Rocket exhaust-gas deflector

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further including the step of directing gas jets through said orifices substantially in opposition to the direction of the rocket exhaust impinging said surface.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the member to be shielded is a launch rail having a hollow chamber with a plurality of orifices extending from the chamber to the exterior surface adjacent the rocket exhaust, and including the step of providing gas from a pressurized gas source to the chamber for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 further including the step of pressurizing said orifices in response to the launching of the missile.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein the orifice pressurizing step includes pressurizing the orifices upon detection of movement of the missile during launch.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein the pressurizing step includes delaying orifice pressurization by a predetermined first delay interval following a signal initiating launch.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 further including the step of discontinuing orifice pressurization a predetermined second delay interval following pressurization of the orifices.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein the second delay interval is selected to correspond to the time during which the rocket exhaust is present at the surface to be protected.

Claim 12

Apparatus for shielding a member normally exposed to rocket exhaust during launching of a missile comprising: a source of pressurized gas; means coupled to said source for directing the pressurized gas to impinge the gases of the rocket exhaust and develop a protective plane at the juncture of the pressurized gas and the rocket exhaust substantially covering the surface of the member to be protected, said plane serving to prevent rocket from exhaust reaching said surface; and means for controlling the directing means for a time interval corresponding to the presence of said rocket exhaust in the vicinity of said member; wherein the directing means includes a plurality of orifices extending through the surface of the member and oriented toward the region of the rocket exhaust and the controlling means includes means for selectively pressurizing the orifices during a predetermined time interval; the selectively pressurizing means including means for delaying the orifice pressurization by a first time interval selected in accordance with the initial acceleration of the missile.

Claim 13

Apparatus for shielding a member normally exposed to rocket exhaust during launching of a missile comprising: a source of pressurized gas; means coupled to said source for directing the pressurized gas to impinge the gases of the rocket exhaust and develop a protective plane at the juncture of the pressurized gas and the rocket exhaust substantially covering the surface of the member to be protected, said plane serving to prevent rocket from exhaust reaching said surface; and means for controlling the directing means for a time interval corresponding to the presence of said rocket exhaust in the vicinity of said member; wherein the directing means includes a plurality of orifices extending through the surface of the member and oriented toward the region of the rocket exhaust and the controlling means includes means for selectively pressurizing the orifices during a predetermined time interval; the selectively pressurizing means including means for delaying the orifice pressurization by a first time interval selected in accordance with the initial acceleration of the missile.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 including means for initiating orifice pressurization in response to a missile launch signal.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a selector switch for selecting one of a pair of alternate activation modes.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the selectively pressurizing means includes means for initiating pressurization in response to motion of the missile during the initial launch phase.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 8 further including a detector for detecting missile movement during launch and coupled to provide a signal to initiate pressurization.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the second predetermined interval is selected to correspond to the time during which the exhaust is adjacent the member.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the member comprises a launch rail including a chamber therein coupled between the source of pressurized gas and the directing means, and wherein the controlling means includes means for selectively applying pressurized gas to said chamber.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the orifices extend from said chamber to the exterior surface of the launch rail for providing a plurality of gas jets to develop said protective plane.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said orifices are arranged to develop supersonic flow of the gas jets therethrough.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said orifices are formed to direct the gas jets at a predetermined angle relative to the surface of the launch rail, which angle is selected to direct the jets to oppose impingement of the rocket exhaust.