Patent · US Expired

Strikedown service mechanism for a vertical launching system

US4363257A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
9References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 28, 1980
Grant dateDec 14, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 28, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF41A9/20
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A service mechanism for a shipboard missile vertical launch system has a base assembly which rides on a set of parallel tracks spanning a missile housing array. A carriage assembly is mounted for movement along the base assembly in a direction normal to the tracks. A portion of the carriage assembly is disposed for 360.degree. rotation about a vertical axis. A cradle elevator is mounted for movement on vertically running tracks on the rotatable portion of the carriage assembly. A cradle is adapted to engage and hold a missile cannister and is rotatably mounted on the cradle elevator to dispose the missile cannister with its long axis in either a vertical or a horizontal position. The cradle includes a hoist pawl which is adapted to engage one end of the missile cannister to raise or lower the cannister in the cradle when the long axis is disposed vertically. The base assembly is hinged intermediate its ends so that when the vertical launching system is not being serviced the carriage assembly may be positioned adjacent to one end of the base assembly and the other end of the base assembly may be folded upwards to lie alongside the carriage assembly. With the cradle elevator lowered…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.