Adjustable adaptable vertical launching system

Abstract

A reconfigurable missile launcher that avoids some of the costs and disadvantages associated with missile launchers in the prior art. In particular, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention uses a variable-size receptacle for locating and holding a missile canister chosen from a set of missile canister types. The illustrative embodiment also includes a controller that includes data sets that are specific to each of a plurality of missile types.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 (1) a first receptacle for positioning a missile canister, wherein said first receptacle has a physical adaptation that enables said first receptacle to accept missile canisters of different sizes; and    (2) an exhaust system for venting fumes from said missile canister.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a controller capable of controlling a plurality of different types of missiles.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said controller comprises a data set for each of said plurality of different types of missiles.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first missile canister; and    a first missile, wherein said first missile is contained in said first missile canister and said first missile is selected from said plurality of different types of missiles.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second receptacle for positioning a missile canister, wherein said second receptacle has a physical adaptation that enables said second receptacle to accept missile canisters of different sizes.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a second missile canister; and    a second missile, wherein said second missile is contained in said second missile canister and wherein said second missile is selected from said plurality of different types of missiles.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a second missile canister, wherein said second guides locate said missile canister and wherein said exhaust missile canister vents fumes from said first missile canister.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said exhaust system comprises an exhaust outlet and wherein said exhaust outlet has a physical adaptation that enables the position of said exhaust outlet to be changed.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said exhaust system comprises a plurality of exhaust outlets.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said physical adaptation of said first receptacle comprises a plurality of supports, wherein said supports locate and secure said missile canister and wherein the position of at least one said support can be changed.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a platform;    a plurality of first guides for locating a missile canister, wherein said first guides project from a surface of said platform and wherein said first guides are substantially parallel to one another and further wherein a spacing between said first guides is variable such that said first guides locate any one of a plurality of missile canister types; and    an exhaust system for venting fumes from said missile canister.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a controller capable of controlling a plurality of different types of missiles.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said controller comprises a data set for each of said plurality of different types of missiles.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a first missile canister, wherein said first missile canister is selected from said plurality of missile canister types; and    a first missile, wherein said first missile is contained in said first missile canister and wherein said first missile is selected from said plurality of different types of missiles.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said controller further comprises a communications cable and a cable connector and further wherein said cable connector can mate to any of said plurality of missile canister types.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a first missile, wherein said first missile is contained in said first missile canister and wherein said first missile is one of said different types of missiles.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said exhaust system comprises an exhaust outlet and wherein the position of said exhaust outlet is fixed.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said exhaust system comprises an exhaust outlet and wherein the position of said exhaust outlet is variable.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said exhaust system comprises a plurality of exhaust outlets.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of second guides for locating a second missile canister, wherein said second guides project from a surface of said platform and wherein said second guides are substantially parallel to one another and further wherein a spacing between said second guides is variable such that said second guides locate any one of said plurality of missile canister types.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 a second missile canister, wherein said second missile canister is selected from said plurality of missile canister types; and    a second missile, wherein said second missile is contained in said second missile canister and wherein said second missile is selected from said plurality of different types of missiles.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said exhaust system comprises an exhaust missile canister, wherein said second guides locate said exhaust missile canister and further wherein said exhaust missile canister vents fumes from said first missile canister.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a controller, wherein said controller is capable of controlling a plurality of different types of missiles; and    a first receptacle for positioning a missile canister, wherein said first receptacle has a physical adaptation that enables said first receptacle to accept a missile canister selected from a plurality of different types of missile canisters.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 a first missile canister, wherein said first missile canister is selected from said plurality of different types of missile canisters; and    a first missile, wherein said missile is selected from said plurality of different types of missiles.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising a second receptacle for positioning a missile canister, wherein said second receptacle has a physical adaptation that enables said second receptacle to accept a missile canister selected from a plurality of different types of missile canisters.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  further comprising: 
 a second missile canister, wherein said second missile canister is selected from said plurality of different types of missile canisters; and    a second missile, wherein said second missile is selected from said plurality of different types of missiles.