초록 ▼

An apparatus is disclosed that is a self-contained gas management system (hereinafter “GMS”) that accommodates individual canisters of highly energetic small munitions, but is not so limited. By decoupling the gas management system for a given munition from an adjacent munition, the risk of downing

An apparatus is disclosed that is a self-contained gas management system (hereinafter “GMS”) that accommodates individual canisters of highly energetic small munitions, but is not so limited. By decoupling the gas management system for a given munition from an adjacent munition, the risk of downing a multi-pack launcher or munition adapter is reduced. Thermal wear, overheating, restrained firing and aft closure debris can be isolated through the separation of gas management systems. In addition, the GMS allows for ease of replenishment and maintenance of a given sub-cell of a multi-pack system. The GMS works with existing munitions and canisters without the need to modify them. Each GMS is dimensioned to fit the canistered munition it receives as well as the launch system with which it is used. The illustrative GMS comprises a plenum, and a first and a second uptake structure. The plenum receives the exhaust from the canistered munition when the munition fires. The plenum is fluidically coupled to the first and second uptake structures. The uptake structures in the illustrative embodiment receive the missile exhaust from the plenum and vent the exhaust to the atmosphere. In the illustrative embodiment, the first and second uptake structures are disposed along opposite sides of the canistered munition, flanking it.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus comprising: (a) a plenum that (i) is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple via a sealing interface to a first end of a canistered munition, and(ii) when fluidically coupled to the first end of the canistered munition via the sealing interface, receives the exhaust from the m

1. An apparatus comprising: (a) a plenum that (i) is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple via a sealing interface to a first end of a canistered munition, and(ii) when fluidically coupled to the first end of the canistered munition via the sealing interface, receives the exhaust from the munition when the munition is fired, wherein the sealing interface prevents the exhaust from venting at the sealing interface; and(b) a first uptake structure that (i) is fluidically coupled to the plenum, and(ii) guides the exhaust from the plenum to the atmosphere;wherein the apparatus removably receives the canistered munition, andwherein the apparatus is at least partially removable from a vertical launch system to receive the canistered munition, andwherein the dimensions of the plenum and of the first uptake structure are based on the dimensions of the canistered munition, andwherein the plenum and the first uptake structure collectively define a gas management system for the canistered munition. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an enhanced munitions adapter that accommodates a plurality of canistered munitions, wherein:(i) each canistered munition is operatively coupled to a respective gas management system, and wherein each gas management system operates independently, and(ii) the vertical launch system removably receives the enhanced munitions adapter. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an enhanced munitions adapter that accommodates a plurality of canistered munitions, wherein:(i) each canistered munition is operatively coupled to a respective gas management system, and wherein each gas management system operates independently,(ii) the enhanced munitions adapter is removably receivable by an enclosure in a cell of the vertical launch system, wherein the enclosure comprises a sealing bulkhead that separates the enclosure into a munitions compartment and an electronics compartment,(iii) the enhanced munitions adapter is disposed in the munitions compartment, and(iv) the enclosure is at least partially removable from the cell. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas management system further comprises a second uptake structure, wherein the second uptake structure: (i) is fluidically coupled to the plenum; and(ii) guides the exhaust from the plenum to the atmosphere. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first uptake structure is disposed alongside the canistered munition. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first uptake structure guides the exhaust in the direction of a hatch assembly in the vertical launch system. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vertical launch system is one of a MK 41 VLS and a MK 57 VLS. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas management system is not concentric relative to the canistered munition. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the canistered munition is an energetic munition. 10. An apparatus for use in a single-cell vertical launch system that is suitable for use as a guest launcher within a host launcher, the apparatus comprising: an enhanced munitions adapter that accommodates a plurality of canistered munitions, wherein:(i) each canistered munition is operatively coupled to a respective gas management system, and wherein each gas management system operates independently,(ii) the enhanced munitions adapter is removably receivable by an enclosure in a cell of the vertical launch system, wherein the enclosure comprises a sealing bulkhead that separates the enclosure into a munitions compartment and an electronics compartment,(iii) the enhanced munitions adapter is disposed in the munitions compartment, and(iv) each gas management system comprises: (a) a plenum that (i) is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple via a sealing interface to a first end of a canistered munition, and(ii) when fluidically coupled to the first end of the canistered munition via the sealing interface, receives the exhaust from the munition when the munition is fired, wherein the sealing interface prevents the exhaust from venting at the sealing interface, and(b) a first uptake structure that (i) is fluidically coupled to the plenum, and(ii) guides the exhaust from the plenum to the atmosphere;wherein each gas management system removably receives the respective canistered munition; andwherein the dimensions of the plenum and of the first uptake structure are based on the dimensions of the respective canistered munition. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the enhanced munitions adapter is at least partially removable from the munitions compartment to receive at least one of the canistered munitions. 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each gas management system further comprises a second uptake structure, wherein the second uptake structure: (i) is fluidically coupled to the plenum; and(ii) guides the exhaust from the plenum to the atmosphere. 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first uptake structure is disposed alongside the respective canistered munition. 14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first uptake structure guides the exhaust in the direction of a top frame of the guest launcher in the vertical launch system. 15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein one of a MK 41 VLS and a MK 57 VLS comprises the host launcher. 16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the gas management system is not concentric relative to the canistered munition. 17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one canistered munition of the plurality of canistered munitions is an energetic munition. 18. An apparatus for use in a vertical launch system, the apparatus comprising: (a) a plenum that (i) is dimensioned and arranged to fluidically couple via a sealing interface to a first end of a canistered munition, and(ii) when fluidically coupled to the first end of the canistered munition via the sealing interface, receives the exhaust from the munition when the munition is fired, wherein the sealing interface prevents the exhaust from venting at the sealing interface;(b) a first uptake structure that (i) is fluidically coupled to the plenum, and(ii) guides the exhaust from the plenum to the atmosphere;(c) a second uptake structure that (i) is fluidically coupled to the plenum, and(ii) guides the exhaust from the plenum to the atmosphere;wherein the apparatus removably receives the canistered munition;wherein the apparatus is at least partially removable from the vertical launch system to receive the canistered munition;wherein the plenum, the first uptake structure, and the second uptake structure collectively define a gas management system for the canistered munition; andwherein the dimensions of the gas management system are based on the dimensions of the canistered munition. 19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising: an enhanced munitions adapter that accommodates a plurality of canistered munitions, wherein:(i) each canistered munition is operatively coupled to a respective gas management system, and wherein each gas management system operates independently, and(ii) the vertical launch system removably receives the enhanced munitions adapter. 20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising: an enhanced munitions adapter that accommodates a plurality of canistered munitions, wherein:(i) each canistered munition is operatively coupled to a respective gas management system, and wherein each gas management system operates independently,(ii) the enhanced munitions adapter is removably receivable by an enclosure in a cell of the vertical launch system, wherein the enclosure comprises a sealing bulkhead that separates the enclosure into a munitions compartment and an electronics compartment,(iii) the enhanced munitions adapter is disposed in the munitions compartment, and(iv) the enclosure is at least partially removable from the cell. 21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first uptake structure and the second uptake structure are disposed alongside the respective canistered munition. 22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first uptake structure and the second uptake structure guide the exhaust in the direction of a hatch assembly in the vertical launch system. 23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the gas management system is not concentric relative to the canistered munition. 24. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein at least one canistered munition of the plurality of canistered munitions is an energetic munition. 25. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the vertical launch system is one of a MK 41 VLS and a MK 57 VLS.