Shock suppressing apparatus and method for a rocket launcher

In combination with a rocket launching device, said rocket launching device comprising an elongate launch tube having a longitudinal axis, a forward end from which a rocket is fired, and a rear exhaust end through which exhaust gases exit during firing of the rocket, said exhaust end having an exhaust opening of a predetermined cross-sectional area and diameter,

• a shock suppressing apparatus comprising:
• a. a circumferential housing having a longitudinal axis, a forward end adapted to be mounted to the rear exhaust end of the launch tube so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of the launch tube, and a rear end,
• b. said housing defining a substantially enclosed expansion chamber having a diameter and cross-sectional area substantially greater than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the exhaust opening of the launch tube,
• c. annular baffle means extending from said housing radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the housing, said baffle means defining longitudinally aligned opening means to permit rearward ejection of a nozzle plug from a rocket mounted in said launch tube and to permit rearward discharge of gaseous exhaust from said rocket, said baffle means presenting forwardly facing surface means to reflect a shock wave emitted from said launch tube,
• whereby with said shock suppressing apparatus mounted to said launch tube, a shock wave generated by firing the rocket in the launch tube travels rearwardly and expands into the expansion chamber, with the shock wave being partially absorbed by the suppressing apparatus, and partially reflected back toward the launch tube, thereby suppressing the shock wave,
• said apparatus further characterized in that
• a. said baffle means comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced, radially inwardly extending baffles positioned in said expansion chamber along the longitudinal axis of the housing, with each of said baffles having a center through opening and presenting a generally forward facing reflecting surface to partially absorb and partially reflect shock wave portions impinging thereagainst,
• b. said housing is formed as a plurality of housing sections, arranged relative to one another to have a collapsed stored position with the housing sections telescoped one within the other, and an expanded operating position with the telescoping sections spaced longitudinally from one another to define said expansion chamber.

In combination with a rocket launching device, said rocket launching device comprising an elongate launch tube having a longitudinal axis, a forward end from which a rocket is fired, and a rear exhaust end through which exhaust gases exit during firing of the rocket, said exhaust end having an exhaust opening of a predetermined cross-sectional area and diameter,

• a shock suppressing apparatus comprising:
• a. a circumferential housing having a longitudinal axis, a forward end adapted to be mounted to the rear exhaust end of the launch tube so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is in general alignement with the longitudinal axis of the launch tube, and a rear end,
• b. said housing defining a substantially enclosed expansion chamber having a diameter and cross-sectional area substantially greater than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the exhaust opening of the launch tube,
• c. annular baffle means extending from said housing radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the housing, said baffle means defining longitudinally aligned opening means to permit rearward ejection of a nozzle plug from a rocket mounted in said launch tube and to permit rearward discharge of gaseous exhaust from said rocket, said baffle means presenting forwardly facing surface means to reflect a shock wave emitted from said launch tube,
• whereby with said shock suppressing apparatus mounted to said launch tube, a shock wave generated by firing the rocket in the launch tube travels rearwardly and expands into the expansion chamber, with the shock wave being partially absorbed by the suppressing apparatus, and partially reflected back toward the launch tube, thereby suppressing the shock wave,
• said apparatus further characterized in that said baffle means is made of a sound energy absorbing material, so that in addition to reflecting the shock wave impinging thereon, a substantial amount of the energy of said shock wave is absorbed in said sound absorbing material.

In combination with a rocket launching device, said rocket launching device comprising an elongate launch tube having a longitudinal axis, a forward end from which a rocket is fired, and a rear exhaust end through which exhaust gases exit during firing of the rocket, said exhaust end having an exhaust opening of a predetermined cross-sectional area and diameter,

• a shock suppressing apparatus comprising:
• a. a circumferential housing having a longitudinal axis, a forward end adapted to be mounted to the rear exhaust end of the launch tube so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of the launch tube, and a rear end,
• b. said housing defining a substantially enclosed expansion chamber having a diameter and cross-sectional area substantially greater than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the exhaust opening of the launch tube,
• c. annular baffle means extending from said housing radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the housing, said baffle means defining longitudinally aligned opening means to permit rearward ejection of a nozzle plug from a rocket mounted in said launch tube and to permit rearward discharge of gaseous exhaust from said rocket, said baffle means presenting forwardly facing surface means to reflect a shock wave emitted from said launch tube,
• whereby with said shock suppressing apparatus mounted to said launch tube, a shock wave generated by firing the rocket in the launch tube travels rearwardly and expands into the expansion chamber, with the shock wave being partially absorbed by the suppressing apparatus, and partially reflected back toward the launch tube, thereby suppressing the shock wave,
• said apparatus further characterized in that
• a. said baffle means is made of a moderately yielding material, having a yield strength which is such relative to the shock wave generated by said launcher that said baffle means will yield moderately under the impact of said shock wave and thus diminish the energy of the shock wave, and
• b. said baffle means is made of a sound energy absorbing material, so that in addition to reflecting the shock wave impinging thereon, a substantial amount of the energy of said shock wave is absorbed in said sound absorbing material.

In combination with a rocket launching device, said rocket launching device comprising an elongate launch tube having a longitudinal axis, a forward end from which a rocket is fired, and a rear exhaust end through which exhaust gases exit during firing of the rocket, said exhaust end having an exhaust opening of a predetermined cross-sectional area and diameter,

• a shock suppressing apparatus comprising:
• a. a circumferential housing having a longitudinal axis, a forward end adapted to be mounted to the rear exhaust end of the launch tube so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of the launch tube, and a rear end,
• b. said housing defining a substantially enclosed expansion chamber having a diameter and cross-sectional area substantially greater than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the exhaust opening of the launch tube,
• c. annular baffle means extending from said housing radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the housing, said baffle means defining longitudinally aligned opening means to permit rearward ejection of a nozzle plug from a rocket mounted in said launch tube and to permit rearward discharge of gaseous exhaust from said rocket, said baffle means presenting forwardly facing surface means to reflect a shock wave emitted from said launch tube,
• whereby with said shock suppressing apparatus mounted to said launch tube, a shock wabe generated by firing the rocket in the launch tube travels rearwardly and expands into the expansion chamber, with the shock wave being partially reflected back toward the launch tube, thereby suppressing the shock wave,
• said apparatus further characterized in that said housing comprises a circumferential side wall, said side wall having a plurality of deformable plug members at spaced locations therein, said plug members being deformable outwardly under impact of the shock wave thereon to provide through openings when so outwardly deformed, said plug members thus absorbing energy in being outwardly deformed, and also providing sound attenuating openings in said housing.

In combination with a rocket launching device, said rocket launching device comprising an elongate launch tube having a longitudinal axis, a forward end from which a rocket is fired, and a rear exhaust end through which exhaust gases exit firing of the rocket, said exhaust end having an exhaust opening of a predetermined cross-sectional area and diameter, said shock suppressing apparatus comprising:

• a. a circumferential housing having a longitudinal axis, a forward end adapted to be mounted to the rear exhaust end of the launch tube so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of the launch tube, and a rear end,
• b. said housing defining a substantially enclosed expansion chamber having a diameter and cross-sectional area substantially greater than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the exhaust opening of the launch tube,
• c. a plurality of longitudinally spaced, radially inwardly extending baffles positioned in said expansion chamber along the longitudinal axis of the housing, with each of said baffles having a center through opening and presenting a generally forward facing reflecting surface to partially absorb and partially reflect shock wave portions impinging thereagainst,
• whereby with said shock suppressing apparatus mounted to said launch tube, a shock wave generated by firing the rocket in the launch tube travels rearwardly and expands into the expansion chamber, with the shock wave being partially absorbed by the suppressing apparatus, and partially reflected back toward the launch tube, thereby suppressing the shock wave,
• said apparatus being further characterized in that said housing is formed as a plurality of housing sections, arranged relative to one another to have a collapsed stored position with the housing sections telescoped one within the other, and an expanded operating position with the telescoping sections spaced longitudinally from one another to define said expansion chamber.

A shock wave suppressing apparatus for a rocket launching device, said rocket launching device comprising an elongate launch tube having a longitudinal axis, a forward end from which a rocket is fired, and a rear exhaust end through which exhaust gases exit during firing of the rocket, said exhaust end having a predetermined cross-sectional area and diameter, said shock suppressing apparatus comprising:

• a. circumferential housing having a longitudinal axis, a forward end having a forward opening and adapted to be mounted to the rear exhaust end of the launch tube so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of the launch tube, and a rear end,
• b. said housing defining a substantially enclosed expansion chamber having a diameter and cross-sectional area substantially greater than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the forward opening,
• c. annular baffle means extending from said housing radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the housing, said baffle means defining longitudinally aligned opening means to permit rearward ejection of a nozzle plug from a rocket mounted in said launch tube and to permit rearward discharge of gaseous exhaust from said rocket, said baffle means presenting forwardly facing surface means to reflect a shock wave entering the forward opening,
• d. said baffle means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced, radially inwardly extending baffles positioned in said expansion chamber along the longitudinal axis of the housing, with each of said baffles having a center through opening and presenting a generally forward facing reflecting surface to partially absorb and partially reflect shock wave portions impinging thereagainst,
• e. said housing being formed as a plurality of housing sections, arranged relative to one another to have a collapsed stored position with the housing sections telescoped one within the other, and an expanded operating position with the telescoping sections spaced longitudinally from one another to define said expansion chamber.

A shock wave suppressing apparatus for a rocket launching device, said rocket launching device comprising an elongate launch tube having a longitudinal axis, a forward end from which a rocket is fired, and a rear exhaust end through which exhaust gases exit during firing of the rocket, said exhaust end having a predetermined cross-sectional area and diameter, said shock suppressing apparatus comprising:

• a. a circumferential housing having a longitudinal axis, a forward end having a forward opening and adapted to be mounted to the rear exhaust end of the launch tube so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of the launch tube, and a rear end,
• b. said housing defining a substantially enclosed expansion chamber having a diameter and cross-sectional area substantially greater than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the forward opening,
• c. annular baffle means extending from said housing radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the housing, said baffle means defining longitudinally aligned opening means to permit rearward ejection of a nozzle plug from a rocket mounted in said launch tube and to permit rearward discharge of gaseous exhaust from said rocket, said baffle means presenting forwardly facing surface means to reflect a shock wave entering the forward opening,
• d. said baffle means being made of a sound energy absorbing material, so that in addition to reflecting the shock wave impinging thereon, a substantial amount of the energy of said shock wave is absorbed in said sound absorbing material.

A shock wave suppressing apparatus for a rocket launching device, said rocket launching device comprising an elongate launch tube having a longitudinal axis, a forward end from which a rocket is fired, and a rear exhaust end through which exhaust gases exit during firing of the rocket, said exhaust end having a predetermined cross-sectional area and diameter, said shock suppressing apparatus comprising:

• a. a circumferential housing having a longitudinal axis, a forward end having a forward opening and adapted to be mounted to the rear exhaust end of the launch tube so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of the launch tube, and a rear end,
• b. said housing defining a substantially enclosed expansion chamber having a diameter and cross-sectional area substantially greater than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the forward opening,
• c. annular baffle means extending from said housing radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the housing, said baffle means defining longitudinally aligned opening means to permit rearward ejection of a nozzle plug from a rocket mounted in said launch tube and to permit rearward discharge of gaseous exhaust from said rocket, said baffle means presenting forwardly facing surface means to reflect a shock wave entering the forward opening,
• d. said baffle means being made of a moderately yielding material, having a yield strength which is such relative to the shock wave generated that said baffle means will yield moderately under the impact of said shock wave and thus diminish the energy of the shock wave, and
• e. said baffle means being made of a sound energy absorbing material, so that in addition to reflecting the shock wave impinging thereon, a substantial amount of the energy of said shock wave is absorbed in said sound absorbing material.

A shock wave suppressing apparatus for a rocket launching device, said rocket launching device comprising an elongate launch tube having a longitudinal axis, a forward end from which a rocket is fired, and a rear exhaust end through which exhaust gases exit during firing of the rocket, said exhaust end having a predetermined cross-sectional area and diameter, said shock suppressing apparatus comprising:

• a. a circumferential housing having a longitudinal axis, a forward end having a forward opening and adapted to be mounted to the rear exhaust end of the launch tube so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is in general alignment with the longitudinal axis of the launch tube, and a rear end,
• b. said housing defining a substantially enclosed expansion chamber having a diameter and cross-sectional area substantially greater than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the forward opening,
• c. annular baffle means extending from said housing radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the housing, said baffle means defining longitudinally aligned opening means to permit rearward ejection of a nozzle plug from a rocket mounted in said launch tube and to permit rearward discharge of gaseous exhaust from said rocket, said baffle means presenting forwardly facing surface means to reflect a shock wave entering the forward opening,
• d. said housing comprising a circumferential side wall, said side wall having a plurality of deformable plug members at spaced locations therein, said plug members being deformable outwardly under impact of the shock wave thereon to provide through openings when so outwardly deformed, said plug members thus absorbing energy in being outwardly deformed, and also providing sound attentuating openings in said housing.