Rapid fire launch system

Abstract

A magazine-fed launch or firing system is provided. The system comprises a plurality of magazines arranged radially around a central loading area. A first loading mechanism is provided for supplying a munition arranged within a magazine to the central loading area. A second loading mechanism is provided for delivering a munition arranged within the central loading area to a barrel of the system. A turret is provided for altering at least one of the azimuth and elevation angle of the barrel.

1 . A magazine-fed system comprising:
 a plurality of magazines each having a first end and a second end arranged about a central loading area, each magazine in communication with a corresponding first loading mechanism configured to provide a munition arranged within at least one of the plurality of magazines to the central loading area, and   a second loading mechanism configured to provide a munition arranged within the central loading area to a barrel of the system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second loading mechanism and the plurality of magazines are rotatable with respect to the central loading area. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first loading mechanism comprises at least one linear actuator configured to provide a munition from the second end of a corresponding magazine to the central loading area. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein a first capturing mechanism is coupled to a movable end of the at least one actuator and the displacement of the movable end of the at least one actuator is operative to bias the first capturing mechanism, securing a munition to the at least one actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine comprises a pusher round operative to displace a munition arranged within a magazine into a position for securing with the first loading mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the pusher round comprises an internal drive motor operative to displace the pusher round through the magazine. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the magazine comprises a geared rack configured to engage with a pinion coupled to the output shaft of the drive motor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the magazine comprises at least one anti-rotation surface configured to prevent the rotation of the pusher round within the magazine. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the pusher round comprises a pressure sensor arranged on a surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second loading mechanism comprises an engaging mechanism moveable between a first position for engaging with a munition, and a second position for loading the munition into the barrel. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the engaging mechanism comprises a locking surface configured to mate with a corresponding first locking mechanism arranged on the munition. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the locking surface comprises an annular recess. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the engaging mechanism comprises a threaded element moveable with respect to the locking surface. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the threaded element is configured to bias the first locking mechanism into an unlocked position, allowing for the retraction of the second engaging mechanism from the munition. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel comprises a second locking mechanism moveable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position and configured to retain the munition within the barrel. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second locking mechanism is biased to the locked position. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel comprises at least one electromagnetic coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field operative to selectively control a third locking mechanism configured to secure the munition within the barrel. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel is pivotally connected to a turret for selectively altering the elevation angle of the barrel by a first motor operative to drive a rack and pinion arrangement. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the turret is operative to alter the elevation angle of the barrel at least 180 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the barrel is mounted to a rotatable turret for selectively altering the azimuth angle of the barrel, the turret rotated by a second motor operative to drive a second rack and pinion arrangement. 
     
     
         21 . A magazine for storing at least one munition comprising:
 a first opening configured to receive a munition;   a second opening, and   a motorized pusher round operative to displace a munition arranged within the magazine in a direction from the first opening toward the second opening.   
     
     
         22 . The magazine of  claim 21 , wherein the pusher round comprises an internal drive motor. 
     
     
         23 . The magazine of  claim 22 , wherein the magazine comprises a geared rack configured to engage with at least one pinion gear coupled to the drive motor. 
     
     
         24 . The magazine of  claim 22 , wherein the magazine comprises two geared racks arranged proximate a top and bottom of the magazine respectively, and configured to engage with first and second pinion gears coupled to the drive motor. 
     
     
         25 . The magazine of  claim 22 , wherein the drive motor is operative to displace the pusher round in a direction toward the second opening, and in a direction away from the second opening. 
     
     
         26 . The magazine of  claim 25 , wherein the pusher round is configured to move into a first loading position on a side of the first opening opposite the second opening. 
     
     
         27 . The magazine of  claim 21 , wherein the pusher round comprises a pressure sensor arranged on a surface thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The magazine of  claim 27 , wherein the pressure sensor is operatively connected to a processor for detecting at least one of the presence of a munition adjacent to the pusher round and a fault condition. 
     
     
         29 . The magazine of  claim 21 , further comprising a mechanically actuated stop arrange proximate the second opening of the magazine, the stop configured to arrest the movement of the munitions in a direction toward the second opening. 
     
     
         30 . The magazine of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one anti-rotation surface configured to prevent the rotation of the pusher round with respect to the magazine. 
     
     
         31 . A munition loading device for a magazine-fed launch system comprising:
 a first capturing mechanism;   a second capturing mechanism pivotally attached to the first capturing mechanism, and   at least one linear actuator operative to secure a munition between the first and second capturing mechanisms.   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , further comprising a bell crank coupled to the at least one linear actuator and the second capturing mechanism for translating a linear motion of the actuator for at least one of securing and releasing a munition between the first and second capturing mechanisms. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the first capturing mechanism is arranged proximate an exit opening of a magazine configured to store munitions. 
     
     
         34 . A munition loading device for an open-breech launch system comprising:
 a engaging mechanism configured to selectively fasten to a portion of a munition, the mechanism comprising a locking surface for mating with a complementary locking assembly of a munition;   a drive assembly configured to displace the engaging mechanism between a first position for fastening to a munition, and a second position for arranging the munition within a barrel of a launch system.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the locking surface comprises an annular recess. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the engaging mechanism comprises a threaded element moveable relative to the locking surface. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the threaded element is configured to move between a locked position, wherein the locking assembly of the munition is engaged with the locking surface of the engaging mechanism, and an unlocked position, wherein the threaded element is configured to disengage the locking assembly from the locking surface, allowing for the retraction of the second engaging mechanism from the munition. 
     
     
         38 . A method of operating a magazine-fed launch system comprising:
 loading munitions into a first opening arranged proximate a first end of each of a plurality of magazines, each of the magazines having a second opening proximate a second end arranged around a shared load area;   moving a selected munition from the second opening of one of the plurality of magazines to the shared load area, and   loading the selected munition from the shared load area to a barrel of the launch system.