GB764474A - Arresting gear for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

764,474. Aircraft arrester and catapult gear. ZELM, W. D. VAN. Oct. 29, 1952, No. 27247/52. Class 4. Arresting gear for aircraft comprises an arresting engine which includes a plurality of metallic spring drums and spring ribbons leading therefrom, brake means for resisting the unwinding movement of said drums, and means for varying the pressure of said brake means. Arresting cables 10, 12 mounted on pulleys are connected to a sheave assembly 40 which is slidably mounted for movement in the direction of cable movement. The casing of the sheave 40 has a plurality of connections for the free ends of spring strips 50 arranged in equal numbers on opposite sides of the sheave pivot pin 38 and formed at their other ends into spring coils 52, the resilience of the coils being such that after the cable assembly has been extended by a landing aircraft, it can be automatically restored to its original position. To regulate the rate of retardation and to prevent premature shortening of the cable assembly before the aircraft arrestor hook has been uncoupled a braking mechanism 54 is provided. The strips 50 pass freely through the casing 58 of the mechanism 54 and they are inter-leaved with friction pads or shoes 64 backed by opposed end plates 70 and separated by opposed pistons 62 operating in cylinders 60. A cavity 80 between the pistons is supplied with pressure liquid and a hydraulic system is described in which the degree of braking is varied partly automatically and partly manually. To dissipate heat generated in the strips 50 by the braking action a liquid cooling device 56 is provided. Disc brakes driven from shafts secured to the coils 52 may be used in place of the mechanism described. The term " aircraft " includes catapults, to the movable parts of which the arresting gear may be applied. Specifications 575,707, 582,237, 595,306, [all in Group XXII], and U.S.A. Specifications 2,301,960. 2,326,470. 2,543,785 and 2,560,179 are referred to.