Single-point launching device

May 4, 1965 j. _R. clark 3,181,908

SINGLE-POINT LAUNCHING DEVICE

Filed Sept. 28, 1961

Sheets-Sheet 1

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j. r. clark 3,181,908

SINGLE-POINT LAUNCHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

May 4, 1965

Filed Sept. 28, 1961

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United States Patent Office

3,181,908

Patented May 4, 1965

3,181,908

SINGLE-POINT LAUNCHING DEVICE

John R. Clark, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., assignor to Northrop Corporation, Beverly Hills, Calif., a corporation of California

Filed Sept. 28,1961, Ser. No. 141,410

Claims. (CI. 294—83)

This invention relates to a launching device for a releasable store, and more particularly, to a launching device for an airborne external store, having a single point of attachment to the store, this attachment being releasable to drop or forcibly eject the store.

Conventional launchers for airborne bodies such as external tanks, bombs, rockets, cargo packs and the like use two attaching points, in the form of hooks or releasable shackles for example. Since it is desired to drop the store straight away from the carrying vehicle, both release means must operate simultaneously to prevent malfunction. However, this is a troublesome factor in actual practice, and the stores are still subject to becoming cocked at an angle due to sticking of a release element or adverse aerodynamic forces, thus causing damage, improper release, or no release at all.

A single-point attachment would eliminate the problem of obtaining simultaneous release at two or more points. However, additional bracing means must be employed, and it has been found that relative adjustment of the bracing means and the single attachment device when installing the store causes binding and misalignment between the store and the attachment device. Therefore, no successful single-point launching device is known.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a single-point launching device which will not be subject to factors ordinarily producing internal binding, misalignment stresses and the like, and which will insure a clean, positive, reliable release.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a single-point launching device which is more economical and simpler than conventional launchers, and which permits faster loading of the store to be carried.

Briefly, my invention comprises a combination of fore and aft sway braces pressing down on a droppable store, and a single central attaching point where releasable holding means fits into a self-aligning spherical bearing retainer assembly in the store.

In the accompanying drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an airborne missile attached to a launcher by means of the present invention, the view being cut away to show the attachment location.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail view of a swaybolt as used in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the missile and launcher mechanism viewed as indicated by the line 3—3 in FIGURE 1, showing the launcher device in attached position.

FIGURE 4 is a similar cross sectional view, showing the device in released position.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 for a detailed description of specific apparatus, a missile 1, for example, is suspended from a launcher 2 adapted to be attached at its upper portion to a pylon or¹ to the lower side of an airplane wing, for example. The launcher carries four sway brace assemblies 4 each consisting of a swaybolt 5 and a lock nut 6, as further shown in FIGURE 2. The swaybolts are screwed into the lower side of a threaded fitting 8 and 9, respectively, on the launcher 2, and are each provided with a special flat bearing head 10 and a recessed wrench socket 11 in the upper end of the bolt. The swaybolts 5 merely press against the outer skin 12 of the missile 1.

Near the center of the launcher 2, and substantially at the center of gravity of the missile 1, a launching mechanism 14 installed in the launcher 2 cooperates with a socket assembly 15 in the missile 1, to releasably secure the missile to the bottom of the launcher. Electrical or other plug connection (not shown) may be made through the launcher 2 to the missile 1, for example, but the missile is held only at the one central location.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show the construction and operation of the attachment and release features. In the launcher mechanism 14, which does not form a part of this invention per se, a sear member 16 has a central shank 17 with an enlarged circular head 19 thereon. A series of collet-like spring fingers 20 bear inwardly on the sear 16. The outer sides of the fingers 20 have a protruding flange surface 21 to take the supporting load for the missile 1 as will be described later.

An auxiliary cylinder 22 surrounds the spring fingers 20, and a hollow piston 24 surrounds the cylinder. In this particular launching mechanism, a retaining nut 25 screws into the end of an outer fitting 26, and a second cylinder 27 fits inside an upper rim 29 of the nut 25.

In the missile 1, the socket assembly 15 comprises a generally cylindrical socket opening 30 with a spherical recess 31 in its upper end. A spherical bearing 32 has a spherical outer surface which fits the recess ,31. A large central opening 34 in bearing 32 carries an inwardly extending lip 35 at the upper end to engage the spring fingers 20 previously described. A snap ring 36 positions the bearing 32 in its recess 31 while permitting ample movement of the bearing relative to the recess.

A spring-loaded plug 37 is slidably mounted in the lower portion of socket opening 30 and is urged upwardly by a relatively light compression spring 39. An outer shoulder 40 on plug 37 is designed to engage the bearing lip 35 in position to place the plug 37 in a flush position when the missile is separated from the launcher, thus protecting the socket assembly against entrance of foreign matter when not attached to the launcher.

The operation of the present invention will now be described. In the attached position shown in FIGURE 3, the sear 16 is retracted relative to the spring fingers 20 so that the latter are forced outwardly under the bearing lip 35. The piston 24 is also in its retracted position in the launching mechanism 14. Swaybolts 5 are tightened against the missile 1 (or other store) to a predetermined torque to hold the missile rigidly secured. During this operation, it will be noted that the spherical bearing 32 will move in any direction of pitch and roll of the missile, within its limits of operation, to produce only tension loads on the spring fingers 20. No binding on the bearing, fingers, or socket parts and no bending of the sear can exist which would otherwise occur due to rocking or twisting of the missile as the swaybolt forces are built up. The missile connection is now complete, ready for transport and/or release.

When the missile or other store is to be released, the launching mechanism is operated, which first extends the sear 16 to the position shown in FIGURE 4. The spring fingers 20 automatically press inwardly to follow the sear shank 17, thus disconnecting the missile. Beveled surfaces on the bearing lip 35 and spring finger flanges 21 insure separation of these parts. The missile 1 is now free to drop away, and may be actually ejected in this instance by sequential action of piston 24, which is forced downwardly upon the surrounding top area of the socket assembly, and goes through an extension stroke away from the launcher 2, to forcibly push the missile away. Since the details of the release mechanism control are not important to the present invention, they have not been included herein. All that is necessary to this invention is a suitable releasable attachment means to the spherical

3,181,908 bearing 32, such as actuation of the sear 16 in the example described.

Thus it is seen that a simple foolproof mechanical single-point attachment system has been provided. The store to be carried and subsequently released is easily and 5 quickly snapped over the sear to attach it, and a reliable free release is insured by the universally movable spherical bearing retaining means which eliminates friction and sticking normally present when more than one attachment point is involved. j q

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed com- 15 prise the preferred form of putting the invention, into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.