GB268182A - Improvements in or relating to emergency landing flares - Google Patents

Abstract

268,182. Wiley, S. June 2, 1926. Pyrotechnic devices; dropping articles from a height.-A parachute flare intended to be dropped from an aircraft to illuminate its landing place comprises a case for the parachute and a case for the flare connected together or mounted one within the other and adapted to be used in conjunction with mechanical means on the aircraft for moving one case lengthwise in relation to the other or in relation to a detachable retaining end cap to release and drop the parachute and flare body. As shown in Fig. 2, the case 12 of the parachute 13, and the case 14 of the flare 15 are nailed to a plug 16. The parachute case is covered by a cap 27 provided with a flange 29 and a bail 30. These cases are fitted in a discharging tube 37, Fig. 9, on the aircraft and are supported by the flauge 29 on a flanged ring 40 adapted to be raised and lowered by a pulley mechanism 43, 44, 45. When the flanged ring 40 is raised by this mechanism it pulls the case 12 off the plug 16, the flare drops, and the parachute 13 is pulled out of its casing by a cord 32, which afterwards snaps. The parachute line 34, in extending, pulls on a wire 26 of an igniter 24 which fires the flare 15. In a modification, the flare is fired by a percussion cap ignited by a spring striker released by a lever when the parachute flare is pulled off. In another modification, the flare casing is enclosed within the parachute case which is closed at the bottom end by a cap secured by a ring. The flanged ring on the aircraft pulls the parachute case up from the ring securing the bottom cap, thereby releasing that cap and allowing the flare and the parachute to fall out of the parachute case.