Stabilized end cap for common launch tube
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsAndrew Hall, John Revilla, Joshua Wiseman, Kelsey Snively, Matthew Hall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stabilized end cap for covering one end of a common launch tube on a military aircraft is disclosed. The stabilized end cap includes a central body having a portion with a disk-shape configuration. In some cases, the stabilized end cap has a peripheral extension that extends radially outward from the periphery of the central body, and the peripheral extension is provided with an aerodynamic configuration. In other cases, the stabilized end cap has at least one aerodynamic extension extending longitudinally outward from the outside surface of the central body.
Claims11
An end cap for covering an opening on one end of a common launch tube on a military aircraft, the common launch tube having an interior for housing an article which is to be deployed from the common launch tube, said end cap comprising:
- a central body comprising a portion with a disk-shape configuration, said central body having an inside surface for facing the opening of a common launch tube, an outside surface for facing outside the common launch tube, a center, and a periphery, wherein the periphery of the central body is sized and configured to fit adjacent to the end opening of a common launch tube;
- and
- a peripheral extension extending radially outward from the periphery of said central body in a direction away from the center of said central body, wherein said peripheral extension is provided with an aerodynamic configuration,
- wherein the central body and the peripheral extension of the end cap are joined together and are configured to be pushed into the free stream air as a single unit when separated from the common launch tube.
An end cap for covering an opening on one end of a common launch tube on a military aircraft, the common launch tube having an interior for housing an article which is to be deployed from the common launch tube, said end cap comprising:
- a central body comprising a portion with a disk-shape configuration, said central body having an inside surface for facing the opening of a common launch tube, an outside surface for facing outside the common launch tube, a center, and a periphery, wherein the periphery of the central body is sized and configured to fit adjacent to the end opening of a common launch tube;
- and
- a peripheral extension extending radially outward from the periphery of said central body in a direction away from the center of said central body, wherein said peripheral extension is provided with an aerodynamic configuration, wherein the peripheral extension is in the form of a lip in the configuration of an air foil, and the lip has an inwardly-facing surface that is in the configuration of a channel with a concave cross-section surrounding the central body, wherein said lip has an outside surface that is an extension of the outside surface of the central body.
An end cap for covering an opening on one end of a common launch tube on a military aircraft, the common launch tube having an interior for housing an article which is to be deployed from the common launch tube, said end cap comprising:
- a central body comprising a portion with a disk-shape configuration, said central body having an inside surface for facing the opening of a common launch tube, an outside surface for facing outside the common launch tube, a center, and a periphery, wherein the periphery of the central body is sized and configured to fit adjacent to the end opening of a common launch tube;
- and
- a peripheral extension extending radially outward from the periphery of said central body in a direction away from the center of said central body, wherein said peripheral extension is provided with an aerodynamic configuration, wherein the peripheral extension is in the form of a lip in the configuration of an air foil, and the lip has a plurality of holes therein that are distributed around portions of the perimeter thereof, and the lip is provided with an outermost edge having a plurality of fins extending rearwardly therefrom adjacent the location of each of said holes.
An end cap for covering an opening on one end of a common launch tube on a military aircraft, the common launch tube having an interior for housing an article which is to be deployed from the common launch tube, said end cap comprising:
- a central body comprising a portion with a disk-shape configuration, said central body having an inside surface for facing the opening of a common launch tube, an outside surface for facing outside the common launch tube, a center, a central axis passing through the center, and a periphery, wherein the periphery of the central body is sized and configured to fit adjacent to the end opening of a common launch tube;
- and
- at least one aerodynamic extension extending outward from the outside surface of the central body in the direction of the central axis of the central body, wherein said extension is provided with an aerodynamic configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.