US4050656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ejector rack
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1976-05-17
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Granted: 1977-09-27
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Expires: 1996-05-17
Abstract
Abstract An ejector rack that is attachable to an aircraft and is for supporting and selectively releasing and/or ejecting a store that is carried internal of the aircraft, i.e., in a bomb bay. The store can be released from the ejector rack, and from the aircraft, in either of two ways, namely: by pushing on a manually operated release handle; or, by forced ejection, the only way used during flight of the aircraft. Forced ejection is achieved by sending an electrical impulse to either or both of two cartridges in the breech of the ejector rack, igniting the cartridge(s). Gas is generated thereby; and, the resultant pressure that is built up in a gas system in the rack provides force that acts upon an unlocking piston, causing the piston to move out of its "locked" position. In turn, the moving piston provides a force on a slide, rotating a latch that allows the main linkage bellcrank to rotate and thus to open two hooks which are holding the store, thereby releasing the suspended store. Concurrently, gas pressure is manifolded to two sway brace ejection piston cylinders, and the ejection pistons therein are forcefully extended, causing positive and forcible ejection of the store by the ejection pistons. Unlike prior art devices, this ejector rack incorporates: a fully automatic sway brace system; a counterbalance assembly with a counterweight that prevents vibration loads from causing the inadvertent release of the store from the rack; and, a safety lock that automatically closes and also latches the hook linkage when the lock is moved to the locked position.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul F. Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:40
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D1/00; B64D1/02; B64D1/04; B64D1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An ejector rack for releasably supporting, and selectively ejecting forcibly, a 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 store by said store lugs, wherein said means for releasably supporting said store includes: 1. two oppositely disposed hooks configurated and dimensioned to accept and to removably engage said store by said store lugs, with said hooks at a preselected distance from each other; 2.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An ejector rack for releasably supporting, and selectively ejecting forcibly, a 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 store by said store lugs, wherein said means for releasably supporting said store includes: 1. two oppositely disposed hooks configurated and dimensioned to accept and to removably engage said store by said store lugs, with said hooks at a preselected distance from each other; 2.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
234 words
suitably dimensioned and configurated linkage disposed between, and interconnecting, said oppositely disposed hooks, whereby said hooks are responsive simultaneously to any movement of said interconnecting linkage; 3. means, connected to said interconnecting linkage, for moving the interconnecting linkage to effect simultaneous movement of said hooks upwardly to close said hooks and thereby to removably engage said store and said store lugs by said hooks, and also to effect simultaneous movement of said hooks downwardly to open said hooks and thereby to disengage and to release said store lugs and said store from said hooks, wherein said interconnecting linkage moving means includes a selectively useable manually operated release handle; 4. means, connected to said interconnecting linkage for selectively preventing any movement of said interconnecting linkage, wherein said interconnecting linkage movement prevention means includes a manually operated safety lock assembly; 5. 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 store from said hooks, wherein said inadvertent release prevention means includes a counterbalance assembly; b. means for selectively ejecting said store forcibly, with said ejection means operatively associated with said support means; c. and, means for attaching said support means and said ejection means to
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
234 words
suitably dimensioned and configurated linkage disposed between, and interconnecting, said oppositely disposed hooks, whereby said hooks are responsive simultaneously to any movement of said interconnecting linkage; 3. means, connected to said interconnecting linkage, for moving the interconnecting linkage to effect simultaneous movement of said hooks upwardly to close said hooks and thereby to removably engage said store and said store lugs by said hooks, and also to effect simultaneous movement of said hooks downwardly to open said hooks and thereby to disengage and to release said store lugs and said store from said hooks, wherein said interconnecting linkage moving means includes a selectively useable manually operated release handle; 4. means, connected to said interconnecting linkage for selectively preventing any movement of said interconnecting linkage, wherein said interconnecting linkage movement prevention means includes a manually operated safety lock assembly; 5. 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 store from said hooks, wherein said inadvertent release prevention means includes a counterbalance assembly; b. means for selectively ejecting said store forcibly, with said ejection means operatively associated with said support means; c. and, means for attaching said support means and said ejection means to
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
said aircraft. 2. An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said two hooks are at a distance of 14 inches from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting linkage moving means further includes: a. a main slide operatively associated with said manually operated release handle; b. an anvil slideably pinned to said main slide, pivoted at one end to said attaching means, and pivotally connected at another end to a link; c. and, a main bellcrank pivotally connected at an end to said link and also pivotally connected to said interconnecting linkage; whereby, when said selectively useable manually operated release handle is moved forwardly, said hooks move downwardly and open, and when said release handle is moved aft, said hooks move upwardly and close.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said safety lock assembly of said interconnecting linkage movement prevention means includes a movable safety lock lever configurated essentially in the form of a "V" having two intersecting legs and a vertex, with said safety lock lever pivotally attached to said attaching means, and with one of said legs of said safety lock lever in removable contact with said interconnecting linkage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said counterbalance assembly of said inadvertent release prevention means includes: a. a counterweight having two ends; b. a link having two ends, with one end pivotally connected to an end of said counterweight, and with another end pivotally connected to said attaching means; c. an element having a plurality of ends, with one end pivotally connected to another end of said counterweight, and with another end of said element pivotally connected to said interconnecting linkage moving means, and also with said element pivotally connected to a shaft affixed to said attaching means; whereby, with the application of acceleration forces to said ejector rack, a sum of moments of said counterbalance assembly and of said interconnecting linkage moving means taken about said shaft is zero.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ejector rack, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said element having a plurality of ends is a bellcrank.
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) | 1980-09-26 | 1981-03-28 | 1981-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-26 | 1985-03-28 | 1985-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-26 | 1989-03-28 | 1989-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |