May 6, 2025

US12292268 - Munitions rack with structural element and insertable ejectors

A munitions rack includes a munitions rack structure that houses multiple compact ejectors. The structure includes a pair of internal longitudinal ribs, inboard of a pair of external longitudinal ribs. A spine of the munitions rack structure links all the ribs, and the munitions rack structure may be formed out of a single piece of material. The ribs define a pair of side recesses on the port and starboard sides of the bomb, which each may be further subdivided into a forward pocket and an aft pocket. Removable ejectors are located in the pockets. The ejectors may receive pressurized gas from pressurized gas source(s) located outside of the ejectors. The ejectors may each have multiple forward pistons and multiple aft pistons. The ejectors may include pitch control valving to control the relative amounts of pressurized gas sent to the forward piston(s) and aft piston(s).

Assignee: Vertex Aerospace LLC
Inventors: Robert A. Bailey, James T. Erdmann, Stephen A. Streib, Armando Guerrero, Roy P. Mcmahon, Jessica R. Deherdt
Filing date: 2023-06-30

The patent describes a munitions rack designed to house multiple ejectors, featuring a structure with internal and external longitudinal ribs that create side recesses for removable ejectors. These ejectors utilize pressurized gas from external sources to operate multiple pistons for controlled ejection of munitions.

Claim 1

A munitions ejector for use in a munitions rack, the munitions ejector comprising: a pressurized gas interface for receiving pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source that is external to the munitions ejector; and a manifold that distributes pressurized gas from the pressurized gas interface to multiple forward pistons that are used to push a forward ejector foot of the munitions ejector outward, and to multiple aft pistons that are used to push an aft ejector foot of the munitions ejector outward. a pressurized gas interface for receiving pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source that is external to the munitions ejector; and a manifold that distributes pressurized gas from the pressurized gas interface to multiple forward pistons that are used to push a forward ejector foot of the munitions ejector outward, and to multiple aft pistons that are used to push an aft ejector foot of the munitions ejector outward.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12292268

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12292268