Inflatable Restraint for Missile Canister Shock Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for supporting and launching missiles in naval vessels are inefficient, requiring costly isolation mechanisms and complex linkage systems, and involve high installation loads and times, especially in submarine launches, where hydraulic jacking and rigid support structures lead to logistical challenges and potential jamming issues.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable restraint system with a structural collar and recessed grooves for an inflatable bladder, which provides adjustable shock isolation and support by regulating pressure to match missile shock requirements, allowing for simplified installation and reduced load transfer to the missile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid Dog-Down mechanisms and isolation structures are used to support missile canisters, then shock isolation and alignment are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic bladders inflated with gas or liquid to provide shock isolation and support for the missile canister. The bladder system replaces complex mechanical isolation structures with a simpler pneumatic mechanism that can be inflated to accommodate the canister and provide cushioning during launch and retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable spring constants and stiffness parameters by controlling the pressure within the pneumatic bladder. By varying the inflation pressure, the system can adapt its shock isolation characteristics to match different missile weights and launch requirements, eliminating the need for multiple fixed-isolation structures.
2Reliability
If hydraulic jacking and rigid pad systems are used for submarine missile installation, then canister support and alignment are improved, but installation time and required loads increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hydraulic jacking systems with pneumatic bladders that can be inflated directly to lift and position the missile canister. This eliminates the complex hydraulic equipment mobilization and reduces installation time while providing adequate support during the launch process.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic bladder system is pre-installed in the launch tube before the missile canister is inserted. The bladder can be quickly inflated to provide immediate support and alignment, eliminating the need for time-consuming hydraulic jacking operations and rigid pad positioning.
3Reliability
If sabots with spring loading are used to support missiles in canisters, then missile support during shipping is improved, but reliability decreases due to ejection interference in ripple firing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic bladders to support the missile inside the canister during shipping and storage. The bladder can be inflated to provide continuous support without the mechanical linkages of sabots, eliminating the ejection interference problem that occurs during ripple firing operations.
4Reliability
If retractable snubber mechanisms with complex linkages are used for missile support, then missile support during shipping is improved, but reliability decreases due to rigid load transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical snubber linkages with a pneumatic bladder system that provides missile support through gas or liquid pressure. This eliminates the rigid mechanical linkages that transmit external loads directly to the missile, providing a more reliable and simpler support mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The inflatable restraint system simplifies missile and canister installation, reduces the need for costly isolation mechanisms, and minimizes load transfer to the missile, enabling faster and more efficient launch processes while maintaining effective shock isolation.
Implementation Method 1
regulating pressure to match missile shock requirements
Implementation Method 2
provides adjustable shock isolation and support
Implementation Method 3
providing resonant tuning of the support to different spring constants and stiffness through modification of the pressure within the bladder
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable restraint, and method of using the same, is used to provide support and shock isolation for missiles, torpedoes, missile canisters or the like in naval vessels. The inflatable restraint features a structural collar, at least one inflatable bladder and at least one interference member. The interference member is attached to the inside of the structural collar and the interference member is fully adjustable to ensure a snug fit during the loading of the missile, torpedo or missile canister into the structural collar. Once the missile, torpedo, missile canister or the like is properly inserted into the structural collar, the at least one inflatable bladder, which is also attached to the inside of the structural collar, is inflated to restrain the object. The pressure of the inflatable bladder may be regulated to provide variable spring constants and stiffness.