US1686158A - Electric-impulse generator - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 2, 1928.

' R. KAucH ET AL ELECTRIC IMPULSE GENERATOR Filed Jan. 30, 1925 NVENTOR abort Kawch Char-66 L Fhauluo ATT EY/ Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

v UNITED, STATES .spnam xanqn AND CHARLES n'raunns, or DAYTON, OHIO.

1 'ELECIBIC-IMBULSE ennnnaroa.

Applicationfilel January 30, 1925. Serial No. 5,857.

This invention relates to an impulse gen erator for use with electric flares forthcpurpose of signalling in aircraft.

The principal, object of the'invention is to provide a small, compact impulse. generator ofthe hot shot type, capable of quick and easy operation for discharging and igniting signals and flares oriother objects to "he dischar djfrom'aircraft, or carried in;- nited on .t'efaircraft, the construction of the generator being such that the armature is always recoiled at. a certain predetermined speed, to generate the same electrical impulse regardlessof the speed with which different operators manipulate the same.

I In theaccompanying drawing illustrating the invention, 1

' Fig. 1 is a side VIBWOf the panel showing mounted thereon a signal switch and the I impulse generator, the latter appearing partly in section and partly in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation 'of the panel, the impulse generator appearing in rear'elevation with. a part of therear wall broken away to disclose the armature and coils contained therein. 7

I Inthe past, signals were dischargedfrom aircraft'bythe useof signal pistols, but this practice'has given place to the use of pyrotechnicdischargers for all signalling purposesas being an improvementover the signal pistol, for. since it constitutes a permanent part of theairplane it will not become misplaced or lost, and there is no danger of signals being fired into a part of the airplane. The present invention provides for a plurality of signal switches mounted on g a panelswith a single firing knob within convenient reach of the operator in the cockat I electrical installations.

pit, whereby any. one or more signals may beselected fandsimnltaneously fired by the de pression of the knob, it being possible to locate the discharger at any convenient place on the fuselage, usually to the rear of the gunners cockpit. The firing knob referred to operates an impulse generator inasmuch as many types of airplanes equipped with magneto ignition, do not carry storage batteries as standard equipment. .A further feature of the present invention is to control the landing flares, which are usually mounted on the wing tips, from the same panel with the signals and to ignite the flares by similar manipulation of the-impulse generaccessory. plunger so the end of the thread 22 thereon I ator, thussimplifying all of the The panel 10, shown'in' Figihis mounted I in. either the pilots or observers cockpit and carries a plurality of signal switches 11. The firing knob 13 of the impulse generator 14 is conveniently centrally located on the 1 panel 10, and within easy reach of thepilot or observer. The keys 15 of the switches as shown in Fig. 1 may be arranged so that when depressed the switch is grounded, and the-flare or signal identified with the switch selected will be fired, following the operation poles of a laminated armature 18, fixed; on a hollow shaft 19 received in hearings in the casing 16. A relatively stiff torsion spring 20 has one end fixed to the casing 16 and the other end to the armature 18, normally to constrain the armature to turn in onedi rection, when turned. in the opposite direc' tion: by the depression of the knob 13.

' The knob 13 is mounted on the end of a plunger 21, which has an enlarged threaded end 22 received in the internallythreaded g end portion 23 of the shaft 19. The threads on the parts 22; and23 are of a relatively steep pitch sufiicient to turn the armature through about 180 in the stroke of the plunger.

, lungerrod passes, the same at the limit of t e strokeof The threads 23 are short'enough so the threaded end of the the plungen The operator in depressing the firing knob, meets wit-lithe resistance of the spring 20 and continues to depress the knob until the armature is free to recoil under the action of the spring. 20, when of course there is no resistanceto the depression of the plunger, and the operator is aware that a complete stroke has been given the plunger. The spring 20, it will be seen,

recoils the armature always at the same speed, so that substantially the same electrical impulse is generated, regardless of how swift or slow the plunger is depressed by different operators. The human element is thereby eliminated and it is made certain that flaresand signals will be properly fired at all times.

The plunger 21 is reciprocable in a bearing 24 on the front of the casing 16, which projects through the panel 10. T1115 bearing limits the outward movement of the is left engaged in the end of the thread 23 in the extended position of the plunger. A. coiled spring 25, acting between the, knob 13 and the bearing 24-, normally constrains the plunger to move to its extended position. In the depression of the plunger, the inward movement is limited by the engagement of the knob with the hearing when the thread 22 has passed the end of the thread 2-3. If the operator releases the knob at the proper interval the plunger will be retracted as the plunger is unthreaded. However if it should occur that the plunger is held depressed for an instantthe operator can easily retract the same by turning the knob and thus unthreading the plunger from the shaft 19 to its full extended position. The knob 13 is either knurled or flower shaped as indicated to afford sufficient bearing in the palm of the hand to prevent the turning of the plunger and knob in the depression of the latter in cooking the armature.

lVe claim:

1. An impulse generator comprising a rotatable armature mounted on a shaft, said shaft having a steep pitched threaded part, a manually operable plunger having a counterpart to fit said shaft, said plunger serving when being depressed to turn said armature in one direction, and spring means for rapidly recoilin said armature to gener ate a current, said plunger and shaft being automatically disconnected at a predetermined point in the inner travel of the plunger to release the armature.

2. An impulse generator comprising a ro tatable armature, a driving element. a driven element fixed to the armature, said driving element being arranged to operate said driven element for only a predetermined amount of travel of the driving element, and spring means for rapidly recoiling said armature at the limit of the movement thereof to generate a current.

3. An impulse generator comprising a rotatable armature fixed on a shaft, said shaft having a threaded part of a steep pitch, a

manually operable plunger having a counterpart to fit said shaft, means limiting the ex-- tent of reciprocatory movement of said plunger, spring means normally holding said plunger extended for manual depression, said plunger serving when depressed to turn said armature in one direction, and spring means for rapidly recoiling said armature to generate a current.

a. An impulse generator comprising a rotatable armature fixed on a shaft, said shaft having a threaded part of a steep pitch, a manually operable plunger having a counterpart to fit said shaft, said counterpart being movable past the threaded part of said shaft at the limit of depression of said plunger, and spring means for recoiling said armature, said plunger in its retracted position having the beginning of its thread engaged on the threaded part of said shaft.

5. An iinpluse generator comprising a r0- tatable armature fixed on a shaft, said shaft having a threaded part of a steep pitch, a manually operable plunger having a counterpart to fit said shaft, said counter-" part being movable past the threaded part of said shaft at the limit of depression of said plunger, spring means for recoiling said armature, and stops for limiting the reciproation of said plunger, the stop limiting the outward movement of the plunger leaving the end of the thread of said plunger engaged in the threaded partof said shaft.

6. An impulse generator comprising a casing, an armature rotatable therein on a hollow shaft, a coiled spring having one end attached to said casing and the other end to said armature, said shaft having a short thread of .a steep pitch in one end thereof a plunger having a threaded head reciprocable in said shaft, a bearing for said plunger limiting the outward movement of said plunger so the threaded end of said head remains engaged in the threaded end of said shaft, and ahand piece on said plunger limiting the inward movement of the same.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

' ROBERT KAUCH.

CHARLES L. PAULUS.

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