US1721883A - Flare-releasing mechanism for aircraft - Google Patents

Description

Jul 23, 1929. c. N. MONTEITH ET AL FLARE RELEASING MECHANISM FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Oct. 17. 1928 INVENTORS 4 fk W ATTORNEY.

Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES NTMONTEITH AND LOUIS S. MAR-SH, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNORS T BOEING AIRPLANE COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FLARE-RELEASING MECHANISM FOR AIRCRAFT. s

Application filed October 17, 1928. Serial No. 313,011.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for quickly and conveniently releasing parachute flares from aircraft in a positive manner by a hand actuated means.

Heretofore it has been necessary to carry the flare and its container on the inside of the fuselage with a portion of the container extending below the fuselage. This extension offered considerable resistance, which the appli'cants have found by actual experin'ient re duced the, speed of the plane 1.4 miles per hour. Furthermore the extensions were always subject to becoming clogged with dirt,

dust and the like which would sometimes render the device inoperative.

' With our improved type of releasing mechanism and flare container we overcome all of these objectionable features by providing a device which is entirely contained within the fuselage and when it is to be operated is projected downwardly by hand pressure beyond the bottom of the fuselage, and simultaneously therewith the bottom of the container is automatically removed, leaving the flare and its parachute free to fall by gravity into the open. 1

These and other objects will appear as our invention is more fully hereinafter described inthe following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of p 5 an airplane body, showing our improved form of flare housing and releasing mechanism within convenient reach of the pilot or operator, also showing a flare being released with its parachute.

Figure 2 is a pla view of the flare housing and the releasing mechanism.

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of Figure 2 taken on the line'AA of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation ofFigure 3,

. looking in the direction of the. arrow in Figure 3. A i

Figure 5 is a sectional plan View taken on the line B--B of Figure3.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view taken on 5 the line.C-C of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the flare container showing a retaining cap and releasing ring in place.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings:

Reference numeral 1 indicates the fuselage of an airplane. 2 indicates a pilots cockpit therein. 3 indicates the pilots seat and 4 is the floor portion thereof. 5 indicates a pair of cylindrical housings mounted to the floor of the cockpit, and as the housings are identical, a description of one will sufliee for both. The housing 5 which is open ended as at (i is provided with a flange 7. The opposite end is formed with a hinged coverplate 8. A pair of spring clamps 9 are secured tothe side walls of the housing 5 for engagement with the cover-plate 8. 10 indicates a slotted bearing secured to the top of the housing 5 and adapted to slidably support a shaft 11 which carries a pin 11 for engagement with the slotted bearing 10. To the shaft 11 is rotatably mounted a bracket 12, apertured as at 13. 14 is a bearing mounted to the interior of the housing 5 and rotatably supporting the shaft 11. The lowermost end of the shaft 5 is provided with a guide 15. A companion guide 16 is oppositely disposed to the guide 15 and is secured to the inner wall of the housing 5. 17 indicates a cable, one end of which is secured to the bearin 14 and its opposite end carries a bifurcated pin 18. 19 indicates a flare container which is of hollow cylindrical formation and formed at one end with a removable cap 2Q which is apertured as at 21 to receive pins 22. The pins are carried by a. leaf spring 23 which embraces the lowermost end of the container. The container is also apertured as at 21" to receive the pins 22. The ends of the leaf spring are formed into loops 24 as shown in Figure 7 and are .adapted to receive the bifurcated pin 18 which holds the spring in the position shown in Figure 3. The pins 22 thus extending through apertures in the edge of the cap 20, and the apertures 21 in the container, hold the cap in place and the cap supports the flare proper within the container. 25 indicates a guide on the containerfor the pin 18. 26 is a hook member mounted to the outer wall of the container and adapted to engage with the aperture 13 in tbe bracket 12. By this means the container i sup orted within the housing 5.

A finer 27 which is riveted to, and turnable wit the shaft 11 is arranged to be moved into its dotted line position shown in Figure 3 upon turning the shaft in a clock-wise direction. This puts the finger invposition for applying downward pressure to the container. At the same time the pin 11 is in alignment wit-h the slot in the bearing 10 and the shaft is then free to be thrust downand its parachute as shown in Figure 1-. 28

is a. spring member mounted to the underside of the cover plate 8. to exert downward pressure on the container for insuring permanent engagement of the hook 26 with the bracket 12 on the shaft. The guides 15 and 16 keep the container centralized with respect to the housing 5. A handle '29 is formed on the uppermost end of the shaft 11 for convenience in operation.

The bottom covering of the fuselage is apertured to permit dropping of the contain ers. These openings are provided with spring doors 30, which are normally held closed by their springs and are readily opened. by the downward thrust of the containers as shown in Figure 1.

l/Vhile we have shown a particular form of embodiment ofour invention we are aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

Having thus described our invention; what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A flare releasing mechanism for aircraft comprising a housing mounted within the fuselage of an airplane, a flare container supported within said housing, means slidably mounted within said housing for engaging with said flare container whereby a downward thrust of said slidably mounted means will extend said flare container beyond said housing andthe bottom covering of said fuselage and simultaneously therewith release said flare.

2. A flare releasing mechanism for aircraft comprising a housing mounted within the operators compartment of an airplane, a shaft slidably mounted'within said housing, a flare container within said housing and carried by said shaft, said flare container having a spring releasable bottom, and means connected to said housing for releasing said spring upon a downward thrust of said shaft.

3. A flare releasing mechanism for aircraft comprising a housing mounted within the fuselage of said aircraft, a flare container carried within said housing, means for extending said container beyond the housing and the outside covering of said aircraft, and means for releasing said flare simultaneously with said extension.

4. A flare releasing mechanism for aircraft comprising a housing mounted within the fuselage of an airplane, a hand actuated shaft slidably and rotatably mounted within said housing and engaging with said shaft, the lowermost end of said flare container being provided with a spring releasable bottom, means interconnecting said releasable bottom and the interior of said housing whereby a downward thrust of said shaft will project the lower end of saidflare container beyond the housing and the bottom covering .of said aircraft fuselage and simultaneously therewith release said bottom of said container.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

CHARLES N. MONTEITH. LOUIS S. MARSH.

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