US 11,999,483 B2
Payload launching arrangement and a method for launching a payload
Gunnar Bystroem, Kungsaengen (SE); and Fredrik Gustafsson, Taeby (SE)
Assigned to SAAB AB, Linköping (SE)
Appl. No. 17/250,527
Filed by SAAB AB, Linkoeping (SE)
PCT Filed Aug. 14, 2018, PCT No. PCT/SE2018/050823
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 1, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/036519, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0316860 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. B64D 1/12 (2006.01); F42B 5/15 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 1/12 (2013.01) [F42B 5/15 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An arrangement (1) configured for storing and launching a payload (3) to be launched from the arrangement (1), the arrangement (1) comprising:
an elongated body (9) comprising:
a compartment (15) configured to store and eject the payload (3), and
an aerodynamic surface (11) provided with a launch opening (13) comprising a guideway (17) extending from the compartment (15) obliquely downwards and backwards relative to a flight travel direction (D) of the payload (3), the guideway (17) being coupled to or associated with a payload holding area (22) of an end section (24) of the compartment (15), the payload holding area (22) being configured to hold the payload (3) to be launched in an eject position (EJ) stored in the compartment (15),
wherein:
a sliding portion (12) of the payload (3) is configured to slide along the guideway (17) and through the launch opening (13) upon ejection,
an extension of the guideway (17) inclines with an acute angle (a) relative the normal (N) to the centre line (CL) of the elongated body (9), the acute angle (a) being inclined backwards relative to the flight travel direction (D),
the plane of the payload area (22) and the plane of the guideway (17) exhibit a relative angle corresponding to the acute angle (α), which relative angle forms a corner point (CP),
the payload holding area (22) has an ejection mechanism (21) configured to eject the payload (3) along the payload holding area (22) in a direction toward the launch opening (13) for providing a motion of the payload (3) over the corner point (CP), such that a first portion (23) of the payload (3) is exposed to an airflow (AF) created by travel in the flight travel direction (D) before a second portion (28) of the payload (3) is exposed to the airflow,
the sliding portion (12) is opposite an opposite side of the payload (3) comprising the first portion (23) and the second portion (28),
the acute angle (α) is such that, during use of the arrangement, airflow flowing over the aerodynamic surface applies an eject force on the first portion of the payload being ejected and the second portion (28) of the payload (3) is exposed to the airflow after the first portion has been exposed thereto, such that the payload will flip around for releasing a countermeasure element (25) from the payload (3) by means of the airflow;
the aerodynamic surface (11) lies wholly in a first plane; and
the extension of the guideway (17) intersects and continues obliquely downwards and backwards beyond the first plane with an incline oriented at the acute angle (α).