Abstract 1. In an underwater missile that is launched from a conventional missile launcher with a conventional booster and underwater weapon attached thereto, wherein this improvement comprises an adapter for said underwater weapon comprising the combination of: A CLAMSHELL SECTION PROVIDED WITH EXTERNAL FINS AND HAVING FORWARD ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO SAID UNDERWATER WEAPON, SAID EXTERNAL FINS PROVIDING STABILITY TO THE WEAPON DURING FLIGHT; SAID CLAMSHELL SECTION BEING FORMED IN TWO HALVES, EACH HALF OF SAID SECTION BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ONE-HALF OF THE TAIL SECTION OF THE WEAPON EMPLOYED; AN AFT SECTION PROVIDED WITH ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL FINS AND HAVING COUPLING MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID AFT SECTION TO SAID CLAMSHELL SECTION, DECELERATION MEANS AND RETAINING MEANS FOR SAID DECELERATION MEANS, SAID ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL FINS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CONTROL AND STABILITY TO SAID WEAPON DURING BOTH THE POWERED AND THE DECELERATION PHASES OF THE FLIGHT, SAID DECELERATION MEANS COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF DRAG BRAKES ATTACHED TO SAID AFT SECTION AND KEPT IN A CLOSED POSITION BY SAID RETAINING MEANS, RELEASING MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID RETAINING MEANS AND RESTRAINING MEANS FOR LIMITING THE RATE AND EXTENT OF OPENING OF SAID DRAG BRAKES UPON THE OPERATION OF SAID RELEASING MEANS; SAID CLAMSHELL SECTION HAVING SEPARATION MEANS FOR SEPARATING THE UNDERWATER WEAPON FROM SAID ADAPTER AFTER SAID DECELERATION MEANS HAVE REDUCED THE VELOCITY OF BOTH THE ADAPTER AND THE WEAPON TO A PREDETERMINED VALUE, WHEREBY SAID WEAPON FALLS FREELY INTO THE WATER IN SEARCH OF A TARGET.
In an underwater missile that is launched from a conventional missile launcher with a conventional booster and underwater weapon attached thereto, wherein this improvement comprises an adaptor for said underwater weapon comprising the combination of: a clamshell section provided with external fins and having forward attachment means for attachment to said underwater weapon, said external fins providing stability to the weapon during flight; said clamshell section being formed in two halves, each half of said section being adapted to receive one-half of the tail section of the weapon employed; an aft section provided with additional external fins and having coupling means for connecting said aft section to said clamshell section, deceleration means and retaining means for said deceleration means, said additional external fins providing additional control and stability to said weapon during both the powered and the deceleration phases of the flight, said deceleration means comprises a plurality of drag brakes attached to said aft section and kept in a closed position by said retaining means, releasing means for releasing said retaining means and restraining means for limiting the rate and extent of opening of said drag brakes upon the operation of said releasing means; said clamshell section having separation means for separating the underwater weapon from said adaptor after said deceleration means have reduced the velocity of both the adaptor and the weapon to a predetermined value, whereby said weapon falls freely into the water in search of a target.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
In an underwater missile that is launched from a conventional missile launcher with a conventional booster and underwater weapon attached thereto, wherein this improvement comprises an adaptor for said underwater weapon comprising the combination of: a clamshell section provided with external fins and having forward attachment means for attachment to said underwater weapon, said external fins providing stability to the weapon during flight; said clamshell section being formed in two halves, each half of said section being adapted to receive one-half of the tail section of the weapon employed; an aft section provided with additional external fins and having coupling means for connecting said aft section to said clamshell section, deceleration means and retaining means for said deceleration means, said additional external fins providing additional control and stability to said weapon during both the powered and the deceleration phases of the flight, said deceleration means comprises a plurality of drag brakes attached to said aft section and kept in a closed position by said retaining means, releasing means for releasing said retaining means and restraining means for limiting the rate and extent of opening of said drag brakes upon the operation of said releasing means; said clamshell section having separation means for separating the underwater weapon from said adaptor after said deceleration means have reduced the velocity of both the adaptor and the weapon to a predetermined value, whereby said weapon falls freely into the water in search of a target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said restraining means for limiting the rate and extent of opening of said drag brakes comprises a jackkniFe strut pivotally attached at one end to the underside of said drag brake; the other end of said jackknife strut being pivotally attached to said aft section; cable means securely attached at one end to the center of said jackknife strut; the other end of said cable means attached to a piston operably mounted within said aft section whereby said piston and cable means serves to limit the extent and rate of opening of said drag brakes and also insure that said drag brakes are opened uniformly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a device of the character described in claim 2 wherein said separation means comprises explosive burster charges which are mounted in said forward attachment means and said coupling means; said explosive charges upon ignition breaking said forward attachment means and said coupling means thus permitting said clamshell halves to open and permitting said underwater weapon to separate from said adaptor and freely falling into the water.