Modular airborne launcher

Claim 2

Apparatus for mounting on an aircraft bomb rack comprising: an elongated center beam having upper and lower ends; first mounting means mounted on said upper end of said beam for removable attachment to a bomb rack so that said beam hangs down below a bomb rack when mounted on a bomb rack; and means on either side of said beam for holding a missile container, said means on either side of said beam for holding a missile container including a front bulkhead, means for pivotally mounting said bulkhead on said beam, means for locking said bulkhead in an upright position, a gate pivotally coupled to said beam, and means for locking said gate in a closed position.

Claim 3

Apparatus for mounting on an aircraft bomb rack to launch missiles comprising: first and second center beams, each having upper and lower portions; first mounting means for removably attaching said upper portion of said first beam to an aircraft bomb rack so that said first beam hangs down in a substantially vertical direction therefrom; second mounting means for removably attaching said upper portion of said second beam to said lower portion of said first beam so that said second beam hangs substantially vertically from said first beam; means mounted on either side of each of said beams for holding a missile container, each of said means for holding a missile container including a gate with a gate bracket fixed to said beam and a gate lever pivotally mounted on said bracket for swinging open to receive a missile container and swinging closed to lock the missile container in position; and including: a pair of debris-control devices, one of said debris-control devices being disposed on either side of each of said beams at the rear end thereof; pivot means for pivotally supporting said debris-control devices on said beams to enable them to be swung out of alignment with a missile container held by said gate means; and means for locking said debris-control devices on said beams to fix their positions thereon, to enable loading by fully opening said gate means and by swinging said debris-control devices out of the way.

Claim 4

Apparatus for mounting on an aircraft bomb rack to launch missiles comprising: first and second center beams, each having upper and lower portions; first mounting means for removably attaching said upper portion of said first beam to an aircraft bomb rack so that said first beam hangs down in a substantially vertical direction therefrom; second mounting means for removably attaching said upper portion of said second beam to said lower portion of said first beam so that said second beam hangs substantially vertically from said first beam; means mounted on either side of each of said beams for holding a missile container, each of said means for holding a missile container including a gate with a gate bracket fixed to said beam and a gate lever pivotally mounted on said bracket for swinging open to receive a missile container and swinging closed to lock the missile container in position; and including: a pair of debris-control devices, one of said debris-control devices being disposed on either side of each of said beams at the rear end thereof; pivot means for pivotally supporting said debris-control devices on said beams to enable them to be swung out of alignment with a missile container held by said gate means; and means for locking said debris-control devices on said beams to fix their positions thereon, to enable loading by fully opening said gate means and by swinging said debris-control devices out of the way.

Claim 5

Apparatus for mounting on an aircraft bomb rack to launch missiles comprising: first and second center beams, each having upper and lower portions; first mounting means for removably attaching said upper portion of said first beam to an aircraft bomb rack so that said first beam hangs down therefrom; second mounting means for removably attaching said upper portion of said second beam to said lower portion of said first beam so that said second beam hangs from said first beam; and means mounted on either side of said beams for holding a missile container, said means for holding a missile container comprises: a gate that includes gate bracket means attached to said beam, and a gate lever pivotally mounted on said gaTe bracket means for pivoting open to receive a missile container and pivoting closed to retain the container in place; a front bulkhead disposed at the front of said beam; means for pivotally mounting said front bulkhead on said beam to enable said bulkhead to be pivoted out of the way during installation of a missile container; and means for locking said bulkhead in an upright position to capture a front end of said missile container.

Claim 6

Apparatus for mounting on an aircraft bomb rack to launch missiles comprising: first and second center beams, each having upper and lower portions; first mounting means for removably attaching said upper portion of said first beam to an aircraft bomb rack so that said first beam hangs down therefrom; second mounting means for removably attaching said upper portion of said second beam to said lower portion of said first beam so that said second beam hangs from said first beam; and means mounted on either side of said beams for holding a missile container, said means for holding a missile container comprises: a gate that includes gate bracket means attached to said beam, and a gate lever pivotally mounted on said gaTe bracket means for pivoting open to receive a missile container and pivoting closed to retain the container in place; a front bulkhead disposed at the front of said beam; means for pivotally mounting said front bulkhead on said beam to enable said bulkhead to be pivoted out of the way during installation of a missile container; and means for locking said bulkhead in an upright position to capture a front end of said missile container.

Claim 7

Missile-launching apparatus comprising: supporting beam means for attachment to an aircraft, said beam means having front, center, and rear portions; a gate mounted on said center portion of said beam means for opening to receive a missile container and closing to trap said container on said beam means; front bulkhead means mounted on said front portion of said beam for engaging a front portion of said missile container; debris control means pivotally mounted on said rear portion of said beam means for pivoting from a use position wherein it directs debris from said missile container in a rearwardly direction, and an installing position wherein it is pivoted out of line with said missile container to enable installation or removal of said container; and means for fixing the position of said debris control device at said use position.

Claim 8

Missile-launching apparatus comprising: supporting beam means for attachment to an aircraft, said beam means having front, center, and rear portions; a gate mounted on said center portion of said beam means for opening to receive a missile container and closing to trap said container on said beam means; front bulkhead means mounted on said front portion of said beam for engaging a front portion of said missile container; debris control means pivotally mounted on said rear portion of said beam means for pivoting from a use position wherein it directs debris from said missile container in a rearwardly direction, and an installing position wherein it is pivoted out of line with said missile container to enable installation or removal of said container; and means for fixing the position of said debris control device at said use position.

Claim 9

The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein: said supporting beam means has an upper portion which includes means for attachment to an aircraft bomb rack so that said beam means hangs down in a substantially vertical orientation; and wherein said gate, bulkhead means, and debris control means are mounted on one side of said beam means; and including a second gate, second front bulkhead means, and second debris control means mounted on a side of said beam means opposite said first side thereof.