US2375984A - Protective apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 1945- s. T. FARRELL ET AL 2,375,984

PROTECTIVE APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1945' s. T. FARRELL ET AL 2,375,934

PROTECTIVE APPARATUS May 15, 1945. s. T. FARRELL ET AL PROTECTIVE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 13, 1943 M y l945- s. T. FARRELL ET AL 2,375,934

PROTECTIVE APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 15, 1945.

PROTECTIVE APPARATUS Filed March 13,- 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fi v V m r B n n P in o rllllllllllflfflfi m a @N QN x Q 53% m. N o AEQN. M 9v m A 7 II 8 bn mm A M6 "0 m @N I h Patented May 15, 1945 UNlTED STATES PROTECTIVE APPARATUS Sydney T. Farrell and Frederick L. Farrell, Belmont, Mass.

10 Claims.

This invention aims to devise an apparatus adapted for use in a great variety of situations to aiford a substantial measure of protection for relatively small areas against bombing, or from enemy airplane attack. It is contemplated that this apparatus will be useful, for example, in protesting gun crews, anti-aircraft batteries, aviation ground crews, Army headquarters, and many other units which are not too large for the practical size limitations of an apparatus of this type.

Usually it has been necessary to depend on permanently fixed or stationary coverings of some kind designed to take the force of a bomb or projectile head-on. These shelters rely on the relatively great strength and heavy mass of the material used. There are many situations, however, in which neither the time nor the opportunity to erect shelters of this type is available, and Where there is, consequently, a need for some protective apparatus that can be moved into position quickly and moved on again when the need for it in that particular location has disappeared. It is one of the objects of this invention to devise an apparatus of this character.

To this end it is a further object of the invention to devise a protective apparatus which will not depend so much on weight and strength of material as upon the efiect of less weight revolving at a high speed. In the preferred construction the material is so disposed as to deflect or explode a bomb at a considerable distance from the protected area, and also to aiford a secondary means of protection against flying fragments, shrapnel, flash, and the like.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, with some parts broken away, of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of the revolving arms and the upper part of the supporting means for them;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper end of the revolving unit;

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is an edge view of a portion of the supplorting head structure at the upper end of the s aft;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal, sectional view on the line 1--'I, Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional view through the supporting means for the lowermost series of revolving arms;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views on the lines 9--9 and Ill-40, respectively, of Fig. 8;

Figs. 11 and 12 are edge and plan views, respectively, showing, on a larger scale, features of the lower series of arms;

Fig. 13 is a side view of the mechanism for supporting and adjusting the shaft on which the arms are mounted, some parts being broken away in order better to illustrate details of construction; 1

Fig. 14 is a sectional View taken approximately on the line lA-M of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a similar view taken on the line l5-I 5 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 shows a detail of the adjusting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 13.

The construction shown in the drawings comprises a base 2, Fig. 1, which may or may not be mounted for vertical adjustment, as desired. Mounted on this base for adjustment about both vertical and horizontal axes, as will later be explained, is a turn-table 3 supporting a structural steel frame work which is indicated, in general, at 4. At its upper end this structure supports an electric motor 5 which is provided with an elon-' gated shaft *5 extending upwardly above the motor for a substantial distance and on which hub structures I and 8 are secured. These two hub members carry upper and lower sets of arms 9 and I0, respectively. The arms of both series are of a flexible nature, but ,they differ very materially in their construction and in the functions which they are adapted to perform.

These two sets of arms are designed, when they are revolved rapidly around the shaft 6, to form a protective screen for the area below them. It is contemplated that the upper set of arms will be made of solid, relatively heavy, articulated members flexibly connected together and capable of deflecting or exploding a bomb coming in contact with them. The lower arms I 0 are considerably wider and more fan-shaped than are the upper arms, as shown in Fig. 2 and they are designed to provide a much tighter screen than do the arms 9 so as to aiford good protection against machine gun fire, shrapnel, and the like. It is practical to make arms twenty or twenty-five feet, or more, in length so as to protect a circular area of twice that diameter directly below them.

As best shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, each of the upper arms 9 consists of a chain H carrying a book 12 at one end, by means of which it is se cured to a cross-pin i3 forming part of a block 20 which is set into a slot in the edge of the hub structure I, and a series of heavy metal sleeves H3 threaded on said chain and preferably having ball and socket jointed connections with each other. At the outer end of the chain a disk-like body [5. Fig. 2, is secured thereto and holds the other members from being thrown off the chain. Any desired number of these relatively heavy arms may be used, eight being shown in the construction illustrated in Fig. 2. Preferably the members M are provided with sharp'-edg'es,'as shown in Fig. 5, to assist in performing the deflecting action above referred to. v

The hub structure T comprises a collar i6, 4, pinned to the shaft 6, a plate-like section I! secured to the collar, and a cap member I8 bolted or riveted to the part ii. These members clamp in position a series of the blockszll above referred to, and bars 2i lock the blocks against movement out of the sockets in which portions of each rest in the part It, whileanother bar 22 in front of the bar 20 prevents the hook l2 cooperating with it from swinging upwardly to any great extent above a horizontal position. The upper member it also includes a'dome portion fitting overth'e top of theshaft 6,-and it'rnay be equipped with arms. such as those shown at 23, or other parts designed to 'assist in deflecting bodies which may strike them.

The lower arms Hi preferably are made up by welding sections of wire cable into substantially the form shown-in Figs. 2, l1 and 12. Each arm includes a heavy central strand -24 of wire rope with an outer binding strand 25 of the same material, and intermediate horizontal strands 25 of filling material, usually of smaller diameter, which may :be interwoven with the strands 24 and also, if desired, with those shown at 25. In order to secure these arms H1 in their operative positions, each is equipped at its inner end with an eye formed'around a grooved roll ZLFigs. '8, 9 and 10. Each of these rolls is mounted on'a short shaft 29, the ends of which are sup-ported in 'a'pair of bearing blocks 2'3, as best shown in Fig. 10. The hub member 8 on which these arms are supported comprises'a cap 30, Fig. 8, and a lower member 3!, the latter being pinned to the shaft "3 which, if desired, may bernade inptwo sections'divided at the center of 'the hub; as shown in Fig. 8, in which event the two'hub members will be pinned to the two respective sections. Both of these members are of disk-likeformjaind the lower member has a series of slots '32 formed in its edge to receive the rolls 21, the walls-of these slots being notched, as'indicated at '33, to take the bearing blocks 28. Screws or 1001175 secure the latter in place.

This arrangement, therefore, supports the arms for swinging movement about the individual axes of'theirrespective rolls '2'! so that when theapparatus is idle and the shaft is in its upright position, these arms will lie beside thesha'ft or the frame work l. The two sections of the hub are riveted or bolted together, and the "entire weight of this hub structureand the loadwhich it carries, is borne by the frame structure 4, a set of anti-friction bearings '34 being interposed between'thes'e parts.

As above stated, the entire rotating'assembly is mounted for adjustment about botha vertical and a horizontal axis so'th'at it may be inclined and. trained into the desiredposition to aiio'rd maximum protection against the attacking force. For this purpose the turn-table 3 is made integral with, or is secured rigidly to, the ball 35, Figs. 1. 13 and 1 and this ball is supported in a socket 3'5, Fig. 14, formed in the base 2, and preferably is mounted on anti-friction bearings. A horizontal shaft 31 extends through the center of the ball and carries pinions 38 and 38' near its opposite ends which run on a circular rack 40 supported on the upper edge of the socket section of the base 2. Thus this shaft forms a horizontal axis about which the turn-table 3, and the shaft carried thereby, may be tipped into different angles of inclination. In order to make this adjustment, an arcuate rack 4!, Fig. 13, is set into the sphere 35 and pinions 42 mesh with said rack. "these 'pinions being secured fast on a shaft 48,

Fig. 16, which also has a worm gear 44 secured thereto and meshing with a worm 45, Fig. 13, fast on a shaft 46 which is connected through spur gears and another shaft with a -hand Wheel 47. Consequently,-by revolving this hand wheel the ball '35, and the parts mounted thereon, may be turned around the shaft 31 into various angular positions. The worm and worm gear, being irreversible, will hold the assembly in any desired position of adjustment.

When it is desired to adjust the turn-table '3, and the parts mounted thereon, around a vertical axis, this operation may be performedb'y revolving the hand wheel '53 and, consequently, the shaft 31. The pinion 38 is pinned to the shaft, while the other pinion 38' is free on the shaft. Consequently, such rotation or the pinion 38 operates through its engagement with the rack M! to swing the turn-table around a vertical axis passing through the center of the ball 35. A brake mechanism is 'operatively associated with this shaft to lock it against accidental rotative movement. As best shown in Fig. '15, this mechanism comprises two arms 48 fulcrumed on'the rod 5 and. carrying inwardly directed pins arranged to engage the outer surface of theshaft 31 on which the hand wheel 53 is-secured. Another shaft 5il, Fig. 15, mounted'transyer'sely to the shaft 31, carries right and left-hand screwthreaded sections engaging the internally threaded lower ends of the arms or levers 8. The latter shaft also carries a hand wheel 5| and, consequently, by revo-lving'this hand wheel in'the proper direction, the arms 43 may be moved toward each other until thepins whichthey carry are caused to grip the shaft 31 securely. A reversal of these operations releases the brake. The same kind of a brake'c'an be used on the sh'aft' lfi, if desired.

For the purpose of giving the ball 35 the lateral stability necessary to support the shaft 6 and its load in differentinclin'ed positions, the socket section of the base 2 is provided with horizontal grooves a, Fig. 13, and the ball 3'5 has two heavy brackets 52-52 secured rigidly to it and provided with inwardly projecting ribs b which extend into, and have a running fit with, the walls of the grooves. Thus any tendency of theiball to'rotate in the socket is effectually prevented by those parts which connect the 'ball with the brackets and the interlocked relationship of the brackets with the base 2.

In the event that it isde-sire'd to adjustthe'entire apparatus above described into different elevations, such an arrangement as that shown in Figs. 1 and '7 may be used. Itcompris'es a bed piece 55 having three legs like those shown in Fig. 1 at 56 and 58 radiating therefrom and secured rigidly thereto by removable pins 60, Fig. 7, so that they cooperate with the part 55 to provide a broad lateral bearing. Mounted to slide vertically through this base are two racks El, toothed on the surfaces which face each other, and meshing with two sets of pinions mounted, respectively, on the shafts 62 and 63. An intermediate shaft 6 3 carrying a hand wheel 65 and mounted in the base piece parallel to the abovementioned shafts, carries a worm 65 meshin with a worm wheel 6E5, fast on a shaft which is geared to both the shafts I52 and 63. Consex uently, by revolving this hand wheel the entire structure may be moved up or down and it will be held in its adjusted position by the worm and worm gear, these two parts being designed to accomplish this result. It will, of course, be understood that in using this adjustment a shaft or elevatorwell 61, Fig. 1, must be provided to accommodate the racks 6| This entire apparatus may be shipped to any point where protection is desired for a relatively small area. such as any of those above mentioned, and it may be there set up and put into operation only when needed. Normally the upper arms 9 will hang down idly or be lashed against the shaft 5, and the lower arms l also may be lashed against the frame work with their springs 59 bearing against the bumper reinforcing piece at shown in Fig. 1. But when the protection which the apparatus affords is desired, the motor is started up, and as it gains speed, the arms Q and it! will rise until finally they assume approximately horizontal positions, as illustrated in Fig. l. The motorshould have sufficient power to revolve the arms very rapidly. If bombs of the smaller sizes drop into the path of movement of the heavier set of upper arms M, the latter will be practically certain to strike them and either deflect them or explode them. Smaller bodies striking the apparatus from overhead, such as shrapnel, machine gun bullets, or even small bombs, will be caught and deflected by the much larger fan-shaped arms of the lower set It. Thus the apparatus will afford a very substantial degree of protection against hazards of those types more likely to be encountered from overhead. At the same time the apparatus can be adjusted in the manner above described to point it toward the direction from which the attack comes so that it can be used most effectively.

Obviously this apparatus does not aflord any substantial degree of protection against very heavy bombs, and it is not intended for that purpose, but rather to provide a more mobile way of obtaining that protection customarily afforded by fixed shelters of some type. This apparatus can be readily taken down, moved to another location, and re-assembled, these operations requiring relatively little time. The ability toseparate the two sections of the shaft 6, as above described, is useful in accomplishing this object.

eliminate the white or grayish lookingfspin effect, but the camouflaging could be done in such a way that the thing protected, such as a gun position, Army headquarters, or the like, would be hidden from overhead view. For instance, the apparatus could be used to mask very completely an isolated gun position, or if a planecarrier had several of these devices installed on it at various parts of the top side of the ship, they could be made to contribute very substantially to camouflaging the ship and the planes mounted on it. This feature, however, is additional to the primary object of protection,

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim as new is:

1. A protective apparatus of the character described comprising the combination of a shaft, means for revolving said shaft, means for supporting said shaft in a substantially upright position, and a series of flexible metallic arms mounted on said shaft at approximately a common level to swing into radiating positions relatively to the shaft and serving, when said shaft is revolved rapidly, to form a protective screen for the area immediately below them, said arms being free to drop into collapsed positions. closely beside said shaft when the shaft stops revolving. 2. A protective apparatus according to preceding claim 1, in which the supporting means for said shaft is operable to adjust said shaft into various angles of inclination.

3. A protective apparatus according to preceding claim 1, in which the supporting means for said shaft is operable to adjust said shaft about both horizontal and vertical axes to shift the protective screen formed by said arm into various relationships to the area protected by it.

4. A protective apparatus according to preceding claim 1, in which said supporting means includes parts adjustable vertically to change the elevation of said shaft and said arms.

5. A protective apparatus of the character described, comprising the combination of a shaft, means for revolving said shaft,'means for supporting said shaft in a substantially upright position, and two series of arms mounted on said shaft, one above the other, the arms of each series being mounted on the shaft at a common level and adapted to swing into approximately a right angle relationship to the shaft and the arms of one at least of said series being of a flexible metallic construction.

6. A protective apparatus according to preceding claim 5, in which the arms of the upper series are of relatively solid and metallic but articulate construction while those ofthe lower series are of greater width circumferentially and are more flexible in character but are of a metallic nature.

. 7. A protective apparatus of the character described, comprising the combination of a shaft, means for revolving said shaft, means for supporting said shaft in a substantially upright position, a plurality of series of metallic arms mounted on said shaft with one series above another, the arms of the upper series being adapted to deflect a body falling into them and those of the lower series providing, when in operation, an approximately continuous protective screen and means pivotally supporting all of said arms for swinging movement, when revolved rapidly, into raised and extended positions and said arms being free to drop into collapsed positions closely beside said shaft when the shaft stops revolving.

8. A protective apparatus according to preceding claim 7, in which the arms of the upper series comprise solid articulated and flexibly sup ported members adapted to develop a high degree of momentum, and the arms of the lower series are of somewhat fan-shape with their larger'ends remote from said shaft.

9. A protective apparatus of the character described, comprising a turn table, a shaft mounted on said turn table and normally extending upwardly therefrom, means carried by said turn table for revolving said shaft around its own axis, a series of metallic arms mounted on said shaft to swing, under the influence of centrifugal force produced by the rapid rotation of the shaft, from collapsed positions closely beside said shaft into radiating positions relatively to the shaft,

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