The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 16, 1990
Filed:
Sep. 28, 1988
John R Ferraro, Clinton, CT (US);
Philip P Foerster, Waterbury, CT (US);
Peter T Greenstreet, Sandy Hook, CT (US);
Steven R Schwarz, Cranbury, NJ (US);
Milton R Turgeon, Enfield, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
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.