Aircraft ordinance mounting system
AssigneeContract Fabrication and Design, LLC
InventorsMark D. Serkland, James A. Hardin, Steven S. Cone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ordnance mounting system for a helicopter operatively supports a weaponry support beam above an upwardly projecting floor obstruction in a cabin area of the helicopter, between opposite cabin door openings, with the support beam longitudinally extending transversely through the cabin area, and outer weaponry mounting end portions of the support beam projecting outwardly through the door openings beyond opposite fuselage side walls of the helicopter. The mounting system may be secured to door opening sill structures, or the cabin ceiling or side walls, and permits vertical bending flexure of the installed support beam due to flight and weaponry weight loads on the outer ends of the support beam.
Claims17
A method of arming an aircraft having a cabin area with a floor area positioned between a pair of opposite, generally vertical outer aircraft body side wall portions having door openings extending therethrough, and an obstruction extending upwardly from said floor area between said door openings, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongated weaponry support beam member having a central longitudinal section disposed between first and second end portions;
- and
- supporting said beam member in a manner such that it longitudinally extends transversely through said cabin area with said central longitudinal section disposed above said obstruction and said first and second end portions extending outwardly through said door openings, said supporting step including the steps of:
- interconnecting first support apparatus between said first end portion and said aircraft, said first support apparatus permitting pivotal movement of said support beam at and relative to said first support apparatus about a first axis parallel to the length of said aircraft, and precluding longitudinal translational movement of said beam member relative to said aircraft, and
- interconnecting second support apparatus between said second end portion and said aircraft, said second support apparatus permitting pivotal movement of said support beam at and relative to said second support apparatus about a second axis parallel to the length of said aircraft, said second support apparatus further being pivotable relative to said aircraft about a third axis parallel to the length of said aircraft.
Armament apparatus for an aircraft having a cabin area with a floor area positioned between a pair of opposite, generally vertical outer aircraft body side wall portions having door openings extending therethrough, and an obstruction extending upwardly from said floor area between said door openings, said armament apparatus comprising:
- an elongated weaponry support beam member having a central longitudinal section disposed between first and second end portions, said central longitudinal section being disposed above said obstruction, and said first and second end portions extending outwardly through said door openings;
- first support apparatus interconnected between said first end portion and said aircraft, said first support apparatus permitting pivotal movement of said support beam at and relative to said first support apparatus about a first axis parallel to the length of said aircraft, and precluding longitudinal translational movement of said beam member relative to said aircraft;
- and
- second support apparatus interconnected between said second end portion and said aircraft, said second support apparatus permitting pivotal movement of said support beam at and relative to said second support apparatus about a second axis parallel to the length of said aircraft, said second support apparatus further being pivotable relative to said aircraft about a third axis parallel to the length of said aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.