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US 3,940,981 AGranted
Projectile recovery system with quick opening valves
AssigneeMcDonnell Douglas Corporation
InventorsWilliam B. Covey, John R. Mastandrea, Robert N. Teng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A projectile recovery system where projectile speed is progressively reduced as the projectile passes through decelerator tubes. These tubes are precharged to high pressure in front of the projectile to minimize the decelerating distance. Quick opening valves, which separate the deceleration tubes and which seal them for pressurization, are opened as the projectile approaches so they will not be struck by the projectile with resulting damage.
Claims5
A projectile recovery system with quick opening valves comprising:
- a plurality of tubes connected together to form a path through which a fired projectile passes,
- quick opening valve gates having a first position across said path to close the tubes for pressurization, and a second position out of said path to permit passage of said projectile into pressurized tubes without striking said gates, and
- valve actuator means responsive to controlled signals applied thereto for sequentially moving therefor, said valve gates from their first position to their second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.