US4002120A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Missile stage coupler
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1975-07-31
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Granted: 1977-01-11
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Expires: 1995-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for coupling the stages of a missile or other multistage mov object which is adapted to release the stages at a desired time. A separation bolt connects for and aft stages prior to a desired signal. The bolt is held at its lower portion in an assembly capable of thrusting it entirely into the other stage upon the signal. A bolt catcher captures the bolt in the other stage.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Swales, deceased
- 👤 heir by Doris Swales
- 👤 heir by Sally M. Swales
- 👤 heir by Pamela J. Lettis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:29
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B15/00; F42B15/36; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
375 words
A separation system comprising: a. a first missile stage; b. a second missile stage; c. means for joining and separating said first and second missile stages; d. said means including a bolt, at least one catcher for securing one portion of said bolt to said first missile stage, at least one securing means for joining another portion of said bolt to said second missile stage, and ejection means for propelling said bolt from said second missile stage into contact with said first missile stage; e. said bolt having a head portion, a bottom portion and a shaft therebetween, the cross-section of said shaft being of lesser dimension than that of the head portion; f. each catcher being a bolt catcher having a top portion, a bottom portion and a body therebetween, said bottom portion having a hole therein, said hole being of cross-section at least equal to the cross-section of said shaft and less than at least one cross-section dimension of said bolt head portion; g. said bolt further having a flat guide located at the top of said bolt head portion having a size and shape identical to the interior cross-section of the body of said bolt catcher and an upturned edge located at its periphery to further stabilize the upward trajectory of said bolt upon ejection from the second stage; h. said bolt catcher further having a cover located at said top portion said cover having a groove located at the interior junction of said cover and the body of said bolt catcher to accommodate the upturned edge of said guide upon ejection of said bolt from the second stage; i. the head of said bolt contained within said bolt catcher, the shaft passing through the hole in said bolt catcher and the bottom portion of said bolt joined to said securing means to join said missile stages together; said ejection means comprising at least one ejector, each of which is simultaneously activated by an electrical signal; whereby k. upon ejection from said second missile stage the energy of said propelling bolt is transferred to said first missile stage through the body of said bolt catcher, providing a separation thrust to said first missile stage to separate it from said second missile stage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
375 words
A separation system comprising: a. a first missile stage; b. a second missile stage; c. means for joining and separating said first and second missile stages; d. said means including a bolt, at least one catcher for securing one portion of said bolt to said first missile stage, at least one securing means for joining another portion of said bolt to said second missile stage, and ejection means for propelling said bolt from said second missile stage into contact with said first missile stage; e. said bolt having a head portion, a bottom portion and a shaft therebetween, the cross-section of said shaft being of lesser dimension than that of the head portion; f. each catcher being a bolt catcher having a top portion, a bottom portion and a body therebetween, said bottom portion having a hole therein, said hole being of cross-section at least equal to the cross-section of said shaft and less than at least one cross-section dimension of said bolt head portion; g. said bolt further having a flat guide located at the top of said bolt head portion having a size and shape identical to the interior cross-section of the body of said bolt catcher and an upturned edge located at its periphery to further stabilize the upward trajectory of said bolt upon ejection from the second stage; h. said bolt catcher further having a cover located at said top portion said cover having a groove located at the interior junction of said cover and the body of said bolt catcher to accommodate the upturned edge of said guide upon ejection of said bolt from the second stage; i. the head of said bolt contained within said bolt catcher, the shaft passing through the hole in said bolt catcher and the bottom portion of said bolt joined to said securing means to join said missile stages together; said ejection means comprising at least one ejector, each of which is simultaneously activated by an electrical signal; whereby k. upon ejection from said second missile stage the energy of said propelling bolt is transferred to said first missile stage through the body of said bolt catcher, providing a separation thrust to said first missile stage to separate it from said second missile stage.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
276 words
An apparatus for coupling and separating a first object and a second object with comprises: a. a bolt having a head portion, a bottom portion and a shaft therebetween the cross-section of said shaft being of lesser dimension than that of the head portion; b. a flat guide located at the top of the head portion of the bolt which has a shape and size identical to the cross-section of said head portion and an upturned edge located at its periphery to stabilize an upward trajectory of the bolt within a cylindrical shaft; c. a bolt catcher located in the first object and having a top portion and a bottom portion and a body therebetween, said bottom portion having a hole therein said hole being of cross-section at least equal to the cross-section of said shaft and less than at least one cross-section dimension of the head portion and said body being interiorly hollowed to conform in interior cross-section to the cross-section of the head portion of said bolt; d. means for securing the bottom portion of said bolt located in the second object; e. the head of said bolt contained within the bolt catcher, the shaft passing through the hole in the bolt catcher and the bottom portion joined to said securing means whereby said first object and said second object are thereby joined together; and f. an ejector to propel the bottom portion of th bolt from the second object and into the first object into contact with said first object; whereby g. the energy of said propelled bolt is transferred to said first object thereby causing separation of said first and second objects.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
276 words
An apparatus for coupling and separating a first object and a second object with comprises: a. a bolt having a head portion, a bottom portion and a shaft therebetween the cross-section of said shaft being of lesser dimension than that of the head portion; b. a flat guide located at the top of the head portion of the bolt which has a shape and size identical to the cross-section of said head portion and an upturned edge located at its periphery to stabilize an upward trajectory of the bolt within a cylindrical shaft; c. a bolt catcher located in the first object and having a top portion and a bottom portion and a body therebetween, said bottom portion having a hole therein said hole being of cross-section at least equal to the cross-section of said shaft and less than at least one cross-section dimension of the head portion and said body being interiorly hollowed to conform in interior cross-section to the cross-section of the head portion of said bolt; d. means for securing the bottom portion of said bolt located in the second object; e. the head of said bolt contained within the bolt catcher, the shaft passing through the hole in the bolt catcher and the bottom portion joined to said securing means whereby said first object and said second object are thereby joined together; and f. an ejector to propel the bottom portion of th bolt from the second object and into the first object into contact with said first object; whereby g. the energy of said propelled bolt is transferred to said first object thereby causing separation of said first and second objects.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A bolt catcher as described in claim 2 which further comprises a cover located at the top portion of the bolt catcher to contain said bolt within said bolt catcher after ejection of the lower portion of said bolt into said first object said cover having a groove located at the interior junction of said cover and the elongated portion of the bolt catcher to accommodate the upturned edge of said guide upon ejection of the bolt from the second object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said apparatus additionally comprises a retention screw seated in the middle of said flat guide to maintain said flat guide in fixed relationship to the head of said bolt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A bolt catcher as described in claim 4 wherein said cover has a hole the center of which is coincident with the axis of said bolt, the cross-section of said hole being at least as great as the cross-section of said retention screw.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ejector as described in claim 5 which further comprises an activator sensitive to a predetermined electrical signal whereby said ejector is activated to propel the bottom portion of the bolt from the second object and into the first object upon the receipt by the activator of said signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-11 | 1980-07-12 | 1981-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-11 | 1984-07-12 | 1985-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-11 | 1988-07-12 | 1989-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |