Ground launched missile controlled rate decelerator

• US 4,575,026 A
• Filed: 07/02/1984
• Issued: 03/11/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Brantley, Charles B., Brittain, Harold G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US06/626,958
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 244/63, 244/110 A, 244/110 E, 244/110 C, 244/110 H, 244/110 R, 188/371, 188/40, 188/43, 89/1.1, 89/198, 42/1 R, 434/12, 346/38, 73/117.1, 73/432 K, 73/432 V, 73/221
• US Class Current: 244/63
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 9/96 characterised by specially adapted arrangements for testing or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 13/00 Bullet catchers

Abstract

A deceleration sled to decelerate and safely contain a launched test miss. The sled has crushable honeycomb which absorbs the initial impact of the missile as the sled accelerates along a track to the same speed as the missile. As the deceleration sled is pushed down the rails, forming shoes on both sides of the sled engage flat metal plates. The forming shoes roll the flat plates into a "U" shape. The energy required to roll these plates can be changed by varying their thickness.

Claims

1. In a ground launched missile controlled rate decelerator for a dummy missile under test, the combination comprising:

a. a dummy missile having a rocket motor for accelerating said dummy missile when fired;

b. movable support means in the path of said dummy missile and being operable to move at the same rate of speed as said dummy missile in response to a collision thereof;

c. stationary support means;

d. tapered forming shoes being mounted on said movable support means;

e. mandrel means being mounted on said stationary support means; and

f. flat plate means mounted on said stationary support means and engaging said forming shoes so that relative movement between said movable support means and said stationary support means will cause said forming shoes to move over the upper and lower edges of said plate, rolling them over into a "U" shape.

2. The combinatin of claim 1 wherein said moveable support means is a sled.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said stationary support means includes a rail system.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the amount of energy to be expanded is controlled by the thickness of said flat plate means.