GB791310A - Improvements in or relating to means for ejecting missiles from under water vessels or other submerged installations - Google Patents

Abstract

791,310. Launching torpedoes. GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION. Sept. 11, 1953, No. 25166/56. Class 9(2) A balanced system for ejecting missiles from an installation on a submarine or from other similar installations submerged under the surface of the sea comprises a missile ejecting tube whose nozzle end is submerged below the surface of the sea, a water cylinder, a passageway connecting the cylinder with the sea so that the hydraulic pressure from the sea is substantially the same in the water cylinder as it is at the muzzle end, means defining a conduit connecting the water cylinder and the ejection tube for the passage of water from the cylinder into the tube, a piston and rod mounted for reciprocation in the water cylinder, which piston on its stroke from the retracted position forces water ahead of it from the cylinder into the tube for ejecting a missile while drawing water behind it into the cylinder through the passageway, and means including water ports in the cylinder to provide escape from the cylinder into the tube for water moving behind the piston whereby the energy built up in the mass of water moving behind the piston is dissipated through the tube when the piston is brought to rest at the end of its stroke from the retracted position. Referring to Fig. 1 the water cylinder 11 communicates through ports 23 with a plenum chamber 24 which can be made to communicate with one of the torpedo tubes by opening a slide valve 31 and thus exposing ports 30 in the tube. The piston 12 in the water cylinder is operated by a piston 14 in a cylinder 13 which can be supplied with air under pressure and the space behind the piston 12 forms a passageway 18 to the sea. The muzzle door of the tube and the slide valve 31 can be opened together by admitting compressed air to a cylinder 59: after these have been opened the torpedo can be ejected'by operating the piston 12 so that water is forced into the torpedo tube. When the piston 12 nears the end of its stroke the water behind the piston can escape into the chamber 24 through ports 23, and when the piston is retracted after its stroke water is drawn in from the sea through the torpedo tube to refill the cylinder 11. The muzzle door of the tube is then closed and the water in the tube is drained into a water tank 81 and air admitted to the tube through a pipe 73. After the tube has been re-loaded sea water is admitted to the tube through pipes 79 and 75, air being expelled through the pipe 73, and the tube is ready to fire again. The piston 12 is provided with a bumper 124, which engages a resilient stop 125 at the forward end of its stroke, and with a dashpot piston 38 which enters a dash-pot cup 36 at the rear end of its stroke.