DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE CENTER

DIVISION NEWPORT Or
OFOFFICE OF COUNSEL (PATENTS) ,

1176 HOWELL STREETa

ABUILDING 112T, CODE OOOC iI*
NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND 02841-1708

PHONE: 401 832-4736 FAX: 401 832-1231

E DSN: 432-4736 DSN: 432-1231

Attorney Docket No. 95976

Date: 18 July 2006

The below identified patent application is available for licensing. Requests for
information should be addressed to:

PATENT COUNSEL
NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE CENTER
1176 HOWELL ST.
CODE OOOC, BLDG. 112T
NEWPORT, RI 02841

Serial Number 11/398,741

Filing Date 27 March 2006

Inventor W. Donald Hornbeck

If you have any questions please contact James M. Kasischke, Supervisory Patent
Counsel, at 401-832-4230.

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Approved for Public Release
Distribution is unlimited 20060725282
Attorney Docket No. 95976

COMBINATION SABOT AND LAUNCH SEAL

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST

[0001] The invention described herein may be manufactured and used

by or for the Government of the United States of America for

governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or

therefor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0002] Not applicable..

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to missile launchers and more

specifically to a combination sabot and launch seal for use in

underwater launch capsules.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The use of sabots and launch seals are necessary to the

function of certain types of underwater missile launching systems.

Sabots in particular protect launch capsule closures from external

water pressure and launch seals are necessary to seal in thrust gases

to properly expel the missiles at launch. In the prior art, sabots

L

*are seated directly above the nose cone of a missile and are used to

provide increased bearing area and smoother curvature than the nose

of a missile. The smooth curvature and increased bearing area

prevents sea pressure applied to the forward closure-assembly of the

launch capsule from rupturing the forward closure's flexible

membranes over the nose of the missile. In the prior art, launch

seals are annular shaped flexible gasket devices that surround a

missile while it is seated in the launch capsule. The launch seal

contains the gas pressure used to expel the missile upon launch.

[0005] Prior art sabots are made from a solid brittle composite

material that fragments during missile launch. This fragmentation

can present a problem in certain types of submarines in which there

are several launch capsules in a single vertical missile tube. After

a missile launch, the sabot fragments are prone to falling on the

forward closure assemblies of the neighboring launch capsules. The

sabot fragments can cause damage to neighboring missiles as they are

launched or can create a leak in the forward closure assembly of

neighboring launch capsules, which could inhibit missile launch. The

sabot fragments could also foul the missile tube hatch preventing

watertight closure of the hatch. This condition would pose an

unacceptable "safety of ship" situation. What is therefore needed is

a device that performs the protective function of the prior art sabot

but that does not generate foreign object fragments that could fall

on to adjacent launch capsules.

 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is a general purpose and object of the present invention

to provide a sabot for use in a missile launch capsule that does not

fragment upon missile launch, generating foreign object debris after

the missile is expelled from the launch capsule.

[0007] This object is accomplished with the present invention by

providing a single piece combination sabot and launch seal that is

made from a molded flexible material. The combination sabot and

launch seal is coupled to the interior of the launch capsule and

integrated with the forward closure assembly. The sabot portion of

the invention is defined by multiple flexible appendages that are

joined together at one end in a domed shape and positioned over the

nose of a missile in a launch capsule in the same way that prior art

sabots are positioned. During a launch, the appendages separate and

fold back over the lip of the launch capsule forward aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A more complete understanding of the invention and many of

the attendant advantages thereto will be readily appreciated as the

same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed

description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying

drawings wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a prior art sabot design;

[0010] FIG. 2 shows a prior art launch seal;

[0011] FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the prior art sabot

and launch seal inside a launch capsule;

[0012] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the combined sabot and launch

seal;

[0013] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the invention

installed in a launch capsule;

[0014] FIG. 6 shows a post missile launch view of the invention;

[0015] FIG. 7 shows a cutaway view of the retaining leash portion

of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a prior art sabot 10

designed with a curved dome geometry and made of a solid brittle

composite material. Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a prior art

launch seal 12 designed essentially as a gasket seal with an annular

flap extending within the ring and made of a flexible urethane

material. Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross sectional view

of the prior art sabot 10 and launch seal 12 inside a launch capsule

14. The missile 16 is shown in phantom. The sabot 10 sits on the

missile nose 18 to prevent sea pressure on the forward closure

assembly 20 from tearing the flexible membranes 22 over the nose of

the missile 18. The sabot 10 is installed between the missile nose

18 and the flexible membranes 22. The sabot 10 is only positioned on

the missile nose 18 and is not fastened down in any way. During

4
launch the missile 16 forces the flexible membranes 22 to rupture by

forcing the sabot 10 upward through forward closure assembly. During

this process the sabot 10 breaks apart into multiple fragments that

fall away freely as the missile 16 exits the launch capsule 14.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown a side view of the

combined sabot and launch seal 24, a one piece device that performs

both the launch seal function of containing gas pressure at launch

and the sabot function of providing a protective larger smoother

contoured surface than the nose of the missile 18 to support the

flexible membranes 22 directly above it while under sea pressure.

The sabot portion 26 is defined by multiple elastomeric support

appendages 28 capable of being joined together at one end 30 to form

a curved dome geometry similar to the prior art sabot 10 illustrated

in FIG. 1. The launch seal portion 32 forms the base.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a cross-sectional view

of the combined sabot and launch seal 24 installed in a launch

capsule 14. The missile 16 is shown in phantom. In a preferred

embodiment the entire combined sabot and launch seal 24 is molded

from a single mold of polyurethane, just as prior art launch seals 12

are molded from polyurethane. Other elastomeric materials could also

be used to fabricate the invention 24. The sabot portion 26 is

connected to the launch seal portion 32 by molded retaining straps 34

that link the two portions of the invention. The retaining straps .34

are designed to be in a folded position when molded. They are

flexible enough, however, to unfold and stretch out to their full

length when forced to. This ability to unfold and stretch out is

what allows the sabot portion 26 to be retained to the launch capsule

14 after a missile launch. The launch seal portion 32 is attached to

the interior of the launch capsule 14 with a powerful adhesive

capable of holding the launch seal in place as the missile 16 is

launched. During a launch the multiple elastomeric support

appendages 28 of the sabot portion 26 are ruptured by the force of

the exiting missile 16 and separate. Referring to FIG. 6 there is

shown a view of the combined sabot and launch seal 24 after a missile

launch. The torn flexible membranes 22 are not shown so that the

invention can be seen in detail. The multiple elastomeric support

appendages are separated and folded back over the lip of the launch

capsule's forward aperture 36.

[0019] The cutaway view in FIG. 7 shows how the retaining straps

34 are unfolded and stretched to their entire length while retaining

the sabot portion 26. This allows the sabot portion 26 of the

invention to clear the outer lip of the forward aperture 36 of the

launch capsule 14 to allow the missile 16 to pass through the forward

aperture 36 while preventing the multiple elastomeric support

appendages 28 of the sabot portion 26 from separating from the launch

capsule 14 and potentially causing damage to adjacent launch

capsules.
[0020] The advantages of the present invention over the prior art

are that: The present invention provides a novel sabot and launch

seal that will not produce foreign object debris that can interfere

with the operation of the missile tube hatch.

[0021] What has thus been described is a combination sabot and

launch seal that is made from a flexible material coupled to the

forward closure assembly of a launch capsule. The sabot portion is

defined by flexible appendages that are joined together at one end

over the nose of a missile in a launch capsule. During a launch, the

appendages separate and fold back over the lip of the forward closure

assembly of the launch capsule.

[0022] Obviously many modifications and variations of the present

invention may become apparent in light of the above teachings. For

example: the elastomeric material from which the combination sabot

and launch seal is fashioned could be synthetic rubber, plastic, or

any other suitably flexible material.

[0023] In light of the above, it is therefore understood that

within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be

practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Attorney Docket No. 95976

COMBINATION SABOT AND LAUNCH SEAL

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A combination sabot and launch seal is taught that is made from

a single piece of molded flexible material mounted to the interior of
a launch capsule. The sabot portion of the invention is defined by
multiple flexible appendages that are joined together at one end in a

domed shape and positioned over the nose of a missile in a launch

capsule. During a launch, the appendages separate and fold back over
the lip of the forward aperture of the launch capsule.

11
 10

FIG. 1
(PRIOR ART)

12

FIG. 2
(PRIOR ART)
 180

20

16 I

FIG. 3
(PRIOR ART)
 28•
.• 728
26•
.--24
36,

34-- -- 34

16 3.4
FIG. 5

-- /2-80 24

26 .- 28

FIG. 4
34• I 34
28 • 28

28 2

• 32

FIG. 7.