US3266372A

US3266372A - Shipping and launching container

Info

Publication number: US3266372A
Application number: US392665A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold J Mack; Albert F Scarcelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-08-27
Filing date: 1964-08-27
Publication date: 1966-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-16

Description

Allg- 16, 1966 H. J. MACK ETAL SHIPPING AND LAUNCHING CONTINER Filed Aug. 27, 1954 ATTORNEYS United States The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to containers and more particularly to combination storage, shipping, and launching containers.

Various air-launched equipments, both electroni-c and electromechanical, are utilized in the detection of underwater objects. These presently include, among others, the AN/SSQ-37 (XN-2) BUSS, the AN/SSQ-42 (XN- 2) Miniature Sonobuoy and the AN/SSQ-46 (XN-1) Sonobuoy. It should be understood that these stores or equipments are of various sizes and many or all types may be used in a single detection mission. The stores are hand dropped or retro-launched from the conveying aircraft with use of the latter method obviously necessitating complicated launching mechanism to handle the various sizes of stores.

As may be seen by reference to U.S. Patent No. 3,093,808, issued to G. J. Tatnall, A. Scarcelli and G. A. Gimber on I une l1, 1963, the stores of the type discussed a'bove include a large amount of expensive and sensitive electronic apparatus. These equipments are presently packaged at the place of manufacture in expendable storage and shipping containers. Prior to loading in the aircraft the equipments `are removed from their shipping containers and are then stacked in storage areas within the aircraft to await removal therefrom at the time of ultimate use. This operation necessitates an extreme degree of handling which, of course, reduces equipment reliability to the damage received thereby. When the equipments are removed from the shipping and storage containers, they are exposed to ambient conditions. To insure reliability thereof, the exposed equipment must be used Within 30 to 60 days, depending upon the nature of the particular equipment, after which time period the equipment is destroyed. The satisfaction of the abovestated out-of-container-life requirements has necessitated complexity in equipment design with its concomitant added cost and unreliability.

To obviate the above-noted deleterious conditions, the present invention discloses the use of a novel combination shipping, storage and launching container having a common form factor for use With the various equipments presently known and utilized. The novel container seals the equipment therein and is provided With a cap at the forward end of the container having provisions for receiving a propelling force to urge the store or equipment from the container and a cap at the after end of the container designed to separate therefrom when a predetermined amount of force is exerted against it. The most significant advantage to be realized from adoption of the proposed container concept is in the increased reliability of equipment housed therein. This is brought about mainly by the elimination of the existing out-of-package requirements for the various stores.

Presently a store is on loaded and off loaded from an aircraft many times. By this required shifting of the unpackaged store damage could occur lby rough handling, accidental dropping or inadvertent exposure to the elements. Therefore, by utilizing a sealed container as described below, protection against rough handling, shock,

atent rice vibration and exposure to the elements is obtained 4and greater reliability is inherently provided.

Also, protection against corrosion and fungus is at a maximum when the equipment is in the novel sealed container. Although in current stores the components are plated or coated with a protective medium, areas of sur- :faces subjected to abrasion when handled are potentially starting points for corrosive and fungus action when the store is out of the package.

A further advantage realized by employing this type container is that a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the store can be realized. This saving is achieved primarily by eliminating the need for sealing batteries, for potting of cable glands leading to sealed battery areas and for eliminating the speed brake release device as used on the AN/SSQ-42 and the AN/SSQ-37 equipments. Since assembly requirements are more critical to achieve the sealing protection needed the assembly costs are reduced accordingly. There is realized also a cost saving due to elimination of expensive protective finishes required for the predetermined time out-o-f-package life.

In addition, the shipping, launching container is compatible with the presently desired retro-launching concept which permits consistent deployment of the speed brake. By eliminating the air-operated speed brake release mechanisms the brake is allowed -to immediately deploy upon ejection from the tube thereby enhancing placement accuracy.

Lastly, the combination shipping and launching container provides for a simplied launcher design by presenting to the launcher a package of common form factor regardless of the type store to be launched. This then allows not only a single launcher design for the existing stores but also eliminates the need for new launcher designs or modification of existing launchers with the de-l velopment of each new store.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an expendable container for housing an equipment which must be launched prior to the use thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sealed container which will protect the equipment contained therein during storage, shipment and handling thereof and at the same time provide a device for'launching the contained equipment. j

A further object is to provide a sealed combination storage, shipping and launching container of common form factor for enveloping various types and sizes of stores which will provide protection of the equipments contained therein during storage, shipment and handling thereof and at the same time provide a device for launching these equipments.

A still further object yof the present invention is to provide a reduction in the cost of expendable high volume usage equipments.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide -a sealed container which will provide shock` and Vibration protection to the equipments contained therein until time of use thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sealed combination shipping, launching and storage container for increasing the reliability of the equipments contained therein.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in the following description of an embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 represents a partial cross sectional view of the novel combination, storage and launching container with the breech block portion of a launcher assembly adjacent thereto;

FIG. 2 represents a detailed cross sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a modification of the forward cap and breech block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 represents a cross sectional View of a modified aft cap; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, a package generally indicated at including a container 11 and a store 12 contained therein is illustrated adjacent a breech block 13, to be more fully described below. Breech block 13 forms a portion of a launching mechanism, not shown, for ejecting the store 12 from the container 11. Since the launcher per se forms no part of the present invention, a detailed description will not be provided.

The container 11 encapsulates the store 12 and functions as a storage and shipping container as well as a vehicle from which the store 12 may be launched. The container 11 includes a right circular cylinder 14 sealed at the fore and aft ends thereof by

caps

16 and 17, respectively. i

The cylinder 14, per se, may be constructed of any appropriate high strength-to-weight ratio material such as aluminum or other sheet metal, polycarbonate, polyvinyl, polypropylene, resin impregnated felt, paper laminate, and filament winding. The

caps

16 and 17 may be constructed from any strong, shearable, and impervious material such as a phenolic resin, or the like.

In order to negate the possibility of lthe package 10 jamming in the launcher passages, the

caps

16 and 17 have been provided with spherical end surfaces 16a and 17a, respectively. Adjacent the extreme edges of a

cap

16 and 17, the spherical surfaces 16a and 17a terminate in sharper

angular surfaces

16b and 17 b. These surfaces, together with complementary surfaces o-n the launching mechanism, such as surface 13a on breech block 13, serve to guide and properly position the package 10 within the launcher. In order to hermetically seal the store 12 within the container 11, the forward cap 16 is bonded to the cylinder 14 by a cement 19 of appropriate material and characteristics known and used in the art.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the propelling force for ejecting and launching the store 12 from the cylinder 14 is supplied by a cartridge generally indicated at 20 and illustrated more clearly in FIG. 2. A cylindrical portion 21 forming `an integral part of forward cap 16 threadably receives the cartridge through one end and terminates in a frangible seal 22 at the other end. In order to protect the cartridge from stray radiation and to electrically insulate the same, a shield 23 of polyethylene or other appropriate material is snap-fitted into groove 24 and caps the cartridge 20. The cartridge 20 includes a primer 25 for igniting the propellant charge 25a contained within the body-of the cartridge 20. The primer is ignited through a bridge 26 which is bonded at one end to a conductive center post 27 and at the other end thereof to an annular conducting ring 28, both formed in the base of the cartridge 20. The center post 27 and the annular conducting ring 28 are positioned to receive a source of electrical energy from probes 13b and 13C, respectively, formed as part of the breech block 13. When the container 11 is moved toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, the probes 13b and 13C cut through the plastic shield 23 and engage center post 27 and annular conducting ring 28, respectively. When current is applied to probes 13b and 13C, the bridge 26 heats and ignites primer 25 which in turn ignites propellant 25a thereby firing the cartridge 20.

In order to provide consistent ejection of the store 12, a piston generally noted at 30 is provided. Piston 30 is of 4dish-like configuration and includes a circumferential skirt or sealing edge 31 and a base 32. A plurality of rods 33 are formed integrally with and extend beyond the contines of sealing edge 31 from base 32 for engaging the edge of cylindrical portion 21 of forward cap 16.

,4 When piston 30 is placed in the operative position with the disk portion facing forwardly, the rods 33 abut cylindrical portion 21 and the skirt or sealing edge 31 is spaced from cap 16 to prevent damage thereto. The skirt 31 engages the inner side walls of cylinder 14 and forms a seal therewith for preventing the escape of the pressure generated for launching the store 12.

A forward spacer element generally noted at 36 is interposed between piston 30 and store 12 for properly positioning the center of gravity of store 12 within the container 10 and to give radial support from shock and vibration to the store 12. The size and configuration of spacer 36 depends upon the nature and size of the store to be interposed Within container 10. The forward spacer element 36 includes a forward convex surface 37 for engaging the base 32 of piston 30 and a rearward or aft facing surface 38 of concave configuration for receiving the spherical nose of the store 12. The outer extremities of

surfaces

37 and 38 are bonded by an annular rim 39 having a diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of cylinder 14. Spacer 36 is diametrically split at 39a to form two equal segments. By reasons of this arrangement the adverse effects upon the aerodynamic stability of the store is eliminated since a positive separation of the spacer and piston from the store will occur simultaneously with ejection of the store from the launcher.

Store 12 is of the type described above and includes speed or dive brakes 12a at the rear thereof for retarding the descent of the store. The speed or dive brakes may be of the type illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 3,047,259, issued to G. J. Tatnall and A. F. Scarcelli on July 31, 1962, and Patent No. 3,114,315, issued to W. E. Trump on December 17, 1963.

An aft spacer generally noted at 40 is interposed between the store 12 and the aft cap 17 for purposes of shock mitigation and store positioning. The spacer 40 includes forward and aft disks 41 of Fiberglas or the like bonded to a plurality of cushioning elements 42 interposed therebetween. Although two cushioning elements 42 are illustrated in FIG. 1 it should be understood that the number of these elements would depend upon the size of the store positioned within the container 11. The cushioning elements 42 are constructed of a resilient, compressible and shock absorbing material such as silicone sponge rubber or the like and the individual cushioning elements are bonded together to preclude slipping with respect to each other. The spacer element 40 thereby constructed both cushions and protects the enclosed store 12 against impact and vibration. By selection of appropriate spacer thickness, the store 12 may also be positioned so that the center of gravity of the package 10 will be properly located. This is important to provide the launcher, not shown, with a package of common form factor regardless of the type store in the container 11.

The aft cap 17 is formed with an outer annular rim 50 which in turn includes an annular projection 51 and an adjacent annular groove 52 formed on the exterior surface thereof. Cylinder 14 has an interior notch 53 formed therein compatible with the projection 51 formed on cap 17 for obtaining a snaplock fastening of the cap 17 to the cylinder 14. The notch 53 and projection 51 are designed to permit separation `of the cap from the cylinder when a predetermined amount of force is exerted against the cap. An O-ring 55 positioned within groove 52 -seals the container and thereby eliminates breathing of the container with variation of aircraft altitude. Furthermore, the store 12 contained therein is thereby protected against moisture, corrosion and fungus. In order to insure uniform application of ejection forces to the aft cap 17, a plurality of rods 57 formed integrally as part of cap 17 extend forwardly and abut disk 41. The rim 50 also extends forward to a position abutting the disk 41.

In operation, the package is positioned within the launcher, not shown, and urged forwardly against breech block 13. Mating and complementary surfaces 16h and 13a position the package 10 with respect to the breech block and continued forward movement of the package 10 causes probes 13b and 13C to penetrate seal 23 and Ithereby ignite the propelling charge 25a as described above. The ensuing pressure exerts a force against the piston 30 which transmits the same through the store 12 and spacer 40 to remove the aft cap 17 and permit free ejection of the store 12 from the container 11. Simultaneous with the ejection of the store 12 from the launcher, forward spacer 36 insures separation of the spacer and piston from the store and eliminates any adverse aerodynamic eiects on the stability of the store that might otherwise occur.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified forward cap arrangement 60 for permitting pneumatic ejection of the store 12 from its container 14. The breech block 61 receives a -source of pneumatic pressure through conduit 61a and includes a tapered nose portion 61b forming a seal with an O-ring 63 when the package is moved by the launcher, not shown, toward the b-reech block 61. O-ring 63 is seated within a groove 64 formed on the spherical surface of cap 60. The cylindrical section 65 of cap 60 is sealed at the aft end thereof by a frangible seal 67 which is formed integrally with the forward cap 60 and Aof the nature to rupture when a predetermined, preset fo-rce is applied thereto.

As in FIG. 1, the forward cap 60 is cemented at 19 to the cylindrical body 14 and piston 30 and spacer 36 are similarly utilized as described above.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified arrangement for joining the aft cap to the container cylinder 14 and for removing the same therefrom. The novel aft cap assembly now to be described hermetically seals the container 11 and the store 12 contained therein is protected against moisture, corrosion and fungus. In this embodiment a cap generally noted at 70 is cemented by an appropriate bonding means to the end of the cylinder 14 and includes a diametrically extending bead 72 extending inwardly of the outer spherical surface 70a thereof. A scalloped cutter noted at 75 and illust-rated in FIG. 5 is interposed between spacer 40 and cap 70 for severing the cap 70 upon receipt of a predetermined amount of pressure exerted thereon through spacer 40. The cutter 7S includes a circumferential knife portion 78 for cutting the cap 70 and a central portion 79 formed to abut the bead 72 in cap 70.

Since the package 10 is substantially symmetrical means are provided to unmistakably identify one end of the package from the other. Otherwise there exists the possibility of loading the container in the launcher with the store orientation opposite to its intended launch direction. In order to identify the proper end of the package a guide pin 80 is formed at the end of the launcher magazine opening. When the package is properly oriented the bead 72 in the cap passes the pin 80 while improper orientation of the package will not permit the same to be passed into the magazine of the launcher. Additionally, the bead 72 and center section 79 combination will indicate the penetration of the cutter within the cap 70 in the event the package is accidently dropped since any cutter penetration will cause the bead 72 to be pushed outwardly. This may be visually noted prior to placing the package 10 into the launcher or will be spotted by the guide pin 89 when an attempt is made to place a package within the launcher. Notation of cutter penetration is necessary to indicate that the hermetic seal has been broken and the store contained within the package has been subjected to deteriorating forces. This factor would necessitate disposal of the equipment contained therein.

In addition to the package 10 being sealed, the container may be iilled with a dry inert gas, evacuated, or

'6 packaged and sealed in an atmosphere of controlled temperature and humidity.

In view of the novel container described above a store may Ibe protected and sealed from extern-al deteriorating environmental forces and may be maintained in this condition until use thereof. Furthermore, the novel container described above provides a package of common form factor regardless of the type store placed in the container, this being obtained through the use of spacers which additionally provide shock insulation to the store contained within the package. Also proper utilization of the spacers permits within an allowable range a cornmon center of gravity location for the package. This allows not only a single launcher design for the various stores now in use but for all future stores as well and eliminates the need for new launcher designs or mOdiiication of existing launchers wit-h the development of each new store. In addition, the container is compatible with the retrolaunching concept now utilized for launching airborne stores which concept permits consistent deployment of the speed brake. By eleminating the air-operated speed brake release mechanisms, as is accomplished by the novel container, the brake is allowed to immediately deploy upon ejection from the launching tube, thereby enhancing placement accuracy.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teaching. It is therefore to be understood that within thescope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination shipping, storage and launching container for use with a launcher employed in launching stores sensitive to shock and vibration and subject to deteriorating eifects of moisture, fungus, under ambient conditions comprising:

a hollow member for housing the store;

a first cap sealing one end of said hollow member,

said cap having meansv centrally located thereon Vfor receiving a source of launching pressure;

a piston spaced inwardly of said first cap, said piston including a sealing lip on the outer extremity thereof engaging the interior surface of said hollow member;

a first spacer means interposed between said piston and the store for cushioning and positioning l[the center of gravity of the latter within said hollow member;

a second cap sealing the other end of said hollow member, said cap including notch means on the outer surface thereof for insuring proper positioning of said container within the launcher;

cutter means within said hollow mem-ber and adjacent said second cap for severing the same and permitting ejection of the store upon receiving a predetermined launching pressure;

and a second spacer means interposed between the store and said cutter, said rst and second spacer means comprising resilient, compressible and shock absorbing material for cushioning and positioning the center of gravity of the store within said hollow member.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said hollow member is cylindrical in shape and said iirst and second caps are substantially symmetrical and are bonded to the ends thereof to hermetically seal said hollow cylindrical member.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein said means on said first cap for receiving the source of launching pressure includes a frangible seal which is ruptured when a predetermined launching pressure source is-applied thereto.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein;

said sealing lip of said piston is spaced from said cap;

and wherein said piston includes centrally disposed rod means integral therewith extending outwardly 4for enaging said rst cap means.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein;

the diameter of said first spacer is substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical hollow member;

and wherein said spacer includes a forward surface abutting said piston and a rearward surface substantially conforming to the contiguration of the store being supported.

6. A combination shipping, storage and launching container for use with a launcher employed in launching stores sensitive to shock and vibration and subject to deteriorating effects of moisture, fungus, under ambient conditions comprising:

a hollow member having a cylindrical shape for housing the store;

a first cap sealing one end of said hollow member, said cap having means for receiving a source of launch- .ing pressure including a frangible seal which is ruptured when a predetermined lanching pressure source is applied therto;

a piston spaced inwardly of said rst cap, said piston comprising a sealing lip on the outer extremity thereof engaging the Iinterior surface of said hollow member and in spaced relationship with said first cap and centrally disposed rod means integral therewith extending outwardly for engaging said rst cap;

`a first spacer means having a diameter substantially equal 'to the diameter of said hollow member and interposed vbetween said piston and said store for cushioning and positioning the center of gravity of the latter within said hollow member, said spacer having a forward surface abutting said piston and a rearward surface substantially conforming to the configuration of the store bein-g supported;

cutter means within said hollow member and adjacent said second cap for severing the same and permitting ejection of the store upon receiving a predetermined launching pressure;

a second spacer `means interposed between the store and said cutter means for cushioning and positioning the cen-ter of gravity of the store within sai-d hollow mem-ber;

said notch means on said second cap extending inwardly of said hollow cylinder;

and wherein said cutter includes a center portion normally abutting said notch means.

7. The container of claim 6 further comprising:

braking means positioned on the rearward portion of said store for retardin-g the descent of the store and thereby enhancing placement accuracy.

8. The container of claim 6 wherein said means for receiving a source of launching pressure comprises:

a cartridge having a primer for igniting a propellant charge within said cartridge for ejecting said sto-re upon the explosion of said propellant, said primer actuated by a source of electrical energy.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/ 1957 C-lauser et al. 9/ 1963 Knacke et al.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Examiner.

Claims

1. A COMBINATION SHIPPING, STORAGE AND LAUNCHING CONTAINER FOR USE WITH A LAUNCHER EMPLOYED IN LAUNCHING STORES SENSITIVE TO SHOCK AND VIBRATION AND SUBJECT TO DETERIORATING EFFECTS OF MOISTURE, FUNGUS, UNDER AMBIENT CONDITIONS COMPRISING: A HOLLOW MEMBER FOR HOUSING THE STORE; A FIRST CAP SEALING ONE END OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, SAID CAP HAVING MEANS CENTRALLY LOCATED THEREON FOR RECEIVING A SOURCE OF LAUNCHING PRESSURE; A PISTON SPACED INWARDLY OF SAID FIRST CAP, SAID PISTON INCLUDING A SEALING LIP ON THE OUTER EXTREMITY THEREOF ENGAGING THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER; A FIRST SPACER MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID PISTON AND THE STORE FOR CUSHIONING AND POSITIONING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE LATTER WITHIN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER; A SECOND CAP SEALING THE OTHER END OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, SAID CAP INLCUDING NOTCH MEANS ON THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF FOR INSURING PROPER POSITIONING OF SAID CONTAINER WITHIN THE LAUNCHER; CUTTER MEANS WITHIN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER AND ADJACENT SAID SECOND CAP FOR SEVERING THE SAME AND PERMITTING EJECTION OF THE STORE UPON RECEIVING A PREDETERMINED LAUNCHING PRESSURE; AND A SECOND SPACER MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE STORE AND SAID CUTTER, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SPACER MEANS COMPRISING RESILIENT, COMPRESSIBLE AND SHOCK ABSORBING MATERIAL FOR CUSHIONING AND POSITIONING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE STORE WITHIN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER.