Oct 21, 2025

US12449215 - Automated missile launcher reloader

In one embodiment, a method of automated missile launcher reloading includes aligning one or more collars of a shelving system with a path of a canister and activating one or more rollers of the shelving system to translate the canister into the one or more collars. The method also includes coupling a first collar of the one or more collars to the canister and adjusting the one or more collars to align the canister with a path of a launcher cell. The method further includes translating the one or more collars into the path of the launcher cell to feed the canister into the launcher cell.

Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
Inventors: Steven Wylie Mitchell, Timothy Michael Karl Engel, Weetek Foo
Filing date: 2022-11-28

The patent describes a method for automating the reloading of missile launchers using a shelving system with collars and rollers to efficiently align and feed canisters into the launcher. This process involves several steps, including aligning collars, activating rollers, and adjusting the collars to ensure proper placement of the canister into the launcher cell.

Claim 1

A method of automated missile launcher reloading, comprising: aligning one or more collars of a shelving system with a path of a canister; activating one or more rollers of the shelving system to translate the canister into the one or more collars; coupling a first collar of the one or more collars to the canister; adjusting the one or more collars to align the canister with a path of a launcher cell; and translating the one or more collars into the path of the launcher cell to feed the canister into the launcher cell. aligning one or more collars of a shelving system with a path of a canister; activating one or more rollers of the shelving system to translate the canister into the one or more collars; coupling a first collar of the one or more collars to the canister; adjusting the one or more collars to align the canister with a path of a launcher cell; and translating the one or more collars into the path of the launcher cell to feed the canister into the launcher cell.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12449215

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12449215