AN/ALE-47 Dispenser Assembly Retaining System Navy SBIR FY2010.3 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.3 Topic No.: N103-209 Topic Title: AN/ALE-47 Dispenser Assembly Retaining System Proposal No.: N103-209-0733 Firm: Prototype Productions Inc. 21641 Beaumeade Circle Suite 311 Ashburn, Virginia 20147-6027 Contact: Eric Cabahug Phone: (703) 858-0011 Web Site: www.protoprod.com Abstract: The AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System is found in almost all of the U.S. Navy's over 3,700 active aircraft. There is a significant opportunity to improve the safety and timeliness of magazine switching. The current design involves four threaded bolts that are timely to install and require careful inspection before moving to the next unit; the time spent installing is direct face time with thirty live rounds. An area of improvement is developing replacement fasteners that involve innovative securing and positive locking capabilities for rapid replacement and inspection of AN/ALE-47 magazines. The proposed Prototype Productions, Inc. (PPI) innovation is a superior fastening system with safe, rapid installation and positive locking engineered from a feasibility study of proprietary designs and concepts wit the integration of state-of-the-art fastening technology. Due to the high utilization of the AN/ALE-47 CMDS, PPI is mitigating implementation costs of its technology by designing a "swap out" fastener to directly replace the current threaded bolt and receptacle. Considerations on safety and performance will be of upmost priority during the development phase. The proposed technical feasibility study includes a report on state-of-the-art fastening systems, the chosen engineered concept, potential applications, and proof-of-concept process with functional model (Phase I), and a development, testing, and integration roadmap for the selected concept (Phase II). Benefits: Upon successful transition of this technology to the field, the U.S. Navy's aircrew will see an immediate benefit to being able to install and quickly inspect AN/ALE-47 magazine securement. The robust and cost effective solution will allow the Navy, and the DoD, to realize a significant ROI in terms of labor cost reduction and FOD mitigation. PPI's engineered AN/ALE-47 CMDS fastener system will provide additional benefit to other DoD aerospace and ground vehicle applications with a secure locking and reusable fastening system. Finally, the commercial consumers will find application for similar systems that require repeated, safe, securement. Return