TELESCOPING PRESSURE-BALANCED GAS GENERATOR LAUNCHERS FOR UNDERWATER USE
First Claim
1. A launching apparatus comprising:
- a launch tube having a fore end and an aft end, each end having an opening formed therein;
a muzzle cap fit to the fore end of said launch tube;
a breech mounting formed at the aft end of said launch tube;
a primary housing positioned in the aft end of said launch tube forward of said breech mounting, said primary housing having a fore end and an aft end;
a first telescoping cylinder slidably positioned within the fore end of said primary housing;
a second telescoping cylinder slidably positioned within the aft end of said primary housing;
a first telescoping piston slidably disposed in said first telescoping cylinder;
a second telescoping piston slidably disposed in said second telescoping cylinder and joined to said breech mounting;
a gas generator provided within said primary housing between said first telescoping cylinder and said second telescoping cylinder;
a ram plate positioned in said launch tube and connected to said first telescoping piston; and
a projectile seated between said ram plate and said muzzle cap.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A launching apparatus including a launch tube having a fore end and an aft end, each end having an opening formed therein. A muzzle cap is fit to the fore end of the launch tube and a breech mounting is formed at the aft end of the launch tube. A primary plenum housing is seated in the aft end of the launch tube, the primary housing having a fore end and an aft end. A first telescoping cylinder is initially positioned within the fore end of the primary housing and a second telescoping cylinder is initially positioned within the aft end of the primary housing. A first telescoping piston is formed in the first telescoping cylinder and a second telescoping piston formed in the second telescoping cylinder. A ram plate is connected to the first telescoping piston and the second telescoping piston is connected to the breech mounting. A gas generator is provided within said primary housing and a projectile is seated between the ram plate and the muzzle cap. The first and second telescoping cylinders and the first and second telescoping pistons expand in multiple stages of extension from the main housing and propel the projectile.
10 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A launching apparatus comprising:
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a launch tube having a fore end and an aft end, each end having an opening formed therein;
a muzzle cap fit to the fore end of said launch tube;
a breech mounting formed at the aft end of said launch tube;
a primary housing positioned in the aft end of said launch tube forward of said breech mounting, said primary housing having a fore end and an aft end;
a first telescoping cylinder slidably positioned within the fore end of said primary housing;
a second telescoping cylinder slidably positioned within the aft end of said primary housing;
a first telescoping piston slidably disposed in said first telescoping cylinder;
a second telescoping piston slidably disposed in said second telescoping cylinder and joined to said breech mounting;
a gas generator provided within said primary housing between said first telescoping cylinder and said second telescoping cylinder;
a ram plate positioned in said launch tube and connected to said first telescoping piston; and
a projectile seated between said ram plate and said muzzle cap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An expandable plenum assembly for a launching apparatus comprising:
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a plenum housing having a fore end and a breech end, said fore end having an inwardly extending fore end wall positioned thereabout, and said breech end having an inwardly extending breech end wall positioned thereabout;
a first telescoping cylinder initially positioned within the fore end of said plenum housing, said first telescoping cylinder including a first end having a flanged end wall, a second end opposite the first end having an inwardly extending second end wall;
a first piston slidable within said first telescoping cylinder having a first piston head and a first piston shaft connected to the first piston head;
a second telescoping cylinder initially positioned within the breech end of said plenum housing, said second telescoping cylinder including a first end having a flanged end wall, a second end opposite the first end having an inwardly extending second end wall;
a second piston slidable within said second telescoping cylinder having a second piston head and a second piston shaft connected to the second piston head; and
a gas generator positioned within said plenum housing between said first telescoping cylinder first end and said first piston head toward said fore end and said second telescoping cylinder first end and said second piston head toward said breech end. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A linear actuator comprising:
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an actuator housing having a second end, a first end, and a wall portion extending between said second end and first end, said second end being sealed, said first end having a member aperture formed therein, and said sealed second end and wall portion defining a hollow interior portion;
an intermediate member slidably disposed in said actuator housing hollow interior portion and having a second end oriented toward said actuator housing second end, a first end extending out of said actuator housing member aperture, and a member wall extending between said member first end and said member second end, said member wall defining a hollow member interior portion, and said member first end having a piston shaft aperture formed therein;
a piston slidably disposed in said intermediate member having a piston head positioned in said hollow member interior portion and a piston shaft extending out of said member piston shaft aperture; and
a gas generator positioned within said actuator housing second end between said sealed actuator housing second end and said intermediate member second end. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification