GB1206945A - Launchers for missiles - Google Patents

Abstract

1,206,945. Recoilers guns. BRITISH AIRCRAFT CORP. (OPERATING) Ltd. 30 Nov., 1967 [23 Sept., 1966], No. 42708/66. Heading F3C. A missile is housed in a tube which serves as external protection for the missile up to the moment of launch and which, for launching of the missile, is temporarily coupled to a mounting member by which the tube can be held and aimed. Under combat conditions the tube is expendable. In a particular example, the tube 2 is joined at its rear end to an assembly 4 which houses an expulsion charge (not shown) and which terminates in a recoil reaction nozzle. The tube is coupled by means of a reinforcing collar 10 at its forward end to a stock 12 which includes a cradle 14 to embrace the collar through about 170 degrees and a clamping member 16 which forms an extension of the cradle through about 45 degrees and which is hinged to the cradle. The member 16 is controlled and locked by a lever 20 which actuates a cam 22 which engages ribs 23 on the exterior of the member 16. A lug (not shown) extends radially from the collar 10 and is received in a recess (not shown) in the surface of the cradle 14, this lug locating the tube 2 angularly and axially. The lug and recess accommodate an electrical socket and plug, respectively. An arm 32 carrying a shoulder butt 34 extends rearwards from the cradle 14, and two hand grips 36, 38 extend from the front of the cradle. The right-hand grip 36 houses a lever (not shown) by which the flight guidance is controlled. A monocular sight 42 is attached to a platform on top of the cradle 14. The left-hand grip 38 incorporates a trigger 44 and a safety switch 46. The guidance control lever operates potentiometers which are connected to a guidance control transmitter by a flexible cable 47. The expulsion change is fired electrically when the trigger 44 is pulled. The source of electric power is a battery pack carried by the operator and an electric circuit passes from the trigger 44 through the plug and socket from the cradle 14 to the lug on the tube 2, and then along wires housed in a thickened part of the wall of the tube to the rear assembly 4. A piston in front of the expulsion charge is driven forward on firing and the missile moves forward, knocking off a front cover on the tube. A rear cover on the tube is burst and gas discharged through the recoil reaction nozzle. A rocket propulsion charge inside the missile is fired as the missile is launched. In an alternative form, a guidance control with its own sight is handled by a second man alongside the launcher. Furthermore, the invention can be applied to missiles launched from vehicles or fixed mountings. It can also be applied to unguided missiles.