A roller drive mechanism for a knitting machine, in which the drive route is from a spring under tension via an oscillatory member and a one-way clutch to the roller. Means are provided for moving the oscillatory member in the reverse direction to re-tension the spring. The mechanism is suitable for driving a fabric winding down roller or a fabric roll-forming roller of the knitting machine.

Abstract: This tube sock is of a medium or dress weight so that the sock may be comfortably worn with dress shoes and includes very long and fine terry loops in the heel and sole area to provide the sock with cushion and comfort characteristics of the type normally provided in heavy weight athletic type socks. The sock is knit on a fine gauge machine of the type normally employed in knitting ladies' sheer hosiery and panty hose, usually provided with 400 needles. The sock is knit on every other or alternative needles so that it contains only 200 wales instead of the normal 400 wales usually contained in ladies' sheer hosiery articles. The terry loops formed in the heel and sole area are formed on dial instruments projected outwardly over an idle needle so that unusually long terry loops are formed of a fine cotton yarn which are three to five times as long as the stitch loops formed of the body yarn. spThis a division of application Ser. No. 939,261, filed Sept. 7, 1978 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,370.

Abstract: A keyless latch lock mechanism for ansate luggage such as an attache case. The mechanism includes a spring biased slide bolt attached at one end to a handle, the distal end being provided with a tail latch registrable with a latch keeper for fastening respective luggage closure members. A retainer element is resiliently urged into socketed engagement within the slide bolt to immobilize the bolt in a locked mode. The retainer element is selectively retractable from the socket when a cooperating index disc is rotated to a preselected setting. The handle is also functional for applying a displacement force to the bolt.In a variant embodiment, the displacement force is applied by a cam actuated by the handle.

Abstract: A lock mechanism is disclosed for use with sliding, swinging or overhead doors. A receiver is affixed to the door frame and a bolt, linkage and handle are affixed to the door. The linkage allows the bolt to engage the receiver by sliding along the receiver until it becomes latched so that the door may be closed though the handle is locked. Pulling upon the unlocked handle retracts the bolt from the receiver and also causes the door to start opening.

Abstract: A vacuum roll mill stand comprises a housing closed at opposite sides with covers and having its interior brought in communication with a vacuum pumping means to thereby form a chamber adapted to accommodate chocks carrying workrolls geared through the intermediary of spindles to a drive. The chocks together with the workrolls are secured on one of the housing covers thereby forming a frame, the housing being annular in shape and arranged so as to have its geometrical axis coincident with the axis of rolling; the housing also being fitted with through openings adapted to receive the spindles together with vacuum seals.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming railroad spikes is disclosed in which the used spikes are collected and initially manually sorted to separate the bent and straight reclaimable spikes and to eliminate those damaged beyond reclaiming. The bent spikes are placed in a press and straightened, then the straight and straightened spikes are dumped into a sound insulated, sealed drum type tumbler and tumbled until clean and ready for reuse. The straightening press, tumbler, and a hoist for handling portable bins of spikes are mounted on a car moveable over railroad tracks and movement is controlled either by an operator who walks along the right of way collecting and sorting previously pulled spikes or the operator on the machine. The car is provided with a platform at its rear end for supporting the portable bins.

Abstract: A hot rolling mill and a method of operation to reduce scrap upon failure of a portion of the mill in which a first furnace device is provided adapted to receive and reel up a strip which is ready to go to the finishing section of the mill and a second furnace device is provided to receive a strip of material being rolled in the roughing section of the mill without reeling up, while both furnace devices maintain the material therein at working temperature and in continuous motion.

Abstract: First a metallic pipe is tapered, so that it is substantially closed at its end, and so that its cross-section is reduced. Then it is pressed hard against a mold electrode, and a large electric current is passed through it to the mold electrode, so that the end softens, but does not melt, and by the pressing (which may be of the order of 2.5 tons weight) the end is formed into a lump, with no trace remaining of the hole through the pipe within the lump. In certain embodiments, the mold electrode may be formed with a notch, and/or a depression, and may be inclined at an oblique angle to the axis of the pipe, and may be moved sideways or at an oblique angle to the axis of the pipe as the current is passed and the lump formed.

Abstract: A method of forming a nestable and stackable drawn and ironed container is disclosed. The container is designed to permit a plurality of the containers to be stacked within one another to thereby permit transport of empty containers while occupying far less space than previously required for beverage containers.

Abstract: A hydraulic tool comprising a cylinder which is open at one end with a piston extending partially therein, but having a substantial portion extending outside. A lateral bore through the extending portion accommodates intake and exhaust check valves, but the bore is sealed off between them, forming an inlet chamber. Surrounding the inlet and exhaust ports and sealed at its opposite ends to the piston and cylinder, respectively, is a flexible, extendable sleeve forming an annular reservoir. A transfer duct extends from the inlet chamber to a pressure chamber formed between two seals around the piston, and a longitudinal bore opens into the inlet chamber from the extending end of the piston to slidably accommodate a manually-operated pump plunger.

Abstract: Locking apparatus is disclosed in its preferred form for use in an apparatus for repairing and straightening the body and frame of a vehicle having force applying members pivotally interconnected to a tread member by connector arms. Regular shaped apertures extend vertically through the tread member. The preferred apparatus of the present invention includes an upraised channel formed on the connector arm of the force applying member and a locking pin including a body portion having a cross section of a regular shape corresponding to the apertures formed in the tread member, an inverted U-shaped handle extending beyond the circumference of the body portion to prevent the body portion from falling through the apertures of the tread member, and a square portion located on the bottommost portion of the body portion.

Abstract: A calibration system for automatically and sequentially calibrating a plurality of electrical measuring systems of a gauging machine is provided. Each measuring system is of the type having a gain circuit, a zero circuit and a combination circuit connected to the preamplifier of a transducer and the zero circuit for combining the output signals of the preamplifier and zero circuits to obtain unamplified compensated electrical input signals which are amplified by the gain circuits and indicated on an indicator. Each of the measuring systems produces an electrical measurement in a predetermined range defined by upper and lower bounds equal in magnitude but opposite in polarity. The calibration system includes a plurality of negative voltage references and a plurality of positive voltage references corresponding to the lower and upper bounds, respectively.

Abstract: The invention resides in apparatus for directly measuring density altitude in an aircraft and includes a housing in communication with ambient conditions of air temperature, pressure and humidity outside the aircraft. A rotor having dynamically balanced blade elements is positioned rotatably within the housing. An electric motor is connected so as to drive the rotor within the housing against the resistance therein of the air under the ambient conditions of temperature, pressure and humidity. An operational characteristic of the motor, such as the current which it draws, is continuously sampled, amplified and changed in shape and applied as the input to a display device which is calibrated to display the input in terms of density altitude.

Abstract: A device is provided for detecting the presence of solid impurities within a pressurized fluid. The device comprises a housing having a fluid passageway formed therein. One end of the fluid passageway is open to the pressurized fluid while the other end of the fluid passageway is open to a low pressure fluid region via a restricted port. A filter strip dispensed from a filter strip magazine is disposed across and obstructs the fluid flow through the passageway at a point intermediate its ends so that the filter strip removes solid or liquid particles from fluid flowing through the passageway. A differential pressure sensing means, such as a differential pressure transducer, communicates with the fluid passageway and detects the differential pressure across the filter strip. An increase of fluid pressure sensed by the differential pressure sensing means is indicative of a clogged filter strip which, in turn, indicates the presence of solid impurities within the pressurized fluid.

Abstract: A device for measuring the release force of ski bindings mounted on a ski having a first device for fixedly holding the ski and a second device for adjustably loading through an output member the ski boot. The ski boot is connected to the fixed ski through the safety ski binding. A plate assembly is provided for initially receiving the ski boot thereon. The plate assembly has a first part which is movably supported against the force of a spring. A translating mechanism is connected to the movable first part of the plate assembly, and indicates during the testing procedure the centerpoint or a mark on the ski boot or the ski. The translating mechanism also effects an automatic proportional adjustment of the second device relative to the mark. The measured values are generated by at least one wire strain gauge and fed to an electronic measuring-, balancing-, indicating device for evaluation, comparison with stored desired values and meaningful interpretation by the issuance of a signal.

Abstract: A simulator has a barrel arranged to launch a projectile. The simulator iudes a stress device for stressing the barrel. This stress device comprises a piston slidably mounted within the barrel. This piston is operative to expand at its periphery. Also included in the stress device is a seal that is sealed to the barrel and is spaced alongside the piston. The piston is positioned between the seal and the muzzle of the barrel. Pressurized fluid can be applied to the above equipment to pressurize the interspace between the piston and the seal.

Abstract: A noninvasive pressure monitor for measuring the pressure in a hydraulic circuit, such as an extracorporeal blood circuit, includes an aperture sealed by a membrane which offers substantially no resistance to pressure and a pressure sensitive transducer in contact with the membrane for providing a more direct measurement of the pressure.

Abstract: A test system for testing axles and wheel spindles directly in place on vehicles such as automobiles, which simplifies the loading to obtain the necessary information for testing axles and spindles using two sets of actuators, each set comprising a pair of actuators each operating to control loads on the spindle along two different orthogonal components of normal movement of the vehicle. The actuator arrangement saves space, permits testing without removing automotive sheet metal and simplifies the compensation factors necessary for controlling such systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of measurement of angular deformation of a body, and in particular, a method and apparatus of load or force sensing are disclosed. Chief applications are found in electronic weighing and related devices. Deformation of a body in the form of angular deflection, or a deformation that can be transformed into angular deflection by mechanical or other means, changes the angle between the polarization axes of a pair of light polarizers, thus changing the intensity of light that is transmitted through the pair of polarizers. A photodetector converts the transmitted light into an electric signal. This signal contains information regarding the amount of deformation of the body and may be used in its analog form to operate a voltmeter to give a visual readout, or converted into a digital form for activating a visual digital display, or for inputing into a digital data processing device. A specially designed feedback-stabilized light source produces an output whose D.C.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the normal stress required to remove an adhering thermoplastic rod from a substrate. Tensile strength of a bond can be measured reproducibly under controlled conditions. The tip of a thermoplastic rod, machined to a cone, is lowered into contact with a heated substrate and melting of the rod is allowed to proceed to a steady-state condition. After a bond is formed, the force required to break the bond is measured. The method permits rapid simulation of the essential conditions present during bond formation between a mineral filler surface and a polymer matrix.

Abstract: A flow sensor particularly adapted to the measurement of fuel flow to internal combustion engines, but not limited thereto, the sensor including an annular raceway intersected by a tangentially disposed inlet jet nozzle and an outlet opening disposed immediately downstream of the inlet jet nozzle and radially offset therefrom whereby the initial fluid jet passes the outlet opening before radial distribution in the raceway, then circles the raceway and discharges into the outlet; the raceway receiving a ball having a density corresponding to the fluid for continuous rotation at a speed corresponding to the speed of the fluid movement in the raceway; the raceway having a traverse optical sensor to detect rotation of the ball; a chamber having a diaphragm exposed to flow through the inlet, the chamber assuming an expanded condition during increased flow and contractable on initial minimum flow to effect momentary supplemental flow to the raceway, and aid in maintaining movement of the counter ball.

Abstract: A rotameter-type flowmeter having a rotatable follower magnet which is magnetically coupled to a float magnet which in turn is responsive to the flow rate of the fluid which is to be measured. A calibration magnet is provided which is selectively movable in an arcuate track relative to the rotary axis of the follower magnet so as to alter the magnetic coupling between the follower magnet and the float magnet in such manner as to linearize (i.e., normalize) the output of the flowmeter. In addition, the calibration magnet is movable longitudinally with respect to the follower magnet so as to adjust the scale span of the flowmeter.

Abstract: A shoe for use in a swash-plate type compressor and made of a base material of steel, is slidably disposed between the swash-plate and a steel ball rotatably supported in a recess of a piston and is provided on one side thereof with a lining of copper or a copper alloy for slidably contacting with the sliding surface of the swash-plate and further provided on the other side thereof with a covering or a coating layer of a metal selected out of copper, copper alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, zinc, zinc alloys, nickel, chromium, and like metals, each of these metals being a material substantially free from seizure with steel, over a substantially spherical concave surface of the shoe thus permitting the steel ball to slidably rotate in relation thereto.

Abstract: An automobile transmission of the type having a drive shaft with a reverse gear thereon adapted to engage shift gear axially displaceable on a stationary axle. The shift gear is movable between an engaged position with the reverse gear for shifting into reverse and a position disengaged from the reverse gear. A synchromesh ring gear is provided on the drive shaft having a tooth profile corresponding to the reverse gear, thereby adapted to mesh with the shift gear, and is positioned to engage the shift gear when the shift gear is in the disengaged position. Preferably, the ring gear is formed of a non-metallic material; thus even though the ring gear constantly engages the shift gear when the transmission is not in reverse, virtually no transmission noise is generated.

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering gear assembly comprising an output member to effect steering, a manually rotatable input shaft and a variable ratio steering mechanism interposed between the input shaft and the output member with the steering mechanism comprising a rack connected to the output member, a pinion meshing with the rack connected to the input shaft and rotatable to cause longitudinal movement of the rack. The pinion is slidable axially along its axis of rotation upon the application of torque thereto and biasing means controls the axial displacement to thereby vary the effective mechanical ratio between the rack and pinion.

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering assembly includes a housing with a first bore for rotatably receiving the pinion and a second bore for movably receiving the rack. A support member slidably engages the rack and includes a pair of arms opposing the wall of the first bore to prevent separation of the support member and rack away from the pinion. A resilient cooperates with one of the arms to bias the support member to pivot about the other arm. An optional ring cooperates with the other arm to adjust the position of the support member and the rack to take up wear between the rack and pinion or between the rack and support member.

Abstract: A shift lever device for use with a bicycle comprises a bracket having a pair of spaced walls, a stepped slide shaft slidably mounted on the bracket and formed with a plurality of stepwise reduced cylindrical sections of different diameter, a push-button mounted to one end of the slide shaft, a coil spring interposed between the push-button and one of the pair of walls for urging the slide shaft in one direction, and a lever pivotally mounted on a support shaft supported by the bracket. A base portion of the lever is interposed between the pair of spaced walls and provided with a contact surface which is operatively contactable with a selected one of the plurality of stepwise reduced cylindrical sections of the stepped slide shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inertial method and device enabling the centering of a circular rim on its hub to be ensured and giving a practical solution to the problem of the static and dynamic balancing of rotors. The device comprises a rim, a hub, at least one linking arm with two branches passing around the hub. Masses localized at the ends of the arms ensure, in the course of rotation, the holding fast, by pressure, of the arm to the rim, on the one hand, and by traction on the branches on the other hand, of the arm to the hub. Anisotropic masses distributed between the arms keep the circularity of the rim constant. Electro-mechanical means ensure the static and dynamic balancing of the arm-rim-hub assembly. The invention may be used for the rotors of kinetic energy storage system.

Abstract: An apparatus for equalizing fluctuating torque and storing rotational energy received through a rotating input shaft. The input shaft is connected to a pair of circular drive plates rotatably mounted at opposite ends of an output drum. A plurality of drive shafts equally spaced from each other and the axis of the drum are rotatably mounted between circular end plates of the output drum. A pinion gear fixedly secured to one end of each drive shaft sequentially meshes with an arcuate rack carried by each of the drive plates. The lengths of the arcuate racks are sufficiently short so that the rack meshes with no more than two pinion gears at a time. As each of the drive shafts sequentially rotate, they wind a respective torsion spring which, in turn, rotates a second pinion gear. The second pinion gear meshes with a ring gear extending along the inside surface of the output drum. Ratchet mechanisms prevent unwinding of the torsion springs when the first pinion gears are not meshing with the racks.

Abstract: A windshield wiper drive mechanism includes an electric motor having a worm shaft which meshes with a gear assembly which is drivingly connected to a crank arm. A windshield wiper transmission link is also connected to the crank arm. The crank arm has an inner diametral bearing surface which is rotatably supported on a pin secured at one end in cantilever fashion to a housing, and an outer diametral bearing surface which is adapted for rotatable support in a cylindrical opening in another housing. The outer bearing surface has axially extending recesses in which a lubricant is retained. When high transmission loads are applied to the crank arm, the pin deflects slightly so that the increased bearing loads are supported on the outer bearing surface to prevent further deflection of the pin.

Abstract: A transmission having a torque converter, lockup clutch, and a 5-speed planetary transmission having four planetary gearsets and six frictiondrive-establishing devices combined to provide five forward speed range drives having a large total gear ratio step, and a reverse drive having a moderate and a high gear ratio. The 1st or primary gearset, with the primary input to the sun gear, the ring gear braked, and carrier output, provides 1st range drive having the largest torque multiplication gear ratio. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th gearsets, the secondary gearsets, are used to provide a secondary input having decreasing torque multiplication gear ratios, to the ring gear of the 1st gearset which, with the primary input to the sun gear, provides 2nd through 5th range drives having decreasing gear ratios. The gear ratio steps between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ranges are wide, and between 3rd, 4th, and 5th ranges are very close.

Abstract: A vehicular transmission including an underdrive unit and an overdrive unit each having at least one planetary gear system including a sun gear, ring gear, planetary pinions and planetary carrier wherein an axial extension member integral with the output gear of the underdrive unit and an axial extension member integral with the input gear of the overdrive unit are axially engaged to counterbalance the thrusts of the planetary gear systems. The transmission also includes structures within the overdrive planetary gear system and between the overdrive planetary gear system and gear transmitting output of the overdrive unit to the vehicle wheels for counterbalancing their respective thrusts.

Abstract: A differential mechanism such as a limited slip differential mechanism which is automatically engageable or disengageable in response to preselected conditions and through a clutch arrangement controls the relative rotative speeds of the vehicle wheels and related axle shafts. A single sensor is utilized to sense the angular velocity of a gear, such as a drive axle ring gear, and provides a first signal proportional to the velocity of the monitored gear. A control converts the first signal into a second signal proportional to angular acceleration of the monitored gear and will cause the actuator to engage the clutch when acceleration of the monitored gear, or related member, exceeds a predetermined maximum.

Abstract: The adjustment screw that regulates the stroke length of the piston that drives a diaphragm pump is rotated by means of a clutch and "diamond-back" screw structure. By selectively engaging either of two oppositely oriented one-way clutches, one of two respective associated nuts that ordinarily rotate freely on the "diamond-back" screw is blocked from rotation when the screw moves longitudinally in one direction. Thus locked, the nut compels the "diamond-back" screw to rotate, thereby turning the adjustment screw with which it is connected in order to produce the desired increase in piston stroke length.

Abstract: A multispeed transmission having an automatic shift control system having an automatic shift valve which is biased for upshift by a force increasing with output speed of the transmission and is biased for downshift by a force increasing concurrently with torque demand, to provide upshifts at speeds increasing with torque demand and downshifts at lower speeds. The shift valve controls the supply of shift fluid pressure to the ratio-engaging devices to establish low and high ratio drives. A regulator valve increases the shift fluid pressure with an increasing lagging torque demand signal. A modulator valve is controlled by an engine fuel feed or throttle to provide a concurrent torque demand signal pressure concurrent with throttle movement for the shift valve. The lagging torque demand signal is more concurrent with engine torque and power, such as the gasifier pressure of a gas turbine engine, or the supercharger pressure of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An apparatus for the longitudinal cutting into stripes of a tape of sheet material fed to be forwarded continuously while it is pinched between a blade and a counter-blade; said blade is a circular disc idly pivoted on a first supporting structure and said counter-blade is a ball supported to turn about its own center by a second supporting structure.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having an automatic performance device includes a memory storing in addition to automatic performance data, envelope control data for controlling envelopes of automatic performance tones to be generated. The envelope control data has two logical values and is used for controlling the envelope of the tone at the decaying portion. The value "0" designates a gradual decay and the value "1" designates a quick decay. The automatic performance tones are respectively imparted with either of the gradual and the quick decay shapes suitable for the time intervals between the generated tones in the designated automatic performance pattern.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is of a type in which a particular note tone and tones corresponding to the remaining notes among depressed keys are alternately and repeatedly produced in accordance with tone production timing signals having a predetermined period. The tone production timing signals are produced by frequency dividing tempo pulses generated from a tempo pulse oscillator. An alternate production control is conducted by gating alternately signal of the particular note tone and signals of other tones and delivering to a sound system. The period of the tone production timing signals can be controlled by a circuit which detects depression of plural keys.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fastening device for driving into building material, the device consisting of one or more elongate V profiles whose shanks, in the vicinity of the forward, penetrating end of the profiles are outwardly relieved or bevelled such that building material, on driving of the device into the material, is trapped between the shanks and forces them apart. A tip at the forward end of the profile is designed such that, on being driven in, it moves in the driving-in direction.

Abstract: A weld nut for use in securing a fastener to a sheet of supporting material. The weld nut comprises a triangular-shaped plate with truncated vertices. The plate has a mating surface from which are raised first, second and third integral projections. Each of the integral projections has a frusto-conical body with a rounded top and is surrounded by an annular channel to contain the flow of the material forming the projection when the nut is welded to the supporting material. Each channel preferably intersects an adjacent truncated end to permit the formation of an external fillet.

Abstract: An anchor assembly includes an anchor bolt or stud and an adhesive material for securing the bolt in a prepared borehole. The adhesive material consists of at least two required components which, when mixed together, harden to fix the bolt within the borehole. Of the two required components, one is located within a cartridge and the other is placed on the shank of the anchor bolt and can be enclosed within a destructible sheath. By driving the bolt into the cartridge the components are mixed. Either a mixture promoting material can be included in the cartridge or mixture promoting members can be associated with it to assure the component is stripped from the bolt and adequately mixed with the component in the cartridge.

Abstract: A removable one-piece plastic drive rivet for use in an apertured work piece including a head having a depending bifurcated shank and a threaded drive pin which can be driven into a through-bore by an axial blow which expands the shank behind the panel and can be removed therefrom by rotation of the drive pin.

Abstract: A self-flaring rivet and the method of making the same is disclosed. The end remote from the rivet head carries the swaging mechanism that is pulled outwardly to flare the end, inherently applying a tension force. This swaging mechanism also can be designed to remain in the rivet end or be pulled out completely. In the first instance the working stem of the swaging mechanism is broken off.

Abstract: A pneumatic restraint and ejection system for a multiple sonobuoy launcher aving a single plenum communicating through separate clack valves to the inboard ends of a plurality of launcher tubes and through separate girdle valves to inflatable girdles about the launch tubes. After sonobuoys are inserted into the launch tubes, the plenum is charged with compressed air with the clack and girdle valves positioned to impart an ejection force on the backs and a longitudinal restraining force on sides of the sonobuoys. A sonobuoy is ejected by actuating the girdle valve to shut off the plenum air to the girdle and to exhaust the air in the girdle. As the sonobuoy leaves its launch tube, the air behind the sonobuoy expands causing a sudden differential pressure between the plenum and the tube to cause the clack valve to close and prevent loss of plenum pressure through the empty launch tube. In one embodiment, the launch tube includes a solonoid actuated latch at the discharge end which secures the sonobuoy therein.

Abstract: Sealing system for a sliding wedge type breech block of a barrel weapon, particularly one which employs cartridge free ammunition. An actuating member having a rear end adapted to be driven is disposed in the breech block, and an axially movable pressure bolt having an impacting surface is engaged and driven by the actuating member. A sealing means including a sealing member is provided between the actuating member and the breech block for separating the pressure bolt area from the actuating member. The sealing member is generally of disc shape, having a circular cylinder flange attached to its rim and a central support hub with an end surface functioning as a stop for the impacting surface of the pressure bolt. The circular cylindrical flange of the sealing member is disposed against the inside of a circular cylindrical recess in the forward end of the breech block, and the disc has an outer annular end surface for pressing against a transverse sealing surface at the rear end of the barrel.

Abstract: This invention has the provision of a magazine having an endless conveyor comprising a plurality of links, each having a respective element for releasably capturing the extractor disk of a cartridge case.