The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 01, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 07, 1998
Raymond A St Amand, Fairhaven, MA (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A retractable seal replaces the existing o-ring seals on the Tomahawk Cape Launching System (CLS). An elastomeric member is shaped to fit within the existing o-ring slot on the CLS and a cylindrical ring member of shape memory alloy circumscribes the elastomeric member. Under normal operating temperatures, the shape memory alloy member has a diameter large enough to allow the elastomeric member to extend beyond the diameter of the CLS so as to form a seal against the missile tube, yet small enough to not interfere with the seal. When the shape memory alloy member is heated, it contracts to a smaller predetermined diameter, compressing the elastomeric member within the o-ring slot so as to allow the movement of the CLS into or out of the missile tube without abrading the elastomeric member.