An armor system with a composite laminate having at least four alternating layers (two bi-layers) of a first material and a second material, the first material having a lower acoustic impedance than the second material. The first material is a viscoelastic polymer with a glass transition temperature less than the expected operational temperature range, and the second material can be a hard material such as steel, aluminum, or ceramic. The laminate can include many alternating layers of elastomer and hard material, and can be adhered or affixed to a thicker armor substrate. Additional protective elements such as corrugated metal-ceramic panels and armored glass cylinders can be added to improve resistance to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats.

An armor system with a composite laminate having at least four alternating layers (two bi-layers) of a first material and a second material, the first material having a lower acoustic impedance than the second material. The first material is a viscoelastic polymer with a glass transition temperature less than the expected operational temperature range, and the second material can be a hard material such as steel, aluminum, or ceramic. The laminate can include many alternating layers of elastomer and hard material, and can be adhered or affixed to a thicker armor substrate. Additional protective elements such as corrugated metal-ceramic panels and armored glass cylinders can be added to improve resistance to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats.

This invention pertains to a jam head and to a protection system. The jam head is rotatable around at least two separate axes and includes a first part rotatable around a first axis and a second part rotatably connected to the first part and rotatable around a second axis; a viewing port in the first part for viewing an object; at least one reflecting surface for conveying an image through the port; a camera optically connected via the at least one reflecting surface to the port; and a unitary infrared transmitting glass fiber of constant core diameter passing from the laser to and through the first and the second parts for conveying an energetic infrared optical signal and an exit port through which the optical signal passes. The protection system is mounted on a movable platform and includes a detector for locating a threat; an electronic and control system connected to the detector for receiving a signal from the detector; a laser connected to the electronic and control system; and the jam head.

A thermally stable chalcogenide glass, a process for making the same, and an optical fiber drawn therefrom are provided. A chalcogenide glass having the composition Ge(5−y)As(32−x)Se(59+x)Te(4+y) (0≦y≦1 and 0≦x≦2) is substantially free from crystallization when it is heated past the glass transition temperature Tg or drawn into optical fibers. A process for making the thermally stable chalcogenide glass includes purifying the components to remove oxides and scattering centers, batching the components in a preprocessed distillation ampoule, gettering oxygen impurities from the mixture, and heating the components to form a glass melt. An optical fiber formed from the chalcogenide glass is substantially free from crystallization and exhibits low signal loss in the near-infrared region, particularly at wavelengths of about 1.55 μm.

A composite armor plate includes a fracture layer placed adjacent to a ceramic layer. The ceramic layer provides a ballistic resistant layer that receives a ballistic impact and propagates a compression wave. The fracture layer is placed behind the ceramic layer and absorbs a portion of the compression wave propagating out in front of the ballistic impact. The absorbed compression wave causes the fracture layer to at least partially disintegrate into fine particles, which dissipates energy in the process. To cause a higher degree of fracturing (and thus larger dissipation of compression wave energy) the fracture layer includes a plurality of resonators embedded in a fracture material.

A process includes the steps of disposing a solid core glass rod at a point removed from hot temperature that can cause crystallization in the core glass rod, disposing a solid clad glass rod at a point removed from the core glass rod; softening to the flowing condition the solid clad glass rod, transferring the softened clad glass to a lower point, the softened clad glass having a central void therethrough, heating the softened clad glass above its crystallization temperature, cooling the softened clad glass to a draw temperature, transferring the solid core glass rod into the central void in the softened glad glass, softening to the flowing condition the solid core glass rod with the heat from the softened and cooled clad glass, and drawing the core/clad, glass fiber by allowing the clad and core glasses to flow in the form of a fiber.

The present invention's stratified composite material system of armor, as typically embodied, comprises a strike stratum and a backing stratum. The strike stratum includes elastomeric matrix material and inventive ceramic-inclusive elements embedded therein and arranged (e.g., in one or more rows and one or more columns) along a geometric plane corresponding to the front (initial strike) surface of the strike stratum. More rigid than the strike stratum, the backing stratum is constituted by, e.g., metallic (metal or metal alloy) material or fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix material. Some inventive embodiments also comprise a spall-containment stratum fronting the strike stratum. The inventive ceramic-inclusive elements geometrically describe any of various inventive modes, including: first mode, having a flat front face and a textured back face; second mode, having a pyramidal front section and a prismatoidal (especially, prismoidal, e.g., truncated pyramidal or prismatic) body section; hybrid mode, combining features of first and second modes.

A typical inventive embodiment describes a tubular shape and comprises a rigid outer layer, an elastomeric middle layer and a rigid inner layer. The elastomeric material is a strain-rate-sensitive polymer (e.g., polyurethane or polyurea) having a Young's modulus of approximately 700-1000 psi at 100% strain, and strong strain-rate-sensitivity in approximately the 103/second-106/second range. By the time that the projectile reaches the rigid inner layer, a projectile that impacts the three-layer system (commencing at the rigid outer layer) is structurally and kinetically diminished in its destructiveness by the rigid outer layer together with the elastomeric middle layer. Furthermore, the elastomeric middle layer becomes more rigid during a brief period in which it absorbs energy from the projectile, then again becomes elastic in a manner formative of a membrane covering the rigid inner layer. The elastomeric membrane tempers leakage if rupturing of the rigid inner layer has occurred.

A multi-layer armor comprises: an outer composite spaced from an inner composite. The outer composite comprises (a.) a high strength strike surface layer, (b.) a high strain rate sensitivity-hardening polymer and (c.) a second high strength layer. The inner composite comprises spaced silica glass layers, an acrylic glass layer and a spall liner. In one embodiment the armor is transparent and used to shield a vehicle windshield. In a second embodiment the armor is opaque and is attached to vehicle base armor. The armor may also be applied to a ship. The armor uses commercially available components, is relative inexpensive and is effective.

According to typical inventive practice, an armor structure includes n≧1 highly-rate-sensitive elastomeric layers and n+1≧2 metallic layers, alternately configured. Each metallic layer is electrically connected to a power supply that includes, e.g., battery(ies) and/or supercapacitor(s). Each adjacent pair of metallic layers sandwiches a highly-rate-sensitive elastomeric layer and forms, with the power supply, an uncompleted electrical circuit. A high-velocity projectile that penetratively encroaches upon a highly-rate-sensitive elastomeric layer is subjected to electrical current by virtue of completion of the uncompleted circuit that includes the two sandwiching metallic layers. The circuit is completed by physical (and hence, electrical) contact, bridging the two sandwiching metallic layers, of the projectile and/or its plasma sheath (which at least partially surrounds the projectile's outside surface due to friction between the projectile and the highly-rate-sensitive elastomeric layer). The highly-rate-sensitive elastomeric layer's projectile-hindering mechanical influence temporally lengthens the projectile-hindering electrical influence.

The invention is an aerosol search and rescue (SAR) grenade. A smoke signal is produced that is comparable to the smoke signal produced by a pyrotechnic grenade. An aspirating provides a propellant gas/air mixture to a reservoir of smoke material. A container configuration and gravity operated valve provide for a smoke plume only in the upward direction. The smoke grenade is useful in life rafts. It is also useful in inland areas posing a risk of fire.

The present invention's stratified composite material system of armor, as typically embodied, comprises a strike stratum and a backing stratum. The strike stratum includes elastomeric matrix material and inventive ceramic-inclusive elements embedded therein and arranged (e.g., in one or more rows and one or more columns) along a geometric plane corresponding to the front (initial strike) surface of the strike stratum. More rigid than the strike stratum, the backing stratum is constituted by, e.g., metallic (metal or metal alloy) material or fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix material. Some inventive embodiments also comprise a spall-containment stratum fronting the strike stratum. The inventive ceramic-inclusive elements geometrically describe any of various inventive modes, including: first mode, having a flat front face and a textured back face; second mode, having a pyramidal front section and a prismatoidal (especially, prismoidal, e.g., truncated pyramidal or prismatic) body section; hybrid mode, combining features of first and second modes.

The present invention's stratified composite system of armor, as typically embodied, comprises a backing stratum and a strike stratum that includes elastomeric matrix material and low-density ceramic elements embedded therein and arranged (e.g., in one or more rows and one or more columns) along a geometric plane (or plural parallel geometric planes) corresponding to the front surface of the strike stratum. Some inventive embodiments also comprise a spall-containment stratum fronting the strike stratum. The density of the low-density ceramic material is in the approximate range 2.0-3.0 g/cm3. In the strike stratum, the volume ratio of the low-density ceramic material to the elastomeric matrix material is in the approximate range 4-20. The present invention's emulative method for designing an inventive armor system typically involves configurative change of the inventive armor system's low-density ceramic material vis-à-vis another armor system's high-density ceramic material so that the respective ceramic material areal densities are equal.

A metallic glass particle layer is applied to aluminum alloy armor and friction stir mixed into the surface in order to embed the material into the armor and to take advantage of its exceptional hardness. An advantage of the invention is that the hard material is an integral part of the armor, included within the body of the armor plate and not merely a surface coating. The advantage of the friction stir process is that it generates relatively low levels of heat and magnetic measurements show that the amorphous phase condition of the metallic glass is not deteriorated. The armor may be tempered to improve properties.

The present invention's stratified composite system of armor, as typically embodied, comprises a backing stratum and a strike stratum that includes elastomeric matrix material and low-density ceramic elements embedded therein and arranged (e.g., in one or more rows and one or more columns) along a geometric plane (or plural parallel geometric planes) corresponding to the front surface of the strike stratum. Some inventive embodiments also comprise a spall-containment stratum fronting the strike stratum. The density of the low-density ceramic material is in the approximate range 2.0-3.0 g/cm3. In the strike stratum, the volume ratio of the low-density ceramic material to the elastomeric matrix material is in the approximate range 4-20. The present invention's emulative method for designing an inventive armor system typically involves configurative change of the inventive armor system's low-density ceramic material vis-à-vis another armor system's high-density ceramic material so that the respective ceramic material areal densities are equal.

A composite shield comprises a panel including an outer thin metallic strike surface layer, a highly strain rate hardening polymer layer and an inner structural armor plate layer. The structural armor plate layer has a multiplicity of traversing ports. The traversing ports have sufficient lateral area to allow deformation of the thin metallic strike surface layer and highly strain rate hardening polymer layer through the structural armor plate layer on the occurrence of explosive blast.

A composite shield comprises a panel including an outer ballistic fabric strike surface layer and an inner structural armor plate layer. The structural armor plate layer has a multiplicity of traversing ports. The traversing ports have sufficient lateral area to allow deformation of the ballistic fabric through the structural armor plate layer on the occurrence of explosive blast. The composite shield is particularly effective in protecting personnel. Blast frequencies in the damaging 1000 to 3000 Hz range are attenuated.

A method and device for protecting a surface. The device includes modular spaced armor assemblies having a ceramic face plate, a composite backing plate, and a lightweight low-density module therebetween. The modular spaced armor assemblies may be tiled to form a protective arrangement for protecting a desired surface. The lightweight low-density module includes one or more gas filled cavities.

Compounded High Explosive Composites provide a novel family of low-cost explosives that exhibit anisotropic (directionally dependent, non-symmetric) sensitivity properties to replace current homogenous plastic bonded high explosives that are vulnerable to unwanted detonation from a variety of hazards and operating conditions. Anisotropic sensitivity behavior is largely achieved by manipulating the bulk property of critical diameter to fine-tune the compounded geometry of the explosive composite. As such, Compounded High Explosive Composites represent structural arrangements of small, spatially distributed, highly consolidated explosive units (pellets) arranged in a prescribed (but versatile) fashion in a motion and energy-dampening rubbery matrix. The compounded geometry and structural arrangement allows the explosive pellets to function cooperatively and detonate in an exemplary orientation, while ensuring the pellets do not cooperate in other directions to mitigate against known vulnerabilities and threats.

A method is provided for determining fratricide probability of projectile collision from a projectile launcher on a platform and an interception hazard that can be ejected or launched from a deployment position. The platform can represent a combat vessel, with the projectile launcher being a gun, the interception hazard being a missile, and the deployment position being a vertical launch cell. The projectile launcher operates within an angular area called the firing zone of the platform. The method includes determining the firing zone, calculating an angular firing area, quantifying a frontal area of the interception hazard, translating the resulting frontal area across a flight trajectory, sweeping the projectile launcher to produce a slew angle, combining the slew and trajectory, and dividing the combined interception area by the firing area. The firing and interception areas are calculated using spherical projection.

An inert axisymmetric projectile is provided for launching from a shipboard gun and dispersing submunitions at a target. The projectile includes a base plug, a sabot housing, a submunitions package, and a retainer ring. The sabot housing includes a plurality of sabot petals angularly arranged and attached to the plug. The housing includes a payload portion and a nose portion, with a passage corridor between these portions. The submunitions package is contained within the payload portion and constrained radially by the housing. The retainer ring constrains the petals for joining together. Upon launch aerodynamic pressure fractures the ring and causes the petals to unfurl, thereby releasing the submunitions package for dispersal.

A preload bearing is provided for mounting into an orifice in a shock-inducing platform. The bearing includes a cylindrical housing insertable into the orifice of the platform with a housing axis oriented vertically in relation to the platform, the housing having a closed bottom end and an open top end; a scraper that attaches to the bottom end of the housing for receiving compressive load from underneath; a crown roller disposed to extend radially from the housing; a shaft coaxial with the crown roller disposed within the housing along a roller axis perpendicular to the housing axis; and a cap that covers the open top end of the housing.

A device is provided for repairing erosion damage to a bore of a railgun with metal powder. The bore has a surface contour that extends longitudinally of the railgun. The device includes a housing, a profilometer sensor and a nozzle. The housing has a configuration that conforms to the surface contour and an upstream face on a longitudinal end. The profilometer sensor mounts to the upstream face to measure depth of the erosion and indicate a divot in the bore that involves repair to match the surface contour. The nozzle mounts to the upstream face to spray the metal powder from a reservoir within the housing in response to the divot indicated by the profilometer.

A marine cable cutter is provided for wirelessly severing wire responsive to an electromagnetic command signal. The cutter includes an explosive package for wrapping around the wire, and a clamshell case for containing the package around the wire. The package includes a wireless receiver to receive the command signal, an electric pulse generator triggered by the receiver, an explosive initiated by the generator, and a platform for containing the receiver, generator and explosive. The clamshell case includes a pair of envelopes connected along mutual first edges by a hinge and mutual second edges by respective clamps. The envelopes pivot on the hinge to open and receive the package with disposal of the wire therein, and subsequently to close and secure by the clamps. The envelopes can be composed of sheet metal with the clamps being flanges with aligned holes for receiving bolt fasteners.

A hydro-reactive projectile is provided for striking a target. The projectile includes a housing composed substantially of aluminum and having a peripheral surface; and at least one cavity within said housing and a plurality of conduits connecting said cavity to said surface, wherein the cavity contains water.

A boresight verification device (BVD) comprised of a circular housing with a rear portion of smaller diameter and a front portion of larger diameter. The front portion securely holds a level. The circular housing also contains a plurality of spring plungers which grip the inside of a muzzle when BVD is inserted into a muzzle for use. A tooling ball provides a stable reference point.

The present invention comprises a kinetic energy penetrator warhead that may engage both surface and buried soft and hardened targets. The warhead contains a high-temperature incendiary (HTI) fill capable of destroying chemical and biological agents in such a manner to minimize dispersal of these agents. Bomblets are incorporated into the portion of the warhead that penetrates to the target and are ejected, with the HTI fill, from the warhead in order to provide holes in chemical or biological agent tanks to allow the fill to react with said agents. Finally, a guidance system is provided to direct the warhead to the target.

An ignition element is provided for integration into a primer assembly. The ignition element includes an electrode housing including at least one cavity and an electrode disposed in the electrode housing. The electrode housing and electrode are electrically isolated from each other using insulators. A bridgewire and a primary ignition charge are located in the cavity such that upon application of current to the electrode the pyrotechnic ignition charge is ignited. A headstock is provided, and the electrode housing is threadably disposed within the headstock. Burst disks cover the cavity and separate the ignition charge from a primer charge containing powder disposed in a single booster holder.

Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle. The fuel may be pressed particles heated below the melting point and then dispersed by a charge providing enough heat to melt the particles; may be a single component, fuel-rich thermite compound; and may include droplet surface tension reducing additives. Advantages are that the weight and volume of a warhead do not include explosives, binders, and underwater-use oxidizers employed with fuel particles in conventional energetic materials. A warhead may thus have greater density for effective penetration; and, since the fuel is not incorporated in an explosive, dispersing charges can be removed until use, and metal fuels hazardous when incorporated in an explosive can be used.

A method of making a thin film explosive detonator includes forming a substrate layer; depositing a metal layer in situ on the substrate layer; and reacting the metal layer to form a primary explosive layer. The method and apparatus formed thereby integrates fabrication of a micro-detonator in a monolithic MEMS structure using “in-situ” production of the explosive material within the apparatus, in sizes with linear dimensions below about 1 mm. The method is applicable to high-volume low-cost manufacturing of MEMS safety-and-arming devices. The apparatus can be initiated either electrically or mechanically at either a single point or multiple points, using energies of less than about 1 mJ.

An underwater hydro-reactive explosive system includes a pressure vessel with a central section of water disposed between identical sections of a material selected from the group consisting of thermites, intermetallics, nano-sized metallic particles, and micro-sized metallic particles. The water is provided in a stoichiometric quantity that provides a complete reaction with the material following simultaneous detonation of the sections thereof.

A venting cap system includes a first open-ended sleeve and a second open-ended sleeve. The first open-ended sleeve is made from a first material that melts at a selected temperature. The first open-ended sleeve has an internal region commencing at a first end and an externally-threaded region commencing at a second end. The second open-ended sleeve is made from a second material that does not melt at the selected temperature. The second open-ended sleeve is coaxially fitted in the first open-ended sleeve. The second open-ended sleeve includes a first end that is flush with the first end of the first open-ended sleeve. The second open-ended sleeve partially overlaps part of the externally-threaded region. The coefficients of linear expansion of the first material and the second material are about equal.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for explosive systems such as grenades with novel micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) fuze and novel placement of the MEMS fuze providing increased performance, reliability, and safety. The MEMS fuze is disposed towards a rear portion of the explosive system providing superior performance and design flexibility. Further, the explosive system includes electronics configured to implement a launch timer and to sense impact or when the system stops spinning. The present invention includes an operational method improving safety and reliability by preventing detonation until after the launch timer expires, upon impact, or when the explosive system stops spinning.

The present disclosure relates to a high-density rocket propellant and associated recoilless launching systems and methods with tungsten powder added providing substantial mass to the propellant for additional impulse, absorption of sound, optimization of back blast and carry weight, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the high-density rocket propellant includes tungsten mass percentages of between about 70%-about 80%, equivalent to about 17%-about 26% by volume.

A modular charge system based on a standard module fitted with a flying plate or a liner and axially coupled to other modules to configure the size and type of charge. The explosive is enclosed in a casing, which has a cylindrical wall with a plurality of external longitudinal rails that run lengthwise. The rails are substantially parallel, and approximately equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of the casing. The space between a pair of rails defines a channel. The casing rails function as a cylindrical tamper. The explosive is partitioned into removable portions and permanent portions, where the removable portions are separated from the permanent portions and any retained removable portions, therein enabling the module to be fitted with a variety of flying plates, liners and other hardware. Modules may be coupled utilizing internal slides, positioned in the channels to join modules.

A composite infrared target simulation display system for field testing of infrared (IR) search and track, guidance and general sensory systems. The system includes one or more tileable emitter arrays scalable without systemic size limitation. The emitter arrays are square faced tiles housing power and control electronics to autonomously display a stored infrared test image according to parameters distributed by a control host and a timing signal. A face of the emitter array is divided into regularly spaced pixel positions, each made up of multiple IR emitters operating in differing regions of the IR band to display an image. Multiple emitter array tiles are joined to form a complete system. Each emitter of each pixel position is individually addressable to be individually controllable with respect to emittance state for displaying an image. Multiple images may be sequentially displayed to replicate a simulated target signature in motion.

A gyroscopic stabilizer has a ring mounted at a missile rocket nozzle exit for rotation about the exit. The ring bears vanes extended inwardly into gases exiting from the nozzle and configured for rotation by the exiting gases so that the rotating mass of the ring gyroscopically stabilizes the missile. The ring may be mounted by a bearing having rolling elements or sliding surfaces. The axial length of the ring may be substantially less than its diameter. The ring has a low moment of inertia and is accelerated to stabilizing speed by vanes minimally impeding the exiting gases. When the stabilizer is used on a rocket propelled missile launched from a tube, the missile is fully stabilized in the tube before burnout and there is no rotational friction between the tube and the missile.

A cartridge useful as an activator of other systems, and related method of manufacture. The cartridge's casing includes a fuse delimited by placing a plate at each end staked to the casing for fixing the fuse. This configuration permits precise control of the length of the fuse during manufacture, eliminates the need for separate structures in the casing to aid fuse location, and simplifies manufacture and assembly. This configuration supports the fuse lessening stresses that can lead to fractures. A portion of the casing is thinned by a preselected amount to permit fracturing of the casing to launch the projectile. The projectile may be attached to the cartridge casing more simply, e.g. by screw threading.

In an exemplary embodiment, an overpressure disrupter system is described including at least one module, an explosive material contained in at least one module, and a fire retardant material contained in at least one module. At least one module includes at least one connection area, at least one outer wall; and at least one inner wall. At least one outer wall and at least one inner wall combine to form at least one outer compartments housing the fire retardant material. At least one inner wall forms at least one inner compartment housing the explosive material. At least one connection area is configured to connect at least one module with at least one of another of at least one module and at least one ancillary device.

A panel, a tactical maintenance curtain system, and a method includes a plurality of first panels, where each of the plurality of first panels are rectangular; a plurality of second panels, where each of the plurality of second panels are disposed between a pair of the plurality of first panels via lap joints, and where each of the plurality of second panels are rectangular; and at least two webbing straps containing each of the plurality of first panels and the plurality of second panels; where each of the plurality of first panels, the plurality of second panels, and the at least two webbing straps are constructed of a material providing suitable impact protection from bullets and blast fragments.

A reaction container has contains an amount of a water reactive material and a volume of water within the confined space of its interior. The water reactive material, which contains aluminum, is formed as two separate and spaced apart portions. The water is located between the two portions of the water reactive material. A detonation mechanism, which is configured to mix the amount of water reactive material and the volume of water, is provided in communication with each portion of the water reactive material. The volume of water and the aluminum in the water reactive material are stoichiometrically balanced.

The assemblable module charge system includes a set of quadrant panels, where an individual quadrant panel is a fractional component of a cylindrical wall having a plurality of external longitudinal parallel rails separated by channels. The fractional cylindrical wall has a sectional length with fastening side edges. The set of panels may be stored as a flat-pack and assembled into a single module. The volume of the flat-pack is less than half the volume of the assembled module. The flat-pack is a group of unassembled quadrant panels nested to minimize space. The system uses elongate slides that may be frictionally positioned in channels shared by the module and a charge system. The charge system is a prepackaged explosive that may be fastened to the assembled module.

An initiation distributor includes two plates coupled in a spaced-apart fashion. Each plate includes detonation transfer holes. A face of one plate has a depression and defined channels leading from the depression to the plate's detonation transfer holes, and has a detonation transfer port located in line with a plate's channels. The second plate has a detonation transfer port, and channels defined in its face that lead from the plate's detonation transfer port to its detonation transfer holes. Each of one plate's detonation transfer holes can be aligned with one of the second plate's detonation holes. A conduit couples the detonation transfer ports in the two plates with a pathway defined between the depression and each of the plates' detonation transfer holes. Explosive material fills the depression, all channels, all detonation transfer holes, all detonation transfer ports, and the conduit.

The present invention's stratified composite material system of armor, as typically embodied, comprises a strike stratum and a backing stratum. The strike stratum includes elastomeric matrix material and inventive ceramic-inclusive elements embedded therein and arranged (e.g., in one or more rows and one or more columns) along a geometric plane corresponding to the front (initial strike) surface of the strike stratum. More rigid than the strike stratum, the backing stratum is constituted by, e.g., metallic (metal or metal alloy) material or fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix material. Some inventive embodiments also comprise a spall-containment stratum fronting the strike stratum. The inventive ceramic-inclusive elements geometrically describe any of various inventive modes, including: first mode, having a flat front face and a textured back face; second mode, having a pyramidal front section and a prismatoidal (especially, prismoidal, e.g., truncated pyramidal or prismatic) body section; hybrid mode, combining features of first and second modes.

A coating of atactic polypropylene over a transparent armor substrate improves resistance to penetration while allowing convenient repair of minor abrasions and scratches.

A lightweight armor for resisting penetration by both fragments and high velocity sharply pointed projectiles. The lightweight armor includes a slide region and a receiving region, with the slide region having a backing material coated with polyurea to slidably redirect projectiles towards the receiving region, which may include high strength thickened projectile stopping materials.

The present invention is generally directed to a method of making chalcogenide glasses including holding the melt in a vertical furnace to promote homogenization and mixing; slow cooling the melt at less than 10° C. per minute; and sequentially quenching the melt from the top down in a controlled manner. Additionally, the present invention provides for the materials produced by such method. The present invention is also directed to a process for removing oxygen and hydrogen impurities from chalcogenide glass components using dynamic distillation.

A thermally stable chalcogenide glass, a process for making the same, and an optical fiber drawn therefrom are provided. A chalcogenide glass having the composition Ge(5−y)As(32−x)Se(59+x)Te(4+y) (0≦y≦1 and 0≦x≦2) is substantially free from crystallization when it is heated past the glass transition temperature Tg or drawn into optical fibers. A process for making the thermally stable chalcogenide glass includes purifying the components to remove oxides and scattering centers, batching the components in a preprocessed distillation ampoule, gettering oxygen impurities from the mixture, and heating the components to form a glass melt. An optical fiber formed from the chalcogenide glass is substantially free from crystallization and exhibits low signal loss in the near-infrared region, particularly at wavelengths of about 1.55 μm.

A composition for the destruction of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals having a polyoxometalate (POM) attached to an amine, carboxylic acid, or ammonium substituted porous polymer. Also disclosed is a method for attaching a POM to an amine, carboxylic acid, or ammonium substituted porous polymer by (1) dissolving the POM in water or an organic solvent, adding the functionalized porous polymer, whereby the POM ionically attaches to the amine, carboxylic acid or ammonium group, or (2) heating the POM and functionalized polymer in the presence of a dehydrating agent whereby an imide bond is produced between the POM and the functionality on the porous polymer.

An electromagnetic weapon that includes semi-randomly arranged antenna elements and a central weapon computer. The antenna elements are coordinated to function as an active phased array capable of finding and executing a resonate mode of a target. The central weapon computer controls all the antenna elements, and is able to determine the location of all the antenna elements.

An extensible torpedo has a body, a cavity within the body and a water reactive material in communication with the cavity. A mechanism selectively positions the cavity between a first volume and a second volume and also selectively positions the torpedo between a first length and a second length. The second volume and length are greater than the first volume and length. The mechanism introduces ambient water into the cavity in a volume that represents a stoichiometric balance with the amount of water reactive material.

An apparatus for curing cylindrical shaped elements having a liner, especially a liner of a rocket motor sleeve, where the cylindrical shaped elements are cured during rotation in a horizontal orientation. Horizontal rotation produces a liner with a substantially uniform thickness. The apparatus is mobile, compact, and has built-in robust safety mechanisms not compromised by the heat used to effect a cure. The cylindrical rollers are easily cleaned with minimal cross-contamination of one lot to another. Dripping of elastomeric materials from one assembly of rollers onto a stackable assembly of rollers below is eliminated. Each stackable assembly of rollers is independently controlled where each assembly is driven by its own motor, so rotation of one assemble does not affect another assembly of rollers.

A compressed air launched munition comprises a projectile which after firing forms a multiplicity of elongated ropes held in a tubular configuration by a series of stiff spacers. The stiff spacers retain a rope tube diameter of at least about 8 inches. The ropes and stiff spacers have an essentially neutral specific gravity in water. The projectile is effective in entangling a boat propeller and stopping an uncooperative boat with little damage.

Methods for forming armored glass cylinders suitable for improving resistance of armor to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats. Cool a cylindrical glass or ceramic element to a temperature below that of a cylindrical casing, place the cylindrical glass or ceramic element into the cylindrical casing while the cylindrical glass or ceramic element is cool, and seal the cylindrical casing and allow the temperature of the cylindrical glass or ceramic element to rise, such that the cylindrical casing compresses the cylindrical glass or ceramic element. Alternately, heat a metal cylindrical casing, press glass or ceramic into the cylinder while the metal cylinder is at an elevated temperature, seal the metal cylindrical casing while metal cylindrical casing is at an elevated temperature, and allow the metal cylinder to cool, such that when cooled, the cylindrical casing will compress the glass in all directions.

An armor system with a composite laminate having at least four alternating layers (two bi-layers) of a first material and a second material, the first material having a lower acoustic impedance than the second material. The first material is a viscoelastic polymer with a glass transition temperature less than the expected operational temperature range, and the second material can be a hard material such as steel, aluminum, or ceramic. The laminate can include many alternating layers of elastomer and hard material, and can be adhered or affixed to a thicker armor substrate. The second material layer can be a layer of hollow or solid spheres. Additional protective elements such as front surface hemispheres or conical projections, and corrugated panels can be added to improve resistance to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats.

A shape charge holder includes a platform where all the charges are symmetrically positioned about equidistance from each adjacent charge and about an equal distance from a center point. The center point is generally the centroid of the platform. The holder has an explosive bridge fixture which enables simultaneous detonation of at least three shape charges. The charges are angularly mounted in sockets having holes through the platform. When detonated, each jet formed by the exploding shape charge proceeds to a convergence point located orthogonal to the platform. The holder includes a supporting structure that establishes a standoff distance of the platform/charges from a target. In operation, the explosive fixture is attached to each charge and is filled with an explosive that extends to each charge. The explosive fixture includes a single igniter assuring that when the explosive is detonated, so are the shape charges.

The device includes two supports and a primary conductive strip. The primary conductive strip includes a neutral surface, a first side, and a second side. The primary conductive strip is connected one of directly and indirectly on the first side to the two supports such that the primary conductive strip is constrained in two dimensions and movable in one dimension. The device also includes a primary distributed feedback fiber laser. The primary distributed feedback fiber laser includes a fiber axis. The primary distributed feedback fiber laser is connected to the primary conductive strip along one of the first side and the second side such that there is a positive distance between the neutral surface of the primary conductive strip and the fiber axis of the primary distributed feedback fiber laser.

System and method for determining which decoys should not be deployed based on the locations of the nearby high value units and other considerations. The system and method can visualize and manage the employment of decoys in a multi-platform environment by plotting the predicted path of decoys relative to high value unit (HVU) motion, and highlighting any situations that exist where the decoys (both air-drifting and self-propelled) launched from a platform can direct an incoming threat towards a high value unit. The system and method can develop, display, and automatically transmit a recommendation to launch or not launch a specific decoy.

A traverse stop clamp is provided for restricting sweep of a machine gun mounted on a tripod. The stop clamp is installable on a traverse bar connecting to rear legs of the tripod, the traverse bar having an inverse U-shape cross-section that form edges at ends of the U-shape. The stop clamp includes an open ring member, a shift member, a handle, a spring pin and a locking nut. The open ring member has a C-shaped ring with an interrupted circumferential outer periphery and an inner periphery with channels for receiving the edges of the traverse bar. The outer periphery has first and second ring ends separated by an adjustable gap. The open ring member further includes first and second tabs disposed to extend radially outward from the first and second ends. These first and second tabs respectively have first and second through-holes. The shift member has a tang and a shaft at respectively first and second shifter ends. The receiver has a third through-hole, and the shaft has a threaded terminus. The tang and shaft pass respectively through the first and second through-holes. The handle has a lever and a clevis head with coaxial fourth through-holes. The head has a cam separating a lock clevis face and a release clevis face. The lock clevis face engages the tang in response to the lever being adjacent the outer periphery. The release clevis face engages the tang in response to pulling the lever away from the outer periphery. The handle pivots at the fourth-through-holes to widen the gap between the tabs. The spring pin passes through the fourth and third through-holes to connect the tang and the clevis head pivotably together. The threaded lock nut attaches to the threaded terminus to engage the second tab.

The present invention can be generally described as a protection system. This protection system is formed by the integration of commonly available subsystems, which may be controlled by non-proprietary, open architecture software, which, in turn, may accommodate the commonly known “plug and play” capability. This allows the present invention to easily incorporate a variety of lethal (or less-than-lethal) weapon payloads as well as a variety of sensors and detectors; thereby providing the user with the first real, integrated system (of systems) solution capable of providing an enhanced situational awareness capability.

A gun control system is disclosed that includes a fire control kernel and location-independent software components within the fire control kernel. The kernel provides core fire control functionality that is unaffected by changes within the external environment, such as changes to the physical configuration of the gun system of which the gun control system is a part. Each location-independent software component has a specific functionality, and is able to run on any processor within the system in a location-independent manner. These software components can include a target/track management interface software component, a gun control system control interface software component, a gun mount control interface software component, an ownship data interface software component, and a gun control system display interface software component.

The quick release gun sight adapter includes a scope adapter, a red dot sight adapter, a locking block, a spring loaded ramped blade, and a spring loaded latch piston. The red dot sight adapter is attachable to a red dot sight and the ramped blade is attached to the red dot sight adapter. The ramped blade is rotatably attachable to the scope adapter, and the scope adapter is rotatably adapted to hold the ramped blade such that when the ramped blade is attached to the scope adapter, and the ramped blade and the red dot sight adapter are rotated the ramped blade engages the locking block and locks the ramped blade into place. The piston communicates with the locking block such that when actuated the piston engages the locking block such that the ramped blade and red dot sight adapter may be rotated and unattached from the scope adapter.

A system and method for providing independent weapon launch or release control for an unmanned or autonomous vehicle by ensuring the vehicle is within its weapon launch area using geographic position information from a navigational source such as GPS, comparing the position of the vehicle to the weapon's launch boundaries, and arming or disarming the vehicle's weapon launch capability based on its location relative to the weapon launch area.

A sheath flow system having a channel with at least one fluid transporting structure located in the top and bottom surfaces situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity. The design can be readily incorporated into microfluidic chips without the need for special manufacturing protocols.

A method of making a closed-cell silica foam glass is provided which can include diffusing a substance into a porous glass substrate to form an impregnated substrate, sealing the impregnated glass substrate and heating to a first temperature, wherein the pressure is greater than one atmosphere, heating the container to a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is higher than first temperature, removing the solid glass, non-porous substrate, and heating the solid glass, non-porous substrate to a third temperature to soften the solid glass, non-porous substrate and thereby expand the solid glass, non-porous substrate. A closed-cell silica foam product is provided which can have a closed-cell structure and high temperature insulating property.

A thermally stable chalcogenide glass, a process for making the same, and an optical fiber drawn therefrom are provided. A chalcogenide glass having the composition Ge(5−y)As(32−x)Se(59+x)Te(4+y) (0≦y≦1 and 0≦x≦2) is substantially free from crystallization when it is heated past the glass transition temperature Tg or drawn into optical fibers. A process for making the thermally stable chalcogenide glass includes purifying the components to remove oxides and scattering centers, batching the components in a preprocessed distillation ampoule, gettering oxygen impurities from the mixture, and heating the components to form a glass melt. An optical fiber formed from the chalcogenide glass is substantially free from crystallization and exhibits low signal loss in the near-infrared region, particularly at wavelengths of about 1.55 μm.

An electromagnetic rail gun launcher for launching an armature attached to a projectile includes a barrel, having a bore, and a body that includes a pair of main rails, a first pair of augmenting rails one of each lying outboard of and coextending with each of one of the main rails from the breech to the muzzle, a second pair of augmenting rails one of each lying outboard of and coextending with one of each of the first pair of augmenting rails, a first pair of electrically-conducting crossovers proximate to the breech and a second pair of electrically-conducting crossovers proximate to the muzzle and connected in series when the armature is positioned in the bore with power provided to the launcher. The exit speed of the projectile from the launcher is controlled by controlling the current to the launcher.

A sheath flow system having a channel with at least one fluid transporting structure located in the top and bottom surfaces situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity. The design can be readily incorporated into microfluidic chips without the need for special manufacturing protocols.

A method and apparatus for making a substantially void-free preform for a microstructured optical fiber using a one-step process is provided. A preform is prepared from specialty glasses using a direct extrusion method. A die for use with the direct extrusion method is also provided, and a method for drawing the preform into a HC-PBG fiber for use in transmitting infra-red wavelength light is also provided. The preform comprises an outer jacket made of solid glass, a cladding having a plurality of air holes arranged in a desired pattern within the jacket, and a core which is hollow.

Methods for forming armored glass cylinders suitable for improving resistance of armor to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats. Cool a cylindrical glass or ceramic element to a temperature below that of a cylindrical casing, place the cylindrical glass or ceramic element into the cylindrical casing while the cylindrical glass or ceramic element is cool, and seal the cylindrical casing and allow the temperature of the cylindrical glass or ceramic element to rise, such that the cylindrical casing compresses the cylindrical glass or ceramic element. Alternately, heat a metal cylindrical casing, press glass or ceramic into the cylinder while the metal cylinder is at an elevated temperature, seal the metal cylindrical casing while metal cylindrical casinger is at an elevated temperature, and allow the metal cylinder to cool, such that when cooled, the cylindrical casing will compress the glass in all directions.

The present invention is generally directed to a method of making a hollow-core photonic band gap preform from a specialty glass by pressing a specialty glass through a die to form a tube wherein the outer transverse shape of the tube is a hexagon, triangle, quadrilateral, or other polygon; stretching the tube to form a micro-tube with approximately the same outer transverse shape as the tube; stacking a plurality of micro-tubes into a bundle minimizing voids between adjacent micro-tubes and forming a central longitudinal void wherein the plurality of micro-tubes within the bundle comprise an inner structured region of the preform and the central void of the bundle comprises a hollow core in the preform; and inserting the bundle into a jacket tube. Also disclosed are the hollow-core photonic band gap preform and fiber formed by this method.

A body of iron, steel or other such ferrous material is protected from thermochemical erosion by a layer of an iron nitride having a relatively low nitrogen content. The atomic percentage of nitrogen in the iron nitride layer is no greater than 20%, and in specific embodiments is in the range of 10-15%. The nitride layer may have a layer of a refractory material deposited thereatop. Some refractory materials include metals such as chromium. The invention has specific utility for protecting gun barrels, turbines, internal combustion engines, drilling equipment, machine tools, aerospace systems and chemical reactors which are exposed to extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. Specifically disclosed is a gun barrel which incorporates the invention.

A non-pyrotechnic disseminator includes a body portion with a cover; a first compartment adjacent to the cover that is configured to hold disseminating materials; a chamber adjacent to the first compartment; a disk within the chamber and adjacent to the first compartment; a flow control device adjacent to the chamber opposite the disk; a second compartment adjacent to the flow control device and including a pin; an actuating mechanism connected to the pin; a third compartment adjacent to the second compartment opposite the flow control device that is configured to hold compressed gas; and a seal separating the second compartment from the third compartment. Actuation of the actuating mechanism causes the pin to break the seal causing release of the compressed gas into the second compartment and through the flow control device in a predetermined delayed timing, and then causing the compressed gas to burst the disk thereby pushing the disseminating materials out of the body portion by rupturing the cover.

A launchable grenade system is backwards compatible with conventional launch platforms and is capable of launching a variety of payloads at greater range and increased launch velocity, and with significantly improved targeting accuracy. The grenade is pre-packaged in a disposable launch canister that effectively confines launch ejection gases behind the projectile until it exits the canister. Additional enhancements in one or more embodiments, include collapsible aerodynamic stabilizers that are folded inside the launch canister prior to firing and deploy in flight to improve projectile stability and ballistic performance; electronic fuzing for improved repeatability and targeting precision, next-generation digital capabilities that include electronic device identification, failsafe and device monitoring; and momentum arresting forward expulsion of the payload to reduce blunt trauma hazard from projectile hardware and to provide for short distance targeting at significantly greater speed.

The present invention relates to mechanical devices and methods allowing the safe removal of heavy, difficult to handle fragments from an explosive destruction system (EDS).

A portable protective shield for an IED or other suspected explosive devices includes a plurality of toroidal rings clamped between a lid and a base of the shield. The device is capable of withstanding high-pressure blast waves, thermal release and/or high-velocity fragments.

An incendiary device such as a grenade includes a fuze; a fuze bushing operatively connected to the fuze; a first plate snap fit to the fuze bushing; a delay column pressed into the first plate; a drag adapter partially surrounding the fuze bushing and contacting a top of the first plate; a burster tube operatively connected to the first plate; a second plate operatively connected to the burster tube; and a housing body screw fit to the first plate and the second plate and surrounding the burster tube, wherein the first plate and the second plate are epoxied to the housing body and the burster tube, wherein the fuze is configured to initiate causing gases and sparks to be released between the fuze bushing and the first plate, wherein the gases and sparks increases a pressure causing the fuze and the fuze bushing to be ejected from the housing body.

A selectable color smoke grenade for producing different color smokes from a single grenade canister. Each grenade canister includes an upper chamber that holds gas producing material and a fuze, one or more dye chambers with dye containing compartments and bypass chambers, a plug positioned between the one or more dye chambers and the upper chamber, and a mixing chamber to receive smoke from the one or more dye chambers and having holes to release the smoke to the environment. Each dye chamber has one or more compartments containing a different color dye. Holes in the plug are used to selectively channel the gases from the upper chamber into one or more of the dye containing compartments. Color selectivity is achieved by changing the alignment between the holes in the plug and the dye containing compartments by rotating the plug and dye chamber relative to each other about a common axis.

A system includes but is not limited to at least one manifold; an inhalant dissemination device coupled to the at least one manifold; an inhalant characterization device coupled to the at least one manifold; and a control module operably coupled to the inhalant dissemination device and the inhalant characterization device, said control module configured to (a) determine an inhalant concentration in a manifold, and (b) calculate at least one of a retrospective and a prospective inhaled dose in response to the inhalant concentration, and (c) start and stop a flow through the manifold until the at least one of the retrospective and the prospective inhaled dose is greater than or equal to a specified dose. A method includes but is not limited to starting a flow of an inhalant through a manifold; determining an inhalant concentration of the inhalant in the manifold; and stopping the flow of the inhalant through the manifold when the inhalant concentration is in a first specified inhalant-concentration range.

In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to: conditioning an inhalent environment; exposing a first organism to the inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time; and exposing a second organism to the inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time. In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to: conditioning an inhalent environment; exposing a first organism to the inhalent environment until a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage; and exposing a second organism to the inhalent environment until a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage. In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to: detecting a first organism via a first-organism biochip device implanted in the first organism; and controlling a first-organism dosage in response to the first-organism biochip device. In addition to the foregoing, other method embodiments are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application. In one or more various embodiments, related systems include but are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the foregoing-referenced method embodiments; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the foregoing-referenced method embodiments depending upon the design choices of the system designer. In one embodiment, a system includes but is not limited to: an inhalent manifold; a first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold; a second independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold; and an exposure control system operably coupled to either or both said first independently-controllable exposure unit and said second independently-controllable exposure unit.

A fin retention system having a plurality of fin retention units and in which each unit is associated with one deployable fin of the projectile. Each retention unit has an alignment device and a pair of span arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of the alignment device. An attachment device attaches the free ends of the span arms of adjacent fin retention units together. In doing so, the alignment device engages and holds each fin in its undeployed position.

A dynamic process for increasing the wear life of ferrous articles subjected to a high-temperature environment created by combustion of a propellant or fuel comprises selecting the propellant or fuel so that its combustion products include relatively large amounts of nitrogen, which nitrogen forms a protective nitride layer on the surface of the ferrous article. Disclosed is a specific embodiment of the invention for prolonging the wear life of gun barrels.

A transparent armor construction having a laminate structure with at least two layers. The layers are constructed of two different materials selected from the group of glass, ceramic, resin, polymeric material, and plastic and in which the at least two layers include different coefficients of thermal expansion. The layers are bonded together and a planar frame having an open central section and an outer border is then bonded to the laminate structure. The material for the planar frame is selected so that it has a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the laminate layer to which it is bonded.

The disclosure relates to matrix composites comprising high strain-rate sensitive elastomers in a multi-layer construct which provide ballistic-resistant material systems with enhanced protection against blast damage as well as ballistic impact. According to one embodiment, a matrix composite for impact resistance and blast mitigation formed in a multi-layer configuration may include: (a) one or more outer layers comprising poly(urethane urea) having a strain-rate sensitivity characteristic in the range of 1,000/sec to 1,000,000/sec; and (b) one or more inner layers comprising poly(urethane urea) having a strain-rate sensitivity characteristic in the range of 10,000/sec to 1,000,000/sec.

A projectile can be equipped with a camera and be configured to detonate after receiving a command to detonate. After the projectile is thrown the camera can capture images. These images can be sent by way of the physical link to the handheld device. The handheld device can display the images. A user of the handheld device can view the images and determine if the projectile should detonate based on the images.

A system and method for performing attitude determination for projectiles comprises a projectile; a plurality of magnetometers arranged orthogonally to one another in the projectile, wherein the plurality of magnetometers are adapted to take first flight vector measurements of the projectile; a plurality of angular rate sensors in the projectile and proximate to the plurality of magnetometers, wherein the plurality of angular rate sensors are adapted to take second flight vector measurements of the projectile; a digital signal processor adapted to combine the first and second flight vector measurements to estimate Euler angles associated with a position of the projectile; and a calculator adapted to determine an attitude of the projectile based on the estimated Euler angles. Preferably, the plurality of magnetometers comprises three magnetometers aligned within the projectile, and wherein a first one of the magnetometers is aligned with a spin axis of the projectile.

A jacketed bullet having a penetrator constructed of a hard material in line with a slug having a lower modulus. At least a portion of both the slug and the penetrator are then encased by a metal jacket. A plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending flutes are formed along the slug and possibly the penetrator. These flutes receive deformation of the jacket upon firing of the bullet into a rifled gun bore to thereby reduce friction between the bullet and the gun bore during operation.

Mufflers are provided for a vehicle exhaust system having a combustion chamber and an exhaust pipe. The vehicle exhaust system is configured to reduce the noise of combustion gasses generated in the combustion chamber. An exemplary muffler includes a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being configured for mounting the muffler to the exhaust pipe leading to the engine, the distal end being configured to allow the combustion gasses to pass therethrough, and at least one vortex chamber disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The at least one vortex chamber includes a circular peripheral wall for inducing a vortex on a portion of the combustion gasses expelled from the combustion chamber during high-pressure pulsations created by the operation of a vehicle engine. The vortex impedes flow of the combustion gasses from the pipe such that acoustic energy associated with the expulsion of the combustion gasses is dissipated.

A tandem shaped charge warhead having a forward charge and a rear charge mounted in tandem along a charge axis. The forward charge has a shaped charge liner with an explosive surrounding it, along with a metallic confinement housing surrounding the explosive and liner, with a retaining ring at the front to secure the liner to the confinement housing. The confinement housing has a cavity between the explosive and its' exterior surface which houses a booster and detonator. The rear charge is a conventional shaped charge warhead with a conical liner. A delay timing means is provided for imparting an activation delay in the detonations of the charges from the forward to the rear charge. In one embodiment, a lightweight blast shield is placed between the forward and the rear charge. The tandem system is capable of time delays which exceed the state-of-the-art by more than factor of four.

Systems for launching one or more projectiles from a bore are provided. An exemplary system incorporates a shell, a projectile, an explosive charge and a wad. The shell includes a base and a casing, with the casing defining an interior. The projectile is located within the interior and is configured to be expelled from the shell casing. The explosive charge is located within the interior and is configured to expel the projectile from the casing. The wad is located within the interior and is configured to expel the projectile from the casing in response to detonation of the explosive charge. The wad includes petals and a petal stop, with the petals being movable between a closed position, in which free ends of the petals are arranged proximate to each other such that the petals at least partially surround the projectile, and an open position, in which the free ends of the petals are displaced from each other, the petal stop being configured to limit movement of the petals beyond the open position. Responsive to being expelled from a bore by detonation of the explosive charge, the petals move from the closed position to the open position, thereby retarding the wad and releasing the projectile.

A launcher system and method for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein the launcher system comprises a barrel comprising a prepackaged internal pusher cup configured behind the UAV housed within the barrel; an expansion chamber operatively connected around the barrel, wherein the barrel extends out of a first end of the expansion chamber; a muzzle adapter operatively connected to a second end of the expansion chamber, wherein the first end of the expansion chamber is positioned opposite to the second end of the expansion chamber; a rifle slip-fitted to the muzzle adapter; and a stand operatively connected to the expansion chamber, wherein a triggering of the rifle causes the internal pusher cup to push the UAV out of the barrel at a predetermined launch velocity in order to attain a predetermined self-propelled flight trajectory.

The present disclosures are systems, apparatus and methods for communicating with a robot via a weapon. In one embodiment, the weapon comprises a barrel, a receiver assembly, a handgrip, and a first controller. The receiver assembly is coupled to an end of the barrel and to the handgrip. The first controller is integrated into the handgrip and inputs a first controller signal to a processing device. A transmitter receives a processing signal from the processing device according to the first controller signal. Preferably, the transmitter sends the processing signal to a robot, which responds accordingly to the received processing signal.

A dynamic process for increasing the wear life of ferrous articles subjected to a high-temperature environment created by combustion of a propellant or fuel comprises selecting the propellant or fuel so that its combustion products include relatively large amounts of nitrogen, which nitrogen forms a protective nitride layer on the surface of the ferrous article. Disclosed is a specific embodiment of the invention for prolonging the wear life of gun barrels.

An article and a process are provided for reducing the shear stress on an interface of a structural member in intimate contact with a compressive load. The article is in the form of a wedge that is forcibly placed against the sidewall of one end or both ends of the structural member. The wedge may take the form of a ring that can be placed on the inside or outside surface of a hollow cylindrical structural member. The process of forcibly placing a wedge against the sidewall at one or both ends of the structural member produces a transverse compressive stress upon the sidewall. The transverse compressive stress upon the sidewall attenuates the tendency of said sidewall to deflect when the structural member is subjected to a compressive load. A reduction in the deflection of the sidewall reduces the shear stress generated proximal to the interface of the structural member in intimate contact with a compressive load and increases the structural member load bearing capacity.

A sabot with exactly two complimentary halves, wherein each half portion comprises teeth configured to interlock with teeth of the other half portion. The sabot may further comprise a semi-circular groove configured in the teeth of each half portion. Also, each half portion may comprise at least one indented conical end. Preferably, on each half portion, the teeth are spaced apart from the at least one indented conical end. Moreover, each half portion may comprise translucent polycarbonate material. Furthermore, each half portion may be adapted to flush mount together to form a substantially cylindrical configuration when the teeth are interlocked. Additionally, the sabot may further comprise a semi-circular groove configured in the teeth of each half portion, wherein the semi-circular groove extends to the at least one indented conical end.

A detector assembly for detecting a flash from the firing of a weapon comprising: a first support; a plurality of sensors supported by the first support for detecting light from the flash; the sensors operating to receive light in the range of ultraviolet light from approximately 100 nm to approximately 290 nm; a directional indicator for indicating the directional location of the first support; and an indicator assembly comprising at least one indicator; the at least one indicator operating to display the directional location of the flash.

A projectile for launch from an apparatus is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the projectile includes a body; a boom having a first end extendable from the body; and an armature coupled to the first end of the boom, wherein the armature is configured to be moveable along and launchable from the apparatus and the armature is configured to be separable from the first end of the extended boom after launch from the apparatus.

Disclosed is an ammunition cartridge case that includes a sleeve, a base fixedly attached to the sleeve and a fiber reinforced polymer composite annulus that is at least partially within the base. In certain embodiments, the sleeve and the base are formed partly or entirely from a metal, for example steel or stainless steel. The base has a central aperture that affords for the annulus ring to fit within. The annulus is dimensioned such that it fits securely within the central aperture of the base and has a center aperture wherein a primer can be located. The annulus ring contains a volume of composite fibers ranging from 10 to 90 volume percent. The annulus isolates the primer from the cartridge case and thereby prevents galvanic corrosion between the primer and case. In addition, a metallic foil can be present between the annulus and the cartridge case in order to assure proper securement of the annulus therewithin.

The disclosure is directed to a transparent armor laminate having a glass, glass-ceramic or ceramic strike face layer, one or a plurality of glass, glass-ceramic (“GC”), ceramic (“C”) or polymeric (“P”) backing layer behind the strike face layer, one or a plurality of spall catcher (“SC”) layers behind the backing layer(s), and a thin cover glass layer laminated to the strike face, the thin layer being the first layer to be impacted by any incoming projectile or debris. The cover glass has a thickness ≦3 mm. In another embodiment the cover glass thickness is ≦1 mm. Additionally, a defrosting/defogging element is laminated between the cover glass and the strike face.

A sabot petal having an axis parallel to or coinciding with the launch axis. The sabot petal is formed from a plurality of stacked sheets of composite material consisting of a fiber reinforcement and a polymer resin matrix. Each composite sheet is in a plane rotationally offset from the meridional plane which is defined by the launch axis and radial axis of the sabot petal's cylindrical coordinate system.

Provided among other things are reactive energetic material systems used for conductors in detonators for increased efficiencies. According to an embodiment, a detonator may include: a conductor including at least two constituents including (i) an electrically conductive constituent, and (ii) an electrically non-conductive constituent, that when subjected to sufficient electrical energy, result in an exothermic reaction; and a flyer plate having a non-conductive surface in contact with said conductor. When the sufficient electrical energy is supplied to said conductor, rapid heating and vaporization of at least a portion of the conductor occurs so as to explosively drive at least a portion of the flyer plate away from said conductor. In an embodiment, a multilayer conductor may be formed of alternating layers of at least one electrically conductive layer, and at least one electrically non-conductive layer, that when subjected to sufficient electrical energy, result in an exothermic reaction.

A case for a warhead having a plurality of elongated wires which are braided or woven together to form a mesh which is formed into the shape corresponding to the warhead case. The mesh is impregnated with a polymer matrix which, upon curing, forms a rigid warhead case. At least some of the elongated wires include notches at selected locations which form fracture points which shape a blast from a subsequent explosion of the warhead.

In accordance with the present teachings, a method of producing composite having a 3A Q3D reinforcement phase is disclosed. The method of producing the composite provides producing a three-dimensionally woven configuration where a first fiber from a first sheet of reinforcement phase is interwoven or mechanically linked with at least one of an adjacent second layer and then back into the first sheet. The linking fibers are passed between layers at an acute angle generally less than about 10 degrees. The method includes impregnating the woven construction with a curable polymer such as epoxy.

A sabot petal having an axis parallel to or coinciding with the launch axis. The sabot petal is formed from a plurality of stacked sheets of composite material consisting of a fiber reinforcement and a polymer resin matrix. Each composite sheet is in a plane rotationally offset from the meridional plane which is defined by the launch axis and radial axis of the sabot petal's cylindrical coordinate system.

A system and method of trajectory correction includes a voice coil coupled to the projectile and providing a linear force; a linkage assembly coupled to the voice coil and comprising: a linkage shaft; a slot coupled to the linkage shaft; and a pin loosely coupled to the slot to form a first pivot point, wherein the linkage assembly converts the linear force to a torque force through the first pivot point; and a canard assembly coupled to the linkage assembly and including a canard shaft coupled to the linkage shaft to form a second pivot point; and at least one canard coupled to the canard shaft, wherein the torque force is transmitted to canard shaft by the linkage shaft, and wherein the canard shaft transmits the torque force to the canard to correct the trajectory of the projectile.