GB553704A - Improved means for loading bombs and other bodies on to aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

553,704. Aerial warfare ; dropping bombs from aircraft. FAIREY AVIATION CO., Ltd., CHAPLIN H. E, and MORREY, P. Sept. 10, 1941, No. 11608. [Class 9 (ii)] [Also in Group XXXIII] For loading bombs or other articles onto aircraft while the wings are folded and in a substantially vertical position, the bomb or other load is raised by a winch and afterwards swung into a position parallel to and within the wing or beneath its under surface. A winch 24, Fig. 3, has rollers 25a, 28 running on rails 25, 26 on the upper surface of the wing 22 which is shown in its folded position. A cable 29 from the winch is passed over a pulley 30 in the wing and over a pulley 31 on a door 32 hinged at 33 to the lower surface of the wing. The end of the cable is secured to a bomb carrier 35 which, with its bomb 21, is first raised from the ground into the position shown where it is secured to the door 32 after which continued operation of the winch swings the door up against the wing where it is secured by a spring catch 39. The cable is secured to the load by a ball and movable jaw coupling and after it is released the winch can be run along the rails to a position for raising the next load. The winch may be driven electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically from a distant source of power. Fig. 5 shows a bomb raised and secured to a member 32 having an offset arm 44 pivoted within the wing so that when the member 32 is moved by the action of a hydraulic jack 46 and the winch 24 the load is swung into a space within the wing which is then closed by doors 40. Instead of being directly pivoted to the wing the member 32 may have its opposite ends connected to two links one of which is actuated by the jack. Fig. 9 shows a further form in which the member 32 is pivoted to a member 56 capable of being moved bodily within the wing by four screws 57 actuated by worm wheels 58 and screw shafts 59. Alternatively the ends of the member 56 may move in guides and the movement be effected by a jack acting on the centre of the member 56. This jack also serves to project the bomb below the wing before it is released.