US3584581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spin launch rectangular-type canister
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
•
Filing: 1969-08-06
•
Granted: 1971-06-15
•
Expires: 1989-08-06
Abstract
Abstract An aircraft dispersion munition and method for dispersing submunitions over a large area and with a ground pattern that is uniform and predictable; the munition utilizing canted vanes to produce a sufficiently high rotational value of the falling munition to spin launch a plurality of submunitions by means of centrifugal force and high tangential velocity, after the bottom and sides of the munition have been removed during fall. A parachute is ejected during the fall of the munition to stabilize the falling and rotating munition.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham Flatau
- 👤 Donald N Olson
- 👤 Miles C Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:33
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B12/00; F42B12/02; F42B12/36; F42B12/56; F42B12/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A system for dispensing a munition from an aircraft and for dispersing submunitions, as a result of centrifugal force and high tangential velocity, over a large area with a uniform and predictable ground pattern, said system having a plurality of components comprising a case means adapted to contain a plurality of submunitions and adapted to be mounted within an aircraft, and to be released from said aircraft by a dispenser means; a case cover means adapted to be secured to said case means; a vane means mounted on each side of said case means, said vane means being adapted to induce rotation to the munition after release of the munition from the aircraft; retention means adapted to retain the vane means in a stowed position prior to a predetermined interval for inducing rotation to the munition; parachute means adapted to be stored within a container means prior to a predetermined interval for release of the parachute means, said parachute means being adapted to impart stability to the munition after release of the munition from the aircraft, said container means being integral with the case cover means; a detonation system within the munition adapted to activate members of the plurality of components; arming means adapted to activate the detonation system and a timing means; and a timing means adapted to control a sequence of events of the detonation system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
228 words
A system for dispensing a munition from an aircraft and for dispersing submunitions, as a result of centrifugal force and high tangential velocity, over a large area with a uniform and predictable ground pattern, said system having a plurality of components comprising a case means adapted to contain a plurality of submunitions and adapted to be mounted within an aircraft, and to be released from said aircraft by a dispenser means; a case cover means adapted to be secured to said case means; a vane means mounted on each side of said case means, said vane means being adapted to induce rotation to the munition after release of the munition from the aircraft; retention means adapted to retain the vane means in a stowed position prior to a predetermined interval for inducing rotation to the munition; parachute means adapted to be stored within a container means prior to a predetermined interval for release of the parachute means, said parachute means being adapted to impart stability to the munition after release of the munition from the aircraft, said container means being integral with the case cover means; a detonation system within the munition adapted to activate members of the plurality of components; arming means adapted to activate the detonation system and a timing means; and a timing means adapted to control a sequence of events of the detonation system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the submunitions contain a payload selected from the group consisting of explosive composition, incendiary composition, and chemical agent composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser means comprises a door means adapted to have the munition placed thereon; a pair of retention rod means fixedly connected to the door means at one end and adapted to rest within a pair of recesses located in the sides of the case means, said retention rod means being integral with a pair of arms at the end of the retention rod means opposite to the door end, said arms being adapted to connect to an aircraft rack, said retention rod means having a preweakened section located between the door means and the arms, said preweakened section being adapted to be ruptured by an explosive thrust generated as a result of the activation of a pyrotechnic means to dispense the munition from the aiRcraft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the cover means is secured to the case means by a plurality of hinges integral with the edges of the cover means nested in juxtaposition within a plurality of hinges integral with the upper ends of the case means, the nested plurality of hinges being held in juxtaposition by pin means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
129 words
The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the vane means are mounted on each side of the case means by a hinge means under spring tension, said hinge means being adapted to permit the vane means at a predetermined time to spring from the stowed position to a position lying in a plane adjacent to a plane of the top of the case means which results in rotation being induced to the munition, the hinge means being mounted on the case means at such an angle as to permit stowing the vanes in a folded position under the case means prior to dispensing from the aircraft and to permit the vanes to spring to the plane adjacent to the plane in which the top of the case means lies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The dispensing system of claim 5 wherein the vane means are retained in the stowed position by a bow shaped retainer means adapted to be superimposed on a portion of each vane means, said bow shaped retainer means being secured in position by an explosive bolt, said explosive bolt being adapted to be detonated at a predetermined time to permit the vane means to spring to the rotating position to induce rotation to the munition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the parachute means is secured to the case means by a bridle means, said bridle means being connected to the parachute means through a swivel means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the arming means is a pushbutton switch means adapted to prevent electrical current flow in the depressed position and to permit electrical current flow when released from the depressed position, said arming means being held in the depressed position, said arming means being held in the depressed position by a safety pin means prior to placing the munition on the dispenser means and by the dispenser means while on said dispenser means and subsequent to removal of the safety pin means, said arming means being adapted to arm the timing means and the detonation system within the munition at a predetermined time subsequent to dispensing the munition from the aircraft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
171 words
The dispensing system of claim 8 wherein the detonation system comprises a first detonating means adapted to generate gas upon activation at a predetermined time subsequent to dispensing the munition from the aircraft, said gas generation being adapted to eject the parachute means from the container means and impart stability to the munition as the munition falls; a second detonating means adapted to explode an explosive bolt securing the vane means retaining means in the stowed position at a predetermined time subsequent to the ejection of the parachute means, the explosion of the explosive bolt being adapted to release the vane means from the stowed position to a position to induce rotation to the munition; and a third detonating means adapted to activate an explosive means at a predetermined time subsequent to the release of the vane means, the explosive means being adapted to separate the sides from the bottom of the case means and permit the submunitions to be dispersed as a result of centrifugal force and high tangential velocity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The dispensing system of claim 9 wherein the explosive means is selected from the group consisting of flexible linear shape charge and mild detonating fuze.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The dispensing system of claim 9 wherein the predetermined times are controlled in sequence by a plurality of intervals preset in the timing means, the timing means being set prior to the aircraft reaching a target area.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
385 words
A method of dispensing a munition from an aircraft and for dispersing submunitions as a result of centrifugal force and high tangential velocity over a large area with a uniform and predictable ground pattern comprIsing the steps of placing the munition in the aircraft dispenser means for delivery to a target area; setting an intervalometer and a timing means to control events after activation of the dispensing system; removing a safety pin from the arming means to permit arming the munition upon separation of the munition from a door means of the dispenser means; delivering the munition to a target area by the aircraft; activating a switch on the aircraft control panel connected to an intervalometer through the aircraft power supply while approaching the target area, said intervalometer controlling the activation of a pyrotechnic means to dispense the munition from the aircraft and result in the separation of the door means from the munition to permit activation of the arming means; activating the pyrotechnic means to rupture a preweakened section of a pair of retention rod means to permit the munition to fall from the aircraft and to be separated from the door means; closing an electrical circuit means by release of the arming means from a depressed position upon separation of the door means from the munition, the closing the electrical circuit being adapted to activate a timer means to control the detonation system; activating the timer means; activating a first detonation means to generate gas to eject the parachute means; ejecting the parachute means at a predetermined time subsequent to the dispensing of the munition from the aircraft and the separation of the munition from the door means; activating a second detonating means to explode an explosive bolt to release the vane means from the stowed position to a position to induce rotation to the munition; exploding the explosive bolt; releasing the vane means from the stowed position to the position to induce rotation to the munitions; inducing rotation to the munition; activating a third detonating means to explosively separate the case sides from the case bottom; separating the case sides from the case bottom; and dispersing the submunitions on the target area over a large area with uniform and predictable ground pattern as a result of centrifugal force and high tangential velocity.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
385 words
A method of dispensing a munition from an aircraft and for dispersing submunitions as a result of centrifugal force and high tangential velocity over a large area with a uniform and predictable ground pattern comprIsing the steps of placing the munition in the aircraft dispenser means for delivery to a target area; setting an intervalometer and a timing means to control events after activation of the dispensing system; removing a safety pin from the arming means to permit arming the munition upon separation of the munition from a door means of the dispenser means; delivering the munition to a target area by the aircraft; activating a switch on the aircraft control panel connected to an intervalometer through the aircraft power supply while approaching the target area, said intervalometer controlling the activation of a pyrotechnic means to dispense the munition from the aircraft and result in the separation of the door means from the munition to permit activation of the arming means; activating the pyrotechnic means to rupture a preweakened section of a pair of retention rod means to permit the munition to fall from the aircraft and to be separated from the door means; closing an electrical circuit means by release of the arming means from a depressed position upon separation of the door means from the munition, the closing the electrical circuit being adapted to activate a timer means to control the detonation system; activating the timer means; activating a first detonation means to generate gas to eject the parachute means; ejecting the parachute means at a predetermined time subsequent to the dispensing of the munition from the aircraft and the separation of the munition from the door means; activating a second detonating means to explode an explosive bolt to release the vane means from the stowed position to a position to induce rotation to the munition; exploding the explosive bolt; releasing the vane means from the stowed position to the position to induce rotation to the munitions; inducing rotation to the munition; activating a third detonating means to explosively separate the case sides from the case bottom; separating the case sides from the case bottom; and dispersing the submunitions on the target area over a large area with uniform and predictable ground pattern as a result of centrifugal force and high tangential velocity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |