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US 10,106,228 B1Granted
Sonobuoy adapter kit with pneumatic air diverter valve
AssigneeEagle Technology, LLC
InventorsKenneth Majewski, Thomas Lithen, Xiaochun Fisher, Robert Eschbach, Robert Hammerquist, Alexander Price
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed toward an adapter for launching smaller sized sonobuoys from a standard size sonobuoy launching container. The adapters enable two smaller sized sonobuoys to be disposed within the standard size sonobuoy launching container in series. The adapter includes a diverter mechanism that is configured to launch a first smaller sized sonobuoy when the sonobuoy launching container receives a first burst of air, and launch a second smaller sized sonobuoy when the sonobuoy launching container receives a subsequent second burst of air.
Claims20
An adapter for launching G-size sonobuoys from a sonobuoy launching container, the adapter comprising:
- a first piston disposed in a cavity of the sonobuoy launching container between a first end of the cavity and a second end of the cavity;
- a first endcap disposed in the cavity of the sonobuoy launching container proximate to the first end of the cavity, a first G-size sonobuoy being retained in the cavity of the sonobuoy launching container between the first endcap and the first piston;
- a second endcap disposed in the cavity of the sonobuoy launching container proximate to the first piston;
- and
- a diverter mechanism disposed within the cavity of sonobuoy launching container proximate to the second end of the cavity, a second G-size sonobuoy being retained in the cavity of the sonobuoy launching container between the second endcap and the diverter mechanism, the diverter mechanism being initially in an open configuration that diverts a first burst of air received by the sonobuoy launching container around the second G-size sonobuoy and to the first piston, and automatically reconfigures to a closed configuration after diverting the first burst of air, the diverter mechanism in the closed configuration serving as a second piston when the sonobuoy launching container receives a subsequent second burst of air.
2 more elements
A pneumatic diverter mechanism comprising:
- a base with a top side, a bottom side, and a central cavity disposed within the top side, the base having at least one annular opening disposed on the top side of the base and extending through to the bottom side of the base;
- a plunger slidably and rotatably disposed within the central cavity of the base, between a first position, a second position, and third position, the plunger comprising:
- a cylindrical portion having a first end and a second end, and
- one or more extension arms extending from the cylindrical portion between the first end and the second end;
- and
- a rotary disc operatively coupled to the plunger, the rotary disc including at least one air port and rotatable between an open position, where the at least one air port is aligned with the at least one annular opening of the base, and a closed position, where the at least one air port is misaligned with the at least annular opening of the base;
- and
- wherein, when the plunger is in the first position, the rotary disc is in the open position, and the pneumatic diverter mechanism receives a first burst of air, the first burst of air flows through the at least one air port of the rotary disc and the at least one annular opening of the base while sliding the plunger from the first position to the second position, the plunger automatically rotating from the second position to the third position after the first burst of air, the rotation of the plunger from the second position to the third position causing the rotary disc to rotate from the open position to the closed position.
5 more elements
A pneumatic diverter mechanism comprising:
- a base with a top side, a bottom side, and a central cavity disposed within the top side, the base including one or more annular openings disposed in the top side and extending through the base to the bottom side;
- a plunger rotatably disposed in the central cavity of the base and configured to rotate with respect to the base between a first position and a second position;
- and
- a rotary disc coupled to the plunger, the rotary disc including one or more air ports and configured to rotate between an open position, where the one or more air ports are aligned with the one or more annular openings, and a closed position, where the one or more air ports are misaligned with the one or more annular openings,
- wherein, when the pneumatic diverter mechanism receives a first burst of air, the first burst of air flows through the pneumatic diverter mechanism via the aligned one or more air ports of the rotary disc and the one or more annular openings of the base, and after the first burst of air and prior to receiving a second burst of air, the plunger automatically rotates from the first position to the second position, causing the rotary disc to rotate from the open position to the closed position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.