Magazine and method for launching countermeasures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10683092-B2
Application number	US-201716301305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2017
Priority date	May 17, 2016
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

A magazine for storing and launching countermeasures arranged in cartridges, comprising a plurality of longitudinal cartridge cases forming the magazine, where each cartridge case comprises side walls and a front opening and a centre axis, where the magazine is adapted to be mounted on an aircraft, where the side walls of two adjacent cartridge cases are arranged to each other in a slidable manner in a longitudinal direction, and where the magazine comprises a tilting means adapted to tilt the cartridge cases, such that the openings of the cartridge cases can be directed in a selected direction. The advantage of the invention is that a countermeasure can be directed in a desired angle before it is launched.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A magazine ( 2 ) for storing and launching countermeasures ( 5 ) arranged in cartridges ( 12 ), the magazine ( 2 ) comprising:
a plurality of longitudinal cartridge cases ( 6 ) forming the magazine ( 2 ), wherein each cartridge case ( 6 ) comprises side walls and a front opening ( 14 ) and a center axis ( 15 ), and the side walls ( 24 ) of two adjacent cartridge cases ( 6 ) are arranged to each other in a slidable manner in a longitudinal direction, and
a tilting means ( 25 ) configured to tilt the cartridge cases ( 6 ), such that the openings ( 14 ) of the cartridge cases ( 6 ) are selectively oriented in a selected direction.

2. The magazine according to claim 1 , wherein:
each of the cartridge cases ( 6 ) comprises longitudinal interconnection means ( 21 ) arranged in parallel with the center axis ( 15 ), and
adjacent ones of the cartridge cases ( 6 ) are interconnected to each other in a slidable manner by the interconnection means ( 21 ).

3. The magazine according to claim 2 , wherein the interconnection means ( 21 ) comprises longitudinal grooves ( 22 ) and tongues ( 23 ).

4. The magazine according to claim 3 , wherein the interconnection means ( 21 ) extend on a plurality of longitudinal external sides ( 24 ) of each of the cartridge cases ( 6 ).

5. The magazine according to claim 4 , wherein the magazine comprises a base ( 7 ) to which the cartridge cases ( 6 ) are hingedly attached.

6. The magazine according to claim 5 , wherein the tilting means ( 25 ) is connected to a tilt control cartridge case ( 17 ) of the magazine.

7. The magazine according to claim 6 , wherein each of the cartridge cases ( 6 ) is attached to the base ( 7 ) by a flexible joint ( 16 ).

8. The magazine according to claim 7 , wherein the flexible joint ( 16 ) of each of the cartridge cases ( 6 ) except the tilt control cartridge case ( 17 ) are movable in a first and in a second direction when the magazine ( 2 ) is tilted.

9. The magazine according to claim 8 , wherein each of the cartridge cases ( 6 ) are configured to be tilted from a resting position ( 50 ) to an active position ( 51 ).

10. The magazine according to claim 9 , wherein each of the cartridge cases ( 6 ) are configured to be tilted at least by 30 degrees in a first direction.

11. The magazine according to claim 10 , wherein each of the cartridge cases ( 12 ) are further configured to be tilted at least by 30 degrees in a second direction.

12. The magazine according to claim 1 , wherein:
the magazine ( 2 ) is configured to tilt from a resting position ( 50 ) to an active position ( 51 ) before a countermeasure is launched, and
the magazine ( 2 ) is configured to tilt back to the resting position ( 50 ) after the countermeasure has been launched.

13. The magazine according to claim 1 , wherein the magazine ( 2 ) is configured to be mounted on an aircraft ( 1 ).

14. A method for launching countermeasures ( 5 ) from the magazine ( 2 ) of claim 1 , the method comprising steps of: tilting the cartridge cases ( 6 ) from a resting position ( 50 ) to an active position ( 51 ) such that the openings ( 14 ) of the cartridge cases are oriented in the selected direction and launching at least one of the countermeasures ( 5 ) when the cartridge cases ( 6 ) are in the active position ( 51 ) with the openings ( 14 ) oriented in the selected direction.

15. An aircraft comprising at least one magazine according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Saab Ab

Inventors

• Zaetterqvist Christer

Classifications

• F41H11/02

  Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile {or anti-torpedo} defence installations or systems (cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; {informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00}) · CPC title

• F41F1/08

  Multibarrel guns, e.g. twin guns · CPC title

• F41F1/06

  Mortars (base plates therefor F41A23/54) · CPC title

• F41A27/24

  Elevating gear (F41A27/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F41A17/38

  {Magazine mountings, e.g. for} locking the magazine in the gun · CPC title