초록 ▼

A carrier including one or more guide tracks, an endless positioning chain associated with each guide track for supporting a payload item, and one or more drive motors for moving the chains in unison with respect to the guide tracks to move a payload item toward an ejection station. A fairing may be

A carrier including one or more guide tracks, an endless positioning chain associated with each guide track for supporting a payload item, and one or more drive motors for moving the chains in unison with respect to the guide tracks to move a payload item toward an ejection station. A fairing may be mounted in association with the guide tracks. The guide tracks encircle the aircraft fuselage and are maintained under sufficient tension to apply a radial compressive force to the fuselage for securing them thereto. The guide tracks are laterally rigid but are flexible radially to conform to a range of fuselage contours when subjected to a tensile force. The guide tracks thus may be secured to different aircraft in order to temporarily transform the aircraft into a military payload carrier, with minimal modification. Following military employment, the aircraft may be refurbished for non-military usage by removal of the carrier. The carrier is particularly suited for reversibly converting an aircraft to a platform for carrying and launching one or more rockets or cruise missiles.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for converting an aircraft to an ALM carrier aircraft, comprising the steps of: securing guide track means to the aircraft fuselage about the periphery thereof essentially by applying a peripheral compressive force thereto; and mounting payload positioning means to said guide means for supp

A method for converting an aircraft to an ALM carrier aircraft, comprising the steps of: securing guide track means to the aircraft fuselage about the periphery thereof essentially by applying a peripheral compressive force thereto; and mounting payload positioning means to said guide means for supporting a plurality of ALM\s in parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the fuselage for movement with respect to the fuselage periphery toward an ejection station at which an ALM may be released, whereby the aircraft may be converted to an ALM carrier and may be refurbished to its prior condition with essentially no modification to the fuselage or the structure.