General Dynamics Corp., Pomona Division

Oakley G Ross

Larry D Wedertz

Mark L Kline

Byron M Niemeier

Yu-Wen Y Chang

David H Kristedja

Phillip T Kan

Johnny R Vieyra

Michael G Greiner

A radar return suppressor for use in concealing and camouflaging mobile targets such as trucks, artillery and like vehicles. One or more lengths of a support member attachable to the target and components support and position a radar signal attenuator between the target and the anticipated radar source. In one embodiment, the attenuator is a multiplicity of closely spaced flexible plastic strands having radar signal absorbing material dispersed in the strands to form a labyrinth to entrap and absorb the radar signal. In a second embodiment the labyrinth of strands is replaced by an intertwined plastic vine-like structure secured in the support member for absorbing the energy of the radar signal.

Radar return suppressor

A coupler for electrically-isolating two conductive sections of fluid-passing line includes two nonconductively-interconnected pieces of tubing for insertion in the line. The pieces of tubing each have a divergently-flared end, and the flared ends are nonconductively-interconnected within two dielectric wafers. Each wafer has a tapered hole extending through it that matches the flared ends and enlarges to a face on the wafer. The flared ends are each bonded within a separate one of the tapered holes in a position recessed from the face with the flare of the end paralleling the taper of the hole, and the faces are bonded together with the larger ends of the tapered holes aligned and the flared ends sealed in fluid communication with an electrically-nonconductive gap between them.

Electrically-isolating coupler suitable for high pressure cryogenic gas

A cooling apparatus for an infrared up-convertor incorporates a transparent heat sink in a conductive heat exchange relationship with a surface of the up-convertor and a Joule-Thomson effect cryostat located outside of the incoming and emitted image paths for cooling the heat sink. In this manner, the cooling apparatus does not obscure the path of the image to or from the up-convertor.

Clear aperture cryostat for an infrared detector

A flexible waveguide for transmitting waves from a sensor mounted on a gimbal includes a cable comprising an outer flexible sheath and a plurality of flexible polytetrafluoroethylene fibers bundled within the sheath and including a termination flange coupled to at least one end thereof with the flange including a wedge-shaped plug and a tapered cavity engaging the end of the cable.

Flexible, dielectric millimeter waveguide

A separable electrical isolator for coupling two pieces of conductive tubing carrying high pressure cryogenic gas includes a gas-impervious dielectric spacer with a bore in which the pieces of tubing are sealed axially-aligned in fluid communication with an electrically-nonconductive gap between them. A pair of complementary coupling members are rigidly attached to the pieces of tubing to define outwardly-extending annular flanges that are each sealed about the periphery of a corresponding one of the pieces in a position slightly set back from an end of the piece. Each flange has an annular rib protruding from it toward the end of the piece. The coupling members are separably and nonconductively interconnected with the annular ribs applying compressive force to the spacer to thereby effect the seal.

Miniature O-ringless gas line isolator

A separable electrical isolator for coupling two pieces of conductive tubing carrying high pressure cryogenic gas includes a gas-impervious dielectric spacer with a pair of opposing surfaces and a bore extending therebetween in which the pieces of tubing are sealed axially-aligned in fluid communication with an electrically-nonconductive gap between them. A pair of complementary coupling members are rigidly attached to the pieces of tubing to define outwardly-extending annular surfaces that are each sealed about the periphery of a corresponding piece in a position slightly set back from and facing an end of the piece. The coupling members are separably and nonconductively interconnected with the annular surfaces facing the spacer surfaces and O-ring seals in between to apply compressive force to the spacer and seals and thereby effect the seal.

Separable high pressure gas line isolator

An apparatus and method for establishing the alignment of heat seeking missiles with the longitudinal axis of a launch pod within which the missiles are contained is disclosed. A housing containing a heat source and collimating optics provides a simulated distant infrared target for the missiles. A tapered probe rigidly attachable to the housing fits securely into a central alignment socket in the launcher pod. The probe is accurately offset from the center line of the alignment socket by the housing to establish the optical axis of the simulated target parallel to the axis of the launcher pod, and in front of the stored missiles. The position of the missile within the launch pod is adjustable to maximize the target signal strength received by the missile from the simulated target to achieve missile alignment with the axis of the launcher pod.

Boresight apparatus and method for missiles

A cooled infrared detector post includes a detector post formed of a stack of wafer disks with a detector substrate wafer forming one end of the post and a cooling chamber adjacent to the detector substrate with coolant supply and return passages formed in the series of wafers with a supply passage contained to a supply port with a supply passage forming a plurality of serpentine passages at various planes within the post and a return passage including a plurality of precooling chambers with the wafer stacked in a predetermined arrangement and fused together to form a monolithic post structure.

Cryogenic detector post

The leads for an infrared detector unit are arranged to pass through bores in a cooled detector housing with intimate contact with the cooled detector housing for precooling the leads extending from the detector elements to the respective preamp leads.

Precooled detector leads

An insulator device which couples a metallic gas delivery tube to a line leading to a detector device which requires cooling gas for operation. The insulator device of the present invention comprises a molded dielectric insulator, molded about two separated metallic end components, each of the metallic components including a nut portion to allow the insulator to be connected, on one hand to the detector device line, and on the other hand to the metallic gas delivery tube. The two metallic components are separated by a gap in order to provide the necessary electrical isolation between the two metallic end components. One metallic end component includes a built-in check valve which permits gas to flow only in the desired direction while preventing gas flow in the opposite direction. In a preferred arrangement, the metallic end components are shaped to minimize the extent of the gas force on the two metallic end components which normally would force them slightly apart so that the gas can bleed through the insulator along the outside surface thereof, thus separating the molded insulator portion from the metallic end components at their interface boundary as it goes along. The forces tending to separate the metallic end components within the connector are substantially reduced by virtue of the new shape which presents a minimum cross-sectional area to the pressurized gas in a region where the gas may apply its pressure.

High pressure electrical insulator

A simple, retractable, self-erecting wing for a low speed missile having a fabric wing cover affixed to a leading edge structure that is the only erected structural member in the wing operative position. The wing cover forms a pocket that contains air. The leading edge structure is hinged and folds, along with the wing cover, into a compact slotted space adjacent the outer wall of a missile body. In the folded position the leading edge structure forms a cover for the slot and the cover coincides with the outer shape of the missile body. A large fabric wing can be completely stored within the missile body for minimum drag during any high speed portion of the missile flight, the wing being released to the operative position by a simple mechanism.

Double fabric retractable wing construction

A flexible printed circuit card assembly includes an insulating sheet positioned over the foil of a flexible printed circuit card and adapted to accommodate the passage of electronic component leads therethrough for soldering to the printed circuit card. A layer of protective insulating foam, having a backing thereon, is positioned over the components and the assembly is rolled into a spiral configuration with leads extending from at least one end.

Flexible printed circuit card assembly

An articulated nose is locked in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of a rolling projectile body. Pyrotechnic means within the nose is actuated to unlock the nose and tilt it toward the target when the error between the projectile path and the path to the target exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Wobble nose control for projectiles

Apparatus for holding an optical fiber, having both longitudinal and radial adjustment capabilities. The fiber is disposed in a tubular member having an end disc which secures one end of the fiber in an eccentric hole therein. The tubular member is disposed in an eccentric hole of a threaded collet. Relative rotation of the collet with respect to the end disc provides for radial adjustment of the end of the optical fiber. Axial motion of the tubular member within the collet provides for longitudinal adjustment of the fiber. A tapered nut provides for locking capability of the tubular member with respect to the collet. A particular embodiment of the present invention provides a means by which the optical fiber may be adjusted with respect to an optical system to allow optical energy to be focused on the end of the fiber.

Growing community of inventors

Upland, CA, United States of America

Oakley G Ross