Patent ID: 6584882
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: F41F

Abstract:
A self-contained missile canister, comprising:a missile which is elongated about an axis, said missile having an axially projected body shape which includes a circular portion and projections extending beyond the radius of said circular portions at plural circumaxial positions; an elongated canister storage and launch duct defining a missile exit end and a rear or breech end, said storage and launch duct having a circular cross-sectional shape and a cross-sectional diameter which is larger than the largest cross-sectional diameter of said missile at said projections, whereby a plurality of elongated regions lie between said missile and the interior of said storage and launch duct over circumaxial regions other than said plural circumaxial positions of said missile; a plenum affixed to said breech end of said canister storage and launch duct, for deflecting exhaust gases generated by said missile within said storage and launch duct during launch; a plurality of elongated, tubular exhaust ducts lying along the interior of said canister storage and launch duct within said circumaxial regions other than said plural circumaxial positions of said missile, each of said exhaust ducts having a circular cross-section, and each of said exhaust ducts being coupled to said plenum for receiving said exhaust gases from said plenum, and each of said exhaust ducts extending to at least near said missile exit end of said storage and exhaust duct, for routing said exhaust gases deflected by said plenum to said missile exit end of said storage and launch duct; a plurality of elongated support beams, each extending along at least a portion of the length of said storage and launch duct within one of said circumaxial regions other than said plural circumaxial positions of said missile; wherein at least some of said support beams are I-beams having a cross-sectional shape including a pair of mutually parallel elongated and a web extending there between; and wherein said web includes a region having an elongated concavity.