US3122059A

US3122059A - Rocket launchers

Info

Publication number: US3122059A
Application number: US151894A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul V Choate; Charles B Weeks
Original assignee: FLIGHTEX FABRICS Inc
Current assignee: FLIGHTEX FABRICS Inc
Priority date: 1961-11-13
Filing date: 1961-11-13
Publication date: 1964-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-25
Also published as: BE617503A

Description

Feb. 25, 1964 P, v, CHO'ATE Em, 3,122,059

ROCKET LAUNCHERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 13, 1961 INVENTORS CHARLES B. WEEKS PAULV. CHOATE 7 mm. m mm ow mm ATTORNEY P. V. CHOATE ETAL ROCKET LAUNCHERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTSRS CHARLES S. WEEK PAUL V. CHOATE BY ATTORNEI Feb. 25, 1964 Filed Nov. 15, 1961 mom s P. v. CHOATE ETAL 3,122,059

Feb. 25, 1964 ROCKET LAUNCHERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 13, 1961 FIG. I4

FIG. [3

' INVENTO CHARLES B.'WEEKS PAUL V. CHOATE ATTORN EY United States Patent Office 3,122,659 RQCKET LAUNCHERS Paul V. Choate, Milton, and Charies B. Weeks, Reading, Mass, assignors to Flightex Fabrics, Inc, Pawtucket, RL, a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Nov. 13, 1961, filer. No. 151,894 1t Claims. (Cl. 89-17) The present invention relates to launchers for rockets and particularly to such launchers that have characteristics enabling each to be manufactured at relatively low cost and to be easily carried and effectively used by an infantryman against a tank or fortified position and to combinations of rockets with such launchers.

The general objective of the invention is to provide such a launcher and this objective is attained by providing a launcher comprising a barrel consisting of first and second tubular sections interconnected to telescope between a shortened, inoperative position .and an extended operative position. The firing pin and firing spring are carried by the first section that constitutes the breech end of the launcher and the trigger mechanism is carried by the second section that constitutes the muzzle end of the launcher and is connected to the firing pin by an element attached to the second section. A trigger controlled release, which includes .a scar, is carried by the second section. A member is connected to the element and is movable into and out of its engagement with the sear. The engagement of the movable member With the sear is ineffective to move .the firing pin into its cocked position in the inoperative position of the launcher, the cocked firing pin position then being established by the extension of the sections to establish said operative launcher position.

Another objective of the invention is to provide the element in the form of a cable on a spring wound reel associated with the trigger mechanism and trained about the movable member. The length of the cable is such that, if the trigger mechanism is not cocked, extension of the launcher does not tension the firing spring as the reel freely unwinds to pay out all the cable during such extension. it the movable member is moved forwardly and engaged by the sear, the cable then becomes fully pulled out before the full extension of the launcher sections so that the cable pulls the firing pin Efiorwardly relative to the first section as the extension of the launcher is completed to establish its operative position.

Another objective of the invention is to safeguard further against accidental discharge by providing a positive lock preventing movement of the firing pin towards the igniter, the lock being releasable only when the launcher is in its operative position.

Another objective of the invention is to have sights that enable the launcher to be used with maximum accuracy and the rear sight and the front sight are both in protected, inoperative positions while the launcher is in condition to be carried. Both sights are carried by the second or muzzle section of the launcher and are selferecting.

In accordance with this objective, the rear sight is pivoted to swing rearwardly and downwardly from an erect position of use against the action of an erecting spring into an inoperative position in parallel with the axis of the launcher sections. The breech or first section has a forwardly opening housing which receives and holds the free end of the rear sight when in its inoperative position, as the sections of the launcher are telescoped to reestablish its inoperative position.

The front sight is connected to the muzzle end of the first section by a spring hinge to swing transversely of the muzzle and is held in that position as by a muzzle or front cover connected to a breech or rear cover by a resilient 3,l22,59 Patented Feb. 25, 1964 connector including an adjustable carrying sling. The rear cover is locked to the breech end of the launcher by a release pin. The user has but to pull the release pin and free the rear cover. The front cover and connectorthen fall free of the launcher and the front sight erects itself. The user then pulls the breech or first section rearwardly relative to the muzzle or first section to extend the launcher into its operative position with the rear sight erecting itself and the firing mechanism becoming cocked. Releasable means are provided to interlock the section in the operative launcher position.

Another objective of the present invention is to estab lish the launcher as a packing case for carrying a rocket from which it is safe to shoulder fire the rocket and which is suitably water tight to ensure that moisture cannot enter therein and possibly cause malfunctioning.

Yet another objective is that of providing a rocket and launcher combination in which the rocket is held against forward and rearward movement relative to the launcher, whether in its inoperative or its operative position, without interference with the launching of the rocket when its propellant charge is ignited.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention from which these and other of its objectives, novel features, and advantages will be readily apparent.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the rocket launcher in its shortened, inoperative position,

FIGURE 2 is a like view of the rocket launcher in its extended, operative position,

FIGURE 3 is a section, on an increased scale, taken approximately along the indicated lines 3-3 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section, on an increased scale, through the firing pin housing and the rear of the breech section to show a projectile locked therein against unintended forward movement,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of the muzzle end of the second launcher section with the front sight shown in its erected position,

FIGURE 6 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines 66 of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section through the trigger mechanism housing,

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view showing the main parts thereof in perspective,

FIGURE 9 is a section taken vertically through the rear sight,

FIGURE 10 is a front View of the rear sight with its cap removed,

FIGURE 11 is a view of the breech end of the launcher with the rear cover in place,

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of the undersurface of the launcher showing certain details of the connector for the covers,

FIGURE 13 is an elevational view of a lock for holding a rocket against forward movement, and

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary, horizontal section through the firing pin housing showing the lock against accidental rearward movement of the firing pin.

In accordance with the invention, a rocket launcher comprises first and second tubular sections 20 and 241. The section 20 is the breech section and slidably fits within the section 21 which is the muzzle section and is shorter than the latter so that its forward end presents an annular shoulder 22.

The section Ztl has at least one lengthwise diametrically opposed, groove 23 which terminates short of its ends and receives a pin 24 extending through an opening 25a in the band 25 on the rear end of the section 11. The pin 24 is fixed to the rear end of an arm 26 whose forward end is urged outwardly by a spring 27 back by the mount 23 to which the arm 26 is pivoted as at 29, see FIGURE 3. At the forward end of the mount 28 there is a pivot 39 supporting a release 31 yieldably urged by a spring 32 to position its shoulder .33 under the arm 26 to block its movement against the action of the spring 27 thus to prevent the pin 24 from moving outwardly under the load exerted thereon during firing. The spring 32 also urges the end of the release 31 upwardly between the forked ends 26a of the arm 26 so that on manual engagement, the shoulder 33 is moved forwardly out of its position in which movement of the arm 26 is blocked. A thin strip 34 is attached to the arm 26 and overlies the release 31 so that when the forward portion of the boot 35, sealed to the tube 2.1 to prevent water leakage, is pressed inwardly, disengagement of the release 31 and actuation of the arm 26 will result to move the pin 24 outwardly. When the launcher sections and 21 have been pulled apart to the maximum extent, the spring actuated pin 24- enters into a depression 23A at the front end of the groove 13 thus to lock the rocket sections in their extended position as is necessary for use of the launcher while permitting them to be released so that the rocket sections may be again telescoped. An O-ring 36 is located between the band and the band 37 fast on the rear end of the rocket breech section 2i).

The upper surface of the section 21 also is provided with a generally indicated, trigger mechanism housing 38, and between the rearrnost band 39 and the band 25 there is a channel 40 on the lower surface of the section 21. An arm 41 is pivotably connected to the rear of the channel 40, supporting, at right angles, the rear cover 42 which is provided with a compressible seal face 43 and adjacent which there are transversely disposed channels 44, see FIGURES 1 and 11.

In practice, a cover 45 having a compressible seal face 46 for the muzzle end of the section 21 has a yoke 4-7 pivotally connected thereto at diametrically spaced zones and dimensioned so that it may straddle the muzzle end with its closed end against or close to the section 21. A metal strap 48 is pivoted to the yoke 47 and connected to a rear section 49 by a resilient section consisting of parallel springs St The rear section 49 has a hook 52 disposed to be caught in the channels 44. The covers 42 and 45 are thus tensioned against the breech and muzzle ends of the inoperatively positioned launcher section and locked in that position by providing the cover 42 with an apertured tab 53 fitting over a rearwardly disposed projection 54 of the firing pin housing cover 54a. ceivcs the keeper pin 55. An adjustable carrying sling 56 is attached to the yoke 47 and to the rear section 49 of the connector.

With this construction, the rocket launcher may be conveniently carried in its shorted, inoperative position and quickly prepared for use by pulling the pin and disengaging the cover tab 53 from the projection 54 and swinging the rear cover away therefrom. The front cover 45, the strap 58 and its

sections

49 and 50 fall free While the rear cover 4-2 swings downwardly out of the way. The launcher sections may then be extended for use as by holding the section 21 with one hand and pulling the section 20 by means of the loop 57 carried by the band 37 until the pin 24 interlocks the sections when the operalive launcher position is established, as above described.

The band 37 supports a forwardly extending housing 53 which is spaced so as not to interfere with movement of the section 21. A receiver 59, having a forwardly disposed opening, is mounted on the housing 58. In the inoperative position of the launcher sections, the receiver 59 houses the end of a generally indicated rear sight 6d which is pivoted as at 61 between arms 62 of a mount 63 attached to the rear of the housing 33 and urged into an erect position by a spring 64 against a stop 65 which the rearward edge of the mount 63 provides. As the rocket The projection 54 has a transverse bore which re- 1 sections are extended, the rear sight is freed to erect itself into its position of use.

It will be noted that there is a band 66 adjacent the front end of the section 21. The band 66 has spaced cars 67 for the pivot 63 of a generally indicated front sight 69 which is biased upwardly into an erect position of use by the spring 6%. The front sight 69 includes a mount 70 which receives the pivot 63 and carries a clear plastic sheet 71 and a seal 72, the pivot enabling the front sight to be pivoted forwardly into its inoperative position. The front sight 69 in its inoperative position, see FIG- URE 1, has its sheet 7 1 held by the front cover 45 within the muzzle end of the section 21, which is notched as at 73 for that purpose, the space, when the sight is so positioned, being sealed by the seal 72. When the front cover 45 falls free, as above described, the spring 69a erects the front sight 69, with the mount '76 seated against the section 11 to provide a positive position of use.

It will be noted that the sheet 70 has a central vertical line 74 with vertically spaced, transverse graduations 75 marked thereon and that the target is visible therethrough, the graduations 75 decreasing in length as the indicated target distance increases. Markings 76 are also provided to assist the firer in leading moving targets.

The rear sight 60, see FIGURES 9 and 10, is shown as consisting of a member '78 of U-shaped cross section and having upper and lower openings 79 and 8%, respectively. A strip 8?. is clamped thereto as by bolts 82 passins through anchoring strips 33 with the strip 81 having vertically disposed slots 84 enabling the strip 81 to be adjusted vertically relative to the channel 78. The strip 81 is provided with a pair of sight holes 35 and a pair of transverse, detent slots 3%. A slide 8'7 is carried by the channel 73 and has a resilient detent arm 88 engageable with either slot 36 to then bring its slot 39 into registry with the appropriate one of the sight holes 85. In practice, the upper end of the sight is protected by a protective, safety rubber cap 90 having alined windows 91 in its front and back walls and used to prevent any chance of the user being injured by contact with the rear sight 6% while sighting and firing the launcher.

The rear sight 6% is important to accuracy when its projectile, the generally indicated rocket 92, is powered by solid fuel as variations in performance result with the temperature. A higher trajectory is attendant cold weather so that the upper sight hole is then used.

It will be noted that the rocket 92 has an intermediate shoulder 93 engageable with the shoulder 22 and thereby held against rearward movement, and that its rear part, see FIGURE 4, including its folded, pivoted fins 94, which are urged outwardly in flight by springs 95, is housed wholly by the section 2%. In practice, it is desirable to prevent the rocket 92 from moving forwardly unless fired. To that end, see FIGURES 4 and 13, a lock is provided that is apertured at 97 to be anchored by an attached fin Q4. The lock 6 is formed from a metal strip and has an intermediate twist 93 so that the rear end 9 9 may pass through a slot 1% in the rear cover 42, the rear end 99 having a stop 161 engageable with the rear cover 54a of the firing pin housing 58. In practice, the keeper pin 55, for locking the rear cover 42, includes a parallel pin 55a for entry through the hole QM in the exposed lock end 99. When the

pins

55 and 55a are removed, the launcher may be extended into its op erative position and while the rocket is secured by the lock 96 in its launcher against forward movement, the thrust of its ignited charge is great enough to readily bend the lock 96 and its stop 1M thus to free it.

It will be noted from FIGURE 4 that the housing 58 receives the cap N2 of a projectile igniter whose tube 1G3 extends downwardly through a passage 164 for connection with the main igniter of the motor (not shown) of the rocket 92. A firing pin 1%5, which may best be seen in FIGURE 4, is urged forwardly in a bore by a spring 107, held within the housing and the forward end of the pin 105 is connected to a cable 1438 extending forwardly into the trigger housing 38 where it passes over an element 109 in the form of an idler roller, see FIGURES 7 and 8. The cable 1% is fastened to a reel 116 rendered self-winding by means of the springs 111. The firing pin 105 is shown as having at its rear end, a taper 1415a and a contact portion 1fiSb at its extremity for striking the igniter cap 102.

The roller 109 is confined in transversely alined guideways 112 in the housing 38 each having an inturned flange 113 overlying a slidable roller guide 114 for the slidable cocking actuator 115. The cocking actuator has ears 116 for engaging the roller 109 and is moved forwardly against the action of its return spring 117 by means of the rod 118 which passes forwardly through the seal 119 and provided with a grip 11% for manual engagement by the user. The forward end 120 of the guide 114 and of the guideways 112 and the ears 116 are upwardly inclined so that in its forward position, the roller 1199 is raised ahead of and blocked against rearward movement by the sear 121 which is pivoted at 122 adjacent its rear end. It will be noted that the actuator 115 has a transverse pin 115a between the shoulders 114a of the guide 114 by which the guide 114 is moved forwardly slightly to permit the positioning of the roller 109 ahead of the sear 121 and by which the guide 114 is again moved forwardly when the grip 119a is released to permit the spring 117 to operate.

The forward end of the sear 121 is connected as at 123 to a trigger 124 pivoted at 125 between its ends and covered with a protective, waterproof boot 126. When the rearward portion of the trigger 124 is depressed, the sear 121 is raised to release the roller Hi9 which is then driven rearwardly by the firing pin spring 1417 unless the safety 127 is in its rearward position blocking sear movement. The safety 127 has a pull rod 128 extending through the seal 119 and terminating in a handle 129. In practice, a detent 136 is provided yieldably resisting movement of the safety 127 from either of its positions.

The length of the cable 1118 is such that when the launcher is extended into its operative position with the roller 11 9 in the position illustrated by full lines in FIG- URE 7, the firing pin 1135 is not moved to load the firing pin spring 1117. If, however, the roller 1% is retained forwardly, in its dotted line position, by the sear 121, when the launcher is thus extended, the length of the cable is such that the firing pin spring 1537 becomes fully loaded and the firing pin 105 is moved forwardly relative to the rear section into its cocked position. It is possible that should the roller 1119 be in its full line position seated against the cocking actuator ears 116, it could be pulled forwardly manually but the spring 1117 is of such strength that the risk of the actuator rod 118 slipping from the users grasp, with a consequential accidental release of the firing pin 1115, is great.

Such an accident is prevented by means of a removable locking pin 131 which is inserted in a bore 132 in the fir ing pin housing 38, see FIGURES 4 and 7. The pin 131 has a pivoted end 133 so that it is operative to engage the taper 1515a and to force the firing pin 105 forwardly. The pin 131 is also provided with an annular groove 134 which receives the end of the pin 105 so that it becomes locked against removal until the firing pin 105 is in its cocked position which, as above indicated, is possible only when the launcher is in its extended, operative position.

We claim:

1. In a rocket launcher, first and second tubular sections connected to telescope between a shortened, inoperative position and an extended, operative position, one end of said first section being the breech end of the launcher, and means for firing a rocket positioned in said launcher, said means including a firing pin and a firing spring carried by said first section, said firing spring being connected to said pin to be loaded by movement of said firing pin into its cocked position, and an element connected to said pin, means connecting said element to said second section; a trigger controlled release including a sear carried by said second section, and a movable member connected to said element and operative to effect its engagement with said sear, the engagement of said movable member with said sear being ineffective to move said firing pin into its cocked position in the inoperative position of said launcher, said firing pin being then cocked by the extension of said sections to establish said operative launcher position.

2. In a rocket launcher, first and second tubular sections connected to telescope between a shortened, inoperative position and an extended, operative position, one end of said first section being the breech end of the launcher, and means for firing a rocket positioned in said launcher, said means including a firing pin and a firing spring carried by said first section, said firing spring being connected to said pin to be loaded by movement of said firing pin into its cocked position, and a cable connected to said pin, a spring wound reel carried by said second section to which said cable is connected, the payed-out length of said cable being insufiicient to move said pin during the extension of said sections into said operative launcher position, trigger controlled mechanism carried by said second section and including a scar, a member movable relative thereto in a direction lengthwise of said section, said cable being trained about said member, said member, in its forward position, being engageable by said sear and then so shortening the effective length of said cable as to cause the extension of said launcher sections into its operative position to move said pin into its cocked position thus to load said firing spring, and trigger controlled means connected to said sear to disengage it from said member.

3. In a rocket launcher, first and second tubular sections connected to telescope between a shortened, inoperative position and an extended, operative position, one end of said first section being the breech end of the launcher, and means for firing a rocket positioned in said launcher, said means inciuding a firing pin and a firing spring carried by said first section, said firing spring being connected to said pin to be loaded by movement of said firing pin into its cocked position, and a cable connected to said pin, a spring wound reel carried by said second section to which said cable is connected, the payed-out length of said cable being insufiicient to move said pin during the extension of said sections into said operative launcher position, trigger controlled mechanism carried by said second section and including a scar and resilient means urging said sear into a first position, a member movable relative thereto in a direction lengthwise of said second section, said cable being trained about said member, said member, in its forward position, being engageable by said sear when said sear is in its first position and then so shortening the effective length of said cable as to cause the extension of said launcher sections into its operative position to move said pin into its cocked position thus to load said firing spring, and a manually movable actuator including a stop and movable between a rearward position and a forward position, a spring yieldably holding said actuator in said rearward position, said member being in engagement with said stop unless said member is in engagement with said sear, in the forward position of said actuator, said member being positioned for engagement by said sear in said first sear position, and trigger controlled means connected to said sear to move it from said first position into a second position in which it is disengaged from said member.

4. In a rocket launcher, first and second tubular sections connected to telescope between a shortened, inoperative position and an extended, operative position, one end of said first section being the breech end of the launcher, and means for firing a rocket positioned in said launcher, said means including a firing pin and a firing spring carried by said first section, said firing spring being connected to said pin to be loaded by movement of said firing pin into its cocked position, and a cable connected to said pin, a spring wound reel carried by said second section to which said cable is connected, the paye -out length of said cable being insufficient to move said pin during the extension of said sections into said operative launcher position, trigger controlled mechanism carried by said second section and including a scar and resilient means ur'ing said sear into a first position, a member movable relative thereto a direction lengthwise of said second section, said cable being trained about said memher, said member, in its forward position, bel engageable by said sear when said sear is in its first position and then so shortening the eifective length of said cable as to cause the extension of said launcher sections into its operative position to move said pin into its cocled position thus to load said firing spring, and trigger controlled means connected to said sear to move it from said first position into a second position in which it is disengaged from said member, and a safety movable between a firing position and a safe position in which it engages and blocks movement of said scar from its first position.

5. In a rocket launcher, first and second tubular sections connected to telescope between a shortened, inoperative position and an extended, operative position, one end of said first section being the breech end of the launcher, and means for firing a rocket positioned in said launcher, said means including a firing pin and a firing spring carried by said first section, said firing spring being connected to said pin to be loaded by movement of said firing pin into its cocked pos ion, and a cable connected to said pin, a housing carried by said second section, a spring Wound reel within said housing, the payed-out length of said cable being insufiicient to move said pin during the extension of said sections into said operative launcher position, trigger controlled mechanism carried by said housing and including a scar resiliently urged into a first position, a member supported by said housing for movement thereto in a direction lengthwise of said second section, said cable being trained about said member, said member, in its forward position, being engageable by said sear when said sear is in its first position and then so shortening the effective length of said cable as to cause the extension of said launcher sections into its operative position to move said pin into its cocked position and to load said firing spring, and trigger controlled means connected to said sear move it from said A "at position into a second position in which it is disengaged from said member.

6. In a rocket launcher, first and second tubular sections connected to telescope between a shortened, inoperative position and an extended, operative position, one end of said first section being the breech end of the launcher, and means for firing a rocket positioned in said launcher, said means including a firing pin having a tapered rear portion and a firing spring carried by said first section, said firing spring being connected to said pin to be loaded by forward movement of said firing pin from a rearward position into its cocked position, and a lock transversely movable relative to the path of said firing pin, said loclr including a tapered end operable to engage said tapered pin portion and force it forwardly from said rearward position, said lock also having an intermediate pin engaging recess, and a connection between said pin and said second section including a member movable between forward and rearward positions, said firing pin being disengaged from the lock recess when said sections are extended to establish said operative launcher position, and said member is in its forward position.

7. In a rocket launcher, first and second tubular sections connected to telescope between a shortened, inoperative position and an extended, operative position, one end of said first section being the breech end or" the launcher, and means for firing a rocket positioned in said launcher, said means including a firing pin and a firing spring carried by said first section, said firing spring being connected as to said pin to be loaded by movement of said firing pin into its cocked position, and an element connected to said pin, means connecting said element to said second section; a trigger controlled release including a sear carried by said second section, and a movable member conected to said element and operative to effect its engagement with said sear, the engagement of said movable member with said sear being ineffective to move said firing pin into its cocked position in the inoperative position of said launcher, said firing pin being then cocked by the extension of said sections to establish said oper ative launcher position, and releasable means to interlock said sections when extended to establish said 0 erative launcher position.

8. In a rocket launcher, first and second tubular sections telescopingly connected to enable said launcher to be extended from a shortened, inoperative position into an elongated, operative position, one end of said first section being the breech end of the launcher, said first section fitting within said second section, and trigger controlled means for firing a rocket positioned in said first launcher section and including a firing pin connected to said first section for limited movement relative thereto between firing and cocked positions, a firing spring tensioned when said firing pin is in said cocked position, and an element connected to said firing pin and attached to and moving with said second section during extending movement of said second section relative to said first section from a partly extended launcher position into said operative launcher position thereby to effect said relative movement of said firing pin to establish a cocked position.

9. In combination, a rocket having an annular shoulder between its ends and a rocket launcher including first and second tubular sections telescopingly connected to enable said launcher to be extended from a shortened, inoperative position into an elongated, operative position, one end of said first section being the breech end of the launcher, said first section fitting within said second section with its forward end providing a shoulder in rearward engagement with the rocket shoulder to prevent rearward movement of said rocket, a lock linking said rocket to said first section to hold said rocket against forward movement, said lock yielding to the force exerted by said rocket when fired, and trigger controlled means for firing a rocket positioned in said first launcher section and including a firing pin connected to said first section for limited movement relative thereto between firing and cooked positions, an igniter, said igniter being connected to and in communication with the interior of the rocket and including a cap held by said first section for engagement by said firing pin in its firing position, a firing spring tensioned when said firing pin is in said cocked position, and an element connected to said firing pin and attached to and moving wit; said second section during extending movement of said second section relative to said first section from a partly extended launcher position into said operative launcher position thereby to effect said relative movement of said firing pin to establish its co ked position.

10. In combination, a rocket having an annular shoulder between its ends, and a rocket launcher including first and second tubular sections telescopingly connected to enable said launcher to be extended from a shortened, inoperative position into an elongated, operative position, one end of said first section being to breech end of the launcher, said first section fitting within said second section with its forward end providing a shoulder in rearward engagement with the rocket shoulder to prevent rearward movement of said rocket, a lock linking said rocket to said first section to hold said rocket against forward movement, said lock yielding to the force exerted by said rocket when fired, trigger controlled means for firing a rocket positioned in said first launcher section and including a firing pin connected to said first section for limited movement relative thereto between firing and cocked positions, an igniter connected to and in communication with the interior of the rocket and including a cap held by said first section for engagement by said firing pin in its firing position, said launcher also including a firing spring tensioned when said firing pin is in said cocked position, and an element connected to said firing pin and attached to and moving with said second section during extending movement of said second section relative to said first section from a partly extended launcher position into said operative launcher position thereby to effect said relative movement of said firing pin to establish its cocked position, and means to hold said rocket in its shortened position, said holding means including a pair of end covers, a strap having lengthwise elasticity and including a connection with each of said covers, the connection between said strap and said breech end cover being a hook detachably caught on the edge thereof, a pull pin connection 1 0 between said breech cover and said first section opposing the strap resiliency, the connection between said strap and said muzzle end cover applying the strap resiliency to seat said muzzle cover against said muzzle when the breech end cover connection is operative, said muzzle cover and said strap being freed when said breech cover is open.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,353,885 Fanger et a1. July 18, 1944 2,496,316 Skinner et a1 Feb. 7, 1950 2,610,405 Dickinson Sept. 16, 1952 2,788,599 Brandt Apr. 16, 1957 2,874,501 Koucky et a1 Feb. 24, 1959 2,966,827 Harvey Jan, 3, 1961 3,021,600 Edstrom Feb. 20, 1962

Claims

1. IN A ROCKET LAUNCHER, FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR SECTIONS CONNECTED TO TELESCOPE BETWEEN A SHORTENED, INOPERATIVE POSITION AND AN EXTENDED, OPERATIVE POSITION, ONE END OF SAID FIRST SECTION BEING THE BREECH END OF THE LAUNCHER, AND MEANS FOR FIRING A ROCKET POSITIONED IN SAID LAUNCHER, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A FIRING PIN AND A FIRING SPRING CARRIED BY SAID FIRST SECTION, SAID FIRING SPRING BEING CONNECTED TO SAID PIN TO BE LOADED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRING PIN INTO ITS COCKED POSITION, AND AN ELEMENT CONNECTED TO SAID PIN, MEANS CONNECTING SAID ELEMENT TO SAID