Ordnance – Rocket launching – Having guide means
Patent
1994-04-29
1996-03-12
Jordan, Charles T.
Ordnance
Rocket launching
Having guide means
F41F 306, B64D 708
Patent
active
054976910
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to rail launchers for airborne missiles.
There are a wide variety of rail-launched missiles in general use, almost all imposing different mechanical interfaces and thereby requiring, until recently, a dedicated rail launcher to operate satisfactorily. Recent years have seen the development of rail launchers capable of interfacing and operating with more than one missile in order to provide users with operational, logistic and cost benefits.
The most operationally useful group of short range and medium range missiles comprises the AMRAAM, Sidewinder, ASRAAM and Sparrow (including Aspide) families of missiles, and multi-role launchers have been developed to carry these missiles either by: other for Sparrow; whereby different interface requirements can be accommodated, rail change being achieved either by a suitable quick release connection or by multiple fasteners. (see for example: EP-A-0136917, GB-A-2166526, US-A-4660456 and US-A-4711151).
However, whilst these methods can provide significant benefits, compared to using four separate launchers, they still involve appreciable operational, logistic, mass or cost problems.
In order to overcome the inadequacies of the current multi-role launchers we have sought a method of providing for the operation of AMRAAM, Sidewinder, ASRAAM, Sparrow and/or other existing or, as yet, not developed types of missiles from a single launcher without having to change the rail.
According to the present invention, a single fixed rail has a central longitudinal track in its underside and a pair of side tracks, and removable or relocatable rail track adaptors are fitted into both the central track and the pair of side tracks. In the preferred arrangement, the desired change of rail configuration is achieved by fitting or removing the central rail track adaptor and by inverting the side track adaptors which are vertically asymmetrical. Removing the central adaptor may be achieved simply by shifting it along its track to an inoperative position.
Thus, in a first aspect of the present invention, we provide a rail launcher adaptable for co-operation with airborne missiles having differing hanger configurations by providing a plurality of rail configurations, said launcher being characterised in comprising a single fixed rail having a central longitudinal track in its underside and a pair of side tracks, and removable or relocatable rail track adaptors for both the central track and the pair of side tracks.
By incorporating local rail adaptors into a common fixed rail then, depending upon the orientation/location of these adaptors, the launcher interface geometry can be readily changed to provide one of two (or more) configurations.
In a second and alternative aspect of the present invention, we provide a method of adapting a rail launcher from a first rail configuration adapted for co-operation with hangers of a first set of airborne missiles to a second rail configuration adapted for co-operation with hangers of a different set of airborne missiles by removing or relocating adaptors for a central longitudinal track and a pair of side tracks of a single fixed rail.
In one configuration, AMRAAM, Sidewinder and ASRAAM missiles can be directly operated or, in the other configuration, Sparrow, Sidewinder and ASRAAM can be directly operated. Adaptor repositioning is only required to change between AMRAAM and Sparrow, with the change of configuration being quick and simple to perform and readily capable of being carried out whilst the launcher is attached to the aircraft.
Additional benefits are provided in that (i) all the adaptors can be retained on the launcher in both configurations, if required, and (ii) the use of these adaptors makes it possible to selectively employ suitable adaptor materials to cater for high bearing loads (especially in the case of the Sparrow button) without compromising the main fixed rail.
Arrangements according to the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 4392411 (1983-07-01), Minkler
patent: 4660456 (1987-04-01), Griffin et al.
patent: 4711151 (1987-12-01), Griffin et al.
patent: 4911059 (1990-03-01), Brueckner
patent: 4926740 (1990-05-01), Griffin et al.
patent: 5148734 (1992-09-01), Lilly
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