Nested ring based countermass assembly
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsMatthew J. Sanford, Gregory D. DuChane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A countermass assembly is axially and radially restrained while within a vessel and is dispersible into its component parts upon being ejected from the vessel into an open environment. A plurality of groups arranged axially adjacent one another to form a stack. Each group is formed from a plurality of rings arranged in a nested interengagement. Each ring is an individual ring that is in a non-binding relationship with adjacent rings. The non-binding relationship allows each ring to be separable as such from its associated group when the stack is ejected from the vessel into the open environment.
Claims23
A countermass assembly that is axially and radially restrained while within a vessel and that is dispersible into its component parts upon being ejected from the vessel into an open environment, said countermass assembly comprising:
- a plurality of groups arranged axially adjacent one another to form a stack having a common longitudinal axis;
- and
- each of said plurality of groups having a plurality of rings arranged in a nested interengagement, each of said plurality of rings being an individual ring in a non-binding relationship with adjacent ones of said plurality of rings and separable as such from its associated one of said plurality of groups when said stack is ejected from the vessel into the open environment.
A countermass assembly that is axially and radially restrained while within a vessel and that is dispersible into its component parts upon being ejected from the vessel into an open environment, said countermass assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of groups arranged axially adjacent one another to form a cylindrical stack having a common longitudinal axis;
- and
- each of said plurality of groups having a plurality of circular rings arranged in a nested interengagement that defines a central axial void fitted with a disk, each of said plurality of circular rings being an individual circular ring in a non-binding relationship with adjacent ones of said plurality of rings and separable as such from its associated one of said plurality of groups when said stack is ejected from the vessel into the open environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.