A ROTARY DISPENSING MECHANISM

The present invention relates to a rotary dispensing mechanism which allows launching of ammunition at different angles, which are used as a countermeasure against guided missiles.

Currently, at least two electronic warfare systems are provided in air vehicles, such as airplanes or helicopters, for protection from radar and heat guided missiles. A countermeasure dispensing system is used as the mentioned electronic warfare system, in which a cartridge with chaff or flare is located. The countermeasure dispensing systems are mounted on air vehicles. These dispensers are capable of dispensing in different directions by changing azimuth and elevation angles. Moreover, weight of these objects mounted on air vehicles is important because overall weight of the air vehicle is a critical parameter for flight performance. Within this context, the lower the overall weight, the lower the costs and the higher the flight performance/efficiency.

In the Turkey originated utility model document TR200708404, which is included in the known state of art, there is disclosed a countermeasure rotary dispenser within the scope of electronic warfare systems to protect the helicopter against guided missiles on a rotary wing flying platform. In this document, the fixing screw is protected along the azimuth axis. In said document, on the other hand, the elevation angle adjusting mechanism and the parts to which the mechanism is attached considerably increase the weight of the dispenser. This affects flight performance negatively and cannot solve the before mentioned problem.

Thanks to a rotary dispensing mechanism according to the present invention, a rotary dispensing mechanism which will provide a lighter rotary dispenser than existing systems is provided. With the invention, performance and efficiency are increased on the platform where the mechanism is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more effective, practical and reliable way of adjusting the angles of rotary dispensers. The rotary dispensing mechanism realized to achieve the object of the invention and defined in the first claim and the claims dependent thereon comprises a body; a first plate which is located on the body and enables the body to be fixed on the ground; a second plate which is located on the first plate, rotatable along a plane almost parallel to the ground, and allows an azimuth angle of the dispenser to be adjusted; at least one support element attached to the second plate and serving as a support during adjustment of the dispenser’s elevation angle; a holder located on the support element; a connection element which connects the holder to the support element and allows the holder to rotate during adjustment of the dispenser’s elevation angle; and a chamber located on the holder and in which a chaff and/or a flare is placed for dispensing.

The rotary dispensing mechanism of the invention comprises a locking element which allows the holder to be fixed at a pre-calculated elevation angle by the user during adjustment of the dispenser’s elevation angle, wherein one end of the locking element is attached to the support element and another end thereof is attached to the holder.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises multiple holes which are located on the support element and/or the holder and allow the dispenser to take a fixed position at different elevation angles when the locking element is attached to each of the holes individually by the user during adjustment of the dispenser’s elevation angle.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises a hole which is made along the support element and/or the holder and is positioned to form a channel.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises multiple protrusions which are located in a way extending outward over the support element and/or the holder and allow the dispenser to be fixed at different elevation angles when the locking element is attached to each of the protrusions individually by the user during adjustment of the dispenser’s elevation angle. In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises a hole which is made on the locking element and allows the locking element to be connected to the support element and/or the holder in an attachable and detachable manner.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises a hole which is made along the locking element and positioned to form a channel.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises a protrusion which is located extending outwardly from the locking element to allow the locking element to be connected to the support element and/or the holder in an attachable and detachable manner.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises multiple holes which are positioned on the support element and/or the holder in different directions from each other.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises multiple holes which are positioned on the support element and the holder symmetrically with respect to each other.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises multiple protrusions which are positioned on the support element and/or the holder in different directions from each other.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises multiple protrusions which are positioned on the support element and the holder symmetrically with respect to each other.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises an extension which extends outwardly from the holder to provide connection between the locking element and the holder, and multiple holes which are located on the extension and enable said connection to be achieved. In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises an extension which enables the holder to be connected to the support element in an attachable and detachable manner without preventing rotation of the holder.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises at least one flange which is positioned on the first plate to allow the second plate to rotate only on the plane parallel to the ground.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism comprises a chamber in which cartridges (chaff / flare) used to mislead the guided missiles are placed.

The rotary dispensing mechanism realized to achieve the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rotary dispensing mechanism.

Figure 2 is a side view of a rotary dispensing mechanism.

Figure 3 is a side view of a rotary dispensing mechanism.

Figure 4 is a top view of the flange provided in a rotary dispensing mechanism.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

1. Rotary dispensing mechanism

2. Body

3. First plate

4. Second plate

5. Support element

6. Holder

7. Connection element

8. Chamber

9. Locking element

10. Hole

11. Protrusion 12. Extension

13. Flange

Z. Ground

The rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises a body (2); a first plate (3) which is located on the body (2) and holds the body (2) on the ground (Z) by contacting the ground (Z); a second plate (4) which is located on the first plate (3) in a rotatable manner along a plane almost parallel to the ground (Z); at least one support element (5) located on the second plate (4) and extending outwardly from the second plate (4); a holder (6) located on the support element (5); a connection element (7) which connects the holder (6) to the support element (5) so that the holder (6) is rotatable around an axis to which it is connected; and a chamber (8) located on the holder (6) and in which a chaff and/or a flare is placed for dispensing (Figure 1).

The rotary dispensing mechanism (1) of the invention comprises a locking element (9), one end of which is attached to the support element (5) and another end of which is attached to the holder (6) to allow the holder (6) to be held at a predetermined position by the user (Figure 1).

The second plate (4) is placed on the first plate (3) so as to rotate around its own axis along a plane parallel to the ground (Z). Due to said rotational movement, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) is enabled to move in a direction known as the azimuth angle. The support element (5) is placed on the second plate (4). The holder (6) is placed on the support element (5), the holder (6) carrying the chamber (8) in which a chaff and/or a flare is placed for dispensing. The connection element (7) is provided between the support element (5) and the holder (6) such that the holder (6) is enabled to rotate around an axis to which it is connected. Due to said rotational movement, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) is enabled to move in a direction known as the elevation angle. By fixing the first plate (3) located on the body (2) to the ground (Z), the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) is fixed to the vehicle in which it will be used.

One end of the locking element (5) is attached to the support element (5), and another end thereof is attached to the holder (6). Therefore, the holder (6), which is rotatable around an axis to which it is connected, is prevented from moving, and the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) is enabled to be fixed at a predetermined elevation angle by the user. Also, in this way, weight of the rotary dispensing mechanism is enabled to be reduced by using said locking element (9) when compared to the known state of the art.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises multiple holes (10) which are located on the support element (5) and/or the holder (6), wherein the holder (6) is allowed to be brought into different positions according to the hole (10) to which the locking element (9) is attached by the user. Therefore, the locking element (9) is allowed to be attached to the support element (5) and/or the holder (6) such that the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) is fixed at a predetermined elevation angle by the user (Figure 2).

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises a hole (10) extending along the full length of the support element (5) and/or the holder (6). Thus, change in the position of the locking element (9) on the support element (5) and the holder (6) is made practical (Figure 3).

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises multiple protrusions (11) which are located in a way extending outward over the support element (5) and/or the holder (6), wherein the holder (6) is allowed to be brought into different positions according to the protrusion (11) to which the locking element (9) is attached by the user. Therefore, the locking element (9) is allowed to be attached to the support element (5) and/or the holder (6) such that the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) is positioned at a predetermined elevation angle by the user (Figure 1).

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises a hole (10) which is located on the locking element (9) and allows the locking element (9) to be attached to the support element (5) and/or the holder (6) in a detachable manner. Thus, it is allowed that the locking element (9) is attached to the hole (10) where it should be attached and that the locking element (9) is removed from the hole (10) to which it is attached in order to attach it to another hole (10).

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises a hole (10) extending along the full length of the locking element (9). Therefore, change in the position of the locking element (9) on the support element (5) and the holder (6) is made practical.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises a protrusion (11) which is located in a way extending outward over the locking element (9) and allows the locking element (9) to be attached to the support element (5) and/or the holder (6) in a detachable manner. Thus, it is allowed that the locking element (9) is attached to the hole (10) where it should be attached, and that the locking element (9) is removed, in case of a change, in order to attach it to another hole (10).

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises multiple holes (10) which are positioned on the support element (5) and/or the holder (6) so as not to be in the same direction with each other. Therefore, the user effectively adjusts an elevation angle at which she/he desires to hold the rotary dispensing mechanism (1), and the user is enabled to hold the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) at this position.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises multiple holes (10) which are located mirror-symmetrically on the support element (5) and the holder (6). Therefore, the user effectively adjusts an elevation angle at which she/he desires to hold the rotary dispensing mechanism (1), and the user is enabled to hold the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) at this position.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises multiple protrusions (11) which are positioned on the support element (5) and/or the holder (6) so as not to be in the same direction with each other. Therefore, the user effectively adjusts an elevation angle at which she/he desires to hold the rotary dispensing mechanism (1), and the user is enabled to hold the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) at this position.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises multiple protrusions (11) which are located mirror-symmetrically on the support element (5) and the holder (6). Therefore, the user effectively adjusts an elevation angle at which she/he desires to hold the rotary dispensing mechanism (1), and the user is enabled to hold the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) at this position.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises an extension (12) which is located in a way extending outward over the holder (6) and allows the locking element (9) to be attached to the holder (6), and multiple holes which are located on the extension (12). Therefore, attachment of the locking element (9) to the holder (6) and change in the position on the holder (6) are made practical.

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises an extension (12) which allows the holder (6) to be connected to the support element (5) in a rotatable and detachable manner. Thus, attachment of the holder (6) to the support element (5) is made practical (Figure 1).

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises at least one flange (13) which is located on the first plate (3) and restricts the second plate (4) so that it can only rotate on the plane parallel to the ground (Z). Thus, movement of the second plate (4) is restricted and the second plate (4) can only move in the direction of rotation. This allows the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) to move in the azimuth direction, thanks to the second plate (4), while the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) remains in its place (Figure 4).

In an embodiment of the invention, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) comprises a chamber (8) in which cartridges (chaff / flare) used in rotary-wing air vehicles as a countermeasure against guided missiles are placed. Thus, the rotary dispensing mechanism (1) is enabled to be used as a countermeasure against guided missiles in rotary-wing air vehicles.