Apparatus for ejecting a transport and launching container from a missile launcher

An ejector for the transport container of a missile is used in a missile launcher. The missiles are launched from the container which is then ejected by an ejector mechanism from the launcher proper. The ejector comprises a pair of axially spaced pivoted levers and first spring means for imparting an ejecting movement to said levers and second spring means for returning the levers to a ready position to receive another missile in its container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to an apparatus for ejecting a transport and 
launching container from a missile launcher. Certain missile launchers are 
constructed to launch a missile directly from its container in which the 
missile is transported. Such launchers have means for releasably securing 
the container and missile in a launching position. After a missile is 
launched its empty container must be rapidly removed from the launcher by 
means of a releasable locking mechanism. 
German Patent Publication 22 14 7455 describes an apparatus of the above 
described type in which the ejector mechanism includes one or more ejector 
levers arranged at the ends of a shaft which in turn is connected to a 
rocker arm or sliding block. The ejector levers are rotated in a motion 
directed to eject the container out of the launching apparatus, by means 
of pins engaging the sliding block. For this purpose the pins are moved by 
a hydraulic device in an axial direction relative to the sliding block. 
In order to eject the container from the launching apparatus after a flying 
object such as a missile has been launched, it is necessary to apply a 
strong thrust to the container by means of ejector levers. The thrust must 
be sufficient to throw the container away from the launcher without 
affecting the aiming position of the launcher. The container should always 
be thrown far enough and fast enough so that rapid reloading of the 
launcher may proceed without hindrance by the emptied container. However, 
where an automatic reloading apparatus is used in a limited space, such as 
in the case with a launcher mounted on an armored vehicle, it has been 
found that such ejected containers substantially hinder the reloading 
operation. This hindrance becomes even more pronounced where external 
forces such as wind and acceleration are effective on the container. Such 
containers are, for example, 2.5 meters long and have a width of 0.30 
meters. Thus, large forces are necessary to assure positive ejection of a 
container and such large forces must be applied in the prior art by a 
hydraulic device in a very short time period. Accordingly, it is necessary 
to use a hydraulic device capable of providing such large forces which is 
costly. In accordance with these large forces, the wear and tear on the 
force transmitting elements especially the pins and grooves in the sliding 
block is also great. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing it is the aim of the invention to achieve the 
following objects singly or in combination: 
To provide a launcher having an apparatus for the ejection of containers 
which ensures that the container is always thrown out to such a distance 
that hindrance to the reloading is avoided; and 
to provide such an apparatus which is robust and inexpensive and which 
operates reliably even under battle conditions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These objects are achieved according to the invention in that a first 
spring is connected with one end to the ejector lever to impart a torque 
moment to the ejector lever for the ejection of the container. The other 
end of the spring is connected to an anchoring which is shiftable by means 
of a linkage against the direction of the spring force. The anchoring is 
lockable by means of a first safety device. The ejector lever is lockable 
by means of a second safety device. A second spring imparts a torque 
moment to the ejector lever which torque moment is directed opposite to 
the torque momemt imparted to the ejector lever by the first spring. The 
torque moment of the second spring is smaller than that of the first 
spring. The second safety device is releasable by said linkage, whereby 
the first safety device is automatically releasable by the relaxing of the 
first spring. 
It is advantageous that the linkage is connected with the locking mechanism 
by means of which the container is held in a launching apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
The ejector device is illustrated in FIG. 1 in a side view looking in the 
direction of the longitudinal axis of a missile container B. The ejector 
is mounted on a base plate 1. Two of these ejector devices are mounted on 
a missile launcher in such a manner that an ejector lever 2 is located to 
engage a respective end of a tubular container B. The container B is held 
in a central area by means of a locking mechanism or releasable securing 
mechanism shown in FIG. 2. The locking mechanism comprises hook shaped 
lock bolts 17, 18 rotatably supported on pivots 15, 16. The bolts engage 
beneath a T-sectional rail 19 which is secured to the outside of the 
container B. By rotating the pivots 15, 16 the container B is released by 
rods 10' connected to linkage means 10. 
The ejector lever 2 of one ejector device is secured, together with a lever 
3, on a pivot axis 4 which is mounted for rotation in appropriate 
bearings, the levers 2 and 3 together constituting ejector lever means. A 
coil spring 5 is connected at one end thereof to the free end of the lever 
3 and has its opposite end connected to a displaceable anchoring means 6. 
The spring 5 imparts an ejecting movement to said lever means as will be 
described in more detail below. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the anchor means 6 is shiftable in the direction 
of the arrows, by means of a lever 7 which is rotatably supported on a 
pivot axis 8 which is secured to the base plate 1. The anchor means 6 is 
shiftable by means of a linkage 10 connected to the lever 7 at pivot 9. 
Lever 7 is provided with an anti-friction roller at the end thereof 
contacting said anchor. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the ejector lever 2 is lockable by means of safety 
device 12 which projects or catches into an opening of the lever 3. A 
second spring 13 applies a torque to the pivot 4 which torque is directed 
opposite to the direction applied to the pivot by the spring 5. However, 
the torque applied to the pivot by spring 13 is smaller than the torque 
applied to the pivot by the spring 5. 
A partial view of the ejector device is illustrated in FIG. 5. The partial 
view shows the lever 3, the first spring 5, the anchor means 6 and a catch 
element 14, which serves for holding the anchor means 6. The catch element 
14 is rotatably secured to the base plate 1 and engages an abutment formed 
by a recess of the anchor means 6, when the spring 5 is loaded by shifting 
the anchor means 6 in the direction indicated by the full line arrow shown 
in the drawing. The safety device 14 is released by the projection 3.1 
formed on lever 3 as will be described below. 
The function of the illustrated ejector device will now be described. The 
ejector lever 2 is held in the rest position shown in FIG. 1 by the safety 
device 12 which blocks the lever 3 and thus the pivot 4. The spring 5 is 
relaxed and the anchor means 6 is pulled back whereby the safety catch 14 
is held in a position below the anchor means 6, thereby loading a spring 
14'. 
For preparing the ejecting of the container B shown in FIG. 1 the linkage 
10, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3 is first pulled downwardly as 
indicated by the full line arrow in FIG. 3. Where several ejector devices 
are involved, the respective linkages 10 would be interconnected for their 
simultaneous actuation. The down pulling motion is transmitted through the 
lever 7 to the anchor means 6 which moves in the direction indicated by 
the full line arrow, thereby cocking the spring 5. The anchor means 6 is 
thus shifted to such an extent that the safety catch 14 engages the anchor 
means 6, whereby the catch 14 is moved under the influence of the spring 
which is indicated schematically at 14'. Thus, the position shown in FIG. 
5 is accomplished, i.e., a ready to operate position is achieved. During 
the loading, a catch 7.1 engages below a projection of the safety device 
12. The catch 7.1 is spring biased on the lever 7. 
For ejecting the container B to the right in FIG. 1, the ejector lever 2 
must move counterclockwise. For this purpose the linkage 10 is shifted in 
the direction of the dashed line arrow, whereby the safety device 12 is 
pulled out of the recess in the lever 3 by the catch 7.1 of the lever 7. 
As soon as the lever is free, the spring 6 contracts, thereby pulling the 
lever 3 toward the spring 5 so that the ejector lever 2 is forcefully 
pivoted outwardly by means of the lever 3 which rotates the shaft 4 
counterclockwise, in this way ejecting the container B just as soon as the 
latter is released from the locking device 17, 18. Just before the spring 
5 is completely relaxed, the projection 3.1 of the lever 3 reaches the 
catch or safety device 14 to release it from the anchor means 6 which may 
then be shifted in the direction indicated by the dotted line arrow. 
The spring 5 is now completely relaxed and the levers 2 and 3 are in their 
operated position. The weaker spring 13 is cocked by the rotational 
movement of the shaft 4 and as the catch 14 is released from the anchor 
means 6, only the force of the spring 13 is applied to the shaft 4. The 
spring 13 now relaxes, returning the ejector levers 2 and 3 back into the 
starting position shown in FIG. 1 by the clockwise rotation of the shaft 4 
whereby the anchor means 6 is returned in the direction of the dotted line 
arrow. The return motion is completed as soon as the safety device 12 
projects into the recess of the lever 3. 
It is an advantage of the apparatus according to the invention, that it 
accomplishes an ejector operation by means of a simple back and forth 
movement of a linkage which ejects the container independently of the 
forces effective on the linkage, said ejection always taking place in a 
positive manner. Since the linkage is subjected only to tension loads it 
is possible to avoid the use of a heavy linkage means such as was 
necessary with prior art devices. Furthermore, costly guide means have 
been avoided. Since the container holding the missile is connected to the 
launching apparatus by means of a releasable mechanism it is practical 
that the pulling motion of the linkage 10 simultaneously releases the 
securing elements 17, 18 through a connection indicated schematically in 
chain-dot line at 10', so that the container is completely free 
immediately following the release of the ejector operation resulting from 
the pullback of the linkage 10 etc. and the release of the safety device 
12. 
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific 
example embodiments, it will be appreciated, that it is intended to cover 
all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the appended claims.