Aircraft controlled launch container for multiple stores

• US 5,155,288 A
• Filed: 08/20/1991
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Travor, Bruce W., McEachern, James F., Marshall, Frank P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/761,197
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 89/1.51, 89/1.56, 102/260, 102/261
• US Class Current: 89/1.51
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/003 adapted for being launched from an aircraft or water vehicle;, e.g. with brakes deployed in the water
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2209/10 pyrotechnic means

Abstract

The disclosure shows a multi-store, electrically-operated sonobuoy launcherhat is connected to the sonobuoy launcher power system of the aircraft. The sonobuoys are sequentially stacked inside the launcher and current switching and blocking means regulate and direct pulses from a switch in the aircraft to ensure individual, single sonobuoy launches.

Claims

1. An improved launch container for delivering sonobuoys over prespecified territory wherein said launch container is connected to receive power from a transporting craft and has a plurality of chambers, each containing a sonobuoy;

a plurality of gas generation means, one each within one of said plurality of chambers;

electrical circuitry leading from said transporting craft to each of said chambers and firing means connected to said circuitry and said gas generation means, the improvement comprising;

connecting a silicon controlled rectifier to said circuitry to direct power from the transporting craft to the next sequential sonobuoy to be launched; and

connecting a current blocking means to said circuitry to prevent the launching of more than one sonobuoy per pulse of power from the transporting craft.

2. An improved launch container for delivering sonobuoys over prespecified territory wherein said launch container is connected to receive power from a transporting craft and has a plurality of chambers, each containing a sonobuoy;

a plurality of gas generation means, one each within one of said plurality of chambers;

electrical circuitry leading from a transporting craft to each of said chambers and firing means connected to said circuitry and said gas generation means, the improvement comprising;

connecting a silicon controlled rectifier to said circuitry to direct power from the transporting craft to the next sequential sonobuoy to be launched; and

connecting a capacitor to said circuitry to block current and to prevent the launching of more than one sonobuoy per pulse of power from the transporting craft.

3. An improved launch container for delivering sonobuoys over prespecified territory wherein said launch container is connected to receive power from a transporting craft and has a plurality of chambers, each containing a sonobuoy;

a plurality of gas generation means, one each within one of said plurality of chambers;

electrical circuitry leading from a transporting craft to each of said chambers and firing means connected to said circuitry and said gas generation means, the improvement comprising;

connecting a current switching means to said circuitry to direct power from the transporting craft to the next sequential sonobuoy to be launched;

connecting a current blocking means to said circuitry to prevent the launching of more than one sonobuoy per pulse of power from the transporting craft; and

including a burn resistor connected to said gas generating means.

4. An improved launch container for delivering sonobuoys over prespecified territory wherein said launch container is connected to receive power from a transporting craft and has a plurality of chambers, each containing a sonobuoy;

a plurality of gas generation means, one each within one of said plurality of chambers;

electrical circuitry leading from a transporting craft to each of said chambers and firing means connected to said circuitry and said gas generation means, the improvement comprising;

connecting a current switching means to said circuitry to direct power from the transporting craft to the next sequential sonobuoy to be launched;

connecting a current blocking means to said circuitry to prevent the launching of more than one sonobuoy per pulse of power from the transporting craft; and

wherein said gas generation means includes a disc holding a source of compressed gas and a spring-biased striker arm pivotable thereon to release the gas with gas communicating holes therethrough.