Feb 3, 2026

US12540792 - Stabilized end cap for common launch tube

A stabilized end cap for covering one end of a common launch tube on a military aircraft is disclosed. The stabilized end cap includes a central body having a portion with a disk-shape configuration. In some cases, the stabilized end cap has a peripheral extension that extends radially outward from the periphery of the central body, and the peripheral extension is provided with an aerodynamic configuration. In other cases, the stabilized end cap has at least one aerodynamic extension extending longitudinally outward from the outside surface of the central body.

Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
Inventors: Andrew Hall, John Revilla, Joshua Wiseman, Kelsey Snively, Matthew Hall
Filing date: 2023-10-16

launch tubemilitaryaerospace

The patent describes a stabilized end cap designed for military aircraft launch tubes, featuring a disk-shaped central body and an aerodynamic peripheral extension. This configuration allows the end cap to efficiently cover the launch tube opening while improving aerodynamic performance when deployed.

Claim 1

1 . An end cap for covering an opening on one end of a common launch tube on a military aircraft, the common launch tube having an interior for housing an article which is to be deployed from the common launch tube, said end cap comprising: a central body comprising a portion with a disk-shape configuration, said central body having an inside surface for facing the opening of a common launch tube, an outside surface for facing outside the common launch tube, a center, and a periphery, wherein the periphery of the central body is sized and configured to fit adjacent to the end opening of a common launch tube; and a peripheral extension extending radially outward from the periphery of said central body in a direction away from the center of said central body, wherein said peripheral extension is provided with an aerodynamic configuration, wherein the central body and the peripheral extension of the end cap are joined together and are configured to be pushed into the free stream air as a single unit when separated from the common launch tube. a central body comprising a portion with a disk-shape configuration, said central body having an inside surface for facing the opening of a common launch tube, an outside surface for facing outside the common launch tube, a center, and a periphery, wherein the periphery of the central body is sized and configured to fit adjacent to the end opening of a common launch tube; and a peripheral extension extending radially outward from the periphery of said central body in a direction away from the center of said central body, wherein said peripheral extension is provided with an aerodynamic configuration, wherein the central body and the peripheral extension of the end cap are joined together and are configured to be pushed into the free stream air as a single unit when separated from the common launch tube.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12540792

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12540792