US2459314A

US2459314A - Rocket launcher

Info

Publication number: US2459314A
Application number: US683674A
Authority: US
Inventors: William V Goodhue
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1946-07-15
Filing date: 1946-07-15
Publication date: 1949-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1966-01-18

Description

w. v. GOODHUE ROCKET LAUNCHER Jan. 18, 1949.

Filed July 15, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l [hum f0?" IA/Ilium I/Gooo hue B3 1 hm Attorney Jan. 18, 1949. w. v. GOODII-IUE ROCKET LAUNCHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1946 22% William l/Goodhue I 162 \160 l .1246 g W. V. GOODHUE ROCKET LAUNCHER Jan. 18, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 15, 1946 van for M/[zam VGcod/zue W. V- GOODHUE ROCKET LAUNCHER Jan. 18, 149

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed ul 15, 1946' fizz/6n far Ml/lam V Gooohue By his At torney Patented Jan. 18, 1949 ROCKET LAUNCHER William V. Goodhue, Ipswich, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 15, 1946, Serial No. 683,674

12 Claims. i

' This. invention relates to rocket launching apparatus and is illustrated herein as embodied in a rocket. launcher capable of firing a large number of rockets continuously in rapid succession and adapted to be installed on a relatively small vehicle whether waterborne, of the land type, or amphibious.

In the use of one type of apparatus for launching rockets, a number of rockets, representing the capacity of the launcher, may be installed in a series of racks all of which usually are loaded in preparation for an action. If the capacity of this type of launcher is great enough to aiford a satisfactorily long period of continuous fire, its overall size would prohibit its use in many types of small craft or vehicles. Moreover, in the use of this type of launcher safety considerations require the firing to be interrupted during the loading period. Consequently, the time required for loading even a small launcher is so great as compared with the time required for firing that the rate of fire is seriously impaired.

In view of the foregoing, the object of the invention is to provide an improved rocket launcher which is so small and compact as to be suitable for outboard installation on a small craft or vehicle and which is also capable of firing rockets continuously by rapid fire until the supply is exhausted, eliminating the dead time formerly entailed by loading.

According to the present invention, a small supply of rockets disposed side-by-side are fed, one-by-one, from one side of the line of fire into firing position and are then fired immediately, the supply being continually replenished at a safe distance from the blast of the fired rockets by a loading crew which passes the rockets to the loading station from the ready boxes of the craft or vehicle.

The above mentioned supply of rockets is contained in the illustrated launcher in a magazine (inclined downwardly outward thereof and also in elevation) through which the rockets are fed by gravity into firing position. The launcher also includes firing means constructed and arranged to be actuated by the falling of a rocket into firing position to fire that rocket.

The rockets are fired electrically after the terminals of a firing circuit are engaged by corresponding terminals on the rockets. Accordingly, it is evident that the rate of fire is limited only by the time required for a rocket to leave the launcher after the firing circuit has been closed plus the time required for the succeeding rocket to drop into firing position from the magazine.

Inventionris also to be recognized in the provision of means operated by and in synchronism with the falling of a rocket into firing position for closing the firing circuit, whereby the operation-of the launcher is made automatic if the usual local control switch is kept closed.

I In order to insure that the rockets will be delivered from the magazine into the firing position in the proper relation to the firing means, provision is made in the illustrated apparatus for controlling the position of each rocket axially of itself continuously as it advances down the outwardly and rearwardly directed slope of the magazine to the firing position and at the same time for insuring against any angular shifting of the rockets which would tend to cause them to be crowded against the end of the magazine so as to impede the feeding movement. To this end, and

in the illustrated construction, the magazine is provided with a guide rail adapted to be engaged by the ends of the rockets, the rail being disposed obliquely with respect to the lower end of the magazine whereby the leading portion of each rocket adjacent to the rail advances into clear space and only the trailing portion of the end of the rocket engages the rail. Thus the advancing movement of a rocket consists of a rolling action (induced by the outward slope of the magazine) directed laterally of the rocket combined with a continuous sliding movement axially of the rocket (induced by the elevation-of the magazine), the latter movement beingunder the control of and limited by the above-mentioned rail. On leaving the rail each rocket is positioned so that its firing terminals will engage the firing terminals in the .firing circuit when the rocket falls into firing position.

The inventionalso make provision for the jettisoning of a mis-firing rocket. With this purpose in view, the illustrated apparatus comprises a movable launching way for supporting a rocket in firing position, the way being mounted for retraction from beneath the rocket whereby the latter is permitted to fall out of the launcher. In connection with this operation and as another feature of the invention, the illustrated apparatus also includes means for preventing feeding of another rocket into firing position when the above-mentioned launching way is retracted.

These and other features of the invention consist in certain devices, combinations and arrangements of 7 parts, hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with. the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a View in perspective of an illustrative 1 rocket launcher embodying the invention as arthe shape shown in Fig. 3.

ranged for a port-side installation on an amphibious craft, and as viewed from'an outboard position;

I I Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the launcheras viewed from an inboard position; I

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the launcher at zero degrees elevation illustrating thejettisonin'g I of a misfired rocket, and also illustrating certain features of a typical installation of the launcher on a craft, the hull, deck and coaming of which 'fli's Fig. i is a partial side elevation of the launcher" are indicated in broken lines; I

as viewed from an outboard position; I

Fig. 5 is a partial rear elevation of the launcher showing a rocket in firing position; and i i Fig. 6 is a diagram of the firing circuit and with studs it; Either one of these sets of studs is adapted to be mounted upon a pivotal bracket i8 (Fig. 2) one of which isfixed to each side of the deck is of a craft so that either port and starboard installations. or both, may be made using launchers of identicalconstruction- The end sections l2 are connected by a series of angle irons 28 which are arranged to extendlongitudinally of the launcher. :A series of angle irons 22,

extend transversely'between and are fixed to the :angle irons 20, the arrangement of all the angle irons being such as to form a dihedral angle the upper side of which slopes downwardly outboard at an angle of about 30 degrees, the lower side being vertical. All these angles are covered by a continuous plate 24 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is perforated for lightness and forms the bottom and inboard side of a magazine adapted to hold rockets R. I

The type of rocket illustrated herein comprises a cyclindrical body B (Figs. 1 and 4') having tapered ends and a tail assembly consisting -'of a tube T containing the propellant, and a pair of contact bands C, D which are fixed to the rear end of the tube. The bands are insulated from each other and are electrically connected to the propellant in the tube T.

The ends of the magazine are formed'by plates Zdand webs 28 which are bolted to-the end sections '52. The top of the magazine is closed by a cover at which is bolted to the plates 26 and webs 28. At the inboard side of the magazine there is an opening (Fig. 1) between the cover 39 and the plate 2A through which rockets are loaded into the magazine. At its outboard side the magazine is bounded by a grill comprising a rectangular frame 32 (Figs. 1 and 4) having transverse members 34, the frame being fixed to the plates 26 in a vertical position.

The rockets roll through the magazine under the influence of gravity until they reach the grill and then descend vertically past a rotary gate 36 into the firing position which is that occupied by the lower rocket illustrated in Fig. 5.

The gate comprises two spiders 38 (Figs. land 5) having three spokes to the ends of which are fixed three'rods 46. The spiders are fixed to another rod 42 the ends of which extend beyond the spiders and are journaled in bearings 44 in the end plates 25. Braces connect the rod s2 with the rods 40 at their mid-points.

In order to prevent anyupward movement of the rocket in firing position, orany such move- 5' ment of the other rockets. when one is fired, a

series of pawls 48 are hinged on the transverse members 34 in such a position as to overlie and engage the upper part off'that rocket above the one in'firing position. -The pawls are provided with springs 5!} which first allow the pawls to yield as a rocket passes them, and then move the :pawls into their operative position over the rocket as illustrated in Fig. 5. I

The launcher is adjustable in elevation on the racket-2'8 and is thus controlled by an elevating hand crank .54. The launcher will usually be elevated above thehorizontalso that the rockets in the magazine tend to slide rearwardly thereof as they roll towardthe firing position. This rearward sliding movement. of the rockets is limited by a rail st (Figs. 3and 4) which islfixed i to the plate 2 slightly oblique to the end of the magazine, diverging: rearwardly. of the iauncher tend to rally The effect of this arrangement is to keep the point of contact withthe .railifi of the :rearmostba'nd D on each rocket at the trailside of the rocket. That is, the rockets tend,

owing to their rolling action, to move away from rockets. Furtherto insure against disalinement of the rockets duringtheir feeding movement;

the bottom plate 24 is provided with two rows of buttons 5! (Fig. :1) of rubber, or other suitable anti-slipping: material, which are adapted" to be engaged by the cylindrical portion of the body B cf eachrocket. It will now beapparent from the foregoing that the rockets are fed through the magazine in parallelism with each other with a motion which is a combination of a rolling'action, induced 'by the downward and outward slope of the magazine, with a longitudinal sliding motion, induced by the downward slope of the magazine to the rear. During the vertical descent of each rocket into firing position, the band D engages another rail '58 (Figs. 4 and 5), which "is a continuation of the rail 56, and is 50 mounted on the plate 24 as to permit a slight rearward movement of a rocket falling into firing position.

The rocket in firing position is supported by a launching way Bil, the ends of which are attached to a pair of levers iii, each lever being pivoted to one of the plates 25 by means of a stud '64. The levers are held in their position as illustrated in Fig. 5, during the normal operation of the launcher, by mechanism which is also arranged to swing the levers and hence the launching way 60 from beneath the rocket in firing position to jettison it in case of a 'misfire. This mechanism comprises a pair of

toggle links

66, 68 associated with each of the levers 62 and 65 a pair of operating rods I0, each rod at its lower end being connected to one pair of thelinks by a pin 12. The links 68 at each end of the launcher are fixed to the ends of a shaft 74 which is rotatably mounted on the plates 26 in bearings 7 16. The links 66 at their lower ends are pivotally connected to the levers 62 by pins 78. The upper ends of the operating rods 10 are slidably supported in bearings '80 (Figs. 1 and 3) which are fixed to the webs 28. Handles 82 are adjustably fixed to the rods and normally are mechanism 52 (Fig- 3) which is operated by a,

away from the direction in which the rockets the races rather than to be crowded against it. I thereby insuring a free rolling action of the 5. yieldingly held against the bearings 80 by compression springs 84, the springs being interposed between the bearings 80 and stop collars 86 which may be adjustably fixed to the rods "I so as to provide any suitable pressure in the springs 84.

Fixed to the plate 26 just below the rail 58 is a stop 88 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which, by engagement with the band D of the rocket in firing position, locates that rocket with its bands C, D in register with firing knives 90, 92. The knives extend through openings 94 in the plate 24 near the lower edge thereof and are mounted on heavy spring conductors 96, 98 respectively, the latter being housed in a box I00 fixed to the lower corner of the launcher at the inner side thereof. The knives 90, 92 are electrically connected in series with a source of power by conductors (Fig. 6) through a safety switch I02 (Figs. 1 and 5) whichis fixed to the frame 32.

Fixed to the launching way 60 is a rail I04 having a beveled edge adapted to be engaged by the body B and bands C, D of the rocket in firing position, particularly to insure that the bands of the rocket will be held in contact with the firing knives 90, 92. In addition, the rocket is confined laterally between the rail I04 and the plate 24 at the inward side of the rocket for the purpose of directing the initial flight of the rocket. The rail I04 may be adjusted laterally to insure proper contact of the bands C, D with the firing knives, not only by adjusting the position of the handle 82 on the operating rod I0, but also by repositioning the launching way 00 with respect to the levers 62. To permit the latter adjustment, the launching way 60 has fixed to each end thereof a bracket I06 having elongated slots adapted to receive bolts I08 which are carried by the levers 62. The rail may thus be adjusted within the scope of the slots in the bracket I06. This adjustment is facilitated by set screws IIO which are threaded into lugs I I2 fixed to the levers and which are adapted to bear against the outer sides of the launching way 60 adjacent to each end thereof. At a level slightly above that of the rail I04 the rocket in firing position is further guided laterally by another rail I I 4, the ends of which are fastened to the end plates 26.

In order to avoid short circuiting the bands 0, D of the rocket in firing position, each of the rods 40 has a reduced portion II 0 at each end which provides a clearance space between each rod and the forward band C. Similarly the launching way 80 is provided with a recess US which receives the band C with clearance; and the rail I04 is covered with a layer of insulating material (not shown) in the way of the bands C, D.

Assuming the magazine to be fully loaded, the rockets will lie side by side in contact with each other except in the case of the rocket in firing position and the succeeding one which, as illustrated in Fig. 5, are separated by the gate 36. The weight of that rocket above the one in firing position holds the gate against the latter rocket. Consequently, the gate and the way 60 cooperate to confine the rocket vertically and hence direct the rocket in its initial flight in accordance with the elevation of the launcher. With the gate 36 in this position its uppermost rod 40 engages a plunger I20 which holds the safety switch I02 closed. The plunger is mounted to slide vertically in a bearing I22 fixed to one end of the frame 32 and is normally urged away from the switch by a spring I24. Provision for adjustment of the plunger relatively to the switch is afforded by lock nuts I26 which are threaded on the upp end of the plunger. The firing circuit will also include, at the firing station, a manually operated switch I2! (Fig. 6) which can be closed momentarily to fire the rocket in firing position and then opened before the succeeding rocket arrives in the firing position, whenever it is esired to operate the launcher by single-fire. When the switch I2! is held closed the launcher fires automatically by rapid fire, the firing being timed by the closing of the switch I02.

Immediately following the departure of the fired rocket from the launcher, the succeeding rocket falls into firing position causing the gate 36 to be rotated one-third of a revolution. At the beginning of each rotation of the gate the plunger I20 is released, opening the firing circuit. Thereafter no rocket can be fired until the switch I02 is again closed by the above described action of the gate 30 on the plunger i20. Hence, any danger of harm to the launcher or to the operating personnel which would result from firing a rocket which is disalined with the launching way is prevented.

Up to the time when the last rocket in the magazine is to be fired the rocket next succeeding that in firing position causes the gate 36 to hold the switch I02 closed. However, when the last rocket in the magazine drops into firing position, the gate 30 is operated by a cam lever I 20 to close the switch. This lever is pivoted at I30 to one of the end plates 26 and is normally urged in a clockwise direction by a spring I32 against a stop pin I34- carried by the end plate 26. The spring is stretched between the upper end of the lever I28 and a clip I which is fastened to the plate 2-6. The lower arm of the lever I28 is crescent shaped, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and is adapted to be engaged by pins I38 which are fixed to an index plate I40 carried by the shaft 42 outside one of the plates 26 and just inside the adjacent lever 02.

Each time when a rocket descends into firing position the uppermost pin I38 engages thelever I28, and swings it in a counterclockwise direction thereby tensioning the spring I32. As soon as the pin passes a dead center position (where the greatest displacement of the lever I28 occurs) the tension in the spring I32 causes the lever I28 to drive the gate 36 into the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 5 whereby the switch I02 is closed. This action of the lever I28 takes place whenever a rocket falls into firing position but is relied upon to close the switch I02 only when the last rocket in the magazine falls into firing position.

It will now be apparent that rockets may be fired from the illustrated launcher continuously in rapid succession so long as the firing circuit is kept closed at the firing station by means of the switch I21. The-speed of firing is limited only by the time required for a fired rocket to leave-the launcher and for the next succeeding rocket to drop into the firing position. Moreover, the firing of each rocket is effected automatically as soon as it has dropped completely into the firing position, the firing of the rocket being timed by the closing of the switch I02.

If the firing is interrupted by a rocket which misfires, that rocket is jettisoned by pulling one of the handles 82 so as to swing the launching way-60 from beneath the rocket in firing position, thereby allowing that rocket to fall out of the launcher. Whenever the launching way 60 is thus retracted, the gate 36 is immobilized in order index". plate I 49; moves. into the path: of-.the upper- 1 most pin I38 on theplatel Accordingly, whema rocket is-jettisoned the rotationofithe gatelzfi isr stoppedas soon as the uppermost-pin I38 engagese the lug i s; and'the pin is not released'by the lug been? descnbedias $.81I1b0di6diliflii0fl8z: endzi at :the a launcher: arezta'lso duplicatedzinl the'zother :emd: of: the launchers... The launcher isnonsuclmflengthtasi: to cause the :bodiesaBrof the rockets :to: engaeer-z both t-rows's'ofsbuttons--5liiregardlessrxof'rwhiclivofr the rails 256i srengagedfbyathe;rockets. Looking at: Fig-:1 2; asr an starboard L: installation ofi: the; launcher; itstrightshandi end ,fwillr. be :swungrdowne toipermih thewrightehand-z:studsr:' l 6 tc ssbe assent-e I until the launching way, 60 "has beenmoved farr'loi blediwith" the. rightehand pivotal brackets IN enough toward its normal position to: catch them next rocket as it drops into firing position:

The elevating mechanism 52 has abase IM (Figs. 1 and'3) adapted tobe secur-edntda-padu (brokenzlines-r, itbeingz understood tthatalonnany craft intended to rcarryfibothcportz .andwstarboardaa installations thercraf-ti will ha provided'ton zeachside=withaa pivotal-fibracketds land a-padwI4irtm I46 by bolts I 8 W ch p s through elongated :;receive'the'base M Lof theelevatingggean fla.

slots in the base so as to pennit-1ateraLadjust-- ment of theibase With. respect torthe pads The:- length of the slots is also sufficient to'permit: the.-. base lMto' be slid inboard on the pad' I46'far:

The: use" and: operation of: the: illustrated? launchernvill novwbe briefly summarizedxi Let *it lbe assumeda that thet-laun'chen rhas xbeen' completely loaded; one rochet ,-..the -lowen one enough to be clear of-"the outer side of? the craita whichtrests upon:the;launching wayefill being in when the launcher is removed from the craft; A shaft 259 is rotatably'mounted in a bearing E52- Which is integral with the-base144, and at its ine-- board end is provided with a socket E54 which re--.-- ceivesthe'crank 54 the shaft I59 meshes with another beveledzgear" I58; the latter gear being fixed to a shaft I60, the

upper portion of which is threaded. The lower: end of the shaft ESE is rotatably-mounted 'in a.-

the firingq positionn At: this-timetthe' contact bands G; D1. of the tr-ocketrini firingcpositionc are: engaged/by the Airing: knives Bil, 92-, respectively, and the switch i {I2- sis-held Fin. .itsi-closed-nposition:I

A beveled gear I56 fixed to ,b the-.plunger= I ZOQWhichahassbeen actuatedthyy the gate-361a Therocket'finfiring positiontw-illsbec fired immediately 51113011! ther-closingq OfTthBTSWitCh I 21 "which is;under-the i-c'ontrolfiof'r the: operator: at thewfiringgstationi If thiSnSWitCh? isvhel-d Iclosed;

bearing Which s o d to Swivel 'a lugcntheientirezsupplmofzjrockets inzthe. magazine wilhv I64 formed integral with the base I44; The shaft ifiii-is threaded into'anut I66having tron nions i 58 which are rotatably mounted. on a sup port l'iil; The support is at the common junc be:-f.red :infrapid succession; the firings- 01 each-L rocket .heingatimed by'themperation! ofnthe'switchl- 292 im the: following manner? As: 500m: 389%.. rocket in. firingr positionvlist'firedjithe::gate=13 -is-:.s

tion of a plurality of braces consisting of a pair rctated in responses tor'the falling :movementi oft'i angle irons i #2 which extend to the opposite low-'- er inboard corners of the end sections I2, a sec-. 0nd pair of angle irons [14 which extend to thee opposite upper corners of the end sections I2; and..."

the: next: rocket xinto (the; firing-.sposition: During .1 the initialirotati'olrof :the gate; the uppempinzl 3H onethedndexzplate-r I engages thetleven. I28 causingnthe lower." endaofs; thisileveiutoibe iswungai another angle iron H6 which extends to the mid-. 4Qg y inboard cf themaunmer against?! point of the'lower angle iron 20; Itwill now ber evident that as the crank 54 is turned, the eleva-l tion of the launcher will be altered as it swings either up or down about the pivotal bracket I8i Each bracket 58 comprises a padd'lfl-whichis i5 To the top of the plate E84 are fixed-apair of lugs I86 which are adapted to-receive thezstudsis I5 carried by the lugs M on the frame of: the" magazine. The plate [84' is normally held, against any'movement with respect to the pad theutension offthefspr-ing: I321: This rotatiom of. {)hELgBA'JBk-Etlildi index :tplate F I 40 iis :contihued runner-s: the. driving effect-lot the rocket fallihgrinto firing; position: until:v that; pine; I382 which engages tthe'i lever I I ZB'Ehas moved:pastflitszdead center-position:

During thenfinalnwvement of the: rocket inte n firin position, when it'hasanc tencIencyPtou-otatee the gate- 36, the lever I 28" bears uponthe pin I33 and causes the "rotation "of the gate tome continueduntil the rod dfl' above' the-rocketin firing positionisbrought into engagement "therewith; At the-end-of each-suchrotative movement-"of the gate, oneof itsrodsWUe-ngages the plunger I20? "shy a Second shaft wawhich passes liftsit; and therebycloses'the'switch-I02f Thus;

the plate and also through a pair of lugs I 90 Which extend upwardly from the pad-near its outboard edge. If the launcher "is'dismounted -t the plate Iildmay be moved to an-inboard'posieach rocketis' fired"- automatically upon' its arrival in the firingpositiony Ordinarily; the gate is driven toward the end of each movement" by, the Weightof the'rocket next to the leading tion', clear of the outer sideof the craft, by re- (ifldi as Well as by t e lever I28; but when the moving the-shaft 188' and swinging the plateinwardly towards the coaming.

A port-side installation of the illustrated launcher, as illustrated in Fig. 2, may be" converted into a-starboard-sideinstallation by usingg the following procedure: the stop 88' which limits the rearward position oftherocketin firing position is removed from the left-handrend of the launcher (Fig. 2) andreinstalled on the other end of the launcher. knives 9!! and 92 are'to be reinstalledin a box. I92 I similar tGthBIbOX me. It is-also towbe understood thatnall features of thelauncherv relating to the guiding of the rocketsinto thevfiring -posi-,

last 'rocket'in the launcher moves into the firing position, the final rotation of the gate which closesthe switch I02 is derived from the action, of the lever vI 28"alone.

If the firing. should be interrupted by the failure of alrocket to fiie,.that rocket can be jets tis-oned by pulling. upon thenhandle 82 which causes the launchlngway BlLtobe retractedirom' beneathithe .misfired rocket. as illustratedlinfigw The rocketl in firing position. is thus 1permit ted toadrop, out of :thedauncher, but the succeed? ing rockets areeprevented from advancing toward. the. firing'position by, the gate-3B- which is im mobilized-whenever the daunching v wayi-is moved tion (such. as the rails 56'andl58) which. have 7 out ofnitsoperative.positiombmtheengagementcot:

9 the lug I42 on the lever 62 with the upper pin I38 on the index plate I48.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: it

1. A rocket launcher comprising a magazine, a launching way arranged to support a rocket in firing position, said magazine being inclined downwardly toward said launching way whereby I rockets are fed by gravity into firing position from said magazine, means for firing a rocket when in firing position, said means comprising a firing circuit having terminals arranged to be engaged by corresponding terminals on the rocket in firing position, a switch, and means lm actuated by a rocket during its movement into firing position for closing said switch.

2. A rocket launcher comprising a sloping magazine adapted to receive a plurality of rockets and having a movable launching way onto which i-zgo rockets are fed by gravity into firing position, a gate for controlling the feeding movement of the rockets into firing position, means for retracting said launching way from beneath a rocket in firing position to jettison that rocket, 5 and connections between said means and said gate constructed and arranged to immobilize said gate when said way is retracted whereby feeding movement of the rockets into firing position is prevented.

3. A rocket launcher comprising a sloping magazine adapted to receive a plurality of rockets and having a movable launching way toward which the rockets are fed by gravity from said magazine, said way being mounted and arranged to support a rocket in firing position, a gate for controlling the feeding movement of the rockets into firing position, operator-controlled means constructed and arranged to retract said way from beneath the rocket in firing position Whereto by that rocket is jettisoned, and means for simultaneously immobilizing said gate whereby feeding movement of the succeeding rockets is prevented while said way is retracted.

4. A rocket launcher comprising a magazine adapted to receive a plurality of rockets, a launching way onto which the rockets are fed from said magazine, said way being arranged to support a rocket in firing position, a gate constructed and arranged to separate the rocket in firing position from the next succeeding rocket, means for retracting said way from beneath the rocket in firing position to jettison that rocket, and connections between said means and said gate for immobilizing said gate when said way is retracted thereby to prevent feeding movement 'of the said next succeeding rocket.

5. A rocket launcher comprising a sloping magazine adapted to receive a plurality of rockets,

a launching way toward which the rockets are ($0 fed by gravity from said magazine, said way being arranged to support a rocket in firing position, a rotary gate having a plurality of spacing bars, successive bars being arranged to receive therebetween the rocket next succeeding that in firing position, means for moving said launching way from beneath a rocket thereon in firing position to permit the rocket to fall off said way, and

a stop actuated by said means for preventing rotation of said gate until said launching way has been returned to its original position.

6. A rocket launcher comprising a magazine adapted to receive a plurality of rockets, a launching way toward which rockets in said magazine are fed by gravity, said way being arranged to support a rocket in firing position, saidway being mounted to swing from beneath a rocket thereon in firing position, operator-controlled mechanism for operating said launching way to jettison a, rocket in firing position, a freely ro- 'tatabl'e gate adapted to be rotated by the movement of a rocket into firing position from said magazine, and means for preventing said gate 'from rotating when said way is swung, said means comprising an index plate associated with said gate, a stop mounted for movement into the path of said plate, and connections between said mech- "anism and stop for moving said stop into its operative position when saidway is swung away from beneath a rocket in firing position.

7. A rocket launcher comprising a magazine adapted to hold rocketaa launching way on which a rocket is supported in firing position, a "movable gate arranged to be operated by the movement of a rocket from said magazine into firing position, a firing circuit including a ter- *minal' arranged to be engaged by a corresponding terminal on the rocket in firing position and a switch, a member for operating said switch disposed in the path of movement of said gate, and means for imparting a limited movement to said gate beyond that imparted to said gate by the movement of a rocket into firing position, whereby said gate is caused to actuate said operating member to close said firing circuit.

8. A rocket launcher comprising a magazine adapted to hold rockets, a launching way on which a rocket is supported in firing position, a rotary gate arranged to be rotated by a rocket in its movement from said magazine into the firing position, a firing circuit including a switch arranged to be opened and closed by said gate, and a yieldingly mounted lever constructed and arranged to be moved first in one direction and to be energized by said gate and then to move in the opposite direction to drive the gate beyond the position into which it was driven by the rocket in firing position whereby said switch is operated by said gate to close the firing circuit.

9. A rocket launcher comprising a magazine adapted to receive a plurality of rockets, a gate mounted for rotation and adapted to be driven by a rocket in its movement from said magazine into firin position, said gate comprising a plurality of bars one of which separates that rocket in firing position from the next succeeding rocket and prevents the feeding of the latter rocket until that in the firing position has been fired, a firing circuit including a terminal arranged to be engaged by a corresponding terminal on the rocket in firing position, and a switch operated by said gate for successively opening and closing said firing circuit during the movement of the said next succeeding rocket into firing position.

10. A rocket launcher comprising a sloping magazine adapted to receive a plurality of rockets side by side parallel to each other, means for supporting a rocket in firing position, said means being mounted for retractive movement from beneath the rocket in firing position to jettison that rocket, means operable in synchronism with the retractive movement of said last-mentioned means for preventing the movement of the next succeeding rocket from said magazine toward the firing position, and means for firing the rocket in firing position comprising a firing circuit including a terminal adapted to be engaged by a corresponding terminal on the rocket in firing position.

d1. lln, ra rocketolaunchem aeslopir gvma-gazine .501xsmaintaining-r-the -IGCkfitSi in;,;-.parallelism with z i eaoh other; as gthey roll: through; the-:magazine, and guide; rail mountedoobliquely lat-wone xend of said magazine wwherebytthe-width of; the :base

.ief the 1 magazine constantly increases 1 as tithe 1:12 "it-he :tails of the-rockets, saidrail also being-arranged to diverge from the direction of rolling -:moti0n; of the rockets whereby only the trailing portions of the said'tails engage said rail.

-WILLIAM V. GOODHUE.

,-,REFERENCES CITED ll-he: following references are of record in the 11;o,ckets;, admnee-lthrough: saidlmagazineandronly ilo fil this. atent. tne ,irailing portions :-Df.- the-ends -.of.-. thelsroekets l p en age-said, rail.

l 12. Ill-53. rocketwlauneher, ias slppingumegazine sadaptedxto receive. alplurali tyvof; rockets ldi sposed ..,ther.eon land,arrangedotorber engaged: bydthe tnfiyside by ,side; parallel: to each JQtherMthe;zbase-vof said.magazine-havingspaeedanti slipping tracks lindrical. body; portion ("of each zl'rocket whereby the rockets are Lmaintainedzrin, parallelism -.with

.each. other last. they" roll through saidwmegazine .andoalguiderail mounted, atmne end :ofwsaid meg- ;azine, .said. .rail beipgmadapteditoqbe rengaged by UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 7 Date {1,108,716 Davis Aug. '25, 1914 16 11 ,310,053 aBrower "July 15,1919

11.349335!) Tunks' Aug 10, 1920 7 2,088,503 "Broussard July 27, 1937 ;;2:,359;517 Gebeau Oct: 3,.1944

"FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 405,159 Great-Britain Feb. 1, 1934