US2192450A

US2192450A - Position indicator for airplanes

Info

Publication number: US2192450A
Application number: US273819A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milo F Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-05-15
Filing date: 1939-05-15
Publication date: 1940-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1957-03-05

Description

March 5, 1940. M. F. MILLER 9 PQSIIION INDICATOR FOR AIRPLANES 7 Filed May 15, 1939 I w i l I ,9;

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7 1 MM M m N W J' a /0 w 4% v n F via #5 INVENTOR. W 4 M//0 MM/efi BY t f Patented Mar. 5, 1940 warren stares PATENT OFFICE 11 (liaims.

This invention relates to markers particularly adapted for use in indicating the position of airplanes or other craft, that have been incapacitated through a. wreck or forced landing, and the primary object is to provide means of such character which is automatically brought into use when the craft encounters difiiculty ofsufficient magnitude todisable the normal signaling devices carried by the craft and to release the specially formed mechanism constituting a part of the position indicator embodying this invention.

One of the important aims of this invention is the provision of a position indicator for airplanes or the like, which comprises means for automatically releasing a specially formed shell wherein is disposed a balloon and an anchor assembly, both of which combine to set up a signal above the wrecked craft so that searchers may be guided to its location.

A further object of the invention is to provide an indicator of the aforementioned type that has means for coloring an area of the territoryadjacent to the distressed craft, immediately after the position indicator has been brought into play so that searchers may be directed to the location of a disabled airplane, by observing the contrasting color that has been sprayed upon the ground, trees or vegetation. close to where the indicator first left its place in the body of the craft.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a position indicator for airplanes wherein is included unique means for automatically ejecting certain parts of the indicator from the normal position when excessive jars are imparted to parts of the craft carrying the same; to provide a specially formed, inflatable balloon which will be filled with gas immediately afterthe shell of the indicator is ejected from the housing; and to provide positively acting elements for spraying a supply of colored liquid over large areas of the territory adjacent to the place where the specially formed shell of the indicator was 'projected from its housing.

An'even further important object of this invention is the provision of a position indicator for airplanes or crafts, wherein such devices are desirable that is especially light, compact, durable and capable of being instantaneously brought into play when the airplane is forced to land or when a destructive jar is imparted to the body of the craft equipped with the indicator.

Other objects of the invention, including speciflc ways of embodying the concepts thereon in Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through the 1g indicator taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 1.

When installing the indicator, its longitudinal axis should be in a vertical position so that shell 5 may be projected upwardly with sufiicient force to move the same an appreciable distance above the equipped craft.

Shell 6 is cylindrical and open at both ends. The upper end, however, should be closed by an easily removable cap 8 so that as the balloon Ill, immediately therebelow, is inflated, it will be lifted from place to allow the balloon to extend outwardly from the upper end of shell 6.

A housing i2 should be rigidly carried by a part of the ship or craft not here shown. This housing is appreciably greater in diameter than shell 5 along the portion thereof circumscribing said shell when the indicator is in the normal position.

An upper section it mounted upon housing i2 through the medium of screw threads or the like It, presents an upwardly and inwardly inclined wall it against the inner angular face of which, heads 26 and 22 of button 2:3 and punch 26 re:- spectively, engage when shell 6 is projected.

Balloon H3, when deflated, is disposed adjacent the upper end of shell 6 and folded in place with a gas tank 28 entirely confined therein. This tank 28 has a partition 39 which is provided with a small port 32 through which the gas in tank 28 escapes when pick 36 has pierced wall 36. Pick 36 is provided with a head 3%, and a spring it normally maintains pick 36 in the position shown in Fig. l with its point spaced away from wall 36. One end of spring 68 is secured to the outer face of wall 36 and the other end thereof is attached to head 3%, thus pick 33 is mounted on tank 28 and cannot escape into the balloon it].

Button 26 is slidably carried in hole 2 formed in shell opposite to head 85 on pick. it. This button 26 may move in to compress spring 3% when shell ii is ejected from housing iii. Tani:

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weighted as at 52 to permit the action of gravity 'to unwind cable 48 immediately after shell 8 is moved from within housing I2.

Spaced apart partitions 54 and 58 set oflf a compartment 58 in shell 8. This compartment is in communication in pipe 82 to form an ejector nozzle, the end of which is in window 84 normally covered by a light membrane 88. A compressed air tank 88 is positioned within compartment 58 and like gas tank 28, is arranged to have the air therein automatically released into compartment 58 when punch 28 has pierced relatively thin wall I8 of tank 88.

A partition I2 in tank 88 has a small port I4 therethrough to allow the escape of compressed air in a gradual, even manner. Head 22 of punch 28 extends outwardly through hole 18 in the wall of shell 8 where it may be engaged and forced inwardly by the inclined portion I8 of section. A spring 18 maintains punch '28 in the normal position away from wall I of tank 88.

A reservoir 88 containing colored liquid 82 is carried in shell 8 between anchor 44 and chamber 58. Pipe 82 is in communication with reservoir 88.. The liquid 82 should be of a substance which will not freeze at low temperatures and the pigment used in the liquid should impart a color thereto that is suitable for the season. As an example, when snow covered territory is being flown over by the airplane, the liquid and floor 94 of this housing I2 carries spur 00.v

should be of a dark color, such as blue or black, but during the time when snow is not on the ground, the liquid should be white or a light color so that trees or other vegetation may be coated with a covering that is relatively easy to detect.

Means for ejecting shell 8 is in the nature of a drum 84. which contains compressed air and .'.which may be filled with such air through the .medium .of a valve 88. The pressure within drum84 should be at least 2,000 pounds per square inch, and the bottom wall 88 of drum 84' should be relatively thin or have a thin portion through which spur 90 may pass when the hereinafter described spur-actuating mechanism is brought into play.

Drum 84 rests upon partition 92 of housing I2 Spur 90 is reciprocably mounted and-maintained in a normal position by compression spring 88.

One end of stem 88 of spur 90 extends downward.- ly into tube I00 wherein is reciprocably mounted an annularly grooved piston I82: This piston has a coil spring E04 in engagement with one end which tends to force the piston against the end of stem 98. Afloose ball I08 extends through opening I08 of tube I00 to lie in groove of the piston I02. A specially formed arm IIO having the domeshaped head I I2- on one end thereof, is supported by a universal joint II4. A weight H8 is on the other end thereof of arm H0 and a weight H8 is carried'by a laterally extending portion I20. Portion I20 and arm IIO are disposed at right angles to each other and a pair of springs I22 and I28 respectively, yieldably maintain the parts with tube 80 that terminates can'ledbyuniversaljoint Il4inthenormalset position. The tension of spring I24 may be varied through the use of a thumb nut and bolt arrangement I28, to the end'that the jar which will release piston I82, may be predetermined. When the mechanism including arm III is constructed and mounted as illustrated, the force or an impact in any direction will disengage head I I2 from ball I88 ii'the tension of springs I22 and I24 is overcome. I

It is obvious to one skilled in the art that when the mechanism just described is moved to release piston I82, spring I84 will force spur 88 through wall 88 01' drum 84. A quick release of the compressed air in drum 84 will force shell 8 upwardly out oi' housing I2 with sumcient momentum to lift the same an appreciable distance above the point of release. In fact. the sudden opening of drum 84 is of explosive proportions and projects shell I8 from housing I2 with great force. As shell 8 passes through section I4 of housing I2, the gas from tank" will be released and the air from tank 88 will escape through tube 88 because heads 22 and 24 will be moved inwardly by inclined wall I8.

As shell 8 rises, due to the force originallyexerted by piercing drum 84, gas from tank 28 will enter balloon I8 and force it out of the upper end of the shell. When a sufllcient amount of gas has entered balloon I8 to impart buoyancy thereto, it will suspend shell 8 and all contained parts abovethe ground.

Anchor 44 which has been unwinding cable 48 from spool 48, will automatically engage a tree, bush or other thing on the ground to preclude objectionable floating away when balloon I8 is inflated.

During the time shell 8 was rising, ejector nozzle formed by the meeting of tube 88 and pipe 82 will force colored liquid 82 from reservoir 88 in the form of a spray which will coat objects on the ground below the shell. Balloon I8 will become a marker for searchers, and if anchor 44 has not satisfactorily engaged something to avoid floating, then the colored liquid which has coated underlying objects, will become a trail by means of which the wreckage may be more easily located.

Obviously, the position indicator just described may be alteredconsiderably in form and nature without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing; a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containing colored liquid; means for forcing, the liquid from said reservoir in ,theiorm of spray;-means for ejecting the shell from within the housing; and structure carried by the housing and said shell said reservoir in the form of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing; and structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operativethe said means for forcing the liquid from-thejreservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing, saidmeans for forcing the liquid from the reservoir comprising a tank of compressed air, means for releasing the air from the able with the means for releasing the air from the tank as the shell is ejected from the housing.

3. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing; a projectable shell withinthe housing having a reservoir containing structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operative the said means for forcing the iquid from the reservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing, said means for forcing v the liquid from the reservoir comprisinga tank of compressed air, a punch to perforate the tank,

' a spring to withdraw the punch from the pering.

foration created in the tank thereby, an ejector nozzle in communication with the tank and said reservoir for withdrawing the liquid from the reservoir and directing it outwardly from the shell, and a part on the housing engageable with the punch to force it into the tank as the shell is ejected from the housing.

4. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing; a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containing colored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in the form of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing; and structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operative the said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing, said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir comprising partitions in the shell setting ofi a compartment, a tank of compressed air in the compartment, a punch extending into the compartment and outwardly from the shell, a spring to yieldably hold the punch in the normal position, an' ejector nozzle in connection with the compartment and said reservoir for withdrawing the liquid from the reservoir-and directing it outwardly from the shell, and a part on the housing engageable with the punch to force it into the tank toperforate the same as the shell is ejected from the hous- 5. A position indicator of the character described ,comprising a'housing; a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containing colored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in the form of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing; and structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operative the said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing, said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir comprising a tank of compressed air, a punch to perforate the tank, a spring to withdraw the punch from the perforation created in the tank thereby, an ejector nozzle in communication with the tank and said reservoir for withdrawing the liquid from the reservoir and directing it outwardly from the shell, and a part on the housing engageable with the punch to force it into the tank as the shell is ejected from the housing, said compressed air tank having a partition therein to divide the same into a high pressure and a low pressure chamber, the wall of said low pressure chamber punch 6. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing; a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containing colored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in the form of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing; and

"structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operative the said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing, said means for ejecting the, shell from the housing comprising a drum of compressed air in the housing between one end of the latter and one end of the shell, a spur for puncturing the drum, and mechanism including a weight for actuating the spur when the housing is subjected to excessive jar.

7. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing; a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containing colored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in the form of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing; and structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operative the said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing, said means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir comprising partitions in the shell setting off a compartment, a

tank of compressed air in the compartment, a

punch extending into the compartment and outwardly from the shell, a spring to yieldably hold the punch in the normal position, an ejector nozzle in connection withthe compartment and said reservoir for withdrawing the liquid from the reservoir and directing it outwardly from the shell, and a part on the housing engageable with the punch to force it into the tank to perforate the same as the shell is ejected from the housing, said means for ejecting the shell from the housing comprising a drum of compressed air in the housing between one end of the latter and one end of the shell, a spur on the housing for puncturing the drum, and mechanism for actuating the spur when the housing is subjected to excessive jar, the force exerted upon the shell by said ejecting means being sufiicient to move the shell out of the housing and to force the punch through the wall of said compressed air tank.

8. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing; a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containing colored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in the form of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing;

structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operative the said means for forcing liquid from the reservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing; a deflated balloon releasably disposed in the shell near one end thereof; a. tank of gas for inflating the balloon; and means for releasing the gas from the tank and into the balloon as the shell is ejected from the housing.

9. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing; a projectable shell within the housing having a reservoir containing colored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in the form of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing; structure carried by the housing and said means for forcing liquid from the reservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing; a deflated balloon releasably disposed in the shell near one end thereof a tank of gas for inflating the balloon; and means for releasing the gas from the tank and into the balloon as the shell is ejected from the housing, said tank oi gas for inflating the balloon being within the balloon and secured to the shell whereby to support the latter in an elevated position above the ground alter the balloon is inflated. v

10. A position indicator of the character described comprising a housing; a nrolectahle shell within the housing having a reservoir containing colored liquid; means for forcing the liquid from said reservoir in the tom of spray; means for ejecting the shell from within the housing: structure carried by the housing and said shell for rendering operative the said means for forcing liquid from the reservoir as the shell is ejected from the housing; a deflated balloon releasably disposed in the shell near one end thereof; a tank of gas for inflating the balloon; meansfor rea,1aa,uo

leasing the gas from the tank'and into the balmeans. for ejecting a'sheli from a housing upon subjecting the housing to excessive jar, mechanism for actuating the ejecting means comprising a reciprocable plunger; an arm in connection with the plunger; a imiversal joint supporting the arm; and weights arranged on the arm to break its connection with the plunger when u the jar occurs.

' MILO F. MILLER.