Patent ID: 6672239
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: B63G,F41F

Abstract:
A launch assembly for launching a device from an underwater vehicle comprising:a housing; an elastomeric tube supported by the housing and having an inboard end and an outboard end, and constructed and dimensioned to receive an inboard end of the device to be launched; an extending device supported on the outboard end of the tube and constructed and arranged to move along a length of the housing; a drive assembly operatively engaged with the housing to move the extending device along the length of the housing; and a release mechanism constructed and arranged to restrain and releasably engage the inboard end of the tube, wherein moving the extending device along the length of the housing causes the outboard end of the tube to move in an outboard direction, as the inboard end of the tube is restrained by the release mechanism such that the tube becomes elongated, and wherein to launch the device the inboard end of the tube is released by the release mechanism such that the inboard end of the tube moves toward the outboard end of the tube, and the tube contracts thus accelerating the device within the tube and launching the device from within the tube.