Multiple tube pneumatic launcher

• US 7,089,843 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AAI Corporation (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: AAI Corporation (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Fox, Steven J., Mettee, Justin A., Bauernschub, Richard A., Feild, David M., Miller, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/503,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20060086241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 89/18.06, 89/18.12, 89/18.15, 89/18.16
• US Class Current: 89/1.806
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 23/42 for rocket throwers
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/00 Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/62 with pressure supplied by a gas cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/042 the launching apparatus being used also as a transport container for the rocket F41F3/065 takes precedence

Abstract

A launcher includes a plurality of launch tubes for stowing and launching a plurality of air vehicles. A central air manifold is operatively connected to an air storage tank; a first launch tube air manifold is operatively connected to a first group of the launch tubes and operatively connected to the central air manifold. The first launch tube air manifold has a separate port corresponding to each launch tube of the first group of launch tubes. A release valve mechanism is removably mounted in one of the ports of the first launch tube air manifold, the release valve mechanism controlling the passage of launch air between the first launch tube air manifold and the launch tube corresponding to the port in which the release valve mechanism is mounted. A plug is removably mounted in each of the ports not occupied by the release valve mechanism.

Claims

1. A launcher for launching a plurality of air vehicles, the launcher comprising:

a plurality of launch tubes, each launch tube for containing one of the plurality of air vehicles in a stowed condition and for launching that air vehicle;

an air storage tank for storing launch air under pressure;

a central air manifold operatively connected to the air storage tank;

a first launch tube air manifold operatively connected to a first group of the launch tubes and operatively connected to the central air manifold, the first launch tube air manifold having a separate port corresponding to each launch tube of the first group of launch tubes;

a release valve mechanism removably mounted in one of the ports of the first launch tube air manifold, the release valve mechanism controlling the passage of launch air between the first launch tube air manifold and the launch tube corresponding to the port in which the release valve mechanism is mounted; and

a plurality of plugs, each of the plugs being removably mounted in one of the ports not occupied by the release valve mechanism,

wherein the launch tubes corresponding to the ports in which the plugs are mounted are incapable of launching the air vehicles.

2. The launcher of claim 1, wherein each of the launch tubes has a pusher disk associated therewith, the pusher disk being for pushing the air vehicle out of the launch tube during launch.

3. The launcher of claim 2, wherein the pusher disk is engaged by the release valve mechanism when the release valve mechanism is mounted in the port corresponding to the launch tube with which the pusher disk is associated.

4. The launcher of claim 3, wherein the pusher disk and the release valve mechanism are engaged by a threaded connection.

5. The launcher of claim 4, wherein the pusher disk creates a seal with an inner wall of the launch tube.

6. The launcher of claim 5, wherein the pusher disk does not rotate relative to the launch tube.

7. The launcher of claim 5, wherein the release valve mechanism further comprises a threaded shaft, and

the release valve mechanism pushes the pusher disk along an axial direction of the launch tube by rotating the threaded shaft within the threaded connection between the release valve mechanism and the pusher disk.

8. The launcher of claim 7, wherein the release valve mechanism is capable of pushing the pusher disk from a manifold sealing position to a launch air release position, the launch air release position being a position of the pusher disk that allows launch air to move from the first launch tube air manifold to the launch tube, and at which the pusher disk is still engaged by the release valve mechanism.

9. The launcher of claim 8, wherein the release valve mechanism is capable of pushing the pusher disk to a pusher disk release position at which the pusher disk is no longer engaged by the release valve mechanism and at which the pusher disk is free to travel through the launch tube under force created by the pressure of the launch air.

10. The launcher of claim 9, wherein the traveling of the pusher disk through the launch tube is for pushing the air vehicle from the launch tube so as to launch the air vehicle.

11. The launcher of claim 1, wherein the first launch tube manifold and the first group of the launch tubes is capable of separating as a unit from the central air manifold.

12. The launcher of claim 11, further comprising a disconnectable coupling between the first launch tube manifold and the central air manifold.

13. The launcher of claim 1, further comprising a second launch tube air manifold operatively connected to a second group of the launch tubes and operatively connected to the central air manifold, the second launch tube air manifold having a separate port corresponding to each launch tube of the second group of launch tubes.

14. The launcher of claim 13, wherein the first launch tube manifold and the first group of the launch tubes is capable of separating as a unit from the central air manifold.

15. The launcher of claim 14, wherein the first launch tube manifold and the first group of the launch tubes separates as a unit from the central air manifold for facilitating loading of the air vehicles into the launch tubes.

16. The launcher of claim 15, wherein the second launch tube manifold and the second group of the launch tubes is capable of separating as a unit from the central air manifold.

17. The launcher of claim 16, wherein the second launch tube manifold and the second group of the launch tubes separates as a unit from the central air manifold for facilitating loading of the air vehicles into the launch tubes.

18. The launcher of claim 17, further comprising a motorized mobile chassis to which the plurality of launch tubes, the air storage tank, the central air manifold, the first launch tube air manifold, and the second launch tube air manifold are mounted.

19. The launcher of claim 1, further comprising a motorized mobile chassis to which the plurality of launch tubes, the air storage tank, the central air manifold, and the first launch tube air manifold are mounted.