Webbed Cable Catapult System

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Application No. 63/497,705 filed on Apr. 22, 2023, and entitled “Webbed Cable Catapult System”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to launching systems for launching projectiles. More particularly, systems and methods are disclosed that are catapult launching systems designed to launch projectiles at high velocity. Such systems and methods would be useful in space launch systems, methods of transportations and artillery.

Launching objects long distances or even into space can be considered problem of transmission and leverage, rather than raw energy.

For example, a freight train traveling 50 miles per hour typically has more than enough kinetic energy to launch a small satellite into space. The issue involves transferring kinetic energy from a slow-moving massive object into a fast-moving smaller object.

Typically, levers are the most obvious choice for leverage. However, there are disadvantages. Levers are usually designed to take the form of a spinning catapult, and can be subjected to extremely high flexural stress and centrifugal force. Spinning catapults usually are subjected to high friction which could make it difficult to maintain its velocity. Additionally, these levers are costly in construction.

Currently, ways to launch projectiles of interest without friction, and without high flexural stress are being sought after.

Although the above-mentioned systems are adequate to launch objects, there are disadvantages. Typically, the lever systems described above are restricted by high flexural stress and centrifugal force.

For the foregoing reasons, there exists a need to find a solution to provide a launching system, that is more efficient, less expensive, and can address the above-mentioned problems.

Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have a system that is easy to launch projectiles at high velocity, that can be mass produced, is reasonably priced and easy to scale up.

These features, advantages and other embodiments of the present invention are further made apparent in the remainder of the present description, appended claims and drawings, to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The present invention generally is related to systems affiliated with launching a projectile of interest. More specifically, the systems are directed to web cable catapult systems for launching the projectile. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a web cable catapult system for launching a projectile, the system includes a moveable pulling element; and, a web cable network comprising a plurality of interconnected flexible cables. The system can include support elements to anchor the web cable network. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the pulling element is in a launch position, the web cable network tightens such that the middle section of each flexible cable of the web cable network form a V-shaped vertex.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the web cable network includes at least three flexible cable pairs connected in sequence, hereinafter referred to as a first flexible pulling cable pair, at least one middle flexible cable pair, and a last flexible cable pair; and a flexible launch cable configured to connect to a projectile.

Preferably, the flexible launch cable comprises a right end, a left end and a middle section between the right end and left end. Each flexible cable of the flexible cable pairs comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a middle section between the proximal end and the distal end.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first flexible pulling cable pair comprises a right first flexible pulling cable and a left first flexible pulling cable. The proximal ends of the first flexible pulling cable pair attachable to the pulling element, and the distal ends of the first flexible pulling cable pair attachable to a first support element.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one middle flexible cable pair comprises a right first middle flexible cable and a left first middle flexible cable.

Preferably, the middle section of the right first flexible pulling cable is attachable to the proximal end of the right first middle flexible cable, and the distal end of the right first middle flexible cable attachable to a second support element.

The last flexible cable pair comprises a right last flexible cable and a left last flexible cable. The middle section of the right first middle flexible cable is attachable to the proximal end of the right last flexible cable. The distal end of the right last flexible cable is attachable to a third support element.

Preferably, the middle section of the left first flexible pulling cable is attachable to the proximal end of the left first middle flexible cable, and the distal end of the left first middle flexible cable is attachable to a fourth support element.

Typically the middle section of the left first middle flexible cable is attachable to the proximal end of the left last flexible cable, and the distal end of the left last flexible cable is attachable to a fifth support element.

In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the right end of the flexible launch cable is attachable to the middle section of the right last flexible cable, and the left end of the flexible launch cable is attachable to the middle section of the left last flexible cable.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support elements anchor the web cable network; whereby, when the pulling element is in a launch position, the web cable network tightens such that the middle section of each flexible cable of the three flexible cable pairs, and the flexible launch cable form a V-shaped vertex.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the launching system is in a release position, the launch cable returns to an original position such that web cable network loosens such that the middle section of each flexible cable of the three flexible cable pairs and the flexible launch cable release from the form of the V-shaped vertex.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible launch cable further includes a launching device. Preferably, the launching device includes securing means to hold and release the projectile during launch. More preferably, the launching device is connected to the middle section of the flexible launch cable.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the launching device is connected to the flexible launch cable and is capable of selectively engaging and disengaging the projectile from the launching device to launch and release the projectile from the launching device.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description.

The description and the drawings of the present disclosure focus on one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, and describe exemplary optional features and/or alternative embodiments of the present invention. The description and drawings are for the purpose of illustration and not limitation. Those of ordinary skill in the art would recognize variations, modifications and alternatives which are also within the scope of the invention.

The present invention addresses the aforementioned need for a launching system, such as a catapult, for launching a projectile (such as an unmanned aircraft, satellite, fighter aircraft, etc.) More specifically, the invention generally relates to systems that provide launching system for launching a projectile at high velocity.

Various embodiments of a webbed cable catapult system and methods of launching are disclosed that can increase the predetermined velocity of the projectile to be launched by including the addition of flexible cables that is configured to launch the projectile.

In an embodiment of the present invention, systems and methods are provided without the use of any external levers. Typically, the webbed cable catapult system utilizes a plurality of flexible cables, attachable and connected to each other in series to form a web cable network. Preferably the web cable network includes support elements to anchor the web cable network. According to an embodiment of the present invention, during launch mode, the web cable network tightens such that each flexible cables can be configured (formed, bent) into a V-shape vertex to generate leverage without a lever. Preferably, the webbed cable catapult system is used to launch projectiles at a very high desired speed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the principle mechanism of the launching systems described according to the present invention can be illustrated in, B.

illustrates a view of a conventional launching system showing basic principle mechanism in launch mode; according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring now toa schematic diagram illustrating a view of a basic conventional principle mechanism of a launching systemis provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. Typically, the principal of the launching systems principle of operation is based on a mechanical property involving trigonometry. Typically, during launch mode, when a cable (for example, a string) is configured or formed into a V-shaped vertex, and then pulled apart by its ends during release mode, the vertex of the cable can potentially move faster than the ends of the string or cable being directly pulled.

According to a typical embodiment of the present invention,illustrates a system in launch mode, where the cableforms a V-shaped vertex with coordinates at (,-).illustrates a view of a basic conventional principle mechanism of the launching systemshowing basic principle mechanism in release mode; according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the cableis pulled in launch mode, the cableunder tension, can form a V-shaped vertex () and then released in release mode (), where the cableis fully straightened, and its vertex moves to (,). So, the vertex of cablemoves 1 unit right and 3 units up, for a total displacement of square root 10 units (approximately, 3.16 units). However, the end of the cableonly needs to be pulled 2 units to the right, from the coordinates (8,0) to (10,0).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, this difference between input displacement and output displacement produces a speed ratio since the vertex of the cablemoves faster than the end of the cable. Typically, the speed ratio becomes higher when the cableis pulled to a shallower angle. For example, if the triangles formed were instead 9-40-41 triangles (which is much shallower than the 3-4-5 triangle), the vertex would be displaced by over 9 units from an input displacement of only 2 units.

Those skilled in the art can appreciate this principle illustrates the V-shaped bowstring converts the outward velocity of its limbs to the forward velocity of the projectile to be launched. The speed of ratio of the projectile to be launched, relative to the bow's limbs, increases as the bow spreads apart, as the bowstring forms an increasingly shallow angle. Bows can be very efficient at transferring their energy into an arrow, however there are ways to improve this.

Typically, although a bow and arrow can be efficient at lower velocities, it can be difficult to scale up efficiently to reach greater velocities. Generally, the speed ratio of a bow and arrow remains low for most of its launch, nearing the 2-to-3 ratio described in FIGS.A-B. Additionally, bows typically only use elastic energy stored in their limbs as a source of energy. Even a strong spring does not reach a high velocity when released, and as a result, it does not produce sufficient kinetic energy.

Referring now toin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the systemillustrates this basic principle mechanism with two 3-4-5 triangles placed side-by-side. A cable10 units long, is configured into a symmetrical V-shaped vertex, resulting in two halves of the cableeach being 5 units long and slopes 3 units down for every 4 units across, thus forming the hypotenuses of two 3-4-5 triangles (the hypotenuses of each of the two triangles which are each 5″ long).

In one embodiment, referring to, when bent, the horizontal width of the cableis 8″ and the vertical depthis 3″. The cablecan be straightened by moving the end″ to the side, this is referred to as “input displacement”. Referring now tois a schematic diagram illustrating a view of a principle mechanism of the launching systemin release mode showing once the cablehas been straightened, the vertex of the cablewhich can hold a moveable weightmoves″ upward and″ to the side. The straightened cablein release mode is shown in. The motion of this weightcan be referred to as “output displacement”.

Because the output displacement exceeds the input displacement, and each point of the cableis moved in the same duration of time, this creates a speed ratio. This mechanical property is widely utilized by the same principle mechanics known to those skilled in the art by a bowstring (of a bow and arrow). It allows the bow to be highly efficient by transferring energy from the limbs of a bow into the arrow.

Referring again to, as the V-shaped cablecan be configured in a shallower angle, resulting in the speed ratio typically becoming more pronounced (greater). In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, if the triangles inwere configured into 9-40-41 triangles, which are considerably shallower and more obtuse than 3-4-5 triangles; during release mode, when straightened (), the input displacement would still be 2 units to the side, but the output displacement would be 9 units up and 1 unit to the side, resulting in a greater speed ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the webbed cable catapult systems and methods disclosed address these flaws and could potentially launch projectiles at an extremely high velocity.

Referring now toa view of a webbed cable catapult systemin one possible configuration to launch a projectile is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention.

shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention when the pulling initially begins and the systemis in launch mode. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a web cable catapult system for launching a projectile is disclosed. Preferably, the systemincludes a moveable pulling element; and, a web cable network comprising a plurality of interconnected flexible cables. The systemcan include support elements to anchor the web cable network. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the pulling element is in a launch position, the web cable network tightens such that the middle section of each flexible cable of the web cable network form a V-shaped vertex.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the web cable network includes at least three flexible cable pairsand,and,andconnected in sequence, hereinafter referred to as a first flexible pulling cable pairand, at least one middle flexible cable pairand, and a last flexible cable pairand; and a flexible launch cableconfigured to connect to a projectile.

Preferably, the flexible launch cablecomprises a right end, a left end and a middle section between the right end and left end. Each flexible cable of the flexible cable pairsand,and,andcomprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a middle section between the proximal end and the distal end.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first flexible pulling cable pairandcomprises a right first flexible pulling cableand a left first flexible pulling cable. The proximal ends of the first flexible pulling cable pairandattachable to the pulling element, and the distal ends of the first flexible pulling cable pairandattachable to a first support element

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one middle flexible cable pairandcomprising a right first middle flexible cableand a left first middle flexible cable.

The middle section of the right first flexible pulling cableattachable to the proximal end of the right first middle flexible cable, and the distal end of the right first middle flexible cableattachable to a second support element

The last flexible cable pairandcomprising a right last flexible cableand a left last flexible cable. The middle section of the right first middle flexible cableattachable to the proximal end of the right last flexible cable.

The distal end of the right last flexible cableattachable to a third support element