Missile launcher

Details Missile launcher Missile launcher

1990-06-20

1991-06-04

Brown, David H.

Ordnance

Rocket launching

Having means to transfer rocket to launcher

89 1815, F41F 304

Patent

active

050204122

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the launching of projectiles and in particular to trainable launchers for operation on ships.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Defensive weapon systems generally require a scanning target detection system, a trainable launcher for launching one or more projectiles towards the target and means to guide the projectiles to the target. known systems are complex and heavy, leading to reliability, cost and top-weight penalties when used in a marine environment.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a launcher to overcome above mentioned problems associated with existing launchers.
The invention provides a ship's projectile launcher comprising: projectiles and one wall member adapted to locate projectiles in a firing position; position; and magazine is rotatable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of the projectiles;
the arrangement being such that the magazine wall member is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the magazine rotation axis and a means is provided to move the wall member between the closed and a pivotally rotated open position whereby the projectiles in the firing position may be directed towards a target.
In an advantageous arrangement a target detection device is rotatably mounted on the magazine. Preferably an optical target tracker is located on the pivotal magazine wall.
In one embodiment the magazine is arranged such that the one wall member is hinged to the magazine and the wall member is pivotally movable from a closed position to a firing position. A hydraulic ram may be used to open the magazine. In this arrangement deflector plates are provided to deflect missile exhaust gases away from the magazine.
In a second embodiment the magazine comprises two opposed side walls and a means to retain missiles adjacent to the respective side walls and a further means to rotate the side walls together with the retained missiles to a firing position. Advantageously in this embodiment two colinear elevation shafts are connected to the side walls and these are arranged such that on initiation of the firing sequence the side walls are first moved away from the magazine and then rotated to the correct elevation angle for firing.
Preferably missiles are stored in at least one line between upper and lower conveyors, the conveyors being movable synchronously to move one or more missiles to a loaded position adjacent said at least one wall member. A releaseable retaining means is preferably provided to retain said loaded missiles. Conveniently the conveyors each comprise an endless belt moveable on pulleys around a carriage, indexing means to move the carriage from a first position to a second position adjacent said at least one wall member, means to lock the belt relative to the carriage and a further means to lock the belt relative to the magazine, the belt locking arrangement and the carriage movements being such that missiles can be transported from a stored position to a firing position as required. Preferably the endless belts are provided with locating holes for respectively engaging the top and bottom of each missile.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying Drawings of which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a launcher in target detection mode;
FIG. 2 shows the launcher in target tracking mode;
FIG. 3 shows a side elevation of an alternative arrangement of the launcher;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation perpendicular to the FIG. 3 view;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3 launcher in target tracking mode;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view, part cut away, of a missile conveyor arrangement;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view through one pulley carrying the upper conveyor belt of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an illustrative section through the upper conveyor of FIG. 6 showing the conveyor carriage support and conveyor belt brake arrangements;
FIG. 9 is a schematic plan section for illustrating the missile loading seq

REFERENCES:
patent: 2960009 (1960-11-01), Hereth et al.
patent: 3088375 (1963-05-01), Sherman
patent: 3101026 (1963-08-01), Jacobson et al.
patent: 3106132 (1963-10-01), Biermann et al.
patent: 3303740 (1967-02-01), Grayson et al.
patent: 3865009 (1975-02-01), Kongelbeck
patent: 3892162 (1975-07-01), Phillips
patent: 4305325 (1981-12-01), Lange et al.
patent: 4444087 (1984-04-01), Hunter et al.

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