Apparatus for launching stores from a submerged vehicle
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJohn D. Brooks, Harry W. Humason, Frank E. Gordon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for launching stores from a recess of a vehicle submerged in a arine environment includes a capsule having an elongated body of rectangular cross section for enclosing the stores. A structure for providing hydrodynamic stability to the capsule is joined thereto, the capsule and stabilizing structure together being receivable into the recess. The apparatus is further provided with a first hatch for sealing the recess from the marine environment when the apparatus is received thereinto.
Claims10
Apparatus for moving stores launched from a hydrodynamically streamlined platform submerged in an underwater environment through a hydrodynamically stable path in said underwater environment, said apparatus comprising:
- buoyancy means formed of selected buoyant material for providing specified buoyancy to a store container assembly which includes said stores and said buoyancy means, said store container assembly being launched from said platform, said buoyancy means being provided with a cavity of specified dimensions, said buoyancy means having a rectangular cross section, said buoyancy means having a plurality of flat external surfaces which are exposed to the ambient pressure of said underwater environment when said store container assembly has been launched from said platform into said underwater environment;
- pressure resistance means having a circular cross section and contained within said cavity for resisting the ambient pressure of said underwater environment on said external surfaces of said buoyancy means, said pressure resistance means enclosing said stores for protecting said stores from the ambient pressure of said underwater environment when said store container assembly has been launched into said underwater environment, said pressure resistance means comprising a part of said store container assembly;
- hydrodynamic stabilization means joined to said buoyancy means for resisting vertical motion and lateral motion about the center of balance of said store container assembly when said store container assembly has been launched into said underwater environment, said hydrodynamic stabilization means comprising a part of said store container assembly;
- and
- means for maintaining the hydrodynamic streamlining of said platform comprising a first means for maintaining the hydrodynamic streamlining of said platform before said store container assembly has been launched into said underwater environment, and further comprising a second means for maintaining the hydrodynamic streamlining of said platform after said store container assembly has been launched into said underwater environment, said first means being launched into said underwater environment when said store container assembly is launched.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.