Abstract: A water air-bubble fragment recovery test apparatus that facilitates accurate assessment of fragmentation characteristics and lethality that are normally detonated in air. An airtight, waterproof plastic container encloses a test warhead; the plastic container may then also be filled with a gas or just with air. The container is then embedded in a water-gas-bubble mixture found in a water tank, for the warhead to be detonated therein, and the fragments to then be later recovered.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring greenhouse gas emission from a vehicle. The vehicle is monitored for greenhouse gas emission, which includes identifying a running total of greenhouse gas emitted by the vehicle into an external environment that is external to the vehicle and activating a payment triggering condition when the emission exceeds the expected total. Satisfaction of a payment triggering condition that triggers collection of a required payment pertaining to the identified running total of greenhouse gas emitted is detected. Responsive to detecting the satisfaction of the payment triggering condition the required payment is computed as a function of the stored running total of greenhouse gas emitted.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a feature of a blast such as velocity of detonation (VOD) comprises the steps of providing a detonator 16.1 at a blast site 12. Prior to the blast, a blast control signal path 20, 18.1 is utilized to communicate blast control signals to the detonator. During a period following start of the blast, a blast feature signal communication path 18.1, 20 comprising at least part of the blast control signal path is utilized to communicate a blast feature signal relating to the feature to a remote blast feature monitoring station 26. The blast feature signal is generated by generating a monitoring signal in a conductor arrangement 18.1 connected to die detonator, utilizing a sensor outside of the housing of the detonator to sense changes in a blast feature monitoring parameter of the monitoring signal, and transmitting data relating to the changes to the station 26.

Abstract: A plasma-jet spark plug includes a metal shell, an electrical insulator retained in the metal shell, a center electrode held in an axial hole of the electrical insulator to define a cavity by a front end face of the center electrode and an inner circumferential surface of the insulator axial hole and a ground electrode fitted to a front end face of the electrical insulator and formed with an opening for communication between the cavity and the outside of the spark plug and satisfies the following dimensional relationships: d?D?3d; 0.5 mm?d?1.5 mm; L1?1.5 mm; 2d?L2?3.5 mm; and L2+{(D?d)/2}?3.5 mm where D is a diameter of the ground electrode opening; L1 is a thickness of the ground electrode; d is a diameter of the cavity; and L2 is a depth of the cavity.

Abstract: A plasma-jet spark plug includes a metal shell, an electrical insulator retained in the metal shell, a center electrode held in an axial hole of the electrical insulator to define a cavity by a front end face of the center electrode and an inner circumferential surface of the insulator axial hole and a ground electrode arranged on a front end of the electrical insulator. The ground electrode has an opening defining portion defining an opening for communication between the cavity and the outside of the spark plug. The opening defining portion is located radially inside of or in contact with a first imaginary circular conical surface where the first imaginary circular conical surface has an axis coinciding with an axis of the spark plug and a vertex angle of 120° opening toward a front end of the spark plug and passing through a front edge of the insulator axial hole.

Abstract: A plasma antenna generator includes an ionizable material, an explosive charge capable of projecting the ionizable material upon detonation, and a detonator coupled with the explosive charge. An electromagnetic pulse transmitting system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator and a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator. A method includes providing an explosive device comprising an ionizable material, detonating the explosive device to propel the ionizable material, and ionizing the ionizable material to form at least one plasma trail. A sensing system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator, a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator, and a sensing system capable of receiving and analyzing at least a portion of the electromagnetic pulse after being reflected from an interface.

Abstract: A portable detector of combustible or explosive gases incorporates a polymeric-type sensor or sensor array coupled to a programmed processor which carries out an evaluation of one or more signals from the sensor or array to evaluate the presence of combustible or explosive vapors. Non-polymeric sensors such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors and/or pressure sensors can also be incorporated and their outputs evaluated to compensate the outputs of the sensor or array of sensors. The detector can be housed in a sealed enclosure and energized by a battery.

Abstract: A system for determining the velocity of detonation of a mild detonation fuse mounted on the surface of a device includes placing the device in a predetermined position with respect to an apparatus that carries a couple of sensors that sense the passage of a detonation wave at first and second spaced locations along the fuse. The sensors operate a timer and the time and distance between the locations is used to determine the velocity of detonation. The sensors are preferably electrical contacts that are held spaced from but close to the fuse such that expansion of the fuse caused by detonation causes the fuse to touch the contact, causing an electrical signal to actuate the timer.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device which is inert and “thermally-equivalent” to actual ordnance. The device can travel with live ordnance and track the propellant temperatures in order to get a more precise propellant temperature for the ordnance. The device comprises a thermally equivalent inert grain instrumented with thermocouples, connected to a data recorder, and packaged in scaled-down ordnance hardware. The hardware is scaled down to enable the device to more easily travel with live munitions.

Abstract: The invention features methods and systems for detecting the presence of an energetic material in a sample in which the presence of the energetic material is unknown. The method includes the steps of: heating the sample; measuring heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment, e.g., by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); and analyzing the measured heat flow between the sample and its surrounding environment. An exothermal peak in the measured heat flow indicates the presence of the energetic material in the sample. The system includes a thermal measuring apparatus for performing the heating and measuring steps, and an analyzer for detecting the presence of the energetic material based on the measured heat flow. The invention also features methods and systems for identifying contraband materials (e.g., explosives and drugs) by measuring the thermogram (e.g., by DSC) of a sample to be identified and comparing it to reference thermograms for known contraband materials.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring exit velocity of a round from a muzzle of a gun barrel includes a first optical fiber having a first fiber optic Bragg grating (FBG) circumferentially attached to the gun barrel at the muzzle and a second FBG circumferentially attached to the gun barrel further from the muzzle than the first FBG; a coupler that receives one end of the first optical fiber; a light source connected by a second optical fiber to the coupler for supplying light to the first optical fiber; a third optical fiber comprising an FBG notch filter, the third optical fiber being connected to the coupler to receive light reflected from the first optical fiber; a notch filter mount attached to the gun barrel, the FBG notch filter being disposed in the notch filter mount; a photodetector connected to an end of the third optical fiber; and data processing electronics electrically connected to the photodetector.

Abstract: In the improved system for sled-track testing of explosive missiles having tandem warheads and crush switches, time delay boards are placed on the sled to operate in conjunction with the crush switches to detonate the tip charge and the main warhead. The actual detonation is triggered by on-board firesets, one to detonate each warhead, that are optically coupled through an opto-coupler interface board which generates fire pulses in response to inputs received from the crush switch and the time delay board. These fire pulses are, in turn, transmitted to and activate the firesets.