Patent US4049222A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4049222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ejector rack for nuclear stores
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1976-07-20
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Granted: 1977-09-20
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Expires: 1996-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A 30 inch ejector rack, for use with an aircraft, to support and release and/or forcibly eject a nuclear store (or a large conventional store) from the aircraft, with both the ejector rack and the store carried internal of the aircraft. Unlike the prior art, this ejector rack structurally incorporates, among other novel fundamental features and/or improvements: mechanical "spools", rather than valves or orifices, to obtain pitch or tilt of the store during forced ejection; bypass grooves near the end (i.e., the bottom) of the piston stroke to provide snubber action, thus preventing damage to the store due to impact of the piston and the store during ejection; cartridge debris screens in the gas system of the ejection rack and, structural configuration which permits quick removal of piston components for rapid and easy cleaning, without necessitating the complete disassembly of the ejector rack, or even the removal of the rack from the aircraft to which it is attached.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul F. Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:18
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D1/00; B64D1/02; B64D1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
An ejector rack for releasably supporting, and for selectively ejecting forcibly, a nuclear store from an aircraft, wherein said store has a plurality of lugs from which said store is removably engaged with and to said ejector rack, comprising: a. means for releasably supporting said removably engaged nuclear store by said store lugs, wherein said support means includes: 1. two oppositely disposed hooks configurated and dimensioned to accept and to removably engage said nuclear store by said store lugs, with said hooks at a distance of 30 inches from each other; 2. suitable dimensioned and configurated linkage, disposed between, and interconnecting, said oppositely disposed hooks, whereby said responsive simultaneously to any movement of said interconnecting linkage; 3. means, connected to said interconnecting linkage, for moving said interconnecting linkage to effect simultaneous movement of said hooks downwardly to close said hooks and thereby to removably engage said nuclear store and said store lugs by said hooks, and also to effect simultaneous movement of said hooks upwardly to open said hooks and thereby to disengage and to release said store lugs and said nuclear store from said hooks, wherein said interconnecting linkage moving means includes a centrally located, pivotally movable main bellcrank;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
An ejector rack for releasably supporting, and for selectively ejecting forcibly, a nuclear store from an aircraft, wherein said store has a plurality of lugs from which said store is removably engaged with and to said ejector rack, comprising: a. means for releasably supporting said removably engaged nuclear store by said store lugs, wherein said support means includes: 1. two oppositely disposed hooks configurated and dimensioned to accept and to removably engage said nuclear store by said store lugs, with said hooks at a distance of 30 inches from each other; 2. suitable dimensioned and configurated linkage, disposed between, and interconnecting, said oppositely disposed hooks, whereby said responsive simultaneously to any movement of said interconnecting linkage; 3. means, connected to said interconnecting linkage, for moving said interconnecting linkage to effect simultaneous movement of said hooks downwardly to close said hooks and thereby to removably engage said nuclear store and said store lugs by said hooks, and also to effect simultaneous movement of said hooks upwardly to open said hooks and thereby to disengage and to release said store lugs and said nuclear store from said hooks, wherein said interconnecting linkage moving means includes a centrally located, pivotally movable main bellcrank;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
186 words
means, connected to said interconnecting linkage, for selectively preventing any movement of said interconnecting linkage, wherein said linkage movement prevention means includes: aa. a first safety lock assembly that further includes a first locking member pivotally rotatable about a first shaft, with said first locking member selectively movable to a lock position and to an unlock position; bb. a second safety lock assembly that further includes a second locking member pivotally rotatable about said first shaft independently of said first locking member of said first safety lock assembly, with said second locking member aligned with said first locking member, and with said second locking member selectively movable to the same lock position, and also to the same unlock position, as said first locking member, and also with said second safety lock assembly operatively associated with said first safety lock assembly; cc. and, a plurality of iinterlinked components common to both said first locking member of said first safety lock assembly and said second locking member of said second safety lock assembly, wherein said interlinked components common to both locking members and both lock safety assemblies include:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
means, connected to said interconnecting linkage, for selectively preventing any movement of said interconnecting linkage, wherein said linkage movement prevention means includes: aa. a first safety lock assembly that further includes a first locking member pivotally rotatable about a first shaft, with said first locking member selectively movable to a lock position and to an unlock position; bb. a second safety lock assembly that further includes a second locking member pivotally rotatable about said first shaft independently of said first locking member of said first safety lock assembly, with said second locking member aligned with said first locking member, and with said second locking member selectively movable to the same lock position, and also to the same unlock position, as said first locking member, and also with said second safety lock assembly operatively associated with said first safety lock assembly; cc. and, a plurality of iinterlinked components common to both said first locking member of said first safety lock assembly and said second locking member of said second safety lock assembly, wherein said interlinked components common to both locking members and both lock safety assemblies include:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
a pivotally movable release pawl component selectively abutable by either and both of the locking members, with said release pawl having a lock position and an unlocked position; 22. and a pivotally movable trigger component selectively abuttable by said release pawl component, with said trigger component linked to said main bellcrank of said interconnecting linkage movement means; whereby, when both said locking members of said safety lock assemblies are moved to said lock position, said release pawl component locks with said trigger component, and said trigger component locks with said common interlinked components, and said common interlinked components lock with said main bellcrank, thereby preventing any movement of said interconnecting linkage of said support means, and thereby preventing release and ejection of a nuclear store supported and engaged by said hooks of said support means;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
a pivotally movable release pawl component selectively abutable by either and both of the locking members, with said release pawl having a lock position and an unlocked position; 22. and a pivotally movable trigger component selectively abuttable by said release pawl component, with said trigger component linked to said main bellcrank of said interconnecting linkage movement means; whereby, when both said locking members of said safety lock assemblies are moved to said lock position, said release pawl component locks with said trigger component, and said trigger component locks with said common interlinked components, and said common interlinked components lock with said main bellcrank, thereby preventing any movement of said interconnecting linkage of said support means, and thereby preventing release and ejection of a nuclear store supported and engaged by said hooks of said support means;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
173 words
and, means connected to said interconnecting linkage moving means, for preventing acceleration forces from acting on said interconnecting linkage moving means and inadvertently causing said interconnecting linkage moving means to move said interconnecting linkage to open said hooks and thereby to disengage and to release said store lugs and said nuclear store from said hooks, wherein said inadvertent release prevention means includes a counterbalance system which further includes a plurality of counterweights having a total mass which is equal to a total mass of those components which can cause the inadvertent release of said supported and engaged nuclear store; b. means for selectively ejecting said nuclear store forcibly, with said ejection means operatively associated with said support means, wherein said ejection means includes: 1. a plurality of ejection piston cylinders connected to said attachment means, with each said cylinder of said plurality of ejection piston cylinders having an upper portion, a metering probe disposed within said cylinder and releasably connected to the upper portion of the cylinder, and an open-ended lower portion; 2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
173 words
and, means connected to said interconnecting linkage moving means, for preventing acceleration forces from acting on said interconnecting linkage moving means and inadvertently causing said interconnecting linkage moving means to move said interconnecting linkage to open said hooks and thereby to disengage and to release said store lugs and said nuclear store from said hooks, wherein said inadvertent release prevention means includes a counterbalance system which further includes a plurality of counterweights having a total mass which is equal to a total mass of those components which can cause the inadvertent release of said supported and engaged nuclear store; b. means for selectively ejecting said nuclear store forcibly, with said ejection means operatively associated with said support means, wherein said ejection means includes: 1. a plurality of ejection piston cylinders connected to said attachment means, with each said cylinder of said plurality of ejection piston cylinders having an upper portion, a metering probe disposed within said cylinder and releasably connected to the upper portion of the cylinder, and an open-ended lower portion; 2.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
a plurality of ejection pistons, with a piston for each of said plurality of ejection piston cylinders, and with each said piston of said plurality having a head with an opening therein, with said opening dimensioned and shaped to accept said metering probe of said cylinder, and with said metering probe removably fitted into said piston head opening; 3. a plurality of ejection piston cylinder lower end plugs, with an end plug for closing the open-ended lower portion of each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, and with each said end plug removably fitted into the open-ended lower portion of its respective cylinder; 4. and, a plurality of ejection piston cylinder springs, with a spring for each of said plurality of ejection piston cylinders, and with each spring disposed internal of its respective cylinder, and also with each said spring interposed between and captured by its respective metering probe and its respective end plug; c. and, means for attaching said support means and said ejection means to said aircraft, with said attachment means also functioning as a housing means for said support means, said ejection means, and said attachment
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
a plurality of ejection pistons, with a piston for each of said plurality of ejection piston cylinders, and with each said piston of said plurality having a head with an opening therein, with said opening dimensioned and shaped to accept said metering probe of said cylinder, and with said metering probe removably fitted into said piston head opening; 3. a plurality of ejection piston cylinder lower end plugs, with an end plug for closing the open-ended lower portion of each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, and with each said end plug removably fitted into the open-ended lower portion of its respective cylinder; 4. and, a plurality of ejection piston cylinder springs, with a spring for each of said plurality of ejection piston cylinders, and with each spring disposed internal of its respective cylinder, and also with each said spring interposed between and captured by its respective metering probe and its respective end plug; c. and, means for attaching said support means and said ejection means to said aircraft, with said attachment means also functioning as a housing means for said support means, said ejection means, and said attachment
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
means. 2. An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first shaft of said interconnecting linkage movement prevention means is affixed to said attachment means of said ejector rack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said support means includes a gravity release assembly for releasing a suspended nuclear store, without forcibly ejecting said store, while the aircraft is in flight, wherein said gravity release assembly includes a solenoid having a plurality of ends, and a link connected at one end to said solenoid, and connected at another end to said release pawl component; whereby, when said solenoid is energized, said solenoid pulls on said link which rotates said release pawl component to said unlock position, thereby resulting in the unlocking of said plurality of hooks, and the subsequent release of said suspended nuclear store.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
155 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said counterbalance system of said inadvertent release prevention means includes: a. a first counterweight rotatable about a second shaft and linked to said second locking member of said second safety lock assembly, whereby with acceleration of said ejector rack forwardly or backwardly, a sum of moments taken about said second shaft of said first counterweight is zero; b. a second counterweight, rotatable about a third shaft and linked to said gravity release system, whereby with acceleration of said gravity release upwardly, downwardly, fore and aft, a sum of moments taken about said third shaft is zero; c. and, a third counterweight, rotatable about a fourth shaft and linked to said release pawl component having a pivot shaft, whereby with acceleration of said ejector rack upwardly, downwardly, fore and aft, a sum of moments taken about said pivot shaft of said relese pawl component is zero.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said ejection piston cylinder of said ejection means has a plurality of top bypass grooves and a plurality of bottom bypass grooves, and further includes a plurality of intermediate bypass grooves disposed within, and cut in, said ejection piston cylinder between said top bypass grooves and said bottom bypass grooves of each said cylinder, thereby providing a deceleration cushion for each said ejection piston, whereby damage to said releasably supported nuclear store during forcible ejection by said ejection pistons, due to impact of said ejection pistons and said nuclear store, is prevented.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a spool component is disposed within an ejection piston cylinder of said ejection means, and is simultaneously disposed between said head of said ejection piston and said lower portion of said ejection piston cyinder, whereby travel of said ejection piston within said cylinder is limited, thereby producing a pitch of said releasably supported nuclear store when said store is forcibly ejected from said ejector rack without increase of pressure within said cylinder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ejection piston cylinder, said metering probe, said ejection piston, said ejection piston cylinder spring, and said ejection piston cylinder end plug are configurated, dimensioned and structured to form an integrated unit, thereby permitting removal of said cylinder, said probe, said piston, said spring, and said end plug as one unit from said ejector rack, whereby removal of said ejector rack is obviated for maintenance of said cylinder, said probe, said piston, said spring, and said end plug.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said second shaft, said third shaft, and said fourth shaft are affixed to said attachment means of said ejector rack.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-19 | 1981-03-21 | 1981-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-19 | 1985-03-21 | 1985-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-19 | 1989-03-21 | 1989-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |