GB2169067A - Ejection equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Ejection equipment particularly suited to the ejection from a carrier (3), either aerial or submarine, comprises at least one package (1) disposed adjacent a diaphragm (11) which at least partially defines an enclosure (13), means for producing explosive pressure within the enclosure (13) to cause the diaphragm (11) to distend rapidly and thereby to eject the package (1) from the carrier (3). The explosive pressure may be produced by pyrotechnic material or compressed gas. In alternative embodiments, the diaphragm comprises a scroll or polygonal tube surrounding the enclosure (Figs. 4 and 6), with a plurality of packages surrounding the diaphragm. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ejection equipment The present invention relates to ejection equipment and in particular to the ejection of containers or packages from a storage holder in transit.

Some known ejection systems generate rotational forces which act on the package thereby to cause the ejection of the package.

It has also been proposed to provide an inflatable sac about which packages to be ejected are disposed. Inflation of the sac causes the packages to be ejected.

It is the main object of the invention to provide improved ejection equipment.

The present invention provides ejection equipment comprising a carrier containing at least one package disposed adjacent a diaphragm which at least partialiy defines an enclosure, means for producing an explosive pressure within the enclosure to cause the diaphragm to distend rapidly and thereby to eject the package from the carrier.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a section through ejection equipment according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic section on line X-X of the ejection equipment of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic view of ejection equipment of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view on line Y-Y of the equipment of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a schematic view of ejection equipment of a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows a schematic sectional view on line Z-Z of the embodiment of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a schematic section of ejection equipment of a fourth embodiment of the invention; and Figures 8 to 11 each show a schematic section of a seal which may be employed in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 7.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a package 1 is mounted in a carrier 3, from which the package 1 is to be ejected.

The carrier 3 includes a substantially cylindrical side wall 5 and end walls 7 and 9. The wall 5 is shown as semi-cylindrical for convenience but in practice would be entirely cylindrical so that the package is, before its ejection, completely enclosed. If so, part of the wall 5 may be severed by line-cutting charges immediately before the package is ejected.

A diaphragm 11 is mounted inside the carrier 3 so that in this embodiment an outer surface is adjacent, but spaced from part of the wall 5 to define a cavity 13. The diaphragm preferebly extends the length of the carrier 3. Each longitudinal edge 15, 17 of the diaphragm 11 is secured to a respective corresponding rib 19, 21 each of which is integral with or fixed to the inner surface of the wall 5, each rib extending longitudinally of the wall 5 so as to define a respective longitudinal edge of cavity 13. Each radial edge 23, 25 of the diaphragm 11 may abut, but is not required to be sealed to an inner surface of a respective end wall 7, 9.

The package which in this embodiment may be cylindrical, is held in the carrier 3 by any suitable known means (not shown) so that its outer surface is closely adjacent the diaphragm 11.

The diaphragm 11 is preferably metallic but could be a reinforced plastics material. The diaphragm 11 may be corrugated with ribs running longitudinal of the wall 5, its thickness may vary according to circumstances.

In a preferred form of the invention the cavity 13 may be filled with an explosive material. The material employed is such that detonation or combustion of the material in the cavity 13 causes a large volume of highly pressurised gas and/or vapour to be released in the cavity. The amount of material used may be regulated as required. Such release of gas and/or vapour causes a large pressure to act on the diaphragm 11.

In an alternative form of the invention, the cavity 13 is connected via a line (not shown) to a source of highly compressed fluid, such as,for example, air. Release of the compressed fluid into the cavity 13 causes an explosive pressure to act on diaphragm 11.

In use, when an explosion is caused in the cavity 13 pressure develops very rapidly over the whole diaphragm 11. This causes diaphragm 11 to deform rapidly and urge the package 1 at high velocity out of the carrier 3 in the direction A. Typically the package 1 may be ejected from the carrier 3 within approximately 1 millisecond of initiation of the explosion and the speed of ejection may be in the range of 10 to 15 meters per second.

The positions 1', 11" of the package 1 and of the diaphragm 11 after ejection of the package 1 from the carrier 3 are shown by dashed lines.

Each longitudinal edge 15, 1 7 of the diaphragm 11 may be wholly or partly secured to the respective rib 19, 21 so as to form a whole or partial seal, respectively, for the cavity. The manner and extent of the seal may enable either fracture or expulsion of the diaphragm. For example a partial seal permits the pressure in cavity 13 to cause the diaphragm 11 to be ejected away from carrier 3 together with package 1.

Each radial edge 23, 25 of the diaphragm is spaced at a desired distance from or closely abuts against a respective end wall 7, 9 to form a whole or partial seal therebetween.

The size of the gap between the edge 23, 25 and the respective end wall 7,9 may be varied for engineering convenience and may be especially designed to adjust the acceleration and rate of ejection of the package. The size of the gap affects the rate of pressure build-up in cavity 13 and consequently the rate of ejection of the package 1.

The carrier 3 may be of any desired dimensions according to the particular size and shape of the package 1 to be ejected. However, it has been found in practice that in order to prevent buckling of the diaphragm 11 the length : width aspect ratio of the diaphragm preferably should not exceed about 6:1. The package 1 to be ejected may occupy any required portion of the available cross sectional area of the vehicle within which the carrier 3 is embodied and may be irregular in shape.

Figures 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention in which the diaphragm of a carrier 29 is formed as an elongate scroll i.e. the diaphragm is arranged to have a spiral cross-section. Each end 33, 35 of the scroll 31 abuts against a respective end wall 37, 39 thereby to define a cavity 41 in the centre of the scroll 31. A number of packages 43 to be ejected are arranged around the scroll 31 in planetary fashion between the end walls 37, 39.

The cavity 41 is filled with explosive material or is connected via a line (not shown) to a source of highly compressed fluid.

In use, in a manner similar to that described hereinbefore with respect to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, pressure is rapidly developed inside cavity 41. This causes the diaphragm 31 to unroll and increase in diameter.

The outer surface of the scroll 31 is urged against the packages 43 thereby to force the packages 43 at high velocity out of the carrier 29 in the directions of the arrows C.

The size of the gap between ends 33, 35 and end wall 37, 39 respectively may be varied as aforesaid to alter the velocity of ejection of the packages 43. The packages 43 may be positioned around the scroll 31 such that they are ejected sequentially from the carrier 29 i.e. with the packages 43 being at different radial distances from the centre of the spiral. Alternatively, the packages 43 may be positioned around the scroll 31 such that they are ejected substantially simultaneously.

Of course, the length of time between initiation and ejection of the packages 43 may be very short, of the order of 1 millisecond, depending on the type of initiation and dimensions of the equipment.

The length of the scroll 31 along its longitudinal direction may be varied and also the diameter of the spiral may vary along its length.

Figures 5 and 6 show a further embodiment of the present invention in which the diaphragm of a carrier 49 is formed as a polygonal tube 51 which has bays 52 partly accommodating packages 54. The ends 53, 55 of the tube 51 abut against a respective end wall 57, 59 so as to form a complete or partial seal therebetween. Tube 51 has a polygonal cross-section with inverted sides.

In a manner similar to that described for the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4, cavity 61 is pressurised leading to rapid deformation of tube 51 leading to ejection of package 65 at high velocity from the carrier 49.

The size of the gap between end 53, 55 and end wall 57, 59 respectively may be varied thereby to alter the velocity of ejection of the packages 65. In addition, the crosssection of the tube 51 may be varied along its length.

Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, which is an elaboration of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 and in which a carrier 69 includes a removable cover for the article to be ejected. A semi-tubular wall 71 has a pair of breakable connectors 73, 75 mounted on its longitudinal edges 77, 79. A corresponding semi-tubular cover 81 is connected by its longitudinal edges 83, 85 to the breakable connectors 73, 75. A diaphragm 87 is mounted adjacent the inner surface of the wall 71 and the ends of the tubular arrangement abut against respective end walls (not shown) and are wholly or partly sealed in a manner similar to that of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. A package 89 to be ejected is disposed in the tubular arrangement between the cover 81 and the diaphragm 87.

The cover 81 acts to retain the package 89 in the carrier 69 and protects the package 89 from damage. When the package 89 is ejected from the carrier 69 in a manner described hereinbefore, connectors 73, 75 are broken and cover 81 is released and is ejected away in direction E as shown by the force of the package 89 acting on it.

In each of the four embodiments described above, an edge of the diaphragm abuts against an end wall to form a complete or partial seal for the cavity which is to be pressurised. The nature of and degree of the seal depends upon the particular construction and application of the equipment.

A number of types of seal may be employed and four embodiments of a seal are shown in Figures 8 to 11.

Figure 8 shows a simple seal formed by a diaphragm 91 substantially perpendicularly abutting against an end wall 93. The gap between the diaphragm and the end wall may be varied as desired.

Figure 9 shows a seal between a diaphragm 95 and an end wall 97 in which the diaphragm 95 is substantially perpendicular to the end wall 97 but the edge 99 of the diaphragm is turned over in the direction of the high pressure cavity 101 so as to be substantially parallel to the end wall 97. With this type of seal, high pressure in cavity 101 tends to deform the diaphragm in the direction as shown by arrow F thereby to maintain a good seal between the diaphragm 95 and the end wall 97.

Figure 10 shows a seal between a diaphragm 103 and an end wall 105 which is similar to that shown in Figure 8 except that an elongate sealing member 107 having a Ushaped cross-section encloses the edge 109 of the diaphragm 103. High pressure in cavity 108 causes gas to be forced between edge 109 and sealing member 107 thereby to bias sealing member 107 against end wall 105 and to form a good seal for cavity 108.

Figure 11 shows a seal between a diaphragm 109 and an end wall 111 in which the edge 113 of the diaphragm 109 is in the form of a T. The upper surface of the T abuts against the end wall 111. With this arrangement, buckling of the edge of the diaphragm 109 under high pressure is substantially prevented and a good seal may be formed.

The present invention is particularly suited to the ejection of large packages from carriers in transit either aerial or submarine.

In addition, the present invention may be employed with stationary or slowly moving launching or dispensing devices at any altitude and may also be so employed to disperse a plurality of relatively small payload elements.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for expelling relatively large, single payload elements at high velocity and with control of operation. This has been difficult to achieve using known techniques, The use of an explosive material to generate high pressure over a large area of the payload element to be ejected, the pressure being applied via the diaphragm, enables very large accelerating forces to be applied to the payload element. The simple diaphragm arrangement results in a very robust system which has ease of construction and is relatively cheap to produce. The laminar nature of the diaphragm and the small initial volume of the cavity to be pressurised facilitates compact construction.

Claims (11)

1. Ejection-equipment comprising a carrier containing at least one package disposed adjacent a diaphragm which at least partially defines an enclosure, means for producing an explosive pressure within the enclosure to cause the diaphragm to distend rapidly and thereby to eject the package from the carrier.

2. Equipment according to claim 1 in which the means for pr-oducing an explosive pressure comprises explosive pyrotechnical material.

3. Equipment according to claim 1 in which the means for producing explosive pressure comprises means for introducing compressed gas into the enclosure.

4. Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the diaphragm is corrugated.

5. Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the diaphragm is initially partcylindrical.

6. Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the diaphragm is constituted by a polygonal tube having bays each accommodating a respective package, the enclosure being within the tube.

7. Equipment according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the diaphragm is constituted by a scroll surrounding the enclosure.

8. Equipment according to claim 7 wherein each of a plurality of packages is disposed at a different distance from the centre of the scroll.

9. Equipment according to any foregoing claim in which the enclosure is partly bounded by at least one wall of the carrier.

10. Equipment according to claim 9 in which the diaphragm is at least partly sealed to the wall or walls.

11. Equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3 and 4, Figures 5 and 6 or Figure 7, which Figures may be taken in conjunction with any one of Figures 8 to 11.