United Technologies Corporation

US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Milton R Turgeon

John R Ferraro

Steven R Schwarz

Philip P Foerster

Peter T Greenstreet

Michael J Zavada

John O Crisi

A buoy deployment system for an aircraft is disclosed which includes a multi-store gravity launching system which allows for discharge of different lengthsn and types of buoys. The gravity launch system includes a plurality of launch tubes, each including a spring biased door at the discharge end thereof, with the doors being either electrically actuated from the pilot cockpit via electrical controls, or, in the event of an electrical malfunction, being manually operable by an operator. Each buoy loaded therein is accessible for reconfiguration in flight, with each tube similarly being reloadable in flight. Also disclosed is a rotatable storage carousel including a plurality of semi-cylindrical tube section/latch assemblies, sized to restrain a plurality of buoys, which form storage stations on the carousel. The storage carousel maximizes the number and type of buoys which may be carried in a given space, being manually rotatable to allows access for setting the operational functions of the buoys contained therein. Utilizing the gravity launcher and storage carousel provides maximum mission flexibility while minimizing aircraft space requirements.

Buoy deployment system

A buoy deployment system for an aircraft is disclosed which includes a multi-store gravity launching system which allows for discharge of different lengths and types of buoys. The gravity launch system includes a plurality of launch tubes, each including a spring biased door at the discharge end thereof, with the doors being either electrically actuated from the pilot cockpit via electrical controls, or, in the event of an electrical malfunction, being manually operable by an operator. Each buoy loaded therein is accessible for reconfiguration in flight, with each tube similarly being reloadable in flight. Also disclosed is a rotatable storage carousel including a plurality of semi-cylindrical tube section/latch assemblies, sized to restrain a plurality of buoys, which form storage stations on the carousel. The storage carousel maximizes the number and type of buoys which may be carried in a given space, being manually rotatable to allows access for setting the operational functions of the buoys contained therein. Utilizing the gravity launcher and storage carousel provides maximum mission flexibility while minimizing aircraft space requirements.

Warehouses, moving vans, buses, railroad cars, and cargo planes, adapted for storage or transport of cargo generally have tie-down studs or anchor bolts in their floors and walls. In order that cargo may slide across the floors or walls without interference the tie-down studs are mounted in recesses so that they do not extend beyond the floor or wall surface. These recessed studs have the disadvantage that objects to be attached thereto must be adapted to fit them. This invention provides an anchoring assembly which effectively converts the recessed anchor stud to an upwardly extending anchor bolt.

Growing community of inventors

Enfield, CT, United States of America

Milton R Turgeon