GB579560A - Improvements in or connected with bomb carriers for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

579,560. Bomb dropping apparatus. BOULTON PAUL AIRCRAFT, Ltd., and NORTH, J. D. Nov. 21, 1935, No. 14178/36. Divided out of 579,310. [Class 9 (ii)] [Also in Group XXXIV] Relates to bomb magazines for aircraft, of the type comprising means for releasably securing in the magazine a number of bomb units (single bombs or groups), with means for rotating the magazine to bring the units in sequence into a discharge position, and for releasing a bomb unit only when it is in position for discharge. According to the invention, there are provided means for retarding the rotation of the magazine and thus absorbing the kinetic energy of the assemblage as each bomb unit approaches the discharge position, and means for positively arresting the retarded magazine as each bomb unit is in position for release. The invention is described as applied to a magazine having special features described in Specification 579,310. The central spindle 20 of the magazine may, as shown in Fig. 4, carry a cam disc 79 having a number of lobes, each of which corresponds to one of the bomb units, a spring-loaded cam follower 81 being carried by the piston-rod of a dashpot 89, A notched disc 78, with which a locking-member 84 coacts, is also mounted on the spindle 20. there being one notch for each bomb unit. After release of the first bomb, an initial impulse may be imparted to the magazine by a spring- pressed arm acting upon a cam (not shown) on the spindle 20. At the same time, the locking- roller 84 is withdrawn, by suitable mechanical or electrical means, from the notch with which it is engaged, and the magazine is rotated, either by a motor, or merely by the effect of the out-of-balance loading of the bombs remaining in the magazine. The dashpot 89 checks the rotation as the next bomb approaches the discharge position, and when this is reached the roller 84 snaps into the next notch in the disc 78, re-locking it. These operations are repeated at each step-by-step movement of the magazine, except that no further starting impulse is necessary in the arrangement where no motor is employed. Fig. 7 shows a modification in which the locking and braking of the magazine spindle 20 is effected by means of a fourarmed member 90 co-operating with a lever 95 connected to a spring-loaded plunger 101. The lever 95 is normally held in the locking position by an electrically or mechanically controlled release-hook 98.