Store ejection system and method of discharging a store from a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10538330-B2
Application number	US-201715718765-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2017
Priority date	Sep 28, 2017
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

Abstract

A store ejector rack including a first hook member and a second hook member, a split sleeve guide member, and a pair of split sleeve members, including a first split sleeve member and a second split sleeve member, operatively coupled to the split sleeve guide member. The first split sleeve member is coupled to the first hook member and the second split sleeve member is coupled to the second hook member. A valve control assembly is operatively coupled to the split sleeve guide member, wherein actuation of the split sleeve guide member causes actuation of the first hook member, the second hook member, and the valve control assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A store ejector rack comprising:
a first hook member and a second hook member;
a split sleeve guide member;
a pair of split sleeve members, comprising a first split sleeve member and a second split sleeve member, disposed around and operatively coupled to said split sleeve guide member, said first split sleeve member coupled to a first hook linkage actuating said first hook member and said second split sleeve member coupled to a second hook linkage actuating said second hook member; and
a valve control assembly operatively coupled to and actuated by linear translation of said split sleeve guide member, wherein actuation via linear translation of said split sleeve guide member causes actuation of said first hook member, said second hook member, and said valve control assembly.

2. The store ejector rack in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said split sleeve guide member and said pair of split sleeve members are selectively translatable in a first direction and a second direction, said pair of split sleeve members dependently translatable with said split sleeve guide member when translating in the first direction, and independently translatable relative to said split sleeve guide member when translating in the second direction.

3. The store ejector rack in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said pair of split sleeve members are positioned about said split sleeve guide member such that a gap is defined therebetween, said split sleeve guide member operatively coupled to said valve control assembly through said gap.

4. The store ejector rack in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said split sleeve guide member and said valve control assembly are operatively coupled together at a geared interface.

5. The store ejector rack in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said split sleeve guide member comprises a rack gear, and wherein said valve control assembly comprises a release shaft comprising a pinion gear operatively engaged with said rack gear.

6. The store ejector rack in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said release shaft further comprises a cam surface, said valve control assembly further comprising a valve control member coupled to said cam surface, said valve control member configured to induce actuation of an isolation valve as a function of rotation of said release shaft.

7. The store ejector rack in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a safety shaft configured to selectively engage said pair of split sleeve members simultaneously, said safety shaft configured to restrict actuation of said pair of split sleeve members when engaged therewith.

8. The store ejector rack in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a linkage assembly comprising a first hook linkage coupled between said first hook member and said first split sleeve member, and a second hook linkage coupled between said second hook member and said second split sleeve member.

9. The store ejector rack in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a first drive crank coupled between said first hook linkage and said first split sleeve member, and a second drive crank coupled between said second hook linkage and said second split sleeve member, each of said first drive crank and said second drive crank rotatable about a fixed pivot point.

10. A store ejection system comprising:
a fluid source;
an actuation system comprising:
an accumulator in selective fluid communication with said fluid source; and
a poppet valve configured to control a flow of fluid channeled from said accumulator;

a split sleeve guide member actuatable via displacement by said poppet valve;
a pair of split sleeve members, comprising a first split sleeve member and a second split sleeve member, disposed around and operatively coupled to said split sleeve guide member, wherein said pair of split sleeve members are positioned about said split sleeve guide member such that a gap is defined therebetween;
an isolation valve configured to control a flow of fluid channeled from said fluid source to said accumulator; and
a valve control assembly operatively coupled to said isolation valve, and operatively coupled to and actuated by linear translation of said split sleeve guide member through said gap, wherein actuation of said split sleeve guide member causes actuation of said valve control assembly and said isolation valve.

11. The store ejection system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said split sleeve guide member and said pair of split sleeve members are selectively translatable in a first direction and a second direction, said pair of split sleeve members dependently translatable with said split sleeve guide member when translating in the first direction, and independently translatable relative to said split sleeve guide member when translating in the second direction.

12. The store ejection system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said split sleeve guide member and said valve control assembly are operatively coupled together at a geared interface.

13. The store ejection system in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said split sleeve guide member comprises a rack gear, and wherein said valve control assembly comprises a release shaft comprising a pinion gear operatively engaged with said rack gear.

14. The store ejection system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said release shaft further comprises a cam surface, said valve control assembly further comprising a valve control member coupled to said cam surface, said valve control member configured to induce actuation of an isolation valve as a function of rotation of said release shaft.

15. The store ejection system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a safety shaft configured to selectively engage said pair of split sleeve members simultaneously, said safety shaft configured to restrict actuation of said pair of split sleeve members when engaged therewith.

16. The store ejection system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said safety shaft is rotatable for selectively engaging said pair of split sleeve members simultaneously.

17. A method of discharging a store from a vehicle, said method comprising:
releasably retaining a store within a store ejector rack with a first hook member and a second hook member;
providing fluid from a fluid source to an accumulator via an isolation valve;
actuating a poppet valve in flow communication with the accumulator;
actuating a split sleeve guide member based on actuation via displacement of the poppet valve, the split sleeve guide member having a pair of split sleeve members, including a first split sleeve member and a second split sleeve member, disposed around and operatively coupled thereto, wherein the pair of split sleeve members are positioned about the split sleeve guide member such that a gap is defined therebetween; and
actuating a valve control assembly based on actuation via linear displacement of the split sleeve guide member, the valve control assembly operatively coupled to the split sleeve guide member through the gap, and operatively coupled to the isolation valve such that actuation of the split sleeve guide member causes actuation of the isolation valve.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the first split sleeve member is coupled to a first hook linkage actuating the first hook member and the second split sleeve member is coupled to a second hook linkage actuating the second hook member, said method further comprising:
actuating the pair of split sleeve members based on actuation via displacement of the split sleeve guide member along a first axis, to ca

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Binkholder Ryan
• Foster John K

Classifications

• B64D1/02 Primary

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