Apparatus for launching projectiles from a host aircraft
AssigneeBoeing North American, Inc.
InventorsAnil Dewan, Richard N. Parke, William H. Stock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for launching projectiles from a host aircraft is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a rotary launcher, a plurality of launch tube assemblies, a plurality of projectile retention means, and a plurality of ejection cartridges. The rotary launcher has a plurality of support fittings thereon, each for securing a tube assembly to the rotary launcher. Each projectile retention means securely retains each projectile within its respective launch tube. Each ejection cartridge is mounted to a respective launch tube assembly and interfaces with a projectile retention means to provide an ejection of that projectile retention means.
Claims19
An apparatus for launching projectiles from a host aircraft, comprising:
- (a) a rotary launcher attachable to the host aircraft, said launcher having a plurality of support fittings thereon;
- (b) a plurality of launch tube assemblies, each for containing a single projectile, each tube assembly being mounted to a respective support fitting;
- (c) a plurality of projectile retention means for securely retaining each projectile within its respective launch tube assembly;
- and
- (d) a plurality of ejection cartridges, each being mounted to a respective launch tube assembly, interfacing with a respective projectile retention means to provide an ejection thereof, said projectile retention means providing a pressure seal between itself and its associated launch tube assembly that contains ejection cartridge gas until an adequate pressure is obtained to propel the projectile and said retention means from said host aircraft at a prescribed velocity.
An apparatus for launching 10-14 inch diameter spherical projectiles aft of a host aircraft, comprising:
- (a) a rotary launcher attachable to the host aircraft, said launcher having a plurality of support fittings thereon;
- (b) a plurality of launch tube assemblies, each for containing a single projectile, each tube assembly being mounted to a respective support fitting in a manner parallel to the aircraft line of flight;
- (c) a plurality of projectile retention means for securely retaining each projectile within its respective launch tube assembly, each projectile retention means being formed of a rigid, spherical foam having a thermal protective coating which partially encapsulates the spherical projectile and secures it to the launch tube assembly, obviating the requirement for mechanical fasteners;
- and
- (d) a plurality of ejection cartridges, each being mounted to a respective launch tube assembly, interfacing with a respective projectile retention means to provide an ejection thereof.
An apparatus for launching projectiles from a host aircraft, comprising:
- (a) a rotary launcher attachable to the host aircraft, said launcher having a plurality of support fittings thereon;
- (b) a plurality of launch tube assemblies, each for containing a single projectile, each tube assembly being mounted to a respective support fitting;
- (c) a plurality of projectile retention means for securely retaining each projectile within its respective launch tube assembly, each projectile retention means being formed of a ceramic coated rigid spherical foam which partially encapsulates the spherical projectile and secures it to the launch tube assembly, obviating the requirement for mechanical fasteners;
- and
- (d) a plurality of ejection cartridges, each being mounted to a respective launch tube assembly, interfacing with a respective projectile retention means to provide an ejection thereof.
An apparatus for launching projectiles aft of a host aircraft, comprising:
- (a) a rotary launcher attachable to an aft portion of the host aircraft, said launcher having a plurality of support fittings thereon;
- (b) a plurality of launch tube assemblies, each for containing a single projectile, each tube assembly being mounted to a respective support fitting;
- (c) a plurality of projectile retention means for securely retaining each projectile within its respective launch tube assembly;
- and
- (d) a plurality of ejection cartridges, each being mounted to a respective launch tube assembly, interfacing with a respective projectile retention means to provide an ejection thereof, said projectile retention means providing a pressure seal between itself and its associated launch tube assembly that contains ejection cartridge gas until an adequate pressure is obtained to propel the projectile and said retention means from said host aircraft at a prescribed velocity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.