MISSILE LAUNCHING CANISTER

• US 3,769,876 A
• Filed: 08/02/1972
• Issued: 11/06/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles B. Haas, Charles J. Reid, David E. Crockett, Howard R. Paul, James F. Miller, Richard E. Taylor
• Original Assignee: Charles B. Haas, Charles J. Reid, David E. Crockett, Howard R. Paul, James F. Miller, Richard E. Taylor
• Inventors: Haas, Charles B., Taylor, Richard E., Crockett, David E., Miller, James F., Paul, Howard R., Reid, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle, Samuel W.
• Application Number:
  US05/277,701
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 41F/304 89/1.8,1.806,1.807,1.815-1.819
• US Class Current: 89/1.8
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/042 the launching apparatus being used also as a transport container for the rocket F41F3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/052 Means for securing the rocket in the launching apparatus

Abstract

A canister for a foldable-wing missile serving a duel function of providing an environmental container and a launching tube. Upper and lower guide rails are provided in the canister for supporting the missile during storage and during launch, and a pair of horizontal guides are attached one each to the sides of the canister to serve as stiffeners and guides for folded missile wings. Frangible covers are provided for closing the front and aft of the canister and locking devices are provided on the canister to lock a missile in position until launch.

Claims

1. A canister for shipping and launching a folded-wing missile having forward and aft lugs thereon comprising, a body having first and second sides, a top and a bottom, a first support rail attached to said top and a second support rail attached to said bottom, first and second support plates attached to said first rail adaptable for engaging said forward lug and said aft lug, respectively, on said missile, a latch pivotally attached to said first support rail engageable with said forward lug and a shear pin adaptable for preventing pivoting of said latch until said shear pin is sheared by movement of said missile during launch, means attached to said first support rail for latching said aft lug comprising a cylinder block attached to said first support rail, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder block, first and second stops attached to said piston and engageable with said aft lug on said missile, and bellows longitudinally extendable by expanding gas for moving said piston whereby said stops are disengageable from said aft lug, a longitudinally extending guide rail attached to said first support rail for guiding a forward lug and an aft lug of a missile during launch, a longitudinally extending bracket attached to said second support rail, and a pad of plastic material slidably mounted in said bracket for supporting a missile during launch whereby said pad of plastic material travels with said missile during launch and is separated from said missile by aerodynamic drag after said missile and pad leave said canister.

2. A canister for shipping and launching a folded-wing missile as set forth in claim 1 wherein a curved guide is attached to the inner surface of each said side substantially the entire length thereof to stiffen said side and to provide a sliding surface for a folded-wing during launching of a missile.