Constrained store release system

• US 5,904,323 A
• Filed: 04/28/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Foster, John K., Jakubowski, Thaddeus Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, JOHNNY DAN
• Application Number:
  US08/846,181
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 294/82.24, 294/82.26, 294/82.29, 294/88, 89/1.53, 89/1.54, 89/1.57-1.59, 244/137.4
• US Class Current: 244/137.4
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/06 Bomb releasing; Bomb doors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 7/08 Arrangements of rocket launchers or releasing meansrocket launchers per se, e.g. rocket pods, F41F3/06

Abstract

A store release system which includes a support member, such as a swaybrace, a store-nesting facility secured to the support member and articulated to facilitate orientation of the store-nesting facility to different positions in order to enable stores of different sizes to be nested thereagainst, and an ejection mechanism, such as a pneumatically or hydraulically-driven piston, for driving the support member from a retracted position to an extended position along a major axis (e.g., the yaw axis), in order to thereby release a store (e.g., a bomb or missile). The ejection mechanism is configured to drive the support member from the retracted position to the extended position with a vertical ejection force having a sufficient magnitude to counteract a laterally-directed force which would be required to unnest the store, to thereby constrain motion of the store in the yaw axis during an ejection cycle. In an exemplary embodiment, the store-nesting facility includes two or more spaced-apart footpads swivel-mounted to the underside of the support member.

Claims

1. A store release system for aircraft, comprising:

a swaybrace having an underside and opposite lateral ends;

at least two-spaced apart footpads swivel-mounted to the underside of the swaybrace at respective locations adjacent opposite ends of the swaybrace, whereby the orientation of the footpads being adjustable via swiveling so as to enable stores of different sizes to be nested against the footpads;

a piston ejection mechanism supported for reciprocal movement within a housing that is fastenable to an aircraft, wherein the piston ejection mechanism is attached to the swaybrace and the piston ejection mechanism is configured for and capable of driving the swaybrace from a retracted stowing position to an extended release position along a yaw axis in order to release a store at the extended release position with a vertical ejection force which is sufficient to constrain motion of the store in the yaw axis during an ejection cycle.

2. The store release system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the piston ejection mechanism comprises:

an outer piston mounted for telescoping movement with respect to the housing; and

an inner piston having a smaller diameter than the outer piston and mounted for telescoping movement with respect to the outer piston, wherein the inner piston is attached to the sway brace, and wherein the inner and outer telescoping pistons are extendible in the direction of the extended release position during an ejection cycle with the inner telescoping piston extendible the furthest from the housing.

3. The store release system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the piston ejection mechanism comprises:

an outer piston mounted for telescoping movement with respect to the housing;

an inner piston having a smaller diameter than the outer piston and mounted for telescoping movement with respect to the outer piston, wherein the inner piston is attached to the sway brace, and wherein the inner and outer telescoping pistons are extendible in the direction of the extended release position during an ejection cycle with the inner telescoping piston extendible the furthest from the housing; and

a return spring is disposed between an upper surface of the housing and a lower end of the inner piston.

4. A store release system for aircraft, comprising:

a swaybrace having an underside and opposite lateral ends;

at least two-spaced apart footpads swivel-mounted to the underside of the swaybrace at respective locations adjacent opposite ends of the swaybrace, whereby the orientation of the footpads being adjustable via swiveling so as to enable stores of different sizes to be nested against the footpads; and

a piston ejection mechanism supported for reciprocal movement within a housing that is fastenable to an aircraft, wherein the piston ejection mechanism is attached to the swaybrace and the piston ejection mechanism is configured for and capable of driving the swaybrace from a retracted stowing position to an extended release position along a yaw axis in order to release a store at the extended release position with a vertical ejection force sufficient to constrain motion of the store in the yaw axis during an ejection cycle, and wherein the footpads are vertically movable along the yaw axis by retractable extension means consisting of the piston ejection mechanism acting upon the swaybrace.

5. The store release system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the piston ejection mechanism comprises:

an outer piston mounted for telescoping movement with respect to the housing; and

an inner piston having a smaller diameter than the outer piston and mounted for telescoping movement with respect to the outer piston, wherein the inner piston is attached to the sway brace, and wherein the inner and outer telescoping pistons are extendible in the direction of the extended release position during an ejection cycle with the inner telescoping piston extendible the furthest from the housing.

6. The store release system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the piston ejection mechanism comprises:

an outer piston mounted for telescoping movement with respect to the housing;

an inner piston having a smaller diameter than the outer piston and mounted for telescoping movement with respect to the outer piston, wherein the inner piston is attached to the sway brace, and wherein the inner and outer telescoping pistons are extendible in the direction of the extended release position during an ejection cycle with the inner telescoping piston extendible the furthest from the housing; and

a return spring is disposed between an upper surface of the housing and a lower end of the inner piston.