# US 4,393,745 A · Releasable retainer for ejection tube

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- Number: US 4,393,745 A
- Document ID: US4393745A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/288,624
- Filed: 1981-07-30
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1981-07-30
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
- Inventors: Henry C. Mayo; William V. Millman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393745A

## CPC

- F41F 3/052: Means for securing the rocket in the launching apparatus
- F41F: APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING PROJECTILES OR MISSILES FROM BARRELS, e.g. CANNONS (smallarms F41C); LAUNCHERS FOR ROCKETS OR TORPEDOES; HARPOON GUNS (functional features or details common to both smallarms and ordnance, mountings therefor F41A; projecting missiles without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge F41B)

## Abstract

A restraining device having a tooth which is biased by a spring through a otted support. The device is attached to the exhaust end of a rocket launch tube to permit easy loading of the rocket into the tube prior to firing, and to restrain the rocket in the tube. The configuration of the device provides positive retention of the rocket in the tube, even when subjected to overpressure of rockets being fired in adjacent launch tubes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A detent assembly including a slotted support defining at least one slot therein by an inside wall, said slotted support mounted on a hollow support, the detent assembly to detain a movable item in the hollow support, the detent assembly having a spring connected to the slotted support, a restraining tooth connected to the spring such that the spring biases the restraining tooth through the slot in the slotted support and wherein the restraining tooth is rotated against the bias of the spring by movement thereagainst of the item, such that:
as the restraining tooth is rotated against the bias of the spring, the restraining tooth is forced against the inside wall of said slot in the slotted support preventing movement of the item within the hollow support in a first direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A detent assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring is a flat spring and is mounted on the slotted support such that as the restraining tooth is forced against the slotted support the flat spring is bowed toward the hollow support.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A detent assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the hollow support is a rocket tube and wherein the item is a rocket.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A detent assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the restraining tooth has a bevel which allows movement of the item within the hollow support in a second direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A detent assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the inside wall of the slotted support is beveled at the slot and wherein the restraining tooth has a lip such that the lip engages the beveled inside wall when the restraining tooth is forced against the slotted support.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A detent assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the spring is a flat spring and is mounted on the slotted support such that as the lip engages the beveled inside wall the flat spring is bowed toward the hollow support.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A detent assembly as defined in claim 5, further having a manually operated pull means, which on actuation removes the restraining tooth from the path of the item to allow movement of the item in the first direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A detent assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the spring is a flat spring and is mounted on the slotted support such that as the lip engages the beveled inside wall the flat spring is bowed toward the hollow support.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A detent assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein the hollow support is a rocket tube and wherein the item is a rocket.