Payload stowage unit
US8375879B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 6, 2009 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF41F3/10
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A stowage unit for a payload such as a weapon, countermeasure or unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), and a method for using the unit to deploy the payload are described. The unit comprises an inner tube for holding the payload, wherein the inner tube is mounted in an outer vessel and so defines a volume between the outer vessel and inner tube. The volume has a first sealing element, which can be used to open or seal the volume at one end, and a valve enabling fluid communication between the volume and inner tube. After deployment of the payload, a weight of fluid equivalent to the deployed payload can be allowed to enter the volume from the inner tube, thus enabling the weight of the unit to remain substantially unaltered from before deployment to after deployment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.