Patent Description:
<CIT> relates to a missile launch rail device including: a missile launch rail and a latch for attaching and releasing a missile situated on the missile launch rail, a latch pin inserted through both two latch pin holes and two rail pin holes positioned approximately halfway between the cam end and the spring end and a pin retainer securely mounted to the missile launch rail, the pin retainer including a latch pin catch which holds the latch pin in place to restrict radial pressure by the pin on inside surfaces of the two latch holes and inside surfaces of the two rail pin holes from pressure created by the missile on the latch, thus substantially preventing premature disabling of the missile launch rail and the latch by wear on the latch holes and the rail pin holes.

<CIT> an apparatus which comprises a frame portion made of metal and having a substantially elongated shape. The frame portion comprises one or more cavities situated in a longitudinal direction, and a composite material is disposed within the cavities to structurally reinforce the frame portion. The frame portion includes one or more missile guides situated in the longitudinal direction and configured to slidingly engage a weapon.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and apparatus for a brace that can be attached to launch rail(s) for supporting the rail without impacting how a projectile slides down the rail during launch. As the weight of improved projectiles increases, the loading on the front of the launch rail increases. This additional loading may increase wear out and potentially cause a structural failure in that area of the rail. In embodiments, a brace partially supports the weight of the missile and shifts load away from the front the rail so as to extend its lifespan as compared to conventional rail configurations.

Embodiments of a brace can be attached, e.g., by screws, to the rail. Because the brace is attached to the side of the rail in example embodiments, it does not interfere with projectile launch and does not need to be removed prior to launch. This alleviates emplacement and timeline issues and avoids significant safety/mission assurance issues. The brace is configured to reduce stresses on the rail-to-projectile mechanical connections by partially lifting the projectile so as to redistribute the load so that the load may be reduced at the front and rear of rail. The load redistribution allows for an overall lower stress condition thus extending the life of the rail. The inclusion of a quick release mechanism allows the projectile to launch without excess friction at the missile to brace interface.

The system comprises: a brace configured for attachment to a launch rail for a projectile, the brace comprising: a load distribution mechanism comprising: a wear plate for reducing wear of the launch rail by supporting and distributing loading of the projectile when supported by the launch rail; and a height adjustment assembly for receiving a force and adjusting a height of the wear plate.

A system can further include one or more of the following features: the height adjustment assembly comprises first and second wedge blocks, the height adjustment assembly comprises a height adjustment block having surfaces abutting respective surfaces of the first and second wedge blocks, a translation member to provide the force to the height adjustment assembly, the translation member comprises a threaded screw, the translation member further includes a proximal end to receive a rotational force and a distal end rotatably engaged with an end member for positioning the second wedge block, a torque limiter coupled to the translation member, the brace further includes a release mechanism configured to allow movement of the wear plate during launch of the projectile from an inactive position to an active position, the release mechanism comprises a bias member to bias the release mechanism to the inactive position, the wear plate moves in the same direction as the projectile during launch, and or the release mechanism comprises an elongate member for capturing the bias member.

The method comprises: configuring a brace for attachment to a launch rail for a projectile, the brace comprising: a load distribution mechanism comprising: a wear plate for reducing wear of the launch rail by supporting and distributing loading of the projectile when supported by the launch rail; and a height adjustment assembly for receiving a force and adjusting a height of the wear plate.

A method can further include one or more of the following features: the height adjustment assembly comprises first and second wedge blocks, the height adjustment assembly comprises a height adjustment block having surfaces abutting respective surfaces of the first and second wedge blocks, a translation member to provide the force to the height adjustment assembly, the translation member comprises a threaded screw, the translation member further includes a proximal end to receive a rotational force and a distal end rotatably engaged with an end member for positioning the second wedge block, a torque limiter coupled to the translation member, the brace further includes a release mechanism configured to allow movement of the wear plate during launch of the projectile from an inactive position to an active position, the release mechanism comprises a bias member to bias the release mechanism to the inactive position, the wear plate moves in the same direction as the projectile during launch, and or the release mechanism comprises an elongate member for capturing the bias member.

The foregoing features of this disclosure, as well as the disclosure itself, may be more fully understood from the following description of the drawings in which:.

<FIG> shows an example projectile launch system <NUM> including an assembly of a projectile <NUM> supported by a rail system <NUM> and a brace <NUM> for distributing loading in accordance with example embodiments of the disclosure. The brace <NUM> has a first position in which the brace is not engaged with the projectile and a second position in which the brace is engaged with the missile to distribute load and reduce stress on the mechanical rail-to-projectile connection, as described more fully below.

<FIG> shows the brace <NUM> in the first position unengaged with the projectile <NUM>, <FIG> shows the brace in the second position engaged with the projectile, and <FIG> shows the brace in a third position during launch of the projectile, as described more fully below, where <FIG>, and <FIG> are side views of the brace of <FIG>. <FIG> show the assembly of <FIG> with the brace <NUM> in the unengaged position and <FIG> show the assembly of <FIG> with the brace in the engaged position in which loading is distributed.

<FIG> is a longitudinal cross section of an example brace <NUM> that distributes loading of a projectile on a rail in accordance with example embodiments of the disclosure. The brace <NUM> is shown in an unengaged position. In example embodiments, the brace <NUM> includes first and second wedge blocks <NUM>,<NUM> placed in opposition with respective angled surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> abutting complementary angled surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> of a height adjustment block <NUM>. A translation member <NUM> is engaged with at least one of the first and second wedge blocks <NUM>, <NUM>. In an example embodiment, a portion of the translation member <NUM>, which may comprise a screw for example, is threadably engaged with the second wedge block <NUM>. The first wedge block <NUM> may include a shoulder <NUM> to receive force from the translation member <NUM>. Rotation of the translation member <NUM> in a first direction causes the first wedge block <NUM> to move closer to the second wedge block <NUM> and the second wedge block to move closes the first wedge block. In embodiments, a distal end of the translation member <NUM> can be coupled to a longitudinally movable end member <NUM>. In some embodiments, or both of the wedge blocks may be fixed in position. In the first position, in which the brace is not distributing load, the top of a wear plate <NUM>, which is described below, is set to a first height H1.

The height adjustment block <NUM> can include a release mechanism <NUM> to facilitate launching of a projectile, as described more fully below. In the illustrated embodiment, the release mechanism <NUM> includes a slidable wear plate <NUM> movable between a first position (<FIG> and <FIG>) to a second position (<FIG>). A spring member <NUM>, which can be captured by an elongate member <NUM>, can bias the wear plate <NUM> to the first position.

A series of washers <NUM> can be placed at the intersection of the first wedge block <NUM> and the translation member <NUM>. An optional torque limiter (not shown) can be provided between the first wedge block <NUM> and an end <NUM> of the translation member. In embodiments, a suitable tool can be used to engage and rotate the end <NUM> of the translation member <NUM>.

An optional support mechanism <NUM> can be located under the wedge blocks <NUM>,<NUM> to maintain a selected height. The support mechanism <NUM> can include a bottom screw <NUM> that can be spring loaded to allow the center wedge <NUM> to be lowered when the device translation member is rotated in order to unload the device and move a support plate <NUM> to a reduced height.

A series of apertures <NUM> can be formed in the brace <NUM> to enable attachment to the rail or other structure. It is understood that any suitable mechanism can be used to attach the brace to a launch rail.

<FIG> shows the brace <NUM> in the second position in which the height adjustment block <NUM> is raised to distribute loading of a projectile. A transition to the second position from the first position is achieved by rotating the translation member <NUM> in the first direction to move the first and second wedge blocks <NUM>, <NUM> closer together, which forces upward the height adjustment block <NUM> and wear plate <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, in the second position, the top of the wear plate <NUM> is set to a second height H2, which is greater than the first height H1.

In an example embodiment, the end member <NUM> is threadably engaged to the distal end of the translation member <NUM>. As the translation member <NUM> is rotated in the first direction, the second wedge block <NUM> is moved closer to the first wedge block <NUM>. The first and second wedge blocks <NUM>, <NUM> should move closer together at the same rate to push the adjustment block <NUM> evenly from both sides.

<FIG> shows the release mechanism <NUM> in an active position, which may occur during launch of the projectile. The slidable wear plate <NUM> is shown in moved forward from the default position shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The spring member <NUM>, which held in position by the elongate member <NUM>, is compressed in the active position by a shoulder <NUM> of the wear plate. After launch, the wear plate <NUM> is biased back to the inactive position by the spring member <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an enlarged view of <FIG>. The projectile <NUM> includes a series of fingers <NUM> that extend from a body of the projectile into respective channels <NUM> on each side of the launch rail <NUM>. In the unengaged position shown in <FIG>, for example, the brace does not contact the fingers <NUM> and does not distribute load. In the engaged position, in which the wear plate <NUM> is raised to the second height H2 (<FIG>), the wear plate contacts <NUM> the fingers <NUM> supports a portion of the load.

<FIG> shows an example embodiment of a height adjustment block having additional features to mitigate the effects of vibration. In the illustrated embodiment, a rear raised protrusion <NUM>, which may comprise part of the slidable wear plate <NUM>, prevents longitudinal back out of the wear plate under vibration.

An optional mechanical lock <NUM> may prevent the translation member <NUM> from back driving (or loosening). In one particular embodiment, the mechanical lock includes a split ring clamp <NUM> with an integrated cam lever <NUM> to control clamping force. The mechanical lock <NUM> is configured to prevent loosening of leadscrew under harsh and extreme vibration conditions.

By distributing the load, the useful life of the rails can be extended. For example, aluminum launch rails used in combination with heavier projectiles benefit from the load distribution provide by example embodiments of a brace described herein. Furthermore, by positively engaging the underside of fingers <NUM>, the system becomes stiffer driving the natural frequency of the system higher. With a higher natural frequency, the system avoids the lower frequency inputs that are more damaging to the system. The higher natural frequency also drives the system response to see lower G levels during transportation vibration, thus also lowering the stress levels at the forward and aft rail to missile interfaces.

Having described exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, it will now become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating their concepts may also be used, provided the resulting embodiments fall within the scope of the claims. The embodiments contained herein should not be limited to disclosed embodiments but rather should be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A system, comprising:
a brace (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured for attachment to a launch rail (<NUM>) for a projectile (<NUM>), the brace (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a load distribution mechanism comprising:
a wear plate (<NUM>) for reducing wear of the launch rail (<NUM>) by supporting and distributing loading of the projectile when supported by the launch rail (<NUM>); and
a height adjustment assembly for receiving a force and adjusting a height of the wear plate (<NUM>).