US1900891A - Parachute mounting for aeroplanes - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1933. T. D. CRANE 1,900,891

l PARACHUTE MOUNTING FOR AERoPLANEs Filed Feb. 10, 1930 5 sheets-sheet 2 mventor TBrane March 7, 1933. T. D. CRANE 1,900,891

M ."PARACHUTEMOUNTING FOR AERQPLANES9 l Filed Feb. 1o, 195o -5'sneets-snet s Figui 9 Cra-me Smoentor duomg l March 7, 1933. T D- CRANE. l 1,900,891

PARAGHUTE MOUNTING FOR AEROPLANES Filed Feb. 10. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lhwentor TD. Crane PARAGHTE MOUNTING FOR AEROPLANES Filed Feb. lO, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. l3.

maentor Tll'mne N wfg/uern@ Patented Mar. 7, 1933 AUNITED STATES THEODORE D. CRANE, F COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA.

p rmcnu'rr. MOUNTING, ron morLANEs Application ld February 10, 1930. Serial No. 427,089.

This invention relates to the use of parachutes for aeroplanes, and more particularl to their mounting. v"

It is an object of the invention to provide such a mounting of the parachute in the plane that the usual smooth surface and contour of said plane will not be changed and no exterior projections or obstructions created which might impede a forward movement or speed of the aeroplane.

The invention includes a compartment opening upon the top of the plane for receiving a folded parachute and a lid adapted to make a closure of the opening and to be sealed therein to provide a water-proof protection for the parachute.

The invention includes means under control of the pilot and which operate with suilicient force to coincidently unseal and unseat the lid and permit instant inflation of the parachute, and includes means which -operate automatically to cause release and instant inflation of the parachute in instances of collision and resultant breakage of the plane.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a mounting for the parachute that any circular movement thereof will be prevented which might otherwise be caused by a swinging movement of the aeroplane.

Also the invention includes such a connection of the parachute with the plane that, during operation, it will change the inclination of said plane during its forward movement and descent, said change in inclination tending to impede the forward movement of the plane and to cause it to assume a horizontal position during its descent. Also the invention includes means, during operation, for detaching-the parachutev from the plane, this often being of advantage when landing the aeroplane.

4With the foregoing objects in view and others to be mentioned hereinafter the invention presents a new and useful construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that changes may be made in form, size, proportion of parts and minor details, said changes being within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is aside view of an aeroplane, the parachute being in operative position. Fig. 2 is a plan view showingl a part of a plane, the opening therein and the collapsed or folded parachute therein. 3 1s a view'r of a plane in transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 showing the parachute therem. Fig. 4 shows an end portion of one of the arms of a wind-frame.

5 is a view of the plane in transverse section showing the wind-frame in extended posltion to permit air to enter the parachute. F1g. 6 is a broken away view showing a part of the front edge of the plane, the windframe being shown in a partly elevated'condition.

Fig. 7 is a broken away side view showmg means for locking the lid in closed posit1on and for elevating the lid. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the front Wall shown in Fig. 7 of a compartment and parts mounted thereon.

A Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are details relating to 75 a combined swivel and releasing device for connecting the flexible stays of the parachute with the anchor-stays of the plane.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the combined swivel and releasing device. Fig. 10 is a transverse 80 section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a transverse section on line 11--11 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a section on line 12-12 of Fig. 7. Fig. 13 is a plan view of an aeroplane showing a broken plane to illustrate utility of the invention, and automatic operation caused by displacement of a release-strand. Fig. 14 is a front view of an aeroplane illustrating the use of release-strands for automatically releasing the parachute upon breakage of the plane.

Referring now tothe drawings for a more particular description the invention-is shown and described in connection with an aeroplane having a hollow plane 15 provided in 95 its upper wall with an opening 16, said opening being provided with a closure member or lid 17 adapted to swing rearwardly to open position. It is also shown and described in connection with the fuselage 18 100 and rudder 19 of the aeroplane and a parachute 20.

In order that the objects may be attained as first iiielitioned I provide means for protecting the paiacliute from injury 0r effects of moisture or dainpness in the plane and for quickly releasing it from the plane to operative position.

Numeral 21 indicates the upright walls of a conipaitnient rectangular in plan as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings adapted to contain the parachute when folded and `certain other parts employed for operation. However, since the plane 15 is hollow the compartment may be dispensed with if desired. lVhen the cover has been swung. to closed position it fits snugly in the opening and preferably is sealed therein so that the parachute will be protected from rain or dust.

Numeral 22 indicates a fabric strip operating as a flexible hinge, said strip being Silitably'secured to the inner side of the lid and to a concaved plate 23 provided for the rear part of the compartment as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 ofthe drawings.

'lhe obj ect in providing the concaved plate 23 is to prevent any possible injury to the parachute when it is released from the plane.

The front end of the lid is provided with a pair of hooks 24 and ledges 25 and with recesses 2G between said ledges, as best shown in Fig. 7. The front upright wall of the compartment 21 is provided with a `pair of locking-plates 27 pivoted at 28 to said wall, and connected by a rod 29.

Each plate 27 is provided with a lug 30 and with one or more rollers 31, and since these plates are of angular form it will be seen that said lugs 30 may enter the recesses 26 for engaging the hooks 24 of the lid 1 7 when the locking-plates are swung in one direction. Also when the plates 27 are swung in an opposite direction the lugs 30 will be released from the hooks 24 and during this last named movement of said plates the .rollers 31 will engage the ledges 25 of the lid to release said lid and to cause it to swing upwardly a limited distance.

It will be appreciated that the control mentioned for the lid is a matter of importance. It remains firmly closed by action of springs 32, and when the lid is closed the lockingplates engage the stop-lugs 33, and the lugs 3() will be maintained in engagement with the hooks 24. Numeral 34 indicates a pulleord or operating-strand which extends to the fuselage 18 or cock pit for use of a pilot and, on any occasion of emergency or accident the parachute may be moved from the compartment shown in Figs. 2 and 3 tothe position shown in Fig. 1 by moving the cord outwardly against the force of the springs 32, the inner end of the cord 34 being secured to one of the locking-plates 27 shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The operation of the mechanism last described lifts the lid a limited distance above the plane and this upward swinging movement of the lid immediately'ieleascs an eX- tension-fraiiie 35, preferably called a' windframe since it causes the lid to swing completely open and causes the expansible end 20 of the parachute to be disposed in the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Since the aeroplane will be moving forwardly at this time air will enter the parachute with considerable f orce to cause complete distention.

The wiiid-franie 35 consists of bars or strips arranged in pairs, as the bars or strips (L and pivotally connected at one of their ends as indicated at c, and provided at said pivot c with springs 3G tending to canse the bars of each pair to assume an extended position, the bars or strips a of each pair being pivotally mounted at one of their ends as indicated at (l to the lower wall of the plane.

Numerals 37 indicate springs arranged in pairs, one of their ends being secured to the lower wall of the plane near the front edge thereof. the opposite end of each spiing being secured to a strip or bar a, the operation of said springs 37 tending to cause the pairs of pivotally connected bars to swing to an upright position as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The parachute preferably is packed in folds in the compartment 21 with its eXpansihle end-portion 20 disposed adjacent to the front edge of the plane. Numerals 38 indicate spreader-stays which are secured to the edge of the parachute and are wound upon drums 39 which are rigidly secured to a spindle 40, said spindle being journalled in the head-members 41 of the bars or strips b of the wind-frame 35, each head-member 41 heing provided with a sleeve 42 so that it may have a slight rotatable movement on a strip b to permit the spindle to rotate without undue friction during its rotation.

As best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the lid 17 is provided with pockets 43 adapted to receive a pair of stabilizing guides 44 when the parachute and other parts are assembled in the plane. each guide 44 being mounted on a projection 45 of a head-member 41 of a strip b, best shown in Fig. 4 of the dra wings` these members 44 normally being pressed upwardly against the lid by action of the springs 3G and 37` and when the parachute is released the guides 44 will slide outwardly from the pockets of the lid.

The stays 33 are for the purpose of spreading the expansible end-portion 20 of the parachute and for detaining it temporarily in an open or spread condition, as shown in Fig. 6 or Fig. 5 to permit inflation or distention of the parachute. The stays 38 are releasably secured to the drums 39,-that is to say, they are closely wound upon the drums when said drums, together with the spindle 40 are rotated in one direction, and may be released, of course, when the spindle and drums are reversely rotated.

The rotation of the spindle 40 is controlled by a pair of spiral springs 46 each spring being secured at its inner end to the spindle 40 and its outer'end being secured to a headmember 41, and in operation, to mount the stays 38 on the drums the spindle by use of a wrench or other suitable means is rotated in one direction against the force of the springs 46. The ends of the stays 38 are then applied to the drums; the spindle is then permitted to rotate by retraction of the springs to cause said sta-ys to become wound upon the drums, and of course, when the parachute is released the spindle 40 will resist rotation of the drums in a certain degree, but as soon as the parachute is partly opened it will move outwardly with such force that the stays 38 will be unwound and released from the drums.

Numerals 47 indicate a pair of flexible brace-members each being attached to a strip b of the wind-frame 35, its opposite end being secured to the bottom of the plane forwardly of the pivotal mounting d of the wind-frame 35.

As thus described, an outward movement of the pull-cord 34 (Figi 7.) lwill cause release of the fastening elements 24 of the lid from the fastening elements 30 of the locking-plates 27 for releasing the lid, and by action of springs 36 and 37 the wind-frame 35 will be actuated and extended for elfectively opening up the parachute to permit air to enter, the forward movement of the aeroplane being depended upon for complete expansion of the parachute.

While I have described the mechanism in detail for the operations described I may change the same in some respects but prefer the parts mentioned for moving the parachute so that its end-portion 20" may be opened up' and maintained in opened position to permit expansion.

The'usual lexible'stays for the parachute are indicated at 48, the anchor-stays which are secured to the bottom of the plane 15 in the. opening 16 being indicated, for convenience as the pair of anchor-stays 49 and an anchor-stay 50, this triangular arrangement for the anchor-stays being preferred so that the spring 5l may be effective for controlling the transverse inclination of the plane 15 as will be described.

In order thatthe parachute when in operation will not be rotated by swinging movements of the aeroplane, and in order that the parachute may be detached from the aeroplane whenever required, a combined swivel and release-block 52 is provided to which the flexible stays 48 and anchor-stays are secured.

The stays 48 are secured to a swivel 53 (Fig. 9.) the head of the swivel being provided with a ring 54 to which the ends of the stays 48 are secured.

The stem of the swivel is rotatably mounted in an apertured cylinder 55 best shown in Fig. 11, the stem 53 being provided with a projection 56 normally engaging the bottom of the cylinder.

The cylinder is slidingly mounted in a sleeve 57 to which the three anchor-stays are secured. The sleeve is provided with a housing 58 for a mounting therein of a lockingbar 59 adapted to rotate in said housing, the cylinder being provided with a recess 60 for receiving the locking-bar. As best shown in Fig. 9, that part of the bar 59 within the housing 58 is provided with a recess 6l, and it will be understood that the locking-bar may have a rotatable movement to be disposed with its recess 61 in opposed relation to the recess. 60 of the cylinder, and when the parts are thus disposed the swivel and its cylinder may slide upwardly from and be released from the sleeve. Numeral 62 indicates a crank-arm which may have swinging movements subject to the control of a spring 63 for releasing the swivel from the sleeve. The

crank-arm 62 may be moved by use of a pullrope (not shown), said pull-rope or cable eX- tending from the crank 62 to the cock pit within-reachof a pilot.

The means for detaching the parachute from the plane is important to avoid obstructions when landing an aeroplane, said obstructions being upon or near the ground and liable to be encountered while the aeroplane is moving forwardly.

Theuse of the swivel is of importance since swinging movements of the parachute and buckling or twisting of the stays occa-` sioned by. swinging movements of the aeroplane will be avoided. Also in instances` when an aeroplane, on .account of some defect, moves spirally and downwardly, called flat spin the use of a parachute tends to prevent such movement.

The anchor-stays 49 and 50 are attached to the plane 15 in a manner to support the parachute approximately at the center of gravity of the aeroplane, and the anchor-stay 50 which is attached to the plane 15 midway between the ends of said plane is connected approximately midway between its ends with the spring 51. rlhe use of this spring is a matter of importance since it causes a change in the inclination of the plane 15.l

When the parachute is released the forward movement of the aeroplane will cause the parachute to assume a rearward and upward inclination and since the connection of this spring with the anchor-stay51 is between the ends of said stay the stresses directed to said plane 15 will change the inclination of the planeand cause its front edge to be elevated, this being of great advantage since it may retard the forward movement of said plane.

The means for releasing the parachute automatically is considered to be important since, in instances of collision the parachute should be immediately released without the attention of a pilot. To attain this object flexible members, such as wire strands 64 are suitably mounted in the planes shown in Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings, and shown in the hollow housings of the braces 65 of Fig. 14, said strands being suitably connected with the strand 34 and engaging the sheave 66 shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, and if a breakage of the plane occurs the strand 64 will be drawn in a manner to move the pullcord or strand 34 with the result that the parachute will be automatically released.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings a sheave is indicated at 67 engaged by the pull-cord or similar element 34, and anysuitable means may be provided for use of the pilot for moving the cord 34, for releasing the parachute from the plane.

Suitable means are provided to prevent possible injury to the aeroplane or to its occupants by action of the lid 17 when it is swung rearwardly, said means consisting of a wire shield or plurality of wires 68 extending from the plane to the pivot of the rudder 19 and secured to said parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 13 of the drawings.'

I claim as my invention,-

l. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane, said aeroplane including a hollow plane having an opening in its upper wall, a parachute normally collapsed and disposed in said plane and having an expansible endportion provided with flexible stays and spreader-strands, a swivel attached to said flexible stays, anchor stays secured to said plane and attached to the swivel, mechanism connected with the spreader-strands and disposed in said plane, a lid normally closing said opening, and lmeans for actuating said mechanism for moving said lid and expansible end-portion of the parachute to permit the air to enter said parachute to cause inflation thereof.

2. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane including a plane, an anchor-stay secured to the plane adjacent to the front edge thereof, a plurality of anchor-stays secured to the plane rearwardly of the first named anchor-stay, a parachute having flexible stays connected with said anchor-stays, and a resilient member connected with the first named anchor-stay between the ends thereof and connected with the front edge of the plane for elevating the front edge of the plane relative to the rear edge thereof.

3. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane including a hollow plane provided with 5 an opening in its upper wall for receiving the parachute, a lid mounted to swing from the plane, locking-devices in the plane to normally maintain the lid in closed relation with said opening, a spring-controlled windframe in the plane connected with the parachute and normally pressed against the lid, a releasing-strand extending into the plane and connected with said locking-devices, said strand being movable for actuating the locking-devices to permit the lid to swing to open position and to permit the wind-frame and parachute to move outwardly of said opening.

4. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane including a plane having an opening in its upper wall, a lid for said opening, a parachute anchored and normally folded therein, means in the plane for locking the lid to closed position, flexible strands in the plane extending approximately to the ends of said plane and connected with said locking-means to cause unlocking of the lid upon breakage of the plane, and means in the plane to cause immediate inflation of the parachute upon unlocking said lid.

5. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane including a hollow plane having an opening in its upper wall, flexible strands within and extending approximately the entire length of the plane, a parachute secured to the plane and adapted to be collapsed to form folds and to be disposed in said opening, a lid mounted on the plane for closing said opening, a resiliently mounted frame connected with the folds of the parachute normally tending to move the lid to open position, locking means for preventing a movement of the lid to open position and connected with the flexible strands for causing actuation of said locking means and resiliently mounted frame upon breakage of said plane to permit a movement of the lid and expansion of the parachute.

6. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane having an opening, a lid for covering said opening, a parachute collapsed to form folds within the opening and anchored to the aeroplane, flexible members secured to said folds, a frame including extensible, pivotally connected, spring controlled bars provided with drums, said frame being disposed below and normally pressed upwardly against the lid with its drums connected with said flexible members, locking devices for controlling a movement of said lid, and a pullcord connected with and movable for actuating the locking devices to cause removal of the lid and to permit said frame and parachute to move outwardly from said opening.

7. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane having an opening, a lid hinged to the aeroplane for covering said opening and having recesses opening on its inner side, a frame in said opening provided with pivotally mounted drums and having guide-members normally disposed in said recesses, springs normally pressing the guide-members against the lid for moving the frame and lid outwardly from said opening, a parachute collapsed to form folds in said opening and anchored to the aeroplane, strands secured to the folds of the parachute and engaging the drums of said frame, locking means for preventing a movement of said lid and frame, and a release-strand adapted to be moved for actuating the locking means to permit a movement of said frame and parachute outwardly of said opening, said strands moving from their engaged relation with said drums and said guide-members moving outwardly from said recesses.

8. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane having an opening, a parachute in said opening and anchored to the aeroplane, a lid for covering said opening and provided with a pair of recesses, a frame in the opening having a pair of guide-members normally disposed in the recesses of said lid, a pair of spring-controlled drums rotatably mounted on the frame, flexible members secured to the parachute andengaging said drums, resilient means tending to move the frame and lid outwardly from said opening, locking means for preventing movements of the frame and lid outwardly of said opening, and a release-strand movable for moving saidlocking means to permit the frame and lid to move outwardly from said opening for releasing the parachute, said guide-members moving outwardly from said recesses and said ilexible members being disengaged from said drums. Y

9. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane having an opening, a lid for covering said opening, a parachute provided with` strands and anchored in said opening a frame including pivotally connected, extensible, resiliently actuated bars provided with drums and normally connected with said strands, springs arranged in pairs Ain said opening for moving said frame and parachute outwardly of said opening, a locking device movable for preventing a movement of said frame and parachute, and a releasing-strand, adapted to be moved for actuating. said locking device.

10. In a parachute mounting for an aeroplane having an elongated compartment with an opening in its upper wall,a lid for covering said opening, a parachute secured to the aeroplane and .collapsed to form folds and disposed in said opening, flexible strands secured to the aeroplane within and extending longitudinally of a Wing of said aeroplane, a resiliently mounted frame connected with the folds of the parachute and normally tending to press the lid to open position, locking means for preventing a ymovement of the lid to open position and connected with the iexible strands for causing actuation of said.

locking means and resiliently mounted frame upon breakage of said aeroplane to permit a movement of said lid and expansion of said parachute. Y

In testimony whereof, I have aiiixed my signature.

THEODORE D. CRANE.

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