GB572809A - Improvements in bomb slips, towing gear and analogous releasable attachments - Google Patents

Abstract

572,809. Releasable fastenings ; hooks. VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS, Ltd., PIERSON, R. K., and FIRMAN, R. A. Oct. 20, 1942, No. 7918/43. Divided out of Complete Specification of 572,794. [Class 44] [Also in Group XXI] Relates to electromagnetically-operated release mechanism for the dropping of bombs and other articles from aircraft and for towing connections, of the kind in which the loadengaging hooks &c., are normally secured by a toggle mechanism, and consists in providing a rotary armature to impart a lateral blow to the toggle mechanism to release the load. As shown, a bomb shackle 65 is supported by hook jaws 62, 63 pivoted on a common pivot 64. The jaws have pincer-like extensions beyond the pivot provided with plane faces 621, 631, slightly divergent when in the closed position shown, between which a roller 66 is retractably held by a toggle 67, 68, which in its turn is supported by a second toggle 70, 71. The link 71 is freely pivoted on the spindle 72 of an armature 73 mounted in a cage comprising soft-iron " cores " 75. The armature has radial arms 80- 83 which, when the toggles are locked, occupy the position shown relative to the cores 75. The link 71 has projections 711, 721, which lie between projections on the armature arms 80, 83. When current is switched on, the armature is attracted by the cores 75 and is rotated counter-clockwise with sufficient momentum to cause the breaking of the toggle 70, 71 with consequent breaking of toggle 67, 68, and thereby withdrawal of the jaw-locking roller 66, so that the load is released. Rotation of the armature is stopped by the magnetic attraction of the cores 75 and by a stop 85, as well as by a coil spring which tends to counterrotate it. Current is conveyed to the armature. winding through fixed spring contacts 78 and contacts in the face of an insulated block 77 on the armature. At the end of the release operation, the block 77 engages below the loop of the fixed contacts 78 and holds the armature in the rotated position. To free the armature so that it may be returned to the operative position, the stop 85 is pushed inwards by a plunger 851 and pushes against the armature arm 83 to start the counter-rotation. The toggle link 71 is brought to rest against a fixed stop 751. To effect release by hand, the stop-plunger 85 is pressed inwards and forces a pivoted arm 84 against the armature arm 82, thereby causing .counter-clockwise displacement of the armature and breakage of the toggles.