Bend limiting stiff leader and retainer system

Abstract

A fiberoptic leader connected between a missile and a launch tube is paid out upon missile launch with a controlled degree of bend in the fiberoptic filament, and is furthermore protected from blast effects in the launch. The fiberoptic filament is stiffened within a leader comprised of a TEFLON sleeve insulating the fiberoptic filament. A protective sheathing of high tensile strength longitudinally wires are disposed about and encase the TEFLON sleeve, and in turn are encased within an outer sleeve. The stiffened leader is led along the longitudinal length of a C-shaped channel attached to the side of the missile. The channel is disposed upon a longitudinal portion of the missile. The stiffened leader is laid against and under one of the channel arms from the aft end of the missile, where the fiberoptic leader is fed out during launch, to a forward end of the missile and channel. The leader is then led across the width of the channel to the opposing arm of the C-shaped channel. The stiffened leader is then led partly aft along the opposing arm of the channel and then out to an open longitudinal slot defining the ends of the C-shaped channel. That end of the stiffened leader is coupled to a fixed point within the launch tube from which point optical communications are provided to the missile during flight. As the missile is launched, the bend propagates down the channel tearing the stiffened leader from a longitudinally perforated tape which secures the leader into and under one of the arms of the channel.