Retractable Gun Turret Patents (Class 89/37.21)
  • Patent number: 8807482
    Abstract: The system and apparatus of the present invention is generally comprised of a non-dedicated, temporarily-installed, aircraft observer bubble door, chair, sonotube ejection system, mission electronics LRU rack and workstation assembly which are affixed to the Air Deployment System (ADS) rails, cargo tie down “D” rings, seat belt restraint ring bolt sockets, and litter bar of a host aircraft, thereby precluding the requirement for dedicated airframe modifications. One embodiment of the present invention also utilizes a multi-axis, articulated, foldable chair temporarily-installed in conjunction with a segmented or one piece pressurized observer bubble door plug and door retraction system. Once installed the subject apparatus can be stowed outboard of the fuselage cargo transit envelope to permit use of the ADS rail system in-flight, without affecting normal air drop operations, crew egress, the flight performance envelope, or emergency procedures of the host aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: 1281329 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Woodland, Ross James Neyedly
  • Patent number: 8657230
    Abstract: Particular embodiments comprise a non-dedicated, temporarily installed, airborne special mission payload mounting system which is mechanically interfaced to the Air Deployment System (ADS) rails of a host cargo aircraft. An Adaptive Mounting Plate (AMP) is placed over an ADS rail section and restrained in position. Once the AMP is secured, an articulated or fixed position strut can be attached to it through the opened side doorway without removing the original door. Once the fixed position or articulated strut is bolted to the AMP, a one piece or segmented two piece pressurized door plug indented along its lower periphery to accommodate the protruding form factor of the fixed position or articulated strut is installed within the vacant doorway above the strut providing an airtight seal and thereby permitting pressurization of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: 1281329 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Woodland, Ross James Neyedly
  • Patent number: 8635938
    Abstract: The technology can include a retractable rotary turret system. The system includes a base comprising two support arms. The system further includes a turret platform that is a truncated sphere having a substantially flat side and a substantially spherical side. The turret platform includes a turret support ring rotary coupled to the two support arms and a turret device isolatively coupled to the turret support ring. The turret platform is rotatable along a first dimension for deployment of the spherical side and is rotatable along the first dimension for deployment of the flat side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: William B. King, John D. Isker, Chaunchy F. Mckearn, Eric J. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8393258
    Abstract: A retractable turret rotatable on a platform, including an active system orientable in vertically extendable elevation, and in azimuth, a protective cowling for the active system and for closing a caisson, wherein the turret includes, for vertically extendable deployment and rotation of the active system, first and second arms forming a deformable quadrilateral on either side of the active system, a first manual means for controlling deployment of the active system by activating the first arm, and a second manual means for controlling the orientation in vertically extended elevation and in horizontal azimuth of the active system by moving the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nexter Systems
    Inventors: Jean-François Cazalieres, Jérôme Guillard, Laurent Reynard
  • Patent number: 8336441
    Abstract: A gun mount for spanning an opening, such as a door or window, may include a generally tubular bar having a pivot and lock structure on one end. The bar may include a pair of slots formed on opposing sides of the bar. A locking sleeve may be slidable on the bar. A fastener may be fixed to the locking sleeve and translatable in the pair of slots in the bar. A second generally tubular bar may include a yoke at one end and a hinge assembly at another end. The yoke may be rotatably engaged with the pivot and lock structure. The pivot and lock structure may include a locking groove. A spring-loaded locking plunger may be translatably disposed in the yoke and may include a protrusion that is selectively engagable with the locking groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: David Javorsky
  • Patent number: 7765912
    Abstract: A weapon, representatively a machine gun, is mounted in a crew-served orientation on the outer end of an elongated support beam extending transversely through and secured within the cabin area of a helicopter, with the outer beam end disposed exteriorly of the helicopter. A seat structure, upon which a crew member may sit, is mounted atop a longitudinally central portion of the beam for sliding movement along the beam toward and away from the machine gun. Operatively associated with the machine gun is an ammunition box having a lid portion fixed to the bottom side of the beam end upon the top side of which the machine gun is pivotally and rotationally mounted. The body of the ammunition box is removably securable to the beam secured lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Contract Fabrication & Design LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Serkland
  • Patent number: 7168357
    Abstract: A security monitoring and enforcement system is provided for monitoring and enforcing control in a secure environment, such as an aircraft. The system includes a security monitoring and enforcement unit (SMEU) having a visual surveillance system and an audio surveillance and communication system. The visual surveillance system is mounted to an enforcement system and housed in a ceiling of an aircraft. The SMEU is remotely operated and monitored by remote control system located on the ground. The security monitoring and enforcement system is operable continuously or when a security breach is detected. The enforcement system is activated and fired to subdue a suspect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Ian Hodgkinson