GB201642A - Improvements in or relating to aeroplanes and other aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

201,642. Ousinelle, G. d', and Cohen, M. May 3, 1922. Parachutes; cars and cabins.-The car or cabin of an aeroplane or other aircraft is fitted with a detachable floor and roof adapted to be released from the aircraft together with the passenger or passengers accommodated therein and fall to the ground under the support of a parachute detachably attached to the aircraft. The invention is described as applied to an aeroplane body, the cabin or cabins of which are constructed with a detachable floor a and connected by ropes f to a detachable roof e. The floor a is normally secured in a frame b by means of tongues d passing under its lower edges, on one side of the floor these tongues being mounted on a sliding framework d<1>, and on the opposite side forming part of levers d<3>, pivoted to the aeroplane body and provided with slotted ends engaging the pins d<4> on the framework d'. The frame b is itself detachable and is held in place bv locking pins b<1>, Fig. 7, which enter apertures in its outer edge. Ropes f attached to the corners of the floor a pass through holes in the roof e and over guide pulleys f<1>, f<2> to winding drums f<3>, the four pulleys f<2> being connected together through bevel gearing f<4>, f<5>, Fig. 4, to ensure an equal rate of unwinding of all the cables f when the floor a is released. Pegs e<1> passed through the cables f support the roof e in its normal position. The cover c of the parachute is housed in a casing l, Fig. 7, situated on the underside of the frame b and held closed by the pins b<1> which hold the frame b in position. The inner edge of the cover c is attached to the frame b whilst its outer edge is secured to rigging cords j wound on reels j<1> mounted on the floor a. Branches k from the cords j are led over pulleys k' and attached to the pins b<1>. According to a modification the casing b may be held closed by threads which are broken when the rigging cords are fully unwound from the reels j<1>. Guard rails g with apertured ends for the passage of the ropes f are normally held against the floor a by spring catches on the frame b. Side pieces g<2> of flexible material which are attached to the rails g and to the floor a, may be folded up against the floor or wound on rollers. If desired some of the rails g may be permanently secured to the ropes f at a suitable height from the floor. To release the device, the framework d<1> is moved by a controlling lever to disengage simultaneously the tongues d and permit the floor a to fall under the weight of the passenger. The guard rails g are held stationary until the side walls are fully unfolded when their apertured ends contact with spring abutments g<1>, Fig. 8, on the ropes f, and they are disengaged from the spring detents on the frame b, springs g<3> on the ropes f preventing them from dropping to the floor. After a short interval the roof e drops into the frame b in the place previously occupied by the floor a. The edge of the roof e is provided with spring catches h, Fig. 6, normally held depressed by sliding plates h<1> having projecting flanges h<2>, which. when the roof falls, engage the inner edge of the frame b and release the catches h which enter corresponding holes h<4>, Fig. 7, in the frame and lock the roof e thereto. When the rigging cords j become fully unwound from the reels j<1>, the cords k withdraw the pins b<1>, simultaneously releasing the frame b and the roof e from the aeroplane fuselage, and also releasing the parachute cover c from its casing l. The whole device is now freed to descend and the cover c unfurls, the roof e constituting the apex of the parachute. Knobs at the ends of the ropes f prevent the latter from passing through the roof e. The rigging cords may be passed over the guard rails g in order to steady the floor a during the descent of the parachute.