Elastomeric impulse energy storage and transfer system

An apparatus for ejecting cylindrical projectiles into a liquid medium, comprising:

• at least one cylindrical launch tube, each said tube having a longitudinal axis, a muzzle end, a breach end and an internal diameter greater then the diameter of said projectile, for housing said projectile and slidably guiding said projectile during said ejection;
• breach valve means, one each fixedly attached to said breach end of each said launch tube, for providing access to the interior volume of each said launch tube from said breach end for loading said projectiles;
• muzzle valve means, one each fixedly attached to the muzzle end of each said launch tube, for providing egress for said projectiles from each said launch tube into said liquid medium;
• cylindrical flange means, one each fixedly attached to each said launch tube between said muzzle end and said breach end, being located nearer to said breach end of said tube so as to be positioned behind said projectile, said flange means having a longitudinal axis oriented generally orthagonally with respect to said longitudinal axis of said launch tube, for providing access to each said launch tube internal volume at a point behind said projectile;
• control valve means, one each fixedly attached to each said flange means, for selectively connecting each said flange means to its corresponding tube volume;
• elastomeric bladder means, fixedly attached to each said flange means, said bladder means being generally spherical in shape and having a wall thickness "t", for storing energy by elastic expansion of said wall thereof, the exterior surface of said bladder means being exposed to the pressure of said liquid medium;
• and
• pump means, having a suction side and a discharge side, the suction side thereof being connected to said liquid medium and the discharge side thereof being connected to the interior volume of said bladder means via said flange means, for selectively pumping said liquid into the interior volume of said bladder thereby inflating said bladder means and distending said bladder wall;
• whereby, upon opening of said muzzle valve means thereby flooding said launch tube and then opening said control valve means thereby connecting said bladder internal volume, via said flange means, to said launch tube volume, said bladder contracts thereby forcing the liquid medium stored therein through said flange means and out of said muzzle end of said launch tube along with said projectile.