Oct 28, 2025

US12454369 - Vehicle launch system and method

The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with one or more of a main accelerator tube system (MAT), a flight test tube, or a soft catch. The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

Assignee: Innovative Integrated Technologies, LLC
Inventors: Miles R. Palmer
Filing date: 2024-11-12

The patent describes a vehicle launch system that includes a preliminary accelerator tube, a flight test tube, and a soft catch mechanism to facilitate the testing and delivery of payloads. The system is designed to evaluate the aerodynamic controls or guidance systems of the vehicle by subjecting it to aerodynamic forces during the launch process.

Claim 1

1 . A system comprising: a vehicle including, as a part thereof, aerodynamic controls or guidance systems; a preliminary accelerator tube configured to accelerate the vehicle therethrough; a flight test tube arranged to receive the vehicle from the preliminary accelerator tube; and a soft catch arranged to receive the vehicle from the flight test tube and configured to decelerate the vehicle; wherein the flight test tube is configured to receive injected gas that subjects the vehicle to aerodynamic forces so that the system is effective to test the aerodynamic controls or guidance systems that are a part of the vehicle. a vehicle including, as a part thereof, aerodynamic controls or guidance systems; a preliminary accelerator tube configured to accelerate the vehicle therethrough; a flight test tube arranged to receive the vehicle from the preliminary accelerator tube; and a soft catch arranged to receive the vehicle from the flight test tube and configured to decelerate the vehicle; wherein the flight test tube is configured to receive injected gas that subjects the vehicle to aerodynamic forces so that the system is effective to test the aerodynamic controls or guidance systems that are a part of the vehicle.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12454369

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12454369