Quadrant elevation control device

A quadrant elevation control device that has an adjustable means for allog predetermined launch angles to be selected and after selection to be used to control the elevation of a launcher to the predetermined angle and interrupt elevation of the launcher when the predetermined angle is reached.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The development of a launcher that has the capability of firing a 
multiplicity of rockets has established a need for a simple device that 
can be adjusted easily to allow the launcher to be adjusted to 
predetermined angles from the horizon relative to gravity. 
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a quadrant 
elevation control device that enables one to make a single adjustment to a 
predetermined angle and thereby allow the launcher to be elevated to the 
predetermined angle relative to horizon and gravity even though the 
launcher and track vehicle are not in a level position. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a quadrant elevation control 
device that is simple and requires a minimum amount of adjustment to 
accomplish elevating the launcher as described. 
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be obvious to those 
skilled in this art. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with this invention, a track vehicle has a launcher thereon 
that has a multiplicity of launch tubes therein and the launcher is 
pivotally secured for being elevated at predetermined angles for firing of 
missiles from the launcher. The angle at which it is desired to fire the 
missiles is predetermined and then a quadrant elevation control device is 
used for controlling elevation of the launcher to this predetermined 
angle. The quadrant elevation control device is secured to one side of the 
launcher and includes an inclosure that has a cylindrical rod pivotally 
mounted and longitudinally moveable relative to the inclosure and on the 
rod a gunner's quadrant is secured. The gunner's quadrant includes a 
structural support member that has a generally triangular section that is 
disposed for having a pivotable arm secured at one end to an apex of the 
triangular section and an opposite end that has an index for pivoting the 
arm relative to the quadrant from 0.degree. to about 60.degree.. This arm 
has a level vial mounted thereon which is in the level position at 
0.degree. when the launcher and track vehicle are in a level position. A 
second level vial is mounted on the housing structure perpendicular to the 
level vial of the arm. A mercury switch is mounted on the arm and is 
calibrated to the level vial on the pivotable arm of the gunner's 
quadrant. The mercury switch is calibrated so that when the launcher is 
elevated to an angle that the pivotable arm is set for the launcher to be 
elevated to, the mercury switch will interrupt an electrical circuit and 
cause the elevation mechanism for the launcher to be interrupted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawing, a track vehicle 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 
and 2 and has a rocket launcher 12 mounted thereon. Rocket launcher 12 is 
moved to an elevated position as illustrated in FIG. 1 by conventional 
electric motor means (not shown) and by gear means 14. Launcher 12 has 
quadrant elevation control device 16 mounted on the side thereof as 
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Quadrant elevation control device 16 
includes a housing 18 that has sides, tops and ends one end of which is a 
door 20 (see FIG. 4) for closing the housing structure. Door 20 is hinged 
at 22 and has a latch 24 for holding door 20 closed. Housing 18 is secured 
to the side of launcher 12 in any conventional manner so that it remains 
stationary once it is secured in the desired predetermined relationship to 
the launcher. At top surface 28 of housing 18 a cylindrical member 26 
except for an arcuate portion being removed at the bottom thereof is 
securely fastened in a conventional manner to fix member 26 relative to 
the top of housing 18. Member 26 has a cylindrical opening 30 therethrough 
in which cylindrical rod 32 is pivotably and slidably mounted. A pin 34 is 
positioned through openings in member 26 and rod 32 to secure rod 32 in a 
predetermined inward position. A sleeve 36 (see FIG. 4) is secured in a 
conventional manner to a rear end of rod 32 for limiting axial movement 
thereof. An actuating knob 38 is securing at the other end of rod 32 for 
actuating and moving rod 32 both upon pivoting as well as linear movement. 
A mounting structure 40 is integrally secured to rod 32 in a conventional 
manner and mounts gunner's quadrant 42 in a conventional manner using 
conventional securing means. Gunner's quadrant 42 includes a triangular 
shaped body 44 that has a base portion to which pivotable arm 46 is 
pivotably connected at 48 with indicia on arcuate surface 50 for 
indicating the number of degrees from about 0.degree. to 50.degree. and an 
index pointer 52 for adjustment relative to the surface of member 50 to 
adjust to the number of degrees desired. Pivotable arm 46 has a gunner's 
quadrant level vial 54 mounted thereon which indicates when arm 46 is in a 
level position and at 0.degree. when the track vehicle and launcher are in 
a level position. A mercury switch 56 is also secured to arm 46 in a 
conventional manner so that when the bubble in level vial 54 is actuated 
through and just as the launcher is elevated past a level position the 
mercury in mercury switch 56 will disconnect leads 58 connected thereto 
and interrupt a circuit to an electric motor (not shown) which has 
actuated launcher 12 through gear means 14 to elevate the launcher to the 
desired angle for firing rockets from the launcher. A second level vial 60 
is mounted on support structure 40 and level vial 60 is mounted so as to 
be perpendicular to level vial 54. With this structure, and with housing 
18 properly secured in position to launcher 12, with launcher 12 and track 
vehicle 10 in a level position, the bubbles in level vials 54 and 60 are 
calibrated to the level position with index 52 set at 0.degree. and with 
support structure 40 being positioned completely vertical to gravity. 
In operation, when it is desired to elevate launcher 12 for the firing of 
rockets from the various tubes thereof, knob 38 is actuated with door 20 
pivoted open so as to allow knob 38 to be grasped and move rod 32 linearly 
of member 26 with pin 34 removed. This allows the gunner's quadrant and 
pivotable member to be moved out into the open to where index pointer 52 
of the gunner's quadrant can be adjusted to the number of degrees desired 
for elevating launcher 12. With this device, and with the index set to the 
desired number of degrees, even though the launcher and track vehicle may 
not be in a level position, by adjusting support structure 40, by turning 
knob 38 until the bubble in vial 60 is in a level position relative to 
gravity, launcher 12 can be elevated to the desired number of degrees from 
the horizon by merely turning on the motor (not shown) which drives 
through gear arrangement 14 to elevate launcher 12 until the predetermined 
angle selected by pivotable arm 46 has been attained. When the 
predetermined number of degrees have been attained by launcher 12 relative 
to the horizon, the bubble in vial 54 will be actuated to the level 
position and then toward an unlevel position. As the bubble in vial 54 
moves through and just past the level position, the mercury in mercury 
switch 56 will move to disrupt the circuit through leads 58 to cut off the 
motor which is actuating launcher 12 and thereby cause launcher 12 to stop 
at the selected predetermined angle relative to the horizon. The launcher 
is maintained in the predetermined elevated position by conventional 
locking means. As can be seen, by providing the simple quadrant elevation 
control device one can make simple adjustments of arm 46 and level vial 60 
and cause launcher 12 to be elevated to a predetermined angle relative to 
the horizon even though the launcher and track vehicle on which launcher 
12 is mounted are not in a level position.