Submarine countermeasure propeller protector

Details Submarine countermeasure propeller protector Submarine countermeasure propeller protector

2002-08-06

2003-11-11

Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)

Marine propulsion

Screw propeller

Propeller guard

C114S022000, C114S238000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06645020

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to submarine countermeasure assemblies and is directed more particularly to a propeller protector for mounting on a countermeasure vehicle.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In
FIG. 1
, there is shown a typical submarine countermeasure apparatus
20
. The apparatus
20
includes a launch tube
22
which, in operation, is disposed outboard of the submarine pressure hull (not shown). A countermeasure vehicle
24
is housed in the launch tube
22
and includes an array assembly
26
and a tailcone assembly
28
. The tailcone assembly
28
includes an annular shield
27
surrounding a propulsion propeller
29
(FIG.
2
). The array assembly
26
is protected by a surrounding sabot
30
. Disposed in the launch tube
22
is a ram plate
32
and a gas generator
34
. The launch tube is closed by a forward tube cover
36
and an after tube cover
38
.
In operation, the gas generator
34
is activated by an electrical pulse from the submarine fire control system and generates sufficient gas pressure to move the ram plate
32
forwardly. The ram plate
32
pushes the countermeasure vehicle
24
forwardly, breaking away the forward tube cover
36
and launching the countermeasure vehicle
24
from the launch tube
22
. In due course, the sabot
30
disengages from around the array assembly
26
and the array assembly is activated to emit acoustic signals.
It has been found that upon launch of the countermeasure vehicle
24
, the tailcone assembly
28
, and particularly the propeller
29
of the countermeasure vehicle
24
, is sometimes subjected to substantial bending moments which result in propeller damage and deployment failure. The ram plate
32
pushes against the tailcone assembly
28
with a force in thousands of pounds and the bending moments on the countermeasure vehicle propeller
29
, caused by water impacting the propeller as it exits the launch tube while the submarine is underway at high speeds, can be in thousands of foot pounds. While providing some protection, the shield
27
is not sufficient to protect the propeller from damage.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved propeller protection which can reduce bending moments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an improved submarine countermeasure vehicle propeller protector structured for successful launch and deployment under conditions inflicting high bending moments upon the propeller.
With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a submarine countermeasure propeller protector for a countermeasure vehicle having on an after portion thereof a propeller shaft, a propeller fixed to the shaft, radial fins fixed on an after surface of the vehicle and extending outwardly from the shaft, and a shield fixed to outer edges of the fins and surrounding the propeller. The countermeasure propeller protector comprises a tubular sleeve having an end wall at a first end thereof, and an open second end adapted to be engaged with the vehicle, at least one of the end wall and side walls of the sleeve having perforations therein. The sleeve end wall is provided with a central opening therein. A nut is fixed to the sleeve end wall and is threadedly mounted on the shaft and disposed around the central opening. Stop structure on the sleeve second end and the vehicle prevent rotation of the sleeve relative to the vehicle. Rotation of the propeller shaft unscrews the shaft from the nut, permitting the nut, and thereby the sleeve, to move axially to disengage from the vehicle.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3703874 (1972-11-01), Lemieux
patent: 5452864 (1995-09-01), Alford et al.
patent: 6367401 (2002-04-01), Correia et al.

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