The Boeing Company

Other

Theboeing Company

Cory Gordon Keller

James Vincent Eveker

Thaddeus M Jakubowski, Jr

John K Foster

Alberto A Martinez

Aaron Ross Cowin

Gregory M Sisti

Samuel Jerome Huhman

Todd J Palmer

Daniel DiDomenico

Mike Heller

Daryl D Carpenter

Steven Michael Schoen

David Michael Paruleski

Richard Raymond Kreutzman, Jr

A launch system and method for an aircraft include a first ejector, and a second ejector. The first ejector and the second ejector are configured to cooperate to releasably retain a first store having a first length. Each of the first ejector and the second ejector is configured to releasably retain one or more second stores having a second length that differs from the first length.

Interchangeable systems and methods for launching stores from aircraft

A container suspension and release system provides at least one ejector assembly having a carry position and a deployed position. The ejector assembly includes an actuator configured to extend ejector assembly from the carry position to the deployed position, and a retention assembly. The retention assembly employs a bracket attached to the actuator and a fixed sway brace extending from the bracket. A left retention arm is pivotally attached to the bracket and a right retention arm is pivotally attached to the bracket, with the left and right retention arms configured to rotate in opposite directions. A rotation activation mechanism is provided to rotate the left and right retention arms in the deployed position. An energy source connected to the actuator to provides energy to actuate the at least one ejector assembly.

Container suspension and release system

Container retention and release apparatus are disclosed. An example container retention and release apparatus includes an actuator and a swaybrace and retention assembly pivotally coupled to the actuator. The swaybrace and retention assembly is to pivot relative to the actuator between a first position to retain a container and a second position to release the container. The swaybrace and retention assembly includes a swaybrace arm having a receptacle to engage a post of a container. The swaybrace arm to pivot between the first position to cause the receptacle to engage the post of the container to retain the container and the second position to cause the receptacle to disengage the post to release the container.

Container retention and release apparatus having integral swaybrace and retention features

A container retention and release apparatus includes an actuator a swaybrace and retention assembly pivotally coupled to the actuator. The swaybrace and retention assembly pivot relative to the actuator between a first position to retain a container and a second position to release the container.

Container retention and release apparatus are disclosed. An example container retention and release apparatus includes an actuator, a swaybrace coupled to the actuator, and a clamp pivotally coupled to the swaybrace. The clamp pivots between a clamping position to retain a container and a release position to release a container.

Container retention and release apparatus for use with aircraft

Container retention and release apparatus are disclosed. An example container retention and release apparatus includes a swaybrace to engage an exterior surface of a container. A latch is to attach to an internal receptacle of the container to retain the container. The latch is movable between a latched position to retain the container and an unlatched position to release the container. A drive is to move the latch between the latched position and the unlatched position.

A communications connector for a vehicle store comprises a vehicle store receptacle interface plate, and a vehicle store communications receptacle, coupled to a host vehicle, that is magnetically coupled to the vehicle store receptacle interface plate so that the vehicle store communication receptacle is decoupled from the vehicle store receptacle interface plate upon release of the vehicle store from the host vehicle.

Detachable communications connector for vehicle stores and method therefor

A communications connector for a vehicle store, the communications connector includes a receptacle interface plate, and a communications receptacle configured for coupling with an umbilical lanyard plug of a host vehicle, the communications receptacle having at least one magnetic member configured to couple the communications receptacle to the receptacle interface plate so that the communications receptacle is decoupled from the receptacle interface plate upon release of the vehicle store from the host vehicle.

A cover for an empty rail missile launcher that can be used in flight. The cover is shaped to reflect radar signals transmitted by a radar transmitter away from the radar transmitter to reduce detectibility by radar. The cover may also be coated with radar absorbent material to reduce detectibility by radar. Hangers are used to mount the cover to the rail missile launcher. The cover is provided with a grounding mechanism to dissipate precipitation static. A restraint mechanism is provided to prevent the cover from inadvertently sliding off the rail missile launcher.

Aircraft missile launcher cover

A pneumatically operated stores ejector rack for an aircraft having an adjustable flow restricting device for variably apportioning the flow of pressurized gas from a manifold to the store ejection thrusters. The flow restricting device includes at least one adjustable valve assembly, having a valve and a valve body, for varying the pressure of gas supplied to the thruster. It also includes a feed conduit connecting the manifold and the valve, and a collar threadably engageable with the manifold and the feed conduit for urging the valve into contact valve body. Also disclosed is a method for apportioning the flow of pressurized gas between a pair of thrusters in a stores ejection rack which includes the flow restricting device.

Variable flow restricting devices

There is provided a store ejection system and method for mounting and ejecting a jettisonable store. The system uses a pressurized non-pyrotechnic fluid from a fluid source as the source of energy and the transfer mechanism. An actuation system includes an accumulator for receiving and storing the fluid from the pressure source, a poppet valve for controlling a flow of the fluid from the accumulator, and a controller for actuating the poppet valve to an open position in response to a control signal to jettison the store. A pneumatically-driven jettison mechanism for releasably retaining the store is fluidly connected to the poppet valve such that actuating the poppet valve to the open position releases the pressurized fluid in the accumulator to flow to the jettison mechanism, thereby actuating the jettison mechanism to jettison the store. An isolation valve, which is configured to selectively provide gas to the accumulator, can be operatively coupled to an adjustable member of the actuation system or the jettison mechanism so that the isolation valve can be closed when the poppet valve is actuated to the open position, thereby preventing further flow of the fluid from the fluid source.

Store ejection system with integral isolation valve and associated ejection method

Snap rings positioned in grooves on shaft members and the like for retaining component members on the shaft members. Retention members, such as retaining rings with counterbores, are positioned over the snap rings and prevent the snap rings from expanding outwardly and being released from the grooves. The retention members are installed such that axial loads force the retention members against the snap rings. The snap rings are preferably spiral snap rings.

Growing community of inventors

St. Charles, MO, United States of America

Cory Gordon Keller