Deployment apparatus for stores from vehicles
First Claim
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1. A deployment apparatus for stores from a vehicle during movement comprising:
- at least one carrier pallet formed by a plurality of parallel cradles each adapted to receive and secure one of said stores;
releasable lock elements on each said pallet complemental to, for coaction with, lock elements on adjacent stationary structure of the vehicle operable to immovably secure said at least one pallet on said vehicle against relative movement;
releasable connector elements carried by each said pallet to permit the interconnection of each said pallet with another similar pallet in vertical alignment;
a drive mechanism engageable between each said pallet and cradle and operative to move said cradle linearly relative to said pallet;
releasable coupling elements carried by each said drive mechanism whereby each said pallet is connectable to another said pallet with the cradles thereof disposed in fore and aft alignment;
a releasable mechanism operative to permit movement of each said store relative to its cradle; and
an actuator for the operation of said release mechanism at a predetermined location of said cradle in its movement by said drive mechanism.
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Abstract
This apparatus proposes to sequentially deploy stores, such as mines or missiles, from a moving vehicle, such as an airplane or ship, at a predetermined rate and velocity. It includes modular palletized stowage of these stores, limited in size and shape only by vehicle weight and/or space considerations, devices to lock the pallets together and to the vehicle, a cradle to support and facilitate propulsion of the stores prior to launch, a drive mechanism to propel the stores through the pallets, and devices to properly release each store from the vehicle and from its cradle.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A deployment apparatus for stores from a vehicle during movement comprising:
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at least one carrier pallet formed by a plurality of parallel cradles each adapted to receive and secure one of said stores; releasable lock elements on each said pallet complemental to, for coaction with, lock elements on adjacent stationary structure of the vehicle operable to immovably secure said at least one pallet on said vehicle against relative movement; releasable connector elements carried by each said pallet to permit the interconnection of each said pallet with another similar pallet in vertical alignment; a drive mechanism engageable between each said pallet and cradle and operative to move said cradle linearly relative to said pallet; releasable coupling elements carried by each said drive mechanism whereby each said pallet is connectable to another said pallet with the cradles thereof disposed in fore and aft alignment; a releasable mechanism operative to permit movement of each said store relative to its cradle; and an actuator for the operation of said release mechanism at a predetermined location of said cradle in its movement by said drive mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification