The breech, breech cap, breech lead, downloading
breech, downloading breech cap, the manifold, and the
stepper switch are located on the forward bulkhead
Breech, Breech Cap, and Breech Lead
There are two breeches, two breech caps, and two
breech leads for each tube of the dispenser. The breech
is screwed into the bulkhead so a CUU-44 impulse
cartridge can be installed The breech cap, containing
the firing pin, screws onto the breech. The breech lead
connects to the breech cap and provides a path for the
28-volt dc required to fire the impulse cartridge.
Downloading Breech and Downloading
Breech Cap
There is one downloading breech and a
downloading breech cap for each tube of the dispenser.
The downloading breech mounts to the bulkhead. The
downloading breech cap screws onto the downloading
breech. With the downloading breech cap removed, the
downloading breech lets you insert the loading,
unloading, cleaning, pushrod tool so the stores can be
easily removed during downloading procedures. It also
prevents air pressure buildup in the tubes when
uploading stores.
Reinstall the downloading breech
caps after the loading or unloading procedures have
been completed.
Manifold
The manifold has eight manifold breech lead
receptacles for connection of the breech leads. It also
has two test socket assemblies you can use during
dispenser electrical test procedures.
Stepper Switch
The stepper switch provides sequential firing of the
impulse cartridges.
The switch has 10 functional
settingsone safe setting, one arm setting, and eight
firing steps. Always place the stepper switch in the safe
position during dispenser loading and unloading. Move
the switch to the arm position during aircraft arming
procedures just before flight.
Forward and Aft Retaining Lock
Each of the four dispenser tubes contains a forward
retaining lock, an aft retaining lock, and an arming
mechanism.
The forward and aft retaining locks, when in the
locked position, protrude into the dispenser tube. This
prevents loaded stores from being inadvertently ejected
by g forces during aircraft catapult launches.
The forward retaining lock is located between the
dispenser outer skin and the tube near the midpoint of
the dispenser. You can move the retainer lock from the
either the locked or unlocked position through an access
door located on either side of the dispenser. Before
loading a store, rotate the retaining lock to the unlocked
position. This pivots the retainer lock out of the tube.
After the store has been loaded, rotate the retaining lock
to the locked position, and secure it by installing a shear
pin. The forward retaining lock retains the forward
loaded store only.
The aft retaining lock is attached to the aft bulkhead
and retains the aft loaded store. It is also secured in the
locked position by installing a shear pin.
Arming Mechanism
The arming mechanism is located in the aft end of
the dispenser tube. The arming mechanism initiates the
arming sequence of a store as it is ejected from the tube.
The dispenser is suspended by two screw-type lugs
spaced 14 inches apart. The area around the suspension
lugs has a hardback reinforcement to permit sway
bracing and forced ejection of the dispenser.
Two electrical receptacles, VI and V2, are located
forward and aft of the suspension lugs, respectively.
Both receptacles give you away to electrically connect
the dispenser to the aircraft weapons control system.
Only one receptacle is used at a time. The electrical
configuration of the rack determines the receptacle you
will use.
An electrical wiring harness is routed internally
from electrical connectors V1 and V2 to the stepper
switch. The wiring harness is interrupted by a safety
switch that is normally in the closed position. When the
safety pin and flag assembly are inserted, the safety
switch is held in the open position and the electrical
circuits are grounded, making the dispenser electrically
safe.
Functional Description
When you load a dispenser tube with munitions,
each pair of flares/sonobuoys are configured with an
ADU-381/A flare adapter kit. Also, you should enclose
sonobuoys in a Mylar sheet (protective sleeve) and
install a protective disk.
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