Small device launch system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsNicholas O. Venier, Nicholas Bitsakis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for providing pressurized fluid for a small device launch system is shown. The system includes a piston housing an air source aperture, a launcher bore, and a shaft aperture. A piston and piston shaft slide in the chamber with the piston shaft extending out the shaft aperture. A hydraulic control cylinder is connected to the piston shaft and a controller is joined to control the cylinder. In a preferred embodiment, the controller controls flow through a variable restriction valve positioned in hydraulic communication between sides of the hydraulic cylinder. A position indicator can also be provided for communicating the position of the piston shaft to the controller.
Claims12
A system for providing pressurized fluid comprising:
- a chamber having an air source aperture therein for fluid connection to a high pressure air source, a launcher bore therein for provision of high pressure fluid thereto, and a shaft aperture therein;
- a first piston disposed within said chamber;
- a first piston shaft joined to said piston and extending through said shaft aperture in said chamber;
- a hydraulic control cylinder operatively connected to said piston shaft for applying axial force to said piston shaft;
- and
- a controller joined to said hydraulic control cylinder and controlling the force applied by said hydraulic control cylinder.
A system for providing pressurized fluid comprising:
- a housing having an air source port, a launcher bore and a shaft aperture formed therein;
- a piston slidably disposed in said housing between said air source port and said launcher bore;
- a piston shaft joined to said piston, at least a portion of said piston shaft extending outside of said housing through said piston shaft aperture;
- a hydraulic braking assembly joined to said portion of said piston shaft extending outside of said housing;
- a position indicator joined to said piston shaft and providing a signal responsive to the position of said piston;
- and
- a controller joined to receive said signal from said position indicator, said controller being joined to control said hydraulic braking assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.