Weapon launching tube structure, and naval platform comprising at least one structure of said type

• US 10,641,581 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Naval Group (Government of France)
• Original Assignee: Naval Group (Government of France)
• Inventors: Lamotte, Arnaud, Raffoux, Johan, Lavoix, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooper, John
• Application Number:
  US16/079,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20190063872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 114238, 114 201, 114239, 89 1816
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/042 the launching apparatus being used also as a transport container for the rocket F41F3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/052 Means for securing the rocket in the launching apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/08 for marine torpedoes F41A23/22 takes precedence

Abstract

A weapon launching tube structure, and in particular a torpedo launching tube structure, includes a tube inside which weapon guiding slides are mounted at regular intervals around the weapon. The slides are made from a single slide blank obtained by an extrusion process.

Claims

1. A weapon launching tube structure comprising:

a tube inside which weapon guiding slides are mounted at regular intervals around a weapon, the slides being made from a single slide blank obtained by an extrusion process,

wherein the slide blank has a section with a curved profile to marry the contour of the weapon, at each end of the profile, a bent portion to bear on the inner wall of the tube, and, in an intermediate portion thereof, a withdrawn foot.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the slide blank is obtained by an aluminum extrusion process.

3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the weapon guiding slides comprise four slides including two lateral lower slides and two lateral upper slides.

4. The structure according to claim 2, further comprising covers provided to close open ends of the slides.

5. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the slides are associated with screws from the outside of the tube, to enable the slides to be fastened in the tube.

6. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the withdrawn foot is provided asymmetrically between the bent bearing portions of the blank.

7. The structure according to claim 6, wherein the weapon guiding slides comprise four slides including two lateral lower slides and two lateral upper slides.

8. The structure according to claim 6, further comprising covers provided to close open ends of the slides.

9. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the weapon guiding slides comprise four slides including two lateral lower slides and two lateral upper slides.

10. The structure according to claim 9, wherein the tube has an upper part, and at least one access hatch to access an interface of the weapon is provided in the upper part,

wherein cutouts are formed in the upper slides at the hatch, between a bent bearing portion on the inner wall of the tube and the withdrawn foot.

11. The structure according to claim 10, further comprising covers provided to close open ends of the slides.

12. The structure according to claim 9, further comprising covers provided to close open ends of the slides.

13. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising covers provided to close open ends of the slides.

14. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the slides are associated with screws from the outside of the tube, to enable the slides to be fastened in the tube.

15. The structure according to claim 14, wherein the slides include reinforcing and maintaining bosses at the screws.

16. A naval platform comprising:

at least one weapon launching tube structure comprising

a tube inside which weapon guiding slides are mounted at regular intervals around the weapon, the slides being made from a single slide blank obtained by an extrusion process,

wherein the slide blank has a section with a curved profile to marry the contour of the weapon, at each end of the profile, a bent portion to bear on the inner wall of the tube, and, in an intermediate portion thereof, a withdrawn foot.