US4008645A — Aircraft supported launchable weapon release asse…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 531 words

In combination with an aircraft having a longitudinal axis a pressurized fluid actuated device capable of sequentially occupying first and second positions, said device when initially in said first position supporting a weapon having a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs in which axially aligned openings are defined in a triaxially restrained first position relative to said aircraft, said device when it is power actuated moving to said second position and concurrently moving said weapon outwardly relative to said aircraft in a path normal to said longitudinal axis to a second position where said weapon is released at a desired velocity in a first direction normal to said longitudinal axis and said weapon when released having a velocity in a second direction parallel to said longitudinal axis that is the same as the velocity of said aircraft, with said pressurized fluid actuated device after moving to said second position automatically returning to said first position, and said pressurized fluid actuated device upon returning to said first position having all of the components thereof occupying the same spaced relationship relative to one another that they initially did when said device was initially in said first position, said device including: a. an elongate rigid rod; b. first means for slidably supporting said rod from said aircraft parallel to said longitudinal axis; c. two longitudinally spaced sets of first and second arms, each of which arms has first and second end portions; said second end portions of said second arms having a lower camming surface of predetermined contour; d. second means for pivotally supporting said first end portions of said first arms at fixed positions relative to said aircraft, pivotally connecting said second end portions to said first arms to said second arms intermediate said first and second end portions of the latter, pivotally connecting said first end portions of said second arms to longitudinally spaced positions on said rod, with said first and second arms in each of said sets of such relative lengths that said second end portions of said second arms move in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis when said rod is moved relative to said aircraft; e. rotatable supporting means pivotally connected to said second end portions of said second arms and adapted to engage and disengage said lugs and said lower camming surface of said second end portions of said second arms responsive to pivotal movement of said second arms, wherein said lower camming surface provides restraint against release of said lugs when said device is in said restrained first position and disengagement of said rotatable supporting means from said lower camming surface provides release of said lugs when said device is in said second position; f. releasable pressurized fluid means that cooperate with said rod to reciprocate the latter to move said device from said first to said second position where said weapon is released and then return said device to said first position; and g. spring loaded spray brace means that automatically contact said weapon to hold said weapon in a triaxially restrained position when said rotatable supporting means are caused to engage said openings in said lugs and said device is in said first position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 531 words

In combination with an aircraft having a longitudinal axis a pressurized fluid actuated device capable of sequentially occupying first and second positions, said device when initially in said first position supporting a weapon having a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs in which axially aligned openings are defined in a triaxially restrained first position relative to said aircraft, said device when it is power actuated moving to said second position and concurrently moving said weapon outwardly relative to said aircraft in a path normal to said longitudinal axis to a second position where said weapon is released at a desired velocity in a first direction normal to said longitudinal axis and said weapon when released having a velocity in a second direction parallel to said longitudinal axis that is the same as the velocity of said aircraft, with said pressurized fluid actuated device after moving to said second position automatically returning to said first position, and said pressurized fluid actuated device upon returning to said first position having all of the components thereof occupying the same spaced relationship relative to one another that they initially did when said device was initially in said first position, said device including: a. an elongate rigid rod; b. first means for slidably supporting said rod from said aircraft parallel to said longitudinal axis; c. two longitudinally spaced sets of first and second arms, each of which arms has first and second end portions; said second end portions of said second arms having a lower camming surface of predetermined contour; d. second means for pivotally supporting said first end portions of said first arms at fixed positions relative to said aircraft, pivotally connecting said second end portions to said first arms to said second arms intermediate said first and second end portions of the latter, pivotally connecting said first end portions of said second arms to longitudinally spaced positions on said rod, with said first and second arms in each of said sets of such relative lengths that said second end portions of said second arms move in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis when said rod is moved relative to said aircraft; e. rotatable supporting means pivotally connected to said second end portions of said second arms and adapted to engage and disengage said lugs and said lower camming surface of said second end portions of said second arms responsive to pivotal movement of said second arms, wherein said lower camming surface provides restraint against release of said lugs when said device is in said restrained first position and disengagement of said rotatable supporting means from said lower camming surface provides release of said lugs when said device is in said second position; f. releasable pressurized fluid means that cooperate with said rod to reciprocate the latter to move said device from said first to said second position where said weapon is released and then return said device to said first position; and g. spring loaded spray brace means that automatically contact said weapon to hold said weapon in a triaxially restrained position when said rotatable supporting means are caused to engage said openings in said lugs and said device is in said first position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 168 words

A device as defined in claim 1 in which said rotatable supporting means are: h. first and second laterally spaced jaws defined on each of said second end portions of said second arms; and i. a cylindrical retaining member rotatably supported between said first and second jaws, said retaining member having a longitudinal slot therein of such dimensions as to snugly engage the portion of said lug above said opening therein, with said second jaw engaging said opening in one of said lugs when the portion of said lug above said opening is in said slot, and said retainer and first and second jaws cooperating to support one of said lugs and said weapon of which it forms a part until said second end portion of one of said second arms has moved outwardly to said second position where the space between said first and second jaws and said slot are aligned and said lug is free to move therefrom and said weapon is released from said assembly.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 172 words

A device as defined in claim 1 in which said spring loaded sway brace means includes: g. a plurality of longitudinally and laterally spaced frames that define a plurality of vertically extending spaces, said frames having longitudinally aligned pairs of openings therein and said frames supported in fixed positions relative said aircraft; h. a plurality of preloading elongate members movably mounted in said frames, with each of said members having a transverse cam defining slot therein that is axially aligned with one of said pair of openings; i. a plurality of elongate rigid legs slidably mounted in said pairs of openings, said legs having tapered edges that slidably engage the cams defined by said slots; and j. spring means that move said legs relative to said frames and cam defining slots after said second arms have pivoted to said first position, with said movement forcing said preloading members into pressure contact with the exterior surface of said weapon to hold the latter in triaxial restrain during the transportation thereof by said aircraft.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 107 words

A device as defined in claim 1 in which said sway brace means includes: i. at least one sway brace supported from said aircraft and adjacently disposed to said weapon when said lugs of the latter are engaged by said rotatable supporting means; j. first means on said sway brace that may be moved into desired preloading contact with said weapon; k. second spring loaded means for forcing said first means into desired preloading contact with said weapon; and l. third means responsive to upward pivotal movement of said second arms to actuate said second means when said second move to said first position on said aircraft.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

A device as defined in claim 4 in which said first means are a plurality of elongate spaced members that may be moved relative said sway brace.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 48 words

A device as defined in claim 4 in which said first means are a plurality of spaced wings pivotally supported from said sway brace that may be pivoted into said preloading contact with the exterior surface of said weapon irrespective of the radius of curvature of the latter.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 164 words

A device as defined in claim 1 in which said rotatable supporting means are: h. two spring loaded hooks pivotally supported from said second end portions of said second arms, which hooks when said second arms are in said first position and while said second arms are pivoting towards said second position engage said openings in said lugs to support said weapon from said second end portions of said second arms; and i. two cam surfaces defined on said second end portions of said second arms against which said hooks bear when said second arms are in said first position and as they move towards said second position, with said cam surfaces maintaining said hooks in engagement with said openings in said lugs until said second end portions of said second arms reach said second position whereupon said hooks are disengaged from said cam surfaces and the weight of said weapon pivots said hooks in a direction whereby said weapon separates from said hooks.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 119 words

A device as defined in claim 7 in which said spring loaded sway brace means are: j. two elongate sway braces pivotally supported from said second end portions of said second arms in a first position and disposed in a plane parallel to said longitudinal axis, said sway braces having openings therein through which said lugs extend upwardly to be engaged by said hooks; and k. spring means that pivot said sway braces to extend longitudinally along said second arms in a second position after said second end portions of said second arms have moved to said second position, and said sway braces remaining in said second position as said second arms pivot and return to said first position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

A device as defined in claim 1 in which said spring loaded spray brace means are disposed in a fixed position on said aircraft.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 498 words

In combination with an aircraft having a longitudinal axis a pressurized fluid actuated device capable of sequentially occupying first and second positions, said device when initially in said first position supporting a weapon having a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs in which axially aligned openings are defined in a triaxially restrained first position relative to said aircraft, said device when it is power actuated moving to said second position and concurrently moving said weapon outwardly relative to said aircraft in a path normal to said longitudinal axis to a second position where said weapon is released at a desired velocity in a first direction normal to said longitudinal axis and said weapon when released having a velocity in a second direction parallel to said longitudinal axis that is the same as the velocity of said aircraft, with said pressurized fluid actuated device after moving to said second position automatically returning to said first position, and said power actuated device upon returning to said first position having all of the components thereof occupying the same spaced relationship relative to one another that they initially did when said device was initially in said first position, said device including: a. an elongate rigid rod that includes first and second longitudinally aligned first and second portions, said first portion of greater transverse area than said first portion; b. first means for slidably supporting said rod from said aircraft; c. two longitudinally spaced sets of first and second arms, each of which arms has first and second end portions; d. second means for pivotally supporting said first end portions of said first arms at fixed positions relative said aircraft, pivotally connecting said second end portions of said first arms to said second arms intermediate said first and second end portions of the latter, pivotally connecting said first end portions of said second arms to longitudinally spaced positions on said rod, with said first and second arms in each of said sets of such relative lengths that said second end portions of said second arms move in a path substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said rod when said rod is moved relative to said aircraft; e. movable supporting means on said second end portion of said second arms that occupy first positions to engage said openings in said lugs to support said weapon in a transporting position from said aircraft and during the time said weapon is being moved outwardly relative to said aircraft to said desired position, said supporting means responsive to the pivotal end of said second arms and automatically moving to second positions out of engagement with said openings when said desired position is reached to release said weapon at said predetermined velocity; f. releasable pressurized fluid means that cooperate with said rod to reciprocate the latter to move said device from said first to said second position where said weapon is released and then return said device to said first position, and said releasable pressurized fluid means including:

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 498 words

In combination with an aircraft having a longitudinal axis a pressurized fluid actuated device capable of sequentially occupying first and second positions, said device when initially in said first position supporting a weapon having a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs in which axially aligned openings are defined in a triaxially restrained first position relative to said aircraft, said device when it is power actuated moving to said second position and concurrently moving said weapon outwardly relative to said aircraft in a path normal to said longitudinal axis to a second position where said weapon is released at a desired velocity in a first direction normal to said longitudinal axis and said weapon when released having a velocity in a second direction parallel to said longitudinal axis that is the same as the velocity of said aircraft, with said pressurized fluid actuated device after moving to said second position automatically returning to said first position, and said power actuated device upon returning to said first position having all of the components thereof occupying the same spaced relationship relative to one another that they initially did when said device was initially in said first position, said device including: a. an elongate rigid rod that includes first and second longitudinally aligned first and second portions, said first portion of greater transverse area than said first portion; b. first means for slidably supporting said rod from said aircraft; c. two longitudinally spaced sets of first and second arms, each of which arms has first and second end portions; d. second means for pivotally supporting said first end portions of said first arms at fixed positions relative said aircraft, pivotally connecting said second end portions of said first arms to said second arms intermediate said first and second end portions of the latter, pivotally connecting said first end portions of said second arms to longitudinally spaced positions on said rod, with said first and second arms in each of said sets of such relative lengths that said second end portions of said second arms move in a path substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said rod when said rod is moved relative to said aircraft; e. movable supporting means on said second end portion of said second arms that occupy first positions to engage said openings in said lugs to support said weapon in a transporting position from said aircraft and during the time said weapon is being moved outwardly relative to said aircraft to said desired position, said supporting means responsive to the pivotal end of said second arms and automatically moving to second positions out of engagement with said openings when said desired position is reached to release said weapon at said predetermined velocity; f. releasable pressurized fluid means that cooperate with said rod to reciprocate the latter to move said device from said first to said second position where said weapon is released and then return said device to said first position, and said releasable pressurized fluid means including:

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 167 words

a piston mounted on said rod at the junction of said first and second portions, said piston having first and second oppositely disposed faces, said second face of greater area than said first face; 2. a cylinder having first and second ends, said cylinder supported in a fixed position relative to said aircraft, said piston slidably and sealingly movable in said cylinder, said piston subdividing the interior of said cylinder into said first and second confined spaces of variable volume; 3. a source of pressurized fluid; 4. first passage means connecting said source to said first compartment; 5. first manually operated means for discharging a quantity of said pressurized fluid from said source through said first passage means to said first compartment to exert a force on said first face of said piston that moves said piston towards said second end of said cylinder, with said first and second sets of legs pivoting outwardly relative to said aircraft to move said weapon towards said second position; and

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 167 words

a piston mounted on said rod at the junction of said first and second portions, said piston having first and second oppositely disposed faces, said second face of greater area than said first face; 2. a cylinder having first and second ends, said cylinder supported in a fixed position relative to said aircraft, said piston slidably and sealingly movable in said cylinder, said piston subdividing the interior of said cylinder into said first and second confined spaces of variable volume; 3. a source of pressurized fluid; 4. first passage means connecting said source to said first compartment; 5. first manually operated means for discharging a quantity of said pressurized fluid from said source through said first passage means to said first compartment to exert a force on said first face of said piston that moves said piston towards said second end of said cylinder, with said first and second sets of legs pivoting outwardly relative to said aircraft to move said weapon towards said second position; and

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 221 words

a slide valve on said piston that in a first position obstructs communication between said first and second compartments, said slide valve after said first and second sets of legs and said weapon having reached said second position striking said second end of said cylinder and assuming a second position where communication is established between said first and second compartments, with pressurized fluid from said first compartment flowing through said slide valve when the latter is in said second position into said second compartment to move said piston and rod towards said first end due to the differential in areas of said first and second faces, said first and second sets of lets as said piston and rod move towards said first end of said cylinder pivoting from said second position towards said first position, and said first and second sets of legs being fully disposed in said first position when said piston and rod have moved towards said first end to the extent that said slide valve contacts said first end and moves to said first position; and g. spring loaded spray brace means that automatically contact said weapon to hold said weapon in a triaxially restrained position when said rotatable supporting means are caused to engage said openings in said lugs and said device is in said first position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 221 words

a slide valve on said piston that in a first position obstructs communication between said first and second compartments, said slide valve after said first and second sets of legs and said weapon having reached said second position striking said second end of said cylinder and assuming a second position where communication is established between said first and second compartments, with pressurized fluid from said first compartment flowing through said slide valve when the latter is in said second position into said second compartment to move said piston and rod towards said first end due to the differential in areas of said first and second faces, said first and second sets of lets as said piston and rod move towards said first end of said cylinder pivoting from said second position towards said first position, and said first and second sets of legs being fully disposed in said first position when said piston and rod have moved towards said first end to the extent that said slide valve contacts said first end and moves to said first position; and g. spring loaded spray brace means that automatically contact said weapon to hold said weapon in a triaxially restrained position when said rotatable supporting means are caused to engage said openings in said lugs and said device is in said first position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 210 words

A device as defined in claim 10 which in addition includes: n. third means that is spring loaded and is capable of occupying either a first or a second position, said third means when in said first position engaging said rod to prevent movement thereof relative to said aircraft and maintain said first and second sets of arms and said weapon in said first position, said third means being responsive to said pressurized fluid to move from said first to said second position, and from said second to said first position; o. second passage means in communication with said first passage means to discharge pressurized fluid to said third means to move the latter from said first to said second position where said third means is not in engagement with said rod, and said rod being free to move relative to said aircraft to pivot said first and second sets of arms and said weapon from said first to said second position; and p. third passage means in communication with said second compartment and said third means for discharging pressurized fluid to said third means to allow said third means to return to said first position to engage said rod as said piston approaches said first end of said cylinder.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-02-22	1980-08-23	1981-02-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-02-22	1984-08-23	1985-02-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-02-22	1988-08-23	1989-02-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Aircraft supported launchable weapon release assembly

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