Flow-Through Elastomeric Launch System for Submarines

摘要

An apparatus for providing a pressurized liquid to a launch tube for launchingprojectiles into a liquid medium. The device comprises an elastomeric bladder disposed inside a cylindrical bypass tube. The bypass tube is hollow with a sealing ring disposed on the inner surface of the tube. One end of the bypass tube is open to the liquid medium, and the other end of the tube is hydraulically connected to the launch tube. The elastomeric bladder is of generally cylindrical shape with an annular thinned portion. The open end of the bladder is hydraulically connected to a valve which controls charging of the bladder, storage of liquid within the bladder and discharge of the bladder. The bladder expands when it is filled with pressurized seawater thereby causing the thinned portion of the bladder to contact the sealing ring and seal the bypass tube to prevent the external liquid medium from communicating with the launch tube through the bypass tube. Upon vehicle launch the pressurized liquid is provided from the elastomeric bladder to the launch tube. During the bladder's discharge, the seal is broken between the thinned portion of the bladder and the bypass tube, and the liquid is allowed to flow through the bypass tube into the launch tube to prevent suction from occurring at the launch tube mouth. (AN).