Release apparatus for jet-propelled projectiles

A projectile release mechanism for facilitating launching a jet-propelled projectile, comprising:

• a projectile support means;
• a unitary nozzle member extending between said projectile and said support means for securing the projectile to the support means;
• and
• fusible joint means formed integral with said unitary nozzle member and disposed for heating by high-temperature exhaust gas expelled by said projectile to release said projectile from said support means, said fusible joint means including a peripheral ring portion of said unitary nozzle member of a reduced sectional thickness.

A projectile release mechanism for facilitating launching a jet-propelled projectile which comprises a spin-stabilized missile, comprising:

• a projectile support means including rotary means and means for supporting said rotary means for rotation about a spin axis, said rotary means including a register section;
• a unitary nozzle member extending between said projectile and said support means for securing the projectile to the support means, the unitary nozzle member being secured to said rotary means and received by said register section coaxial with said spin axis, said unitary nozzle member comprising a disposable tubular member which is threaded at opposite ends for engagement with complementary threaded receptacle means on said missile and said rotary means, and said register section and said nozzle member having complementarily engageable, axially spaced concentric land means to insure proper alignment of said missile with said spin axis during initial separation;
• and
• fusible joint means formed integral with said unitary nozzle member and disposed for heating by high-temperature exhaust gas expelled by said projectile to release said projectile from said support means.

A projectile release mechanism for facilitating launching a jet-propelled projectile, comprising:

• a projectile support means;
• a unitary nozzle member extending between said projectile and said support means for securing the projectile to the support means;
• fusible joint means formed integral with said unitary nozzle member and disposed for heating by high-temperature exhaust gas expelled by said projectile to release said projectile from said support means;
• and
• said support means including a register section for receiving said unitary nozzle member, said register section and said nozzle member having complementarily engageable, axially spaced concentric land means to insure proper alignment of said projectile during initial separation of said nozzle member at said fusible joint means.

A release mechanism for facilitating launching of a spin-stabilized spherical jet-propelled missile having an exhaust nozzle, said release mechanism comprising:

• support means including rotary means and means for supporting said rotary means for rotation about a spin axis coaxial with said exhaust nozzle;
• a unitary nozzle member extending between said rotary means and said missile coaxial with said spin axis and in communication with said missile exhaust nozzle for securing said missile to said support means;
• and
• fusible joint means formed integral with said unitary nozzle member and disposed for heating by high-temperature exhaust gas expelled by said missile through said exhaust nozzle to release said missile from said support means, said fusible joint means including a peripheral ring portion of said unitary nozzle member of a reduced sectional thickness and a plurality of passages through said reduced ring portion for conducting said exhaust gas through said fusible joint means.

A projectile release mechanism for facilitating launching a projectile, comprising:

• a projectile support means including receptacle means defining a launching axis for said projectile;
• an extension member fixed to said projectile for axially mating with said receptacle means;
• separation means between said projectile and said support means;
• and
• complementarily engageable, axially spaced land means between said receptacle means and said extension member to insure proper alignment of said projectile with said launching axis during initial separation of said separation means.

A release mechanism for facilitating launching of a spin-stabilized spherical jet-propelled missile having an exhaust nozzle, said release mechanism comprising:

• missile support means including rotary means and means for supporting said rotary means for rotation about a spin axis coaxial with said exhaust nozzle, said rotary means including receptacle means defining said spin axis;
• a nozzle assembly on said missile, including a nozzle member extending between said missile and said support means in communication with said exhaust nozzle for securing said missile to said support means, said nozzle member extending into and mating with said receptacle means;
• separation means between said missile and said support means;
• and
• complementarily engageable, axially spaced land means between said receptacle means and said nozzle member to insure proper alignment of said missile with said spin axis during initial separation of said separation means.