US3340768A

US3340768A - Launching device

Info

Publication number: US3340768A
Application number: US452821A
Authority: US
Inventors: Aldrin Henry Wilhelm; Kindrot Erik Birger
Original assignee: Bofors AB
Current assignee: Saab Bofors AB
Priority date: 1964-05-06
Filing date: 1965-05-03
Publication date: 1967-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-12
Also published as: DE1299541B

Description

Sept. 12, H ALDRlN ET AL 3,3403% LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1965 IN VENTORS HENRY W/L HEL M ALDE/N ited States The present invention relates to a launching device for missiles of the rocket type, and more particularly, to a launching device of the kind comprising a launching stand and a launching rail which is attached to the rocket prior to the loading of the rocket on the stand and becomes detached from the rocket when the same is launched.

Obviously, it is desirable that rockets can be rapidly and conveniently loaded on a launching stand and that the stand occupies as little space as possible, since the available space is often limited, especially when the stand is mounted on the deck of small naval craft.

Launching devices of the general kind 'above referred to as heretofore known are generally rather bulky and require lengthwise loading of the stand, that is, in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rocket. Such lengthwise loading requires considerable space for handling the rocket and its launching rail and is inherently a rather slow operation.

It is a broad object of the invention to provide a novel and improved launching device of the general kind above referred to which permits a substantialy reduction of loading time and requires considerably less space for the device and for handling of the rocket during loading.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved launching device of the general kind above referred to with which the rocket and its rail attached thereto can be loaded transverse of the lengthwise axis of the rocket rather than parallel thereto as heretofore necessary. As is evident, such side-wise loading of the rocket eliminates the heretofore necessary space, at least equal to the length of the rocket, in front of or behind the launching stand.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved launching device of the general kind above referred to which includes fastening means for rapidly and conveniently attaching the launching rail supporting the rocket to the stand and detaching the rail from the stand for reloading after launching of the rocket.

Still another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved launching device of the general kind above referred to, the stand of which constitutes part of a floor or base such as a deck of a naval craft and is pivotal about an axis transverse of its lengthwise axis between a position substantially flush with the deck and an angular launching position.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims constituting part of the application.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing shows a perspective view of a launching device according to the invention by way of illustration and not by way of limit'ation.

Referring now to the figure more in detail, there is diagrammatically shown a stern of a ship such as a small naval craft and more particularly the quarter deck of the ship. Two launching devices are shown, the one closer to the observer being in its raised or launching position, and the other in its loading position. Both devices comprise a launching stand 2 and 3, respectively. Each launching stand constitutes a part of deck 1 and is suband Erik Birger Kindrot,

stantially flush with the deck when the device is in its loading position as it is shown for a stand 2. The launching devices should be visualized as being alike and the invention is described in detail in connection with the device having the stand 3. The stand is mounted on two generally triangular support plates or brackets 4 and 5 which are pivotal about an axis 15 located below deck 1 and arranged in a fashion conventional for pivot axes of that kind. The two support plates or brackets are secured to the bottom side of stand 3 which also mounts a plate 6 which has in its edges extending transverse of the lengthwise axis of stand 3 guide tracks or grooves 7 and 8 in which are slidably received tongues or guide rails 9 and 10 formed on raised portions of a launching rail 11 and facing each other. Tracks or grooves 7 and 8 face in opposite direction to prevent lengthwise displacement of the launching rail and the rocket supported therefrom. As is evident, the described groove-tongue or guide track-rail arrangement also may be reversed, that is, the receiving members may be provided on the launching rail and the engaging members on plate 6. Launching rail 11 supports a rocket 12 which is detachably suspended therefrom in a conventional manner which does not constitute a part of the invention.

The launching device and more specifically, the stand thereof, may be pivoted from the flush loading position shown for stand 2 into any selected angular launching position as shown for stand 3. The raising or lowering of the stand may be effected by a conventional lifting device indicated at 14 and secured to the stand by conventional fastening means indicated by a bolt 14a.

The launching device as hereinbefore described, is operated in the following manner:

Let it be assumed that the device is in the loading position shown for stand 2. A launching rail 11 with a rocket r attached thereto is now slipped into the aforedescribed fastening means 7, 9 and 8, 10. As it is evident, loading of the device is effected by bringing the launching rail and the rocket attached thereto to the stand parallel to the lengthwise axis of the stand, that is, sidewise. After loading of the device, the stand thereof is raised, for instance, into the position shown for stand 3, and the rocket may now be fired. After the firing of the rocket, the stand is again lowered.

A loading magazine now removes the empty launching rail from the stand and replaces it by a new launching rail with a rocket attached thereto. Several conventional loading devices may be used in connection with the launching device according to the invention. It has been found that a loading device of the drum type comprising a magazine rotatable about an axis parallel to deck 1 is particularly suitable. In such a magazine, the launching rails with rockets attached thereto are arranged in circumferentially spaced lengthwise compartments so that the ends of each launching rail are supported at the end walls of the rotary magazine of the loading device. When such loading device is rotated step-by-step, empty rails are successively transferred to the rotary magazine and new launching rails with a rocket attached thereto is fed to the stand as previously previously described.

The loading device as such does not constitute part of the invention. Accordingly, it is not illustrated or described in detail but only diagrammatically indicated at 16.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A launching device for launch missiles, said device comprising in combination;

a generally horizontal launching platform including an opening and constituting the top wall of an enclosed loading space;

an elongated launching stand having a peripheral outline substantially fitting said opening;

a launching rail for releasably securing a missile thereto;

mounting means supporting one end of said stand pivotally about an axis transverse of the lengthwise axis of the stand and located at substantially the level of the platform for pivoting the stand between a loading position substantially flush with said platan elongated launching stand having a peripheral outline substantially fitting said opening;

a launching rail for releasably securing a missile thereto;

mounting means supporting one end of said stand fastening means on said launching stand on the side thereof facing the platform for attaching said launching rail to the stand in the loading position form and covering the opening therein and a launchthereof from underneath the missile, said fastening ing position upwardly slanted in reference to said means including lengthwise spaced fastening memplatform; and hers on the launching stand and corresponding fastening means on said launching stand on the side lengthwise spaced fastening members on the launchthereof facing the platform for attaching said ing rai-l, the fastening members on the launching rail launching rail to the stand in the loading position including lengthwise spaced and crosswise extending thereof from underneath the missile, said fastening raised portions each having a lengthwise groove, and means including lengthwise spaced fastening memthe fastening members on the launching stand inbers on the launching stand and corresponding cluding lengthwise spaced tongues extending crosslengthwise spaced fastening members on the launchwise of the rail and engageable with said grooves, ing rail, the fastening members on the stand includw y the fasetning members are engageable h ing a pair of parallel lengthwise spaced guide tracks each other in the direction transverse of the lengthextending crosswise of the stand and the fastening Wise axis of the launching stand and the launching members on the launching rail including a pair of rail. parallel lengthwise spaced bars extending crosswise R f renc s Ci e pf tllie lailllnchngtiailfanil being engaageable with said UNITED STATES P ATENTS rac s w ere y e as enrng mem ers are engageable with each other in the direction transverse to 55?; et 89' 1819 the lmnchng stand and the 2,709,947 6/1955 Woods s9 1 s15 2 A launchin device for launch missiles said device 2978959 4/1961 Ca-flberg b 2,981,150 4/1961 Miller 89l.815 compnsmg l 3,099,936 8/1963 Gaborc et a1. 89-1.8l5 X a generally horizontal launching platform lncludlng 3,215,040 11/1965 Kossan et aL 89 1.819

an opening and constituting the top wall of an enclosed loading space; 40 SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR LAUNCH MISSILES, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL LAUNCHING PLATFORM INCLUDING AN OPENING AND CONSTITUTING THE TOP WALL OF AN ENCLOSED LOADING SPACE; AN ELONGATED LAUNCHING STAND HAVING A PERIPHERAL OUTLINE SUBSTANTIALLY FITTING SAID OPENING; A LAUNCHING RAIL FOR RELEASABLY SECURING A MISSILE THERETO; MOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTING ONE END OF SAID STAND PIVOTALLY ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE OF THE LENGTHWISE AXIS OF THE STAND AND LOCATED AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE LEVEL OF THE PLATFORM FOR PIVOTING THE STAND BETWEEN A LOADING POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH SAID PLATFORM AND COVERING THE OPENING THEREIN AND A LAUNCHING POSITION UPWARDLY SLANTED IN REFERENCE TO SAID PLATFORM; AND FASTENING MEANS ON SAID LAUNCHING STAND ON THE SIDE THEREOF FACING THE PLATFORM FOR ATTACHING SAID LAUNCHING RAIL TO THE STAND IN THE LOADING POSITION THEREOF FROM UNDERNEATH THE MISSILE, SAID FASTENING MEANS INCLUDING LENGTHWISE SPACED FASTENING MEMBERS ON THE LAUNCHING STAND AND CORRESPONDING LENGTHWISE SPACED FASTENING MEMBERS ON THE LAUNCHING RAIL, THE FASTENING MEMBERS ON THE STAND INCLUDING A PAIR OF PARALLEL LENGTHWISE SPACED GUIDE TRACKS EXTENDING CROSSWISE OF THE STAND AND THE FASTENING MEMBERS ON THE LAUNCHING RAIL INCLUDING A PAIR OF PARALLEL LENGTHWISE SPACED BARS EXTENDING CROSSWISE OF THE LAUNCHING RAIL AND BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TRACKS WHEREBY THE FASTENING MEMBERS ARE ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER IN THE DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE LENGTHWISE AXIS OF THE LAUNCHING STAND AND THE LAUNCHING RAIL.