US3138989A

US3138989A - Retractable rail assemblies

Info

Publication number: US3138989A
Application number: US260340A
Authority: US
Inventors: James C Lewis; Milton C Neuman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-02-21
Filing date: 1963-02-21
Publication date: 1964-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-30

Description

June 30, 1964 Filed Feb. 21, 1963 J. C. LEWIS ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 {4 i! 2/ \IQ 1 \v.\\\\ E 22 I, I t zMTEEE Q I z I I J i r F G. I

INVENTORS JAMES C. LEW/5 MIL TON 6. NE UMAN A TTORNE Y J n 1964 J. c. LEWIS ETAL RETRACTABLE RAIL ASSEMBLIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1965 o o u o a FIG. 4

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FIG. 3

FIG. 2

n 1964 J. c. LEWIS ETAL RETRACTABLE RAIL ASSEMBLIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 21, 1963 United States Patent 'ce 3,138,989 RETRACTABLE KARL ASSlElt EELHES James E. Lewis, Columbia Heights, and Milton C. Neuman, Champlin, Minn, assign-hrs, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Feb. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 250,344) 3 Claims. (Cl. 89--1.7)

This invention relates to missile launchers of the type having a magazine and a launcher guide, and, more particularly, to the specific construction of the retractable rails of the magazine.

Missile launchers of the type having a magazine and a launcher guide generally have the magazine located below the launcher guide as shown in US. Patent 3,065,- 673 which was issued to R. F. Hereth on November 27, 1962. Launchers of this type require some means of transporting the missile to the magazine, both in loading the magazine and subsequent thereto in transferring the missile from the magazine to the launcher guide preparatory to firing. The missiles are stored in a vertical position in individual compartments, on rails, and are in position to be hoisted to the launcher guide at seconds notice. Generally, a mechanism is provided to bring either the magazine to the position of the launcher guide or the guide to the position of the missile next to be fired. In either situation, there must be a rail leading from the magazine to the launcher guide which may be connected or disconnected to the rails on which the missile rests in the compartment. In the missile launcher of the present invention, the magazine is rotated, step by step, to position the missiles, in progression, below the launcher guide. The rails connecting the rails of the missile compartment with the rails of the launcher guide must be capable of movement to a retracted position to permit rotation of the magazine. The structure of these moveable connecting rails is the subject of this invention.

One object of the present invention is to provide a retractable rail assembly for connecting the rail of the missile compartment in the magazine with the rail of the launcher guide and which may be moved into or out of its operational position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a retractable rail which when in extended or missile transferring position will provide a signal which will be made available to the operator as an indication as to whether a missile is actualiy in the compartment ready to be hoisted or whether the compartment is empty.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a retractable rail which may be withdrawn from an operative position to permit rotation of the magazine.

In correlation with the foregoing objects, it is a further object to provide actuation mechanisms for accomplishing the desired movements of the rail.

Other objects inherent in the construction of the retractable rail will be apparent and are to be considered a part of this invention, which is illustrated, in one form in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the retractable rails as applied to a magazine having an outer ring of storage compartments and an inner ring of storage compartments.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the rail side of the retractable rail assembly.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the support side of the retractable rail assembly.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the lower end of the retractable rail, disclosing the shoe contact arms.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the lower end of the retractable rail assembly with parts thereof in section.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of the disclosure of FIG. 5.

Patented .lnne 3Q, 196

FIG. 7 is a section on line 77 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a section on line 88 of FIG. 5.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1 wherein the parts are diagrammatically illustrated in order to make the overall operation clear, a rotatable magazine for a missile launcher is illustrated at lit with an inner cylindrical housing 12.. A plurality of missile compartments (not specifically shown) extend around the inside outer wall of the magazine and a second circle of compartments surround the inner cylindrical housing ll. Missiles 12 are shown in the inner circle and missiles 13 are shown in the outer circle.

The entire magazine revolves on a circular track so that the missiles are presented in turn to a position in alignment with a hatch 14 over which a launcher gmide is located. The launcher guide may be moved to select from either circle of missiles. Both the missiles 12 of the inner circle and the missiles 13 of the outer circle are supported in a vertical position and have forward shoes 17 and aft shoes 18 which are slideably carried on

stationary rails

15 and 16 of the inner and outer compartments respectively. The stationary rails extend to a point about midway of the missile and there are other stationary sections 3.8 and 21, respectively, of the inner and outer circles of compartments which are located near the top of the magazine. The space between the lower stationary rails and the upper stationary rail sections is spanned by a retractable rail which must be capable of being retracted from the rail path to permit the magazine to rotate when the missiles are in position (because of other structure not here illustrated).

These retractable sections must be moved into and out of connecting or extended position in a minimum period or" time and must be sufiiciently rigid to support the weight of the heavy missiles. In the embodiment of the invnetion shown, the rails are hinged at 22 to permit the lower end to be swung out of the path of rotation of the magazine, but could be differently mounted to be retracted in other but equally as efficient manner. A rod 23 slideable in the structure of the retractable rail assembly is connected to a bell crank 24 pivoted at 25. The other end of the crank 24 is connected to a hydraulically operated piston 26. Initial movement of the piston in the direction of the arrow will swing the rail into extended or rail connecting position, while further movement of the piston will slide the rod vertically along the retractable rail assembly to cause the rod 23 to engage the notch 27 and secure the rail in extended position. The rail assembly is retracted with a reverse movement of the piston.

With the railin extended position the missile may be hoisted along the rail, through the hatch and onto the launcher guide.

Referring to the other figures wherein the structure of the rail assemblies is illustrated, the several parts are numbered differently from their representations shown in FIG. 1. i

The rail assemblies for both the inner circle of compartments and the outer circle of compartments are alike so only one will be described.

The rail assembly comprises a frame formed from a pair of tubular members 31 securely held together by cross members 32. Fastened by means of lugs 33, the rail section 34 is securely attached to the cross members. The rail section has a guiding section 35 receiving the fore and aft shoes of the missile and a smaller recessed portion 36 through which the hoist chain travels.

Adjacent the top of the assembly an axle 37 pivotally supports plates 38 which are secured to the magazine to hingedly support the rail assembly.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, a pivoted L shaped lever 39 has one and positioned in the path of the 3 forward missile shoe and upon the rail assembly moving into extended position the end of the lever contacts the missile shoe, moves about its pivot and moves a rod 41 connected to the other end of the pivoted L-shaped lever. This rod actuates a switch 42 which energizes an electrical circuit to signal an operator at a remote location, or operates automatic mechanism, not shown, to indicate that a missile is in the compartment, ready for hoisting.

The movement of the piston 26 moves the vertical rod 23 as shown in FIG. 1. This rod is shown in the structural representation as rod 44 and moves a cam follower 45 to move the rail assembly from extended to retracted position or vice versa. The rod 44 extends beyond the cam follower and engages a socket, not shown, to lock the rail assembly in extended position. The rod 44 is connected to the cam follower 45 through a swivel connection 47. The cam follower 45 carries a pin 48 which follows the cam 49 to give swinging motion to the retractable rail assembly upon vertical movement of the rod 44.

The retractable rail assemblies when in extended position, serve to bridge the gap between the permanent rails of the magazine during lowering or hoisting of the missiles and withdraw to a retracted position to permit rotation of the magazine.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a missile launching system having a magazine with an outer cylindrical wall with a fixed upper missile rail, an inner cylindrical structure and a ready service ring supporting means forming vertically arranged missile storage cells between the outer wall and the inner structure, each of the cells having a missile supporting rail, a retractable rail substantially vertically arranged between the fixed magazine rail and the cell rail comprising:

means for securing the retractable rail to the outer cylindrical wall;

means connected to the retractable rail for moving the rail from the missile path during indexing rota- A} tion thereof with the ready service ring, for missile selection, and to move the retractable rail into alignment with the fixed magazine rail and the missile rail of the selected cell, upon a missile being positioned for loading.

2. In a missile launching system having a magazine with an outer cylindrical wall with a fixed upper missile rail, an inner cylindrical structure and a ready service ring supporting means forming vertically arranged missile storage cells between the outer wall and the inner structure, each of the cells having an attached missile rail, a retractable rail vertically arranged between the fixed magazine rail and the missile rail in the cell comprising:

means for pivotally securing the upper end of the retractable rail to the outer cylindrical wall;

means connected to the retractable rail for moving the lower end of the retractable rail through a limited arc to displace the retractable rail from the missile path during indexing rotation of the ready service ring for missile cell selection and to move the retractable rail into alignment with the missile rail of the selected cell and the fixed rail of the magazzine upon a missile being positioned for loading.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the system has means forming an outer and an inner circle of missile cells and including a second retractable rail pivotally secured to the inner structure;

a second fixed rail secured to the inner structure; and

means for moving said second retractable rail into and out of alignment with the fixed rail of the inner structure and the missile rail of the selected cell of the inner circle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,809,558 Hersh Oct. 15, 1957 2,870,678 Girovard et a1 Jan. 27, 1959 3,045,552 Grenstad et al. July 24, 1962 3,048,087 Campbell Aug. 7, 1962 3,054,330 Carlberg Sept. 18, 1962 3,072,018 Wilson Jan. 8, 1963 3,095,780 Bauer et al. July 2, 1963

Claims

2. IN A MISSILE LAUNCHING SYSTEM HAVING A MAGAZINE WITH AN OUTER CYLINDRICAL WALL WITH A FIXED UPPER MISSILE RAIL, AN INNER CYLINDRICAL STRUCTURE AND A READY SERVICE RING SUPPORTING MEANS FORMING VERTICALLY ARRANGED MISSILE STORAGE CELLS BETWEEN THE OUTER WALL AND THE INNER STRUCTURE, EACH OF THE CELLS HAVING AN ATTACHED MISSILE RAIL, A RETRACTABLE RAIL VERTICALLY ARRANGED BETWEEN THE FIXED MAGAZINE RAIL AND THE MISSILE RAIL IN THE CELL COMPRISING: MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY SECURING THE UPPER END OF THE RETRACTABLE RAIL TO THE OUTER CYLINDRICAL WALL; MEANS CONNECTED TO THE RETRACTABLE RAIL FOR MOVING THE LOWER END OF THE RETRACTABLE RAIL THROUGH A LIMITED ARC TO DISPLACE THE RETRACTABLE RAIL FROM THE MISSILE PATH DURING INDEXING ROTATION OF THE READY SERVICE RING FOR MISSILE CELL SELECTION AND TO MOVE THE RETRACTABLE RAIL INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE MISSILE RAIL OF THE SELECTED CELL AND THE FIXED RAIL OF THE MAGAZZINE UPON A MISSILE BEING POSITIONED FOR LOADING.