Load reducing stores launch tube
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMatt H. Travis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary stores launch tube includes an outer tube and an inner tube. The inner tube is disposed interior the outer tube and is configured to reduce load as a store exits therefrom. The inner tube may be made of a flexible material. At least one load-reducing device may be disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube. The inner tube may be received within a canister that has an outer casing that is attachable to the outer tube. Alternately, the inner tube may be attached directly to the outer tube. The inner tube may include more than one tube section. If desired, filler material, such as foam, may be disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube. The outer tube may have a substantially circular cross-section, or an oval cross-section, or any cross-section as desired to accommodate structural considerations.
Claims25
A stores launch tube comprising:
- an outer tube;
- an inner tube disposed interior the outer tube and configured to reduce load as a store exits therefrom;
- and a retention ring configured to secure a first end of the inner tube to a first end of the outer tube;
- and the inner tube is flexibly coupled to the outer tube to permit the inner tube to move or deform relative to the outer tube to reduce the load as the store exits therefrom;
- and the inner tube includes a flexible material;
- and the first end of the inner tube includes an inner tube upper flange and the first end of the outer tube includes an outer tube upper flange;
- and the retention ring secures the inner tube upper flange against the outer tube upper flange.
A stores launch system comprising:
- a stores launcher configured to eject stores therefrom;
- and a stores launch tube operatively coupled to the stores launcher and configured to receive from the stores launcher a store ejected therefrom, the stores launch tube including:
- an outer tube;
- an inner tube disposed interior the outer tube and configured to reduce load as a store exits therefrom;
- wherein a first end of the inner tube includes an inner tube upper flange and a first end of the outer tube includes an outer tube upper flange;
- and a retention ring configured to secure the inner tube upper flange against the outer tube upper flange.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage that defines a cabin therein;
- and a stores launch system including:
- a stores launcher disposed at least partially within the cabin and configured to eject stores therefrom;
- and a stores launch tube operatively coupled to the stores launcher and configured to receive from the stores launcher a store ejected therefrom, the stores launch tube including:
- an outer tube;
- an inner tube disposed interior to the outer tube and configured to reduce load as a store exits therefrom;
- and a retention ring configured to secure a first end of the inner tube to a first end of the outer tube;
- and the first end of the inner tube includes an inner tube upper flange and the first end of the outer tube includes an outer tube upper flange;
- and the retention ring is configured to secure the inner tube upper flange against the outer tube upper flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.