Naval Countermeasure Shutter via Pressure Differential
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current countermeasure launching devices face difficulties in opening the shutter quickly and easily due to the high pressure exerted by pressurized gas, requiring significant force and posing safety risks, especially during rapid refilling and high-pressure gas operations.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a cup-shaped shutter with a helical spring and a variable-volume chamber, where depressurizing the chamber allows the shutter to open rapidly under high pressure, assisted by the pressure difference, and a non-return valve ensures safe filling and launching by maintaining pressure balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high-pressure gas is used to maximize countermeasure acceleration, then the countermeasure can be launched faster and farther, but the shutter becomes difficult to open due to the high pressure exerted on its movable parts
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is divided into two separate parts: a fixed shutter and a movable shutter. The fixed shutter remains stationary while the movable shutter is pushed by the pressurized gas to open the feed opening. This segmentation allows the gas pressure to act only on the small area of the movable shutter rather than the entire shutter assembly, reducing the force required to open it while maintaining the high-pressure launch capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a new spatial dimension by placing the movable shutter within a chamber that can be independently pressurized. This allows the system to use pressure differential across the movable shutter (from the chamber side) to assist opening, rather than relying solely on mechanical force from the outside. The chamber dimension provides an additional space where gas can be stored and controlled separately.
2Reliability
If high-pressure gas is used to ensure rapid distancing of the countermeasure from the launch tube, then launch effectiveness is improved, but considerable force must be exerted to overcome the pressure on the shutter
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the shutter into fixed and movable parts, the system allows the high-pressure gas to act only on the small movable shutter area rather than the entire shutter structure. This reduces the opening force requirement while preserving the high-pressure launch capability needed for reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable shutter acts as an intermediary element that transmits the gas pressure from the chamber to the feed opening. It converts the high-pressure gas energy into directed thrust for the countermeasure, while its small area minimizes the force needed to move it during opening.
3Reliability
If the shutter is designed to close tightly to prevent gas leakage, then safety is improved, but the shutter becomes harder to open quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of the shutter into fixed and movable parts allows the fixed shutter to provide the primary sealing function with its tight fit, while the movable shutter provides a secondary seal that can be quickly displaced. This dual-shutter design maintains gas seal reliability while enabling rapid opening when the movable shutter is pushed by pressurized gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-pressurizes the chamber containing the movable shutter before launch. This preliminary action stores energy that is immediately released to push the movable shutter open, reducing the opening time without compromising the seal integrity during the closed state.
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
Enables fast and safe opening of the shutter even under high-pressure conditions, facilitating rapid launching and refilling, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency and safety of the countermeasure launching system.
Implementation Method 1
extremely high-pressure gas (of 300 bars and more) to maximize acceleration of the countermeasure
Implementation Method 2
depressurizing the chamber allows the shutter to open rapidly under high pressure, assisted by the pressure difference
Implementation Method 3
a cup-shaped shutter with a helical spring
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A naval vessel countermeasure launching device having a launch tube (2) for launching a countermeasure (3); a cylinder (5) of pressurized gas; and a feed system (7) for feeding gas from the cylinder to the launch tube (2). A shutter of the feed system has a supporting body (32), and a cup-shaped body which slides with respect to the supporting body and has an annular end portion (42) for closing a gas feed opening (28) to the launch tube; and the supporting body and the cup-shaped body define a variable-volume inner chamber (47). The shutter (30) is housed in a seat (24) into which pressurized gas from the cylinder is fed so that the gas exerts pressure on at least part of the cup-shaped body. When the chamber is depressurized, the gas pressure on the cup-shaped body slides the cup-shaped body on the supporting body to open the shutter.