Missile with rail

Problem Description

            Raytheon Missile Systems has presented our team with the task of improving the vibration dampening system on military aircraft missile carriers.  The current missile carriers utilize a rail launcher.  Missiles are equipped with two hooks that fit into tracks on the inside of the rail launcher.  When launched, the interior missile hooks slide through the tracks and off of the carrier.  The current missile rail launchers have a limited service life due partly to wear caused by the forward interior missile hook during carriage.  The vibration of the hook wears the carrier rail past an acceptable limit.  The wear caused by the missile hook renders the carrier unable to dampen missile vibration, making missile carriage by the aircraft unsafe.  The current solution to this problem involves replacement of the carrier rail.  A new solution to the rail-wear problem involving re-design of the current vibration dampening mechanism is needed.  The new missile dampener design must fit within the current constraints of the missile rail carrier without modification to the rail carrier.

Requirements

1.      Design must not render itself useless after a certain amount of rail wear.

1.1.           New mechanism must have enough vertical travel to compensate for various stages of rail wear.

2.      Design must fit into existing rail housing without modifications to the housing

2.1.           Dimensions of rail cross section cannot be altered.

2.2.           Design must not interfere with other mechanisms in the rail housing.

2.3.           Design must not require any modification of existing rail housing.

2.4.           Design must use existing bolt pattern to secure missile detent assembly to the rail.

3.      Design must not interfere with electrical conductivity of forward detent.

3.1.           Design must incorporate conductive materials for the forward detent assembly as well as the lower rail housing.

3.2.           Design must not cause corrosion or other electrical conductivity hindrance.

4.      Detent assembly and missile dampening blades must be able to move out of missile hook path during launch.

4.1             When missile is launched, snubber blades must move out of hook path in        time for the aft missile hook to pass.      

4.2      Once launched, snubber blades must provide sufficient clearance for aft

missile hook to pass.

5        Must meet all other requirements of the current mechanism.

5.1             Rail must remain compatible with all types of missiles that currently use it.

5.2             Rail carrier must be able to perform all tasks that it currently performs.

5.3             Missile detent assembly must use 3/8 inch drive to operate