USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Michael W Williams

Paul E Moody

Thomas J Gieseke

Jeffrey L Cipolla

Gary R Berlam

Nicholas Bitsakis

Brenda Brennan MacLeod

James B Walsh

James A Lilley

A gas cartridge actuation state determination system includes a puncture pin adapted to abut an end of the gas cartridge. A load sensor coupled to and in line with the puncture pin. A spring bears against the load sensor. The spring's force is such that it is insufficient to cause the puncture pin to be driven through the end of the gas cartridge when the end has not been punctured, but is sufficient to cause the puncture pin to be driven through the end of the gas cartridge when the end has already been punctured. In addition, the spring's force is such that it will be approximately zero after the puncture pin has been driven through the end that has already been punctured. A device coupled to the load sensor determines when the spring force is approximately zero.

System for determining gas cartridge actuation state

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

An apparatus for launching an object in a fluid environment having a tubular member with a forward muzzle end, an opposed rearward end. The object is positioned in the tubular member. Ends of the tubular member are closed by expellable members. Flood valves are located on the expellable members and, on activation, allow flooding of the tubular member by external fluid. A propellant device and an object contact member are disposed within the tubular member. When the propellant device is activated, the object contact member moves the object. These actions are controlled by a control device which first causes the flood valves to enable fluid to flood the interior region. Next, the control device causes the expellable members to be expelled from the tubular member. The control device then causes the propellant device to generate gas in a predetermined manner launching the object from the tubular member.

Apparatus for launching an object in a fluid environment

A computer-implemented system and method for evaluating gas generator launchers is provided. The method includes fixing the system geometry and establishing initial conditions of the launcher to be evaluated. The initial conditions include a mass, composition and geometry of the fuel included in the gas generant, geometries of the system components, initial pressures and temperatures and the mass and geometry of the device to be launched. A gas generator internal ballistics burn rate is modeled and an amount of mass and energy added to the combustion chamber as the fuel is consumed is calculated. Then, using conservation of mass and energy principles, an energy flux rate is modeled, beginning with the fuel and ending with the work performed on the device in order to propel it from the launcher. The modeling method is performed using a computer-based gas generator launcher simulation system, which includes a means for inputting gas generator launcher geometries and initial conditions, a launcher simulator program in computer memory for resolving gas and device dynamic equations to integrate a solution from said initial conditions to the end of a launch cycle, and a display means for displaying the integrated solution.

Computer implemented system and method for evaluating gas generator launchers

A break-away end cap assembly includes a tube member of predetermined characteristics and an end cap member for releasably securing the open end of the tube member. An annular recessed groove is formed in the inner surface of the tube member. The end cap member includes an outer flange portion having an outer peripheral surface consistent in diameter with an outer diameter of the tube member and a body portion depending from the outer flange portion. At least one recessed opening is laterally formed within the body portion with a pilot hole formed at the base end of each recessed opening. A normally biased spring member is seated in a base of the recessed opening and a retractable pin is positioned over the normally biased spring member. The retractable pin has an outer beveled surface end which seats within the annular recessed groove and is held therein with the normally biased pressure of the spring member until a force greater than the normal bias of the spring member is applied against the inner surface of the end cap.

Break-away muzzle cap retention mechanism

A test apparatus for testing the performance of a rotary drive includes a aft which extends along a longitudinal axis, at least one support for supporting the shaft in an elevated position, and a flywheel of predetermined weight rotatably attached to the shaft so that upon rotation of the shaft the flywheel rotates as well. A rotary drive powers the rotation of the shaft and flywheel, the rotary drive having a hydraulic motor which is in fluid communication with a reservoir containing hydraulic fluid by way of a servo valve. A microprocessor controls the rotation of the shaft by the rotary drive. The test apparatus further includes a rotary encoder, a torque sensor, and pressure sensors for monitoring the angular displacement of the system, the torque on the shaft, and various system pressures respectively.

Growing community of inventors

Portsmouth, RI, United States of America

Michael W Williams