Catapult exit shock absorber

A towing device for exerting a towing force to impart a very high acceleration to a mobile mass, the mobile mass comprising elements joined together elastically and capable of being displaced relative to one another under the towing force, the device comprising:

• a guidance device;
• a carriage mounted to slide with respect to the guidance device;
• a motive device for imparting a movement to said carriage along the guidance device in a direction of the acceleration of said mass;
• coupling means for providing a connection between said mass and said carriage as said mass and said carriage are accelerated;
• a braking device for braking said carriage at an end of the acceleration of the mass and for breaking the connection between the carriage and said mass;
• and
• a modulation device sliding freely in the direction of the acceleration of said mass for modulating the towing force to bring the elements of said mass to a state of rest with respect to one another or close to the state of rest at a moment in which the connection between said mass and said carriage is broken, the modulation device modulating the towing force gradually before said moment.

A towing device for exerting a towing force to impart a very high acceleration to a mobile mass, the mobile mass comprising elements joined together elastically and capable of being displaced relative to one another under the towing force, said elements oscillating with an inherent period of oscillation after said towing force is suddenly released therefrom, the device comprising:

• a guidance device;
• a carriage mounted to slide with respect to the guidance device;
• a motive device for imparting a movement to said carriage along the guidance device in a direction of the acceleration of said mass, the motive device comprising at least one cylinder/piston assembly for being pressurized by a propelling fluid;
• coupling means for providing a connection between said mass and said carriage as said mass and said carriage are accelerated;
• a braking device for braking said carriage at an end of the acceleration of the mass and for breaking the connection between the carriage and said mass;
• a modulation device for modulating the towing force, which device is designed to bring the elements of said mass to a state of rest with respect to one another or close to the state of rest at a second moment in which the connection between said mass and said carriage is broken, said modulation device being so controlled as to start modulation of said towing force at a first moment occurring before said second moment and spaced in time with respect to said second moment by an interval of time which is between one third and twice said period of oscillation.