초록 ▼

A missile is guided and/or supported within a canister by a collapsible support structure. In one embodiment the collapsible support structure is part of a railcar running on a rail within the canister. Each railcar includes a missile-engaging guidance and/or support structure, a rail engaging eleme

A missile is guided and/or supported within a canister by a collapsible support structure. In one embodiment the collapsible support structure is part of a railcar running on a rail within the canister. Each railcar includes a missile-engaging guidance and/or support structure, a rail engaging element, and a hinged pantograph-like collapsible support extending between the missile-engaging structure and the rail engaging element. A hinge of the pantograph is locked in a storage state and during part of motion during the missile launch. The hinge is unlocked, and travel of the rail engaging element is stopped. The missile-engaging support structure momentarily continues its motion, and the pantograph collapses. Capture elements engage parts of the railcar or the canister during collapse to prevent rebound of the missile-engaging support structure toward the missile.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collapsible structure for controllably guiding a load comprises: a support structure;a load guiding structure;a collapsible support arrangement extending between said support structure and said load guiding structure, said collapsible support arrangement being affixed to said support structure

1. A collapsible structure for controllably guiding a load comprises: a support structure;a load guiding structure;a collapsible support arrangement extending between said support structure and said load guiding structure, said collapsible support arrangement being affixed to said support structure and to said load guiding structure; anda capture arrangement affixed to at least one of (a) said support structure and (b) said load guiding structure, for deforming in conjunction with the collapse of said collapsible support arrangement to absorb energy from the collapse of said load guiding structure toward said support structure and to reduce rebound of said load guiding structure from said support structure,wherein said collapsible support arrangement includes at least one support member adapted to support said load guiding structure in a position generally away from said support structure in a first mode, and allow collapsing motion of said load guiding structure relative to said support structure in a second mode. 2. A collapsible structure according to claim 1, wherein said collapsible structure is part of a railcar in which the support structure is configured to engage with and travel along a rail. 3. A collapsible structure according to claim 1, wherein said capture arrangement comprises an anchor clip affixed to one of (i) said support structure and (ii) said load guiding structure, and said anchor clip comprises at least one capture link including a base connected to said one of (i) said support structure and (ii) said load guiding structure and also including a hook portion dimensioned to engage a portion of said collapsible support arrangement. 4. A collapsible structure according to claim 3, wherein said hook portion is dimensioned to engage an edge portion of said support member of said collapsible support arrangement. 5. A collapsible structure according to claim 3, wherein said collapsible support arrangement defines an aperture therein, and wherein said hook portion is dimensioned to engage said aperture. 6. A collapsible structure according to claim 1, wherein said capture arrangement comprises an anchor clip affixed to one of (i) said support structure and (ii) said load guiding structure, and said anchor clip comprises at least one capture link including a base connected to said one of (i) said support structure and (ii) said load guiding structure, said anchor clip further including an enlarged head portion dimensioned to engage a portion of said collapsible support arrangement. 7. A collapsible structure according to claim 6, wherein the enlarged head portion defines a slot therein. 8. A collapsible structure according to claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a rigid, elongated member adapted to support said load guiding structure in a position generally parallel with said support structure in the first mode. 9. A collapsible structure according to claim 8, wherein said at least one rigid, elongated support member adapted to support said load guiding structure comprises a plurality of rigid, elongated bars hingedly linked to said load guiding structure and said support structure. 10. A collapsible structure according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of rigid, elongated bars hingedly linked to said load guiding structure and said support structure comprise a four bar linkage. 11. A collapsible structure according to claim 1, wherein said capture arrangement comprises an anchor clip that is one of (a) affixed to one of (i) said support structure and (ii) said load guiding structure, for capturing said collapsible support arrangement, thereby reducing rebounding motion of said support structure and said load guiding upon collapse, and (b) affixed to a wall adjacent said support structure and to said load guiding structure, for mutual capture, thereby reducing rebounding motion of said support structure and said load guiding upon collapse. 12. A collapsible structure according to claim 11, wherein said anchor clip comprises first and second mutually mating halves of a deformable energy absorption device, said first half of said energy absorption device being affixed to said wall adjacent said support structure and said second half of said energy absorption device being affixed to said load guiding structure, for mutual capture and deformation, thereby tending to reduce rebounding motion of said support structure and said load guiding upon collapse. 13. A collapsible structure according to claim 12, wherein said first and second mutually mating halves of a deformable energy absorption device comprise corrugated engaging elements configured for mutual engagement and permanent deformation therewith. 14. A missile launch arrangement, comprising: an elongated canister defining (a) an axis, (b) an elongated storage region about said axis, and (c) a missile egress end, said elongated storage region being dimensioned to accommodate a missile;a plurality of collapsible cars, each including a car support structure, a missile guidance structure, and a collapsible intermediary support lying between said car support structure and said missile guidance structure, said collapsible intermediary support adapted to hold said car support structure away from said missile guidance structure in a first mode of operation, and to allow said missile guidance structure to approach said car support structure in a second mode of operation, said cars, acting together in said first mode of operation, for guiding a missile as said missile travels toward said egress end of said canister, each of said intermediary supports of said collapsible cars being arranged for collapsing in conjunction with a transition between said first mode of operation and said second mode of operation when the associated car reaches a travel position along said storage region of said canister; andan anchor clip that is one of (a) affixed to one of (i) said car support structure and (ii) said missile guidance structure, for capturing said intermediary support, thereby preventing substantial rebounding motion of said intermediate support and said missile guidance structure toward said elongated storage region axis, and (b) affixed to said at least one wall of said storage region and to said missile guidance structure, for mutual capture, thereby tending to reduce rebounding motion of said missile guidance structure toward said elongated storage region axis. 15. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 14, further comprising at least one rail disposed adjacent at least one wall of said storage region, and further comprising rail-engaging means associated with said car support structure. 16. A missile launch arrangement, comprising: an elongated canister defining (a) an axis, (b) an elongated storage region about said axis, and (c) a missile egress end, said elongated storage region being dimensioned to accommodate a missile;a plurality of collapsible railcars, each including a railcar support structure, a missile guidance structure, and a collapsible intermediary support lying between said railcar support structure and said missile guidance structure, said collapsible intermediary support adapted to hold said railcar support structure away from said missile guidance structure in a first mode of operation, and to allow said missile guidance structure to approach said railcar support structure in a second mode of operation, said railcars, acting together in said first mode of operation, for guiding missile in said storage region as said missile travels toward said egress end of said canister, each of said intermediary supports of said collapsible railcars being arranged for collapsing in conjunction with a transition between said first mode of operation and said second mode of operation when the associated railcar reaches a travel position along said storage region of said canister; andan anchor clip that is one of (a) affixed to one of (i) said railcar support structure and (ii) said missile guidance structure, for capturing said intermediary support, thereby preventing substantial rebounding motion of said intermediate support and said missile guidance structure toward said elongated storage region axis, and (b) affixed to said at least one wall of said storage region and to said missile guidance structure, for mutual capture, thereby reducing rebounding motion of said missile guidance support structure toward said elongated storage region axis. 17. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said railcar support structure stops moving toward said missile egress end at said travel position while said missile guidance structure continues to move toward said missile egress end. 18. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 16, wherein at least some of said collapsible intermediary supports are in the form of a pantograph. 19. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 16, wherein: said anchor clip is affixed to one of (i) said railcar support structure and (ii) said missile guidance structure, and said anchor clip comprises at least one capture link including a base connected to said one of (i) said railcar support structure and (ii) said missile guidance structure and also including a hook portion dimensioned to engage a portion of said intermediary support. 20. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 19, wherein said intermediary support includes at least one elongated support member, and said hook portion is dimensioned to engage an edge portion of said elongated support member of said intermediary support. 21. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 19, wherein: said intermediary support includes at least one elongated support member defining an aperture; andsaid hook portion is dimensioned to engage said aperture. 22. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 16, wherein: said anchor clip is affixed to one of (i) said railcar support structure and (ii) said missile guidance structure, and said anchor clip comprises at least one capture link including a base connected to said one of (i) said railcar support structure and (ii) said missile guidance structure and also including an enlarged head portion dimensioned to engage a portion of said intermediary support. 23. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 16, wherein: said anchor clip comprises first and second mutually mating halves of a deformable energy absorption device, said first half of said energy absorption device being affixed to said at least one wall of said storage region and said second half of said energy absorption device being affixed to said missile guidance structure, for mutual capture and deformation, thereby tending to reduce rebounding motion of said missile support structure toward said elongated storage region axis. 24. A missile launch arrangement, comprising: an elongated canister defining (a) an axis, (b) an elongated storage region about said axis, and (c) a missile egress end, said elongated storage region being dimensioned to accommodate a missile;a plurality of collapsible cars, each including a car support structure, a missile engaging structure, and a collapsible intermediary support, said collapsible intermediary support adapted to hold said car support structure away from said missile engaging structure in a first mode of operation, and to allow said missile engaging structure to approach said car support structure in a second mode of operation, each of said collapsible cars lying between at least one wall of said storage region and said cylindrical body, with said car support structure adjacent said at least one wall of said storage region, said cars, acting together in said first mode of operation, for guiding a missile generally centered about said axis in said storage region as said missile travels toward said egress end of said canister, each of said intermediary supports of said collapsible cars being arranged for collapsing in conjunction with a transition between said first mode of operation and said second mode of operation when the associated car reaches a particular travel position along said storage region of said canister; andan anchor clip that is one of (a) affixed to one of (i) said car support structure and (ii) said missile engaging structure, for capturing said intermediary support, thereby preventing substantial rebounding motion of said intermediate support and said missile engaging structure toward said elongated storage region axis, and (b) affixed to said at least one wall of said storage region and to said missile engaging structure, for mutual capture, thereby reducing, rebounding motion of said missile engaging structure toward said elongated storage region axis. 25. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 24, wherein said anchor clip comprises first and second mutually mating halves of a deformable energy absorption device, said first half of said energy absorption device being affixed to said at least one wall of said storage region and said second half of said energy absorption device being affixed to said missile guidance structure, for mutual capture and deformation, thereby tending to reduce rebounding motion of said missile support structure toward said elongated storage region axis. 26. A missile launch arrangement according to claim 24, wherein said anchor clip comprises at least one capture link including a base connected to said one of (i) said railcar support structure and (ii) said missile guidance structure and also including a hook portion dimensioned to engage a portion of said intermediary support.