Rapid fire launch system
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsRandy Gaigler, Leszek S. Basak, Corey A. Fleischer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magazine-fed launch or firing system is provided. The system comprises a plurality of magazines arranged radially around a central loading area. A first loading mechanism is provided for supplying a munition arranged within a magazine to the central loading area. A second loading mechanism is provided for delivering a munition arranged within the central loading area to a barrel of the system. A turret is provided for altering at least one of the azimuth and elevation angle of the barrel.
Claims38
A magazine-fed system comprising:
- a plurality of magazines each having a first end and a second end arranged about a central loading area, each magazine in communication with a corresponding first loading mechanism configured to provide a munition arranged within at least one of the plurality of magazines to the central loading area, and
- a second loading mechanism configured to provide a munition arranged within the central loading area to a barrel of the system.
A magazine for storing at least one munition comprising:
- a first opening configured to receive a munition;
- a second opening, and
- a motorized pusher round operative to displace a munition arranged within the magazine in a direction from the first opening toward the second opening.
A munition loading device for a magazine-fed launch system comprising:
- a first capturing mechanism;
- a second capturing mechanism pivotally attached to the first capturing mechanism, and
- at least one linear actuator operative to secure a munition between the first and second capturing mechanisms.
A munition loading device for an open-breech launch system comprising:
- a engaging mechanism configured to selectively fasten to a portion of a munition, the mechanism comprising a locking surface for mating with a complementary locking assembly of a munition;
- a drive assembly configured to displace the engaging mechanism between a first position for fastening to a munition, and a second position for arranging the munition within a barrel of a launch system.
A method of operating a magazine-fed launch system comprising:
- loading munitions into a first opening arranged proximate a first end of each of a plurality of magazines, each of the magazines having a second opening proximate a second end arranged around a shared load area;
- moving a selected munition from the second opening of one of the plurality of magazines to the shared load area, and
- loading the selected munition from the shared load area to a barrel of the launch system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.