USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Brenda Brennan MacLeod

Paul E Moody

Jeffrey L Cipolla

Gary R Berlam

Nicholas Bitsakis

Michael W Williams

James A Lilley

A launch tube assembly including an aft launch tube portion, a forward launch tube portion, and a transfer sleeve having a first end fixed to and adjacent the forward end of said aft launch tube portion and a second end adjustably receiving the forward launch tube portion. A forward end of the aft launch tube portion faces a rearward end of the forward launch tube portion within the transfer sleeve. An adjustable plenum is present having a volume within the transfer sleeve defined by an adjusted distance between the facing ends of aft and forward launch tube portions. An end cap is pinned to a forward end of the forward launch tube portion, a gas generator housed in the aft launch tube portion, and a countermeasure device is housed in the forward launch tube portion. An adjustably selected volume of the plenum is such that a gas generated by the gas generator will enable propulsion of the countermeasure device at a predetermined acceleration from the forward launch tube portion.

Launch tube with adjustable plenum

The detachable shock-absorbing ram-plate is used in a projectile launching system to mitigate launching impact forces and to prevent ram-plate re-strike during launch. The detachable shock-absorbing ram-plate is detachably coupled to the projectile using break-away fasteners that allow the ram-plate to be attached to the projectile during launch and detached from the projectile at the end of the launch. One embodiment of the detachable shock-absorbing ram-plate is a single impact, viscous fluid ram-plate including a cylinder, a perforated piston, and a viscous fluid disposed between the cylinder and the perforated piston. Upon receiving a high initial launch impact force, the piston compresses causing the viscous fluid to be forced through the perforated piston, thereby absorbing the shock of the initial launching impact force. Another embodiment of the detachable shock-absorbing ram-plate is a gas spring ram-plate having a cylinder and piston that compresses a gas to absorb shock caused by launching forces. A further embodiment of the shock-absorbing ram-plate is made from a compressible elastic material.

Single-impact, viscous fluid ram-plate

A launching apparatus including a launch tube having fore and aft ends, each end having an opening formed therein. A muzzle cap is fitted to the fore end and a breech mounting is formed at the aft end. A primary housing is seated in the aft end, the primary housing having fore and aft ends. A first telescoping cylinder containing a first telescoping piston is positioned within the fore end of the housing and a second telescoping cylinder containing a second telescoping piston is positioned within the aft end of the housing. A ram plate and a breech mounting are connected to the first and second pistons respectively. A gas generator is provided within the housing and a projectile is seated between the ram plate and muzzle cap. The first and second cylinders and the first and second pistons expand from the housing and propel the projectile.

Telescoping pressure-balanced gas generator launchers for underwater use

An underwater launcher of a vehicle in a launching tube outside the pressure hull of a submerged launch platform is unaffected by launch depth. A muzzle cap at one end of the tube communicates with ambient water and a ram plate at the other end communicates through openings with ambient water. Rigid elongate segments extend inside the tube between the cap and the plate, and a launch mechanism connected to the platform and tube has an expansion chamber sealed from ambient water and contains a gas driven turbine rotating a pump-inducer communicating through the openings with the ambient water. The pump inducer is adjacent to the plate to simultaneously displace the plate, elongate segments, vehicle, and cap in the tube and eject the vehicle. The plate, elongate segments, and cap decouple from the vehicle as it leaves the tube and safely sink away from the launch platform.

Growing community of inventors

Nashua, NH, United States of America

Brenda Brennan MacLeod