GB214685A - Sky-writing - Google Patents

Abstract

214,685. Bailey, R. D., and Bailey, D. Jan. 1, 1923. Machine guns.-An aeroplane is provided with a number of guns or pyrotechnical firing elements at various firing angles adapted to discharge projectiles or rockets, which, on bursting, produce letters or other delineations in the sky, for example the letter " E as indicated in Fig. 15. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the apparatus comprises a number of guns D, for example ten guns arranged as shown to produce the letter " E," mounted in different directions on the faces B of a base-plate A. The spring hammers F of these guns are connected bv flexible wires I to a sliding rod J provided with a head K. The hammers are cocked by means of a nut U and a hollow screw V, which is inserted over a stem W at the side of the rod J. After this insertion, the head K of the rod is turned to rest over the nut, and the screw is turned to raise the nut and with it the head K and rod J, thereby cocking the hammers, rotation of the nut being prevented by one of its flat faces bearing against the rectangular block Z, within which the rod J slides. When the cocking operation is completed, the rod J is held by a trigger L, and the screw and nut are removed. At the desired time, the trigger is pulled by means of a Bowden wire R connected at one end to a lever arm Q on the trigger, and at the other end to a handle S adapted to be drawn towards a tee-piece T. To reload the guns, the barrels are unscrewed from the base-plate A. In a modiflcation, Figs. 6 and 7, groups of guns N are arranged around a wheel A. The spring hammers F of each group are connected by flexible wires I to a lever K, which is controlled by a spring h. These groups of guns are fired in succession by causing the wheel A to rotate. This brings each lever K in succession against a cam M, which first raises the lever to cock the hammers and then releases the lever to allow the hammers to act. Thewheel A is rotated by means of worm gear d, c. and bevel gear a, R driven by a wind screw P on the aircraft. The screw is normally, locked against rotation by means of a shoe T pressed by a spring V against a brake drum S on the shalt Q of the wind screw. The shoe T is pulled out by means of a lever X and a Bowden wire Y, when it is desired to fire the guns. In still another modification, Figs. 8, 9, and 12, a number of rockets C are fitted in groups on guiderods B beneath the base-plate A, and are connected by fuzes D to a fuze gallery E containing a powder train, which, when ignited at one end, causes the discharge of the rockets in successive groups. The powder train in the fuze gallery 's ignited by a cap Q and a spring hammer K, which is cocked by a pull on a knob 0 at its outer end, and is released by a trigger T, when this is pulled at the desired time by means of a Bowden wire R.