Low force bomb rack release mechanism
AssigneeExelis, Inc.
InventorSteven D. Kay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low force weapon ejection system includes a hook for engaging a store, a primary sear for applying a primary pressure against the hook, and a secondary sear for applying a secondary pressure against the primary sear. When the primary and secondary pressures are applied, respectively, against the hook and the primary sear, the hook is prevented from releasing the store. When the primary and secondary pressures are reduced, the hook is enabled to release the store. The low force weapon ejection system reduces the size and weight of various elements in a conventional ejection system that requires greater forces for actuating, releasing and ejecting a store.
Claims10
A low force weapon ejection system comprising:
- a large hook for engaging a lug of a heavy store,
- a small hook for engaging a lug of a small store,
- a hook-link connected directly between the large hook and small hook, and
- configured to directly pivot the large and small hooks and release the heavy store and the small store,
- a primary sear configured to apply a primary pressure only against the large hook, and
- a secondary sear configured to apply a secondary pressure only against the primary sear,
- wherein (a) when the primary and secondary pressures are applied, the large and small hooks are prevented from releasing the stores, and
- (b) when the primary and secondary pressures are reduced, the large and small hooks are enabled to release the stores;
- and
- a sear-link coupled to the secondary sear, in which, in sequence, the sear-link is configured to pivot the secondary sear, the secondary sear is configured to pivot the primary sear, the primary sear is configured to pivot the large hook, the large hook is configured to move the hook-link, and the hook-link is configured to pivot the small hook,
- wherein load is transferred from the large hook to the small hook for reducing size of the hook-link,
- the secondary sear includes a circular disk for moving on a surface of the primary sear, and
- facilitating reduction of pressure by the primary sear onto the hook.
A low force weapon ejection system comprising:
- a large hook and a small hook for, respectively, engaging a large store and a small store,
- a primary sear having first and second primary ends, the first primary end hinged for pivoting, and the second primary end configured to move longitudinally along a surface of the large hook, and
- a secondary sear having first and second secondary ends, the first secondary end coupled to an actuator, and the second secondary end configured to move along a surface of the primary sear,
- a hook-link connected directly between the large and small hooks,
- wherein (a) when the actuator is set to prevent release of the stores, the second secondary end is configured to apply pressure against the primary sear and, in turn, the second primary end is configured to apply pressure against the large hook and prevent release of the large store, and in turn, the hook-link is configured to prevent pivoting of the small hook and prevent release of the small store, and
- (b) when the actuator is set to enable the release of the stores, the second secondary end is configured to reduce pressure against the primary sear and, in turn, the second primary end is configured to reduce pressure against the large hook and enable the release of the large store, and in turn, the hook-link is configured to pivot the small hook and enable release of the small store.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.