Concept MSBS GROT Rifle Upper Receiver Shield to Protect Against Foreign Objects

This paper presents a concept for shielding the MSBS (Modular Firearms System) Grot rifle upper receiver against foreign objects. The concept guidelines involve feedback from Grot operators concerning the regular operation of the rifle plus an extensive analysis of desktop patent research into foreign debris shields (or dust shields) for protection of the upper receiver interior in firearms. The completed patent desktop research included solutions used with automatic, semi-automatic and non-automatic firearms. The research work drove the formulation of the requirements for an upper receiver dust shield for the 5.56 mm calibre MSBS Grot rifle as part of the ongoing improvement process. This paper presents three concepts of the carrier charging handle assembly dust shield (for the protection of the upper receiver against foreign objects) for the MSBS-5.56 rifle system. The concepts described vary in terms of the level of structural complexity of the dust shield, and the extent of the modifications required to the upper receiver of the rifle. With test units of the upper receiver dust shield manufactured and comparative tests completed on the three concepts, the version selected should be the one which improves the protection of the rifle internals from foreign objects found in the local environment, including sand, clay, silt, and mud, the latter being an aqueous suspension of these particles.

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO ACCELERATED TESTS OF CRUSHING KNIVES OF GRINDING CATS. COMPARATIVE TESTS OF LOSS OF CUTTING CAPACITY

The purpose of the research is to analyze the design features and parameters of grinding knives to compare the intensity of loss of cutting ability of each of the models of knives depending on the load cycles. Methods and materials. Conduct an analytical inspection and instrumental studies of the blades of grinding rollers type KR with different design features. Carry out bench accelerated tests based on the cyclic impact load of the knife fragment due to falling on the simulator of wear cycles and check the residual cutting capacity on the cutting simulator. Justify the coefficient of acceleration of tests as a derivative of hardness and density of the simulator, as well as the ratio of the energy of the fall of the knife fragment on the stand and its rotational motion in the field. Statistical analysis of experimental data was performed by analysis of variance and interpreted by standard computer programs Excel in the form of graphs. Results. Analyzing the proposed method for determining the intensity of loss of cutting ability of the knife when it falls on the simulator of plant debris allowed to rank different models and establish their relative resource. Unhardened models of both 45 and 30MnB5 Steel provide low life and their residual cutting ability is only 15-25% compared to hardened models. Analyzing the research results, the hardened model of a knife made of 45 Steel withstands 4 times more load cycles compared to unhardened models, but is inferior to the hardened model of Steel 30MnB5 (borista), which has the highest resource. Even after 150 load cycles (in terms of the work of a roller with a width of 12.5 m - operating time of more than 1000 ha), it retains more than 55% of the initial cutting ability, which is characterized by low intensity of its loss. Conclusions. According to the tests of the intensity of loss of cutting ability of knives, the most acceptable option for the equipment of roller-shredders is a hardened model made of 30MnB5 Steel (borista), which has the highest resource.

Deriving environmental friendly products from local waste oil and fat production

A formulation of safe products was developed and 4 pilot batches of bitumen were obtained in small quantities - replacing binders from local waste of oil and fat and oil production. The origin and characteristics of the used local waste and additional components are considered. A scheme for obtaining a bitumen-replacement mixture for the use of insulating and roofing coverings has been developed. Experiments on the utilization of local waste by the physicochemical process and the process of raw material oxidation have been carried out. Experimental batches of bitumen-replacement mixture have been prepared for the use of insulation and roofing. The results of comparative tests of pilot batches of bitumen-replacement mixtures for physical and mechanical characteristics in accordance with GOST 6617-76 are presented.

Selection of Weld Structure of Bogies Based on Sub-Model

In order to effectively deal with the problems in the allowable fatigue strength data of weld joints of steering structures, it is necessary to carry out comparative tests and analyses according to various structural stress methods and data. Therefore, on the basis of understanding the applied strength standard of bogie welded structure in China, and aiming at the application of weld structural stress at the present stage, this paper constructs the fatigue diagram and S-N curve of Q345 weld seam based on the actual tested structural stress, and starts with the result study.

New Tools for Mechanical Thinning of Apricot Fruitlets

In this study, the thinner machine with yellow rod equipment was tested in relation to tree branch length and orientation in April 2019, in a narrow-canopied apricot orchard of Emilia Romagna Region, Italy. The trees were mechanically thinned with manual finishing, and comparative tests were carried out simultaneously with the ordinary hand thinning (control). Three groups of two plants were identified as replication for a total of six plants per row. Three rows were checked, considering field uniformity average. The branches were grouped into four classes according to their length: <30 cm, 30–60 cm, 60–90 cm and >90 cm. Branch inclination on the plant, radial or longitudinal with respect to the row, was evaluated. Fruit number before the thinning, after the first and the second machine intervention, after three days of the mechanical thinning and after the hand finishing was recorded. This experience showed satisfactory results in terms of thinning efficiency and reduced damage to both fruits and branches, as a function of the class length and insertion point in the main branch of the plant. Thinning efficiency was always kept above 37% of the left load after hand finishing, and on average between the treatments close to 44%. Fruit damages always remained below the economic thresholds to marketable production or to the plant.

Comparative field tests of an electrochromic shading device - thermal and visual comfort

Electrochromic devices (EC), or Smart Windows, are amongst the most promising technologies to increase users’ wellbeing in buildings. A comparative test of EC windows performance was realised in the ZEB Test Cell Laboratory in Trondheim, Norway. Two identical rooms were used for the comparative tests. One of the rooms was equipped with EC devices. The other room was equipped with a traditional insulated glazing unit (IGU) with external solar shading device. Three automatic control strategies were tested in this experiment. The EC device demonstrated a good impact on the thermal and visual comfort when compared to a traditional IGU without moveable shading and a traditional IGU with an external screen.

Comparative tests of mechanization means for digging seedlings of fruit crops

The increase in the area of orchards of intensive fruit crops in the Russian Federation is one of the priority tasks of horticulture. This requires a huge amount of quality planting material. Digging remains one of the laborious and responsible operations in the production of seedlings of fruit crops. Grubbers and diggers of various producers are used for continuous digging of seedlings. After this, the dug-in seedlings are manually removed from the soil and row and only after that the next run of the unit is possible. The authors proposed a means of mechanization, selective digging of individual varieties or rows of plants, with a winch traction using a cable. The paper provides a comparative analysis of mechanization means for selective digging of seedlings and presents a diagram and results of field tests of two types of devices to perform this operation.

New Microbiological Preparations For Soil Conservation Agriculture

In the system of soil-saving technologies, comparative tests of the effectiveness of the use of various biological products based on consortia of microorganisms, fungal cultures in the field were conducted, and their effectiveness was evaluated. We used the preparations “Nurse Mycorrhiza” (Russia), MycoCrop ® (Germany), a new drug of the “Biogor” series developed by the Scientific and Technical Center for Biological Technologies in Agriculture (NTC“BIO”) (Russia). The effectiveness of seed treatment with biological preparations is shown. Plants of spring wheat of the Darya variety, the seeds of which were treated with the preparation “Biogor”, had friendly aligned shoots, formed a better-developed root system, which later resulted in a significant increase in yield. The results of the dispersion analysis showed that the difference between the processing options is significant, and the processing by the “Biogor” consortium has a positive effect on the formation of grains in the ear, their mass, the mass of 1000 seeds, as well as on the yield of spring wheat in general. The use of a new preparation of the “Biogor” series, developed in LLC “STC “BIO” and containing a consortium of beneficial microorganisms, is promising for spring wheat: the weight of 1000 seeds increases by 13.5 %, the yield significantly increases by 12.5 %.

A Novel Robust Approach for Computing DE-9IM Matrices Based on Space Partition and Integer Coordinates

A novel approach for a robust computation of positional relations of two-dimensional geometric features is presented which guarantees reliable results, provided that the initial data is valid. The method is based on the use of integer coordinates and a method to generate a complete, gap-less and non-overlapping spatial decomposition. The spatial relationships of two geometric features are then represented using DE-9IM matrices. These allow the spatial relationships to be represented compactly. The DE-9IM matrices are based on the spatial decomposition using explicit neighborhood relations. No further geometric calculations are required for their computation. Based on comparative tests, it could be proven that this approach, up to a predictable limit, provides correct results and thus offers advantages over classical methods for the calculation of spatial relationships. This novel method can be used in all fields, especially where guaranteed reliable results are required.