Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft propulsion – Launching
Patent
1978-12-21
1980-12-09
Frankfort, Charles E.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft propulsion
Launching
46 81, B64F 106
Patent
active
042380936
ABSTRACT:
A launching system for lightweight aircraft includes a shuttle adapted to rry the aircraft and slidingly mounted to a launching frame along a track that guides launch direction. A piston rod is concentrically mounted within a launch tube parallel to the track and is adapted to receive pneumatic pressure at the inward end thereof for driving the rod longitudinally outward of the tube during the launch stroke of the system. A crosshead having a pair of rotatable sheaves mounted thereon is rigidly connected to the outward end of the piston rod and slidingly connected to the track so that the crosshead moves along the track in conjunction with the longitudinal movement of the rod. A length of energy-absorbing tape is fixed at its ends to the frame, reeved around the sheaves, and passed through the shuttle between a pair of opposed arcuate members centrally mounted thereto so that during the launch stroke, the shuttle is accelerated along the track from a battery position by a towing force applied by the tape and symmetrically distributed about the forward arcuate member to prevent jamming of the shuttle along the track. At the end of the launch stroke, the tape, acting upon the rearward arcuate member, serves as an energy absorber to brake the shuttle, piston rod, and crosshead for a return to battery position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1777167 (1930-09-01), Forbes
patent: 1960264 (1934-05-01), Heinkel
patent: 2515205 (1950-07-01), Fieux
patent: 3433438 (1969-03-01), Cruger et al.
Cahall Everett
Dunning David
Hammond Joseph
Siegel Moses
Frankfort Charles E.
Hansen Henry
Sciascia R. S.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
Vozzo, Jr. Armand M.
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