US12560406 - Vacuum insulated vertical launch system (VLS)
The patent describes a vacuum insulated vertical launch system (VLS) designed to enhance missile launch efficiency by incorporating vacuum insulation layers in its components, which reduces thermal conductivity and prevents premature reactions of the missiles due to high external temperatures. This innovative design allows for a more compact configuration while ensuring safe and effective missile launches through a common exhaust plenum and burn-resistant insulating materials.
Claim 1
1 . A vertical launch system (VLS) module, comprising: a plurality of missile cells, each cell configured for containing a missile and launching a missile out a top thereof, a common exhaust plenum; at least one exhaust tube connected via at least one first passageway to the common exhaust plenum; each said missile cell having an upper region for releasing a missile during launch and a lower region connected via a second passageway and an aft cover with the common exhaust plenum to transfer exhaust gases from the missile into the common exhaust plenum and through the exhaust tube and out of the module, said aft cover configured to open during missile launch and otherwise close to block the reverse flow of exhaust gases from the common exhaust plenum back into the cells; wherein at least the lower region of each cell, the aft cover, the common exhaust plenum and at least one exhaust tube have inner surfaces covered with an insulating layer of a burn resistant material; said common exhaust plenum having a double-walled structure that defines a sealed void space; and wherein the sealed void space is held under vacuum with a pressure of less than 25 Torr and a thermal conductivity (Tcond_vac) of less than one-third of a thermal conductivity of air (Tcond_air) to form a vacuum insulation layer. a plurality of missile cells, each cell configured for containing a missile and launching a missile out a top thereof, a common exhaust plenum; at least one exhaust tube connected via at least one first passageway to the common exhaust plenum; each said missile cell having an upper region for releasing a missile during launch and a lower region connected via a second passageway and an aft cover with the common exhaust plenum to transfer exhaust gases from the missile into the common exhaust plenum and through the exhaust tube and out of the module, said aft cover configured to open during missile launch and otherwise close to block the reverse flow of exhaust gases from the common exhaust plenum back into the cells; wherein at least the lower region of each cell, the aft cover, the common exhaust plenum and at least one exhaust tube have inner surfaces covered with an insulating layer of a burn resistant material; said common exhaust plenum having a double-walled structure that defines a sealed void space; and wherein the sealed void space is held under vacuum with a pressure of less than 25 Torr and a thermal conductivity (Tcond_vac) of less than one-third of a thermal conductivity of air (Tcond_air) to form a vacuum insulation layer.
Google Patents
https://patents.google.com/patent/US12560406
USPTO PDF
https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12560406