# US 9,038,540 B2 · Apparatus, method and system for a ballistically launched delivery device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,540 B2 - Document ID: US9038540B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/738,359 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2015-04-30 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-11 - Assignees: Cardinal Scientific, Inc. - Applicants: Cardinal Scientific, Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Paul Brosky; Michael Wade Broome; Brian Kelly Gallion; Charles Edmund Hebert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038540B2 ## CPC - F42B 30/06: Bullet traps or bullet decelerators therefor - F41F 1/06: Mortars (base plates therefor F41A23/54) - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) - F41F: APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING PROJECTILES OR MISSILES FROM BARRELS, e.g. CANNONS (smallarms F41C); LAUNCHERS FOR ROCKETS OR TORPEDOES; HARPOON GUNS (functional features or details common to both smallarms and ordnance, mountings therefor F41A; projecting missiles without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge F41B) ## Abstract An apparatus and method of launching and retrieving a ballistically launched delivery device. A replaceable bullet trap with an axial cavity may be inserted into a launch delivery tube. The launch delivery tube may be attached to a ballistic muzzle. A projectile may be fired from the ballistic muzzle through the delivery tube and into the axial cavity of the replaceable bullet trap. An impulse and momentum of mass of the projectile may be transferred from the projectile to the replaceable bullet trap and then to the launch delivery tube to launch the launch delivery tube from the ballistic muzzle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A retrievable ballistically launched delivery apparatus comprising: a launch delivery tube with an inner diameter; a replaceable bullet trap with an outer diameter removably inserted within the launch delivery tube; an axial cavity formed within the replaceable bullet trap, the axial cavity capable of receiving a projectile; an annular shoulder on a front end of the launch delivery tube, the annular shoulder operable to stop the replaceable bullet trap from exiting the front end of the launch delivery tube; and at least one seal on the outer diameter of the replaceable bullet trap operable to seal against the inner diameter of the launch delivery tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The retrievable ballistically launched delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the launch delivery tube is larger than the outer diameter of the replaceable bullet trap to allow for free insertion of the replaceable bullet trap within the launch delivery tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The retrievable ballistically launched delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first aperture on a front end of the launch delivery tube; and a cap with a second aperture fixedly attached to the front end of the launch delivery tube, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are aligned. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The retrievable ballistically launched delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a stub on a front end of the replaceable bullet trap designating a proper insertion direction; and an indicator on a second end of the replaceable bullet trap indicating whether the replaceable bullet trap has been previously fired. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The retrievable ballistically launched delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one interchangeable attachment on the launch delivery tube, the at least one attachment delivered by ballistic launch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The retrievable ballistically launched delivery apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one attachment is at least one of a tine, hook, line, or entanglement apparatus attached to an outside diameter of the launch delivery tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The retrievable ballistically launched delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one retrieval cord attached to an end of the launch delivery tube. ### Claim 8 A method of launching and retrieving a ballistically launched delivery apparatus comprising: inserting a front end of a replaceable bullet trap into a proximate end of a launch delivery tube; providing an axial cavity at a rear end of the replaceable bullet trap; positioning the front end of the replaceable bullet trap against a shoulder at a distal end of the launch delivery tube; providing at least one seal between an outer diameter of the replaceable bullet trap and an inner diameter of the launch delivery tube; attaching the proximate end of the launch delivery tube to a ballistic muzzle; firing a projectile from the ballistic muzzle through the launch delivery tube; receiving the projectile in the axial cavity of the replaceable bullet trap; controlling a mass transfer vector of the projectile along an axial centerline of the axial cavity; transferring an impulse and momentum of a mass of the projectile to the replaceable bullet trap; transferring an impulse and momentum of mass of the projectile and replaceable bullet trap to the shoulder of the launch delivery tube and simultaneously preventing escape of a muzzle pressure by the at least one seal; and launching the launch delivery tube from the ballistic muzzle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: providing at least one retrieval means to the launch delivery tube; and retrieving the launch delivery tube after launching. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising; providing an aperture at the distal end of the launch delivery tube to access the front end of the replaceable bullet trap; inserting a tool into the aperture; pushing the replaceable bullet trap free of the launch delivery tube; and replacing the replaceable bullet trap with a second replaceable bullet trap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: providing an end cap on the distal end of the launch delivery tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: providing an indicator on the replaceable bullet trap to indicate if the replaceable bullet trap has been previously fired. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: attaching at least one interchangeable attachment to the launch delivery tube.