Launch tube system having inflatable bladder shock isolation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A launch tube system having shock isolation for a projectile housed therein, comprising:
- an inner sleeve defining a launch tube, said inner sleeve having a plurality of holes formed therethrough;
an outer sleeve surrounding said inner sleeve and spaced apart therefrom;
flexible bladder means disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve; and
means for introducing a fluid under pressure into said flexible bladder means wherein, when filled with the fluid, said flexible bladder means expands and extends into and through said holes and into confines of said inner sleeve.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A launch tube system has two concentric sleeves. An inner sleeve having holes formed therethrough defines a launch tube, and an outer sleeve surrounds the inner sleeve and is spaced apart therefrom. One or more flexible bladders are disposed between the inner outer sleeves. When filled with fluid, the flexible bladder(s) expands and extends into and through the holes and into confines of the inner sleeve to thereby form shock isolation for a projectile housed in the inner sleeve.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A launch tube system having shock isolation for a projectile housed therein, comprising:
-
an inner sleeve defining a launch tube, said inner sleeve having a plurality of holes formed therethrough; an outer sleeve surrounding said inner sleeve and spaced apart therefrom; flexible bladder means disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve; and means for introducing a fluid under pressure into said flexible bladder means wherein, when filled with the fluid, said flexible bladder means expands and extends into and through said holes and into confines of said inner sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A launch tube system having shock isolation for a projectile housed therein, comprising:
-
an inner sleeve defining a launch tube, said inner sleeve having a plurality of slots formed therethrough and evenly distributed about said inner sleeve; and an outer sleeve surrounding said inner sleeve and spaced apart therefrom; an annular flexible bladder disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve; and means for introducing a fluid under pressure into said flexible bladder wherein, when filled with the fluid, said flexible bladder expands and extends into and through said slots and into confines of said inner sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A launch tube system having shock isolation for a projectile housed therein, comprising:
-
a rigid inner sleeve defining a launch tube, said inner sleeve having a plurality of slots formed therethrough and evenly distributed about said inner sleeve; a rigid outer sleeve concentrically disposed about said inner sleeve and spaced apart therefrom; an annular flexible bladder disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve; and a valve adapted to be in communication with seawater at a pressure greater than that of an interior volume of said flexible bladder, said valve further being in communication with said interior volume of said flexible bladder wherein, when said valve is opened, the seawater is introduced into said flexible bladder to thereby cause said flexible bladder to expand wherein said flexible bladder extends into and through said slots and into confines of said inner sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification