Description:1 Title of invention
Title of invention: Adaptor rack for carriage of electronic counter measure pod of an aircraft.

2. Field of invention
The present invention is related to mechanical engineering in general, and more particularly related to aircraft store carriage system, the adaptor rack designed for attachment to outboard underwing pylon on an aircraft and for carriage of electronic counter measure (ECM) pod.

3. Background of invention
In an aircraft, especially in the case of military aircraft, the stores are integrated according to mission requirements, many store stations are planned to meet the mission requirements, outboard (OB) pylon of aircraft is dedicated to carry the closed combat missiles (CCM) and the same station is selected for the integration of electronic countermeasure (ECM) pod. The ECM Pod is a non-jettisonable pod throughout the mission. In order to integrate ECM Pod on the outboard pylon, there is a need to design an adaptor rack.
The below listed prior arts are surveyed in the field of stores installation on an aircraft and drawbacks of the prior arts are given below.
Pat. No. GB 2592268 A dated; 25th Aug 2021 discloses a pylon attachment scheme through bolt and nut arrangement, same scheme is studied for integrating ECM pod but that scheme requires modification of pod with stud and taking more time for ground crew to load / unloading of ECM Pod to / from the aircraft.
Pat. No.US 7950607 B1dated; 31stMay 2011discloses an adaptor rack for releases small munitions from an aircraft, but that cannot be used because attachment schemes are different from the requirements to integrate the ECM pod.
Pat. No.US 8844866 B2dated; 30th Sep2014 assemblies for external attachment of airborne sensor pods to an aircraft fuselage discloses an attachment of sensor pod to fuselage that does not suit the requirements to integrate the ECM pod in underwing pylon of the aircraft.
Pat. No.US 2018 / 0327094 A1B2dated; 15th Sep2018 and Pat. No. 5187318dated; 16th Feb1993 are disclosing the aircraft adapters attaching directly to wing, but the ECM pod integration requirement does not have the provision for directly mounding the adaptor to the wings, which needs to integrated to wing pylon.
Pat. No. 3056623dated; 2nd Oct1962 to and U.S. Pat. No. 3610094dated; 5th Oct1971 are disclosing the store ejector rack and the mechanism that is operated by pyro cartridges, but the mechanism based on pyro cartridges is not applicable for the ECM pod integration since the ECM pod is a non-jettisonable pod.
Pat. No.US 7,648,104 B1dated; 19th Jan2010 and Pat. No. 2130866 C1 dated27thOct1998 are disclosing the ejector actuation through a mechanism and actuators, but the ECM pod integration is not required to be done through the actuators, instead it requires manual cocking/release and retainer .
Pat. No. 3610094dated; 5th Oct1971 and Pat. No. 4850553dated 25th Jul1989 are disclosing the store ejector rack with crutch arm brackets that is not suitable for the ECM pod installation.
The available prior arts on aircraft stores integration do not provide a system or a scheme for the requirement of electronic counter measure pod integration on an outboard underwing pylon of an aircraft.

4. Brief Summary of invention
The present invention of an adaptor (200) is a rack of streamlined shape and the adaptor (200) offers less aerodynamic drag during aircraft flight operations. The adaptor (200) is a machine structure in lightweight aluminium alloy and closed with cover plates to minimize the aerodynamic drag. The adaptor (200) is mainly comprising of four parts, the first part is adaptor housing along with press fitted bushes; the second part is a crank, sider, and connecting rod mechanical assembly; the third part is crutch bracket and its assembly, and the fourth part is closing cover channels. The objective of invention is to minimize the effort and time of ground crew to load or unloading of the electronic counter measure (ECM) pod (300) to / from the aircraft. The invention has been designed with effective positive locking mechanism. The adaptor (200)is having electrical harness and routings internally which is electrically interfacing between the outboard pylon (100) and the ECM pod (300). The adaptor (200) is designed to install easily and to get locked positively to carry the ECM pod (300). The adaptor is facilitated with the crank and link mechanism to interface with two NATO standard lugs spacing 14” (Y)on the ECM pod(300). The top side of the adaptor (100) is having two Russian standard attachment points of 1150 mm (X) apart to match with outboard pylon (100) mounting points. The adaptor(100)is having two bracket assembly –crutch(251)and four Bolt assembly-crutch(255)for crutching. The adaptor (200)is interchangeable between outboard pylons of different aircraft.

5. Brief description of drawings
Fig.1 is a side elevation for the installation of ECM pod (300), ECM pod adaptor assembly (200) and outboard pylon(100)to the wing (400).
Fig.2 is a side elevation of outboard pylon (100).
Fig.3 is a side elevation of ECM pod adaptor assembly (200).
Fig.4 is a side elevation of ECM pod (300).
Fig.5is a perspective view of ECM pod adaptor assembly (200) in the fully assembled condition.Fig.6is a perspective view of the constructional elements in the first part of the adaptor assembly (200), the first is housing and associated fittings (210) that comprises of: housing (211),forward bush (212), rear bush (213), bush crank (214), and lock pin bush (215).
Fig.7A is a perspective view and Fig.7B exploded perspective view of the constructional elements of the second part of the adaptor assembly (200), the second part is a crank and associated mechanical assemblies (220) that comprises of: a crank (221), a slider (222), a short connecting rod assembly(231), a short connecting rod (232), a spherical bush (233), a long connecting rod assembly (238), a long connecting rod(239), a slider connecting pin (236), a retainer assembly (240), a retainer housing (241), a retainer piston(242), a retainer cap end (243), a retainer spring (244), a special bolt-retainer (225),a self-locking nut-hexagonal (228),a bush (224) for left hand side, a bush for right hand side (223),a stopper pin (227),a ball lok quick release pin (226),a screw-round head (230),washers(234) ,and split-pins(235)

Fig.8show the constructional elements of the third part of the adaptor assembly (200), the third part is a crutch bracket and associated assembly (250) that comprises of: a bracket assembly (251),a bracket (252), a top bush (253),a bottom bush (254),a bolt assembly (255),a special bolt (256),a pad (257),a special bolt-crutch bracket (258),a washer (259), a nut (260), a split-pin (261), and a crutch lock nut (262).
Fig.9 is a sectional view substantially along line 1-1 of Fig. 1, showing the installation of ECM pod (300), ECM pod adaptor assembly (200) and outboard pylon (100)Fig.10 is a sectional view substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the installation of ECM pod (300) to the ECM pod adaptor assembly (200)
Fig.11shows the constructional elements of the fourth part of the adaptor assembly (200), the fourth part is a plurality of closing cover channels and associated assembly (270) that comprises of a channel-I assembly (271) in the bottom, a Channel-I (272) in the bottom, a stiffener (273) in the forward, a stiffener plate (274) in the rear, a channel-II assembly (275) in the bottom, a Channel-II(276) in the bottom, a stiffener plate (277) of bottom channel, a channel-III assembly (278) in the bottom, a Channel-III(279) in the bottom, a Channel-IV assembly(280) in the bottom, a Channel-IV(281) in the bottom, Channel-V assembly (Bottom) (282) in the bottom, a Channel-V(283) in the bottom, a Channel-I assembly(284) in the top, a Channel-I(285) in the top, a Channel-II assembly (286) in the top, a Channel-II (287) in the top, and a screw-100 deg with countersunk head (288).

Fig.12Ashows the sectional view of the crank and associated mechanical assemblies (250) in cocked position along with suspension lug(301).
Fig.12Bshows the sectional view of the crank and associated mechanical assemblies (250) in released position along with suspension lug (301).
Drawing numerals:
Item No. Description
100 Outboard pylon
101 Housing (of outboard pylon)
102 Forward attachment
103 Rear attachment
104 Special bolt-1 (attachment)
105 Special bolt-2 (attachment)
106 Screw-100 deg.with C'SK countersunk head
200 ECM pod adaptor assembly
210 Housing and associated fittings
211 Housing (of ECM pod adaptor)
212 Forward bush
213 Rear bush
214 Bush crank
215 Lock pin bush
216 Electrical connector
220 Crank and associated mechanical assemblies
221 Crank
222 Slider
223 Bush-operating (RH)
224 Bush-operating (LH)
225 Special bolt-retainer
226 Ball lok quick release pin
227 Stopper pin
228 10 dia nut-hexagonal self-locking
230 Screw-round head
231 Connecting rod assembly (short)
232 Connecting rod (short)
233 Bush (spherical)
234 Washers
235 Split-pin
236 Slider connecting pin
237 Pin
238 Connecting rod assembly (long)
239 Connecting rod (short)
240 Retainer assembly
241 Housing (retainer)
242 Piston (retainer)
243 Cap end (retainer)
244 Spring (retainer)
250 Crutch brackets and associated mechanical assembly
251 Bracket assembly –crutch
252 Bracket-crutch
253 Bush-top
254 Bush-bottom
255 Bolt assembly-crutch
256 Special bolt-crutch
257 Pad-crutch
258 Special bolt-crutch bracket
259 Washer
260 Nut
261 Split-pin
262 Crutch lock nut
270 Closing cover channels and associated assembly
271 Channel-I assembly (bottom)
272 Channel-I (bottom)
273 Stiffener
274 Stiffener plate
275 Channel-II assembly(bottom)
276 Channel-II (bottom)
277 Stiffener plate (bottom)
278 Channel-III assembly (bottom)
279 Channel-III (bottom)
280 Channel-IV assembly(bottom)
281 Channel-IV (bottom)
282 Channel-V assembly(bottom)
283 Channel-V (bottom)
284 Channel-I assembly(top)
285 Channel-I (top)
286 Channel-II assembly (top)
287 Channel-II (top)
288 Screw-100 deg.with C'SK countersunk head
300 ECM pod
301 Suspension lug
302 Electrical connector
400 Wing

6. Detailed description of invention
Refer to Fig1, Fig2, Fig3, Fig4, Fig.5, Fig.6, Fig.7A, Fig.7B, Fig.8, Fig.9,Fig10, Fig.11, Fig.12A, and Fig.12B. Fig.1 indicates the installation of ECM pod (300), ECM pod adaptor assembly (200) and outboard pylon (100)to the wing (400). Fig.2 is indicating the outboard pylon (100). Fig.3 and Fig.5indicate the adaptor rack assembly (200) in the assembled condition.Fig.4indicates the ECM pod assembly (300).Fig.6shows the7constructional elements of the first part of the adaptor assembly (210). Fig.7A and Fig.7B shows the constructional elements of the second part of the adaptor assembly (220).Fig.8shows the constructional elements of the third part of the adaptor assembly (250).Fig.9is indicating the sectional view of ECM pod (300), ECM pod adaptor assembly (200) and outboard pylon (100) installation. Fig.10 is a sectional view showing the installation of ECM pod (300) to the ECM pod adaptor assembly (200). Fig-11shows the constructional elements of the fourth part of the adaptor assembly (270). Fig-12A and Fig.12B indicate the sectional view of the crank and associated mechanical assemblies(220) in cocked position and released position respectively along with suspension lug (301).

Refer to Fig.3. and Fig.5. The adaptor rack assembly (200) in assembled condition is shown here bottom side interface with two NATO standard lugs spacing 14” (Y) on the ECM pod (300) and on the top side of the adaptor (100) is having two Russian standard attachment points of 1150 mm (X) apart to match with outboard pylon (100) mounting points. This makes the adaptor (100)is interchangeable between outboard pylons of different aircraft.
The ECM adaptor rack assembly (200) is mainly comprising of four parts. Refer to Fig.6. The first part is the adaptor housing along with fittings (210) that comprises of: a housing(211), forward bush (212), rear bush (213), bush crank (214), lock pin bush (215)and an electrical connector (216) interface with pylon. Refer to Fig.7A and Fig.7B for the second part of the adaptor rack assembly (200). The second part is a crank, slider and connecting rod mechanical assemblies (220) that comprises of: a crank (221), a slider (222), a short connecting rod assembly(231), a short connecting rod (232), a spherical bush (233), a long connecting rod assembly (238), a long connecting rod(239), a slider connecting pin (236), a retainer assembly (240), a retainer housing (241), a retainer piston(242), a retainer cap end (243), a retainer spring (244), a special bolt-retainer (225),a self-locking nut-hexagonal (228), a bush (224) for left hand side, a bush for right hand side (223),a stopper pin (227), a ball lok quick release pin (226),a screw-round head (230), washers(234) ,and split-pins (235).
Refer to Fig.8 for the third part of the adaptor rack assembly (200). The third part is a crutch bracket and its assembly (250) that comprises of: a bracket assembly (251), a bracket (252), a top bush (253), a bottom bush (254), a bolt assembly (255), a special bolt (256), a pad (257), a special bolt-crutch bracket (258), a washer (259), a nut (260), a split-pin (264), and a crutch lock nut (262).
Refer to Fig.9. The Fig.9 is showing the sectional view of the installation of ECM pod (300), ECM pod adaptor assembly (200), and outboard pylon (100). that comprises of: Housing (of outboard pylon) (101), Forward attachment (102), Rear attachment (103), Special bolt-1 (attachment) (104), Special bolt-2 (attachment) (105)
Refer to Fig.10, a sectional view showing the installation of ECM pod (300) to the ECM pod adaptor assembly (200) is given in Fig.10.
Refer to Fig.11for the fourth part of the adaptor rack assembly (200). The fourth part is a plurality of closing cover channels and associated assembly (270) that comprises of: a channel-I assembly (271) in the bottom, a Channel-I (272) in the bottom, a stiffener (273) in the forward, a stiffener plate (274) in the rear, a channel-II assembly (275) in the bottom, a Channel-II(276) in the bottom, a stiffener plate (277) of bottom channel, a channel-III assembly (278) in the bottom, a Channel-III(279) in the bottom, a Channel-IV assembly(280) in the bottom, a Channel-IV(281) in the bottom, Channel-V assembly (Bottom) (282) in the bottom, a Channel-V(283) in the bottom, a Channel-I assembly(284) in the top, a Channel-I(285) in the top, a Channel-II assembly (286) in the top, a Channel-II (287) in the top, and a screw-100 deg with countersunk head (288).

The objective of the invention is to minimize the effort and time of ground crew to load / unloading of ECM Pod to / from the aircraft. The invention has been designed with effective positive locking mechanism to make it more reliable.
The housing (211) of the adaptor rack assembly (200)is a machined structure in lightweight aluminum alloy with aerodynamically shaped to minimize the aerodynamic drag. The positive cock and release mechanical assemblies (220) for the sliders (222) are mounted to the housing (211) and entire mechanism is made up of steel alloy. The mechanical assemblies(220) is between two machined bracket assembly–crutch (251) which is made up of aluminum alloy and the housing (211) by four bolt assembly-crutch (255). A ball lok quick release pin (226) is provided to keep the mechanism (220) in cocked position. The bottom and top channels (271)(275)(278)(280)(282)(284)(286) are provided as closures for the assembly (200).

Operation
The Fig.12A and Fig.12B.indicate the sectional view of the crank and associated mechanical assemblies (220) in cocked position and released position, respectively. The positive cock and release mechanism consist of a crank (221), two sliders (222), and connecting rod assemblies (231) (238)are positioned at 14 inches apart and are all made up of steel. This mechanism is mounted between the bracket assembly–crutch (251) which are housed in the housing (211)of the ECM pod adaptor assembly (200). The slider (222)is provisioned to move longitudinally in both the directions by rotating the crank (221). This operation ensures engagement/dis-engagement of the lugs (301) of the ECM pod (300).

Cock
Loading of the ECM pod (300) to the adaptor rack assembly (200) is carried out by rotating the bush-operating (LH) (224) outside the crank (221) mechanism in counterclockwise which moves the connecting rod assembly - short (231), connecting rod assembly -long) (238) and sliders (222) longitudinally to cocked position. When loaded, the slider (222) holds the lugs (301) of the ECM pod (300) rigidly in recesses provided in the bracket-crutch (252). These bracket-crutch (252) are provided with inbuilt abutments designed to react both fore-and-aft and yaw loads on the ECM pod (300). A ball lok quick release pin (226)is inserted to keep the mechanism in cocked position.
Release
Unloading of the ECM pod (300) from adaptor rack assembly (200) starts by removing the ball lok quick release pin (226). After that, rotating the bush-operating (LH) (224) outside the crank (221) mechanism in clockwise to move the connecting rod assembly -short (231), connecting rod assembly-long (238) and the sliders (222) longitudinally to release position. A stopper pin (227) is provided in the housing (211) of the adaptor assembly (100) to prevent the mechanism from overturning. When unloaded, the ECM pod (300) is free to move in the recesses provided in the bracket-crutch (252).
The retainer assembly (240) is keeping the mechanism either in cock or release position only, this ensures positive cocking / no cocking.
The adaptor (200) not use the pistons and pressurized gases released by the ejection pistons by the rack so the mechanism is reduces the number of parts. The adaptor rack (200) has laterally extended arms that provide a rest place for active or passive sway braces that provide stability and protection for the ECM pod (300). Present invention is designed in such a way that the installation and removal of the ECM pod is possible with minimum number of technicians and with minimum ground tools and in a shorter time.
The present invention provides a streamlined shape adaptor rack (200) such that the top part of the adaptor (200) is directly attached to the outboard underwing pylon without modifying the pylon having two Russian standard attachment brackets of 1150 mm (X) apart.The bottom part of the adaptor (200) is can receive store having 14” spaced NATO standard lugs (301) without modification on store. The invention has been designed with effective positive locking mechanism to achieve more reliable.

, Claims:We claim:
1. An adaptor rack for carriage of electronic counter measure pod of an aircraft, comprising:
– an adaptor rack assembly (200) such that the top part of the adaptor rack assembly (200)is attached to the outboard underwing pylon of an aircraft and bottom part of the adaptor rack assembly (200) is designed to carry the electronic counter measure pod (300), characterized in that, the adaptor rack assembly (200) is provided with a streamlined shape that comprises:
-a housing and associated fittings (210) that further comprises of: a housing (211), a forward bush (212), a rear bush (213), a bush crank (214), and a lock pin bush (215);
- a crank and associated mechanical assemblies (220) that further comprises of: a crank (221), a plurality of sliders (222), a connecting rod assembly -short (231), a connecting rod -short (232), a spherical bush (233), a connecting rod assembly -long (238), a connecting rod - long (239), a slider connecting pin (236), a retainer assembly (240), a housing- retainer (241), a piston -retainer (242), a cap end -retainer (243), a spring -retainer (244), a bush-operating -left hand (224), and a bush-operating – right hand (223);
- a crutch bracket and associated assembly (250) that further comprises of: a plurality of bracket assembly-crutch (251), a bracket-crutch (252), a bush-top (253), a bush-bottom (254), a plurality of bolt assembly-crutch (255), a special bolt-crutch (256), a pad-crutch (257), a special bolt-crutch bracket (258) and a crutch lock nut (262);
- a plurality of closing cover channels and associated assembly (270) that further comprises of: a channel-I assembly -bottom (271), a channel-I- bottom (272), a stiffener-forward (273), a stiffener plate -rear (274), a channel-II assembly -bottom (275), a channel-II-bottom (276), a stiffener plate -bottom channel (277), a channel-III assembly -bottom (278), a channel-III- bottom (279), a channel-IV assembly - bottom (280), a channel-IV-bottom (281), a channel-V assembly -bottom (281), a channel-V-bottom (283), a channel-I assembly -top (284), a channel-I-top (285), a channel-II assembly -top (286), a channel-II-top (287), and a screw-100 deg with countersunk head (288);
- the crank mechanical assembly (220) is mounted between the bracket assembly-crutch (251) that are housed inside the housing (211), the sliders (222) are provisioned to move longitudinally in both the directions by rotating the crank (221) that ensures the engagement and disengagement of the lugs (301) of the ECM pod (300), the adaptor (200) is having two bracket assembly -crutch (251) and four bolt assembly-crutch (255) for crutching of the ECM pod (300) to arrest the lateral movements;
- the ECM pod (300) is loaded to the adaptor (200) by rotating the bush-operating left hand (224) outside the crank (221) mechanical assembly(220) in counter clockwise that moves the connecting rod assembly-short (231), connecting rod assembly-long (238), and the sliders (222) longitudinally to cocked position, the sliders (222) hold the lugs (301) of the pod (300) rigidly in recesses provided in the bracket-crutch (252). When loaded, these recesses provided in the bracket-crutch (252) with inbuilt abutments designed to react both fore-and-aft and yaw loads on the pod(300) and a ball Lok quick release pin (226) is inserted to keep the mechanical assemblies (220) in cocked position; and
- the pod (300) is unloaded from the adaptor (200) by removing the ball lock quick release pin (226),then rotating the bush-operating left hand(224) outside the crank (221) mechanical assemblies (220) in clockwise to move the connecting rod assembly-short (231), connecting rod assembly-long (238), and the sliders (222) longitudinally to release position, a stopper pin (227) is provided in the housing (211) to prevent the mechanical assemblies (220) from overturning, and the pod (300) is free to move in the recesses when unloaded.

2. The adaptor rack for carriage of electronic counter measure pod of an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the housing (211)of the adaptor rack assembly (200)is a machined structure in lightweight aluminum alloy with aerodynamically shaped to minimize the aerodynamic drag and designed with an effective positive locking mechanism to make it reliable.

3. The adaptor rack for carriage of electronic counter measure pod of an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the adaptor (100) is designed to interface with standard lugs (301) 14” apart on the pod (300) and the adaptor (200) is having pylon forward and rear attachment points (102)/(103)of 1150 mm apart to match with the outboard underwing pylon mounting points of the aircraft.