Missile launcher

Claim 1

An actuator comprising: a cylindrical housing; a piston rod movable in the cylindrical housing; forward and aft bearings at respective ends of the cylindrical housing for holding the piston rod in a substantially axial position within said housing, each of the forward and aft bearings having a central aperture therein through which the piston rod extends externally of the housing, said aft bearing being positioned within said cylindrical housing; a separator ring abutting a portion of the cylindrical housing substantially medially of its length for separating the housing into first and second chambers, the chambers being sealed from each other, the piston rod extending axially through a central aperture in the separator ring; a liquid of predetermined viscosity in the second chamber; an actuator piston on the piston rod and disposed within the first chamber; a buffer piston on the piston rod and disposed within the second chamber; a spacer sleeve within the second chamber and extending between the separator ring and the aft bearing and in abutting engagement therewith, the spacer sleeve being substantially cylindrical in conformation and being of a smaller diameter than the cylindrical housing, and the buffer piston being of a smaller diameter than the sleeve, a reduced liquid passage being defined between the interior surface of the sleeve and the buffer piston; closer means secured to said housing for holding said aft bearing, spacer sleeve, and separator ring in assembled position; and, means for introducing gas under pressure into the first chamber at one side or the other of the actuator piston, movement of the piston rod by action of gas acting on the actuator piston acting to displace the buffer piston within the second chamber, thereby causing the liquid in said second chamber to flow in the reduced liquid passage between the sleeve and the buffer piston for effecting a buffering action on the piston rod.