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US3779130A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Launching tube for projectiles and missiles respectively

Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
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Filing: 1970-12-18
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1990-12-18
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Abstract

Abstract Launching tube for projectiles and missiles, respectively, in which the serviceable projectile to be launched, a propelling charge, and - in the appropriate circumstances - a filling of a flowable medium of relatively high density being separated from the propelling charge by a piston or the like are arranged axially behind each other. Immediately after the projectile left the launching tube, the latter''s forward opening is closed. The pressure gases produced by the propelling charge escape from the launching tube through one or several blow-out port(s) provided for in the tube jacket and/or in the cover of the forward tube opening and/or through leaks and slots, respectively, between the cover of the forward tube opening and the tube jacket, said blowout ports or leaks or slots having a considerably smaller crosssection or total cross-section than the caliber cross-section. The cover of the forward tube opening is preferably a pressureresistant piston which extends over the whole cross-sectional area of the caliber and which is caught, in particular by a stop, within the portion of the forward tube opening immediately after the projectile left the launching tube. In an embodiment of the invention said blow-out ports are arranged in the tube jacket directly behind the caught piston.

Inventors

  • 👤 W Schnabele

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 15:20
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A1/00; F41A1/08; F41A1/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 190 words
A lauching device for projectiles, especially for the combatting of tanks, comprising a portable launching tube having a muzzle opening at one end and a recoil opening at the opposite end, a very dense but well-dividable and flowable mass composed mostly of jelly-like substances, fats and gravel-like, solid substances disposed adjacent the recoil opening and which are adapted to be accelerated by the pressure gases of a propelling charge to move out the recoil opening, a projectile disposed adjacent said muzzle end, a propellant charge between said projectile and said medium, said mass having diaphragm means associated therewith and which holds said mass within said tube but is dislodgeable from said tube by ignition of said charge, first and second pistons which are axially movable over the entire tube interior located between said charge and said projectile and between said charge and said medium, respectively, means for retaining said first and second pistons within said tube after firing and after they have been moved toward the respective ends, and means for venting pressure gases which are enclosed by said pistons after firing and permitting their gradual escape into the atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 190 words
A lauching device for projectiles, especially for the combatting of tanks, comprising a portable launching tube having a muzzle opening at one end and a recoil opening at the opposite end, a very dense but well-dividable and flowable mass composed mostly of jelly-like substances, fats and gravel-like, solid substances disposed adjacent the recoil opening and which are adapted to be accelerated by the pressure gases of a propelling charge to move out the recoil opening, a projectile disposed adjacent said muzzle end, a propellant charge between said projectile and said medium, said mass having diaphragm means associated therewith and which holds said mass within said tube but is dislodgeable from said tube by ignition of said charge, first and second pistons which are axially movable over the entire tube interior located between said charge and said projectile and between said charge and said medium, respectively, means for retaining said first and second pistons within said tube after firing and after they have been moved toward the respective ends, and means for venting pressure gases which are enclosed by said pistons after firing and permitting their gradual escape into the atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 62 words
A launching device, according to claim 1, wherein said vent means includes an opening in said tube at a spaced location from said muzzle opening, said means for holding said first piston including a collar formed at said muzzle end projecting into the interior, said piston being held at a location by said collar spaced toward said muzzle end from the opening.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 195 words
A device for launching projectiles, particularly a portable anti-tank projectile launcher, comprising a launching tube having a muzzle opening at one end for firing of a projectile therethrough, projectile mounting means within said tube for positioning a projectile adjacent said muzzle end for firing, a first piston adjacent said projectile, said tube having an opposite end witha recoil medium opening, a dense, flowable recoil medium in said tube adjacent said recoil opening end, a second piston adjacent said medium, a propelling charge within said tube for propelling the projectile located between said first and second pistons and being ignitable to force said first and second pistons in respective opposite directions to fire the projectile through the muzzle end and to discharge the medium through the recoil openings, said mass having diaphragm means associated therewith and which holds said mass within said tube but is dislodgeable from said tube by igntion of said charge, and vent means for venting said tube after said pistons have moved to the adjacent ends, and means for engaging said first and second pistons adjacent the respective muzzle and recoil ends for holding them within the tube and preventing their withdrawal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 195 words
A device for launching projectiles, particularly a portable anti-tank projectile launcher, comprising a launching tube having a muzzle opening at one end for firing of a projectile therethrough, projectile mounting means within said tube for positioning a projectile adjacent said muzzle end for firing, a first piston adjacent said projectile, said tube having an opposite end witha recoil medium opening, a dense, flowable recoil medium in said tube adjacent said recoil opening end, a second piston adjacent said medium, a propelling charge within said tube for propelling the projectile located between said first and second pistons and being ignitable to force said first and second pistons in respective opposite directions to fire the projectile through the muzzle end and to discharge the medium through the recoil openings, said mass having diaphragm means associated therewith and which holds said mass within said tube but is dislodgeable from said tube by igntion of said charge, and vent means for venting said tube after said pistons have moved to the adjacent ends, and means for engaging said first and second pistons adjacent the respective muzzle and recoil ends for holding them within the tube and preventing their withdrawal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
A device, according to claim 3, wherein said vent means includes an opening in said first piston. Pg,13
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A device, according to claim 3, wherein said vent means includes an opening in said tube located rearwardly of said first piston when said first piston has moved to said muzzle end.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 255 words
A device for launching projectiles, particularly a portable anti-tank projectile launcher, comprising a launching tube having a muzzle opening at one end for firing of a projectile therethrough, projectile mounting means within said tube for positioning a projectile adjacent said muzzle end for firing, a first piston adjacent said projectile, said tube having an opposite end with a recoil medium opening, a dense, flowable recoil medium in said tube adjacent said recoil opening end, a second piston adjacent said medium, a propelling charge within said tube for propelling the projectile located between said first and second pistons and being ignitable to force said first and second pistons in respective opposite directions to fire the projectile through the muzzle end and to discharge the medium through the recoil openings, said mass having diaphragm means assoicated therewith and which holds said mass within said tube but is dislodgeable from said tube by ignition of said charge, and vent means for venting said tube after said pistons have moved to the adjacent ends, and means for engaging said first and second pistons adjacent the respective muzzle and recoil ends for holding them within the tube and preventing their withdrawal, said projectile mounting means comprising a ring adapted to engage around said projectile, said retention means including the shoulder at each end of said tube adjacent the muzzle end and the recoil end, respectively, sized to engage and hold said ring and said first and second pistons, respectively, against withdrawal through the muzzle openings and the recoil openings, respectively.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 255 words
A device for launching projectiles, particularly a portable anti-tank projectile launcher, comprising a launching tube having a muzzle opening at one end for firing of a projectile therethrough, projectile mounting means within said tube for positioning a projectile adjacent said muzzle end for firing, a first piston adjacent said projectile, said tube having an opposite end with a recoil medium opening, a dense, flowable recoil medium in said tube adjacent said recoil opening end, a second piston adjacent said medium, a propelling charge within said tube for propelling the projectile located between said first and second pistons and being ignitable to force said first and second pistons in respective opposite directions to fire the projectile through the muzzle end and to discharge the medium through the recoil openings, said mass having diaphragm means assoicated therewith and which holds said mass within said tube but is dislodgeable from said tube by ignition of said charge, and vent means for venting said tube after said pistons have moved to the adjacent ends, and means for engaging said first and second pistons adjacent the respective muzzle and recoil ends for holding them within the tube and preventing their withdrawal, said projectile mounting means comprising a ring adapted to engage around said projectile, said retention means including the shoulder at each end of said tube adjacent the muzzle end and the recoil end, respectively, sized to engage and hold said ring and said first and second pistons, respectively, against withdrawal through the muzzle openings and the recoil openings, respectively.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB126336A Cited
US2499379A Cited
US2979991A Cited
US3279319A Cited
US3490330A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-12-17 1977-06-18 1977-12-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-12-17 1981-06-18 1981-12-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-12-17 1985-06-18 1985-12-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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