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US 5,847,307 AGranted
Missile launcher apparatus
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorsRobert E. Kennedy, Gaylord S. Olmsted, Richard E. Ryan, Joaquim Tavares
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A missile launcher for use on a surface vessel includes an array of vertical sleeves each being of a size to receive a missile carrying container. The sleeves are maintained in a linear array by means of a series of frames and the lower, or breech, ends of the sleeves are collectively connected to a plenum into which water is injected during a hot launch of a missile. A selected one of the sleeves does not carry a missile but rather, functions as an exhaust or gas take up for the exhaust gases of the other missiles.
Claims13
Missile launcher apparatus, comprising:
- (A) an array of sleeves each having a muzzle end and a breech end;
- (B) means for maintaining said sleeves fixed in said array;
- (C) a plenum collectively connected to the breech ends of said sleeves in said array;
- (D) said sleeves being of a size to accommodate a missile carrying container, from which a missile can be launched, said launching producing exhaust gases directed into said plenum;
- (E) a selected one of said sleeves being adapted to conduct said exhaust gases within said plenum out through the muzzle end of said selected sleeve;
- and
- (F) means for cooling said plenum during a launch of said missile.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.