US2473050A - Emergency radio signal for airplanes - Google Patents

Description

Jne 14, 1949. c. J. cAMP 2,473,050

EMERGENCY RADIO SIGNAL FOR AIRPLANES Filed Jan. l5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /Ni/EA/ro/z BY Y/mr/@s J. Camp A June 14, 1949` l, c. J. cAMP 2,473,050

EMERGENCY RADIO SIGNAL FOR AIRPLANES Filed Jan. 13, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 RAD/0 TRANSMITTER Il I /N VEN raf?. Char/es J Camp June 14, 1949. C, J CAMP 2,473,050

EMERGENCY RADIO SIGNAL' FOR AIRPLANES Filed Jan. 15. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /lvvE/vron. RAD/0 rRA/vsM/TTER By char/esj Camp \Q/`.nw

Afr'y Patented `lune 14, 1949 EMERGENCY RADI sIGNAL Fon l l martienne` Gnarles .1. camp, Palo Alto, Calif. Application January 13, 12MJ4 Serial No. 721,848,

This. invention relates @improvements in sie:

nalling devices and has particular reference to means for Sgnallingwhen an airplane has crashed at arremote point- AFIhe principalsobj ect of this .invention isl to proyidefmeans-Wherebyfa radio signal will be automatically and periodically transmitted from a point adjacent the sceneefpthe wreck, thus eliminating thehumm eleme rdinarily required in the: broadcasting of a -distr y ss; signal.

A further object is to prox/vide a'signalling apparatus which- -Will be ejected from the airplane body a-safe distance awaywf-rom the wreckage so that the signalling apparatus rwill not be damagedlby; an explosion orre: e Y' f vA stillyfurthervobject isto prQVide a time delay mechanism wherein-,the`r apparatus; after being ejectedfrom the airplane will-hare sufficient time to come to rest before the antenna is released,

thereby leliminating anyA possibilityof the anv tenna being damaged.

y A; further-objectds-to produce a device of this character,l which -is economical to install and which requiresano majoriehanges'in the construction of lthe airplane.

Another object is to, providemeans whereby the signallingv` device may be; manually f discharged -IIQIJII theplane.- if desired. v-

Other objects and advantages .will beapparent during the course. Aofther following description.'

Y In the accompanying'ldrawings'forming la part of this specification andin `which like numerals are employed -tc designate likeparts -throughout thefsamaf Fig. E1 is a diagrammatic View showing the wreckageofl-ia plane and thefcourse f theY projected-signalling unit. ,.Fig.' 2; is an enlarged, cross-sectional, fragmentary view of the unit-fas-the'sarne-Would be housed in the airplane lcodyf' f lfig.: 3` is; an enlarged cross 'sectional view of they unit showing theantennain retracted position. f f Fig. 4 is aY cross sectional lView taken on the line 0f F'ig. 3. ""7 l "'l Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing' the releasing mechanism` for the clock mechanism. '.s

Fig. 6'is a diagrammaticview showing one form of thevcode Wheel and contact, and Fig. '7 is a schematic'wlringdiagram of the antenna release mechanisme# f Manyl airplanes have-crashed. in remote locations;y `particularly' in v storm y?'vieatherg Where it ne teen, dif-teun te locate .the weeral pane,

'12 (ci. 25o- 17) 2 this beine espeqallr.truamoueiemfaus er' 'or' snow-crnea. ferne.

A'plicent has thfirafdevised @signalling mechanism4v which v "carried, by lthe kpl 'ne and so positioned that't'he'shoclresultingron thel Icrash 'o`f` the planedwouldvrelease a ,signal trhsmittiflg ,mhla "@dshareine the Same from the body th., .Teile aslifiseierlt ,dstanc away from the sceneuofn-tl'ie crash that titre saine will' not be iiany* dang ofbeing consumed by afesutifle' e tl th.. l cared, t0., thereafter cause the `mechanism. after Vitz'hasl come to rest 11130.11 the gbundl'tf. 'desatar antenna Winch antnna'will assume a substantially verticalposig tioniand t'othen caulsefa radio transmitterfto be actuatedfor the' purpose of broadcastinggaJ code at regular intervals and over a l considerable perodof time.

`Thus, it will vbe possible for searching parties to secure cross bearings on. the broadcasting; of thesignal from the scne of the accidentdandmto immediately locate the'wi'eckageand thus enable rescue' parties to reach the scene without un; necessary delay. l

In accomplishing my object I f ormdn the body of the plane and at a'point'prejferably. adjacent the tail section a husing, in which is s lidably secured the broadcastingvunit designated as a Whole by the numal'' 'n In order to project the unit out of thehousingI 5 I employ a cylinder l, which lis spring mounted', as shown at 8, and has-` a piston 9, which is pro; vided With a pusher H engaging'the curved end of the unit 6. Within the cylinder 'l is pla-ced an.y explosive l2, which is fired by'a primer I3. which primeris in alignment with a firing pin I4. This firing pin may be manually actuated through the me.- dium of a key I6, controlling the flow of current to a solenoid I7; however,l when a Wreck occurs the impact will cause the cylinder 1 to move side, Ways or toward the nose of the plane, with the result that the primer i3 will be engaged by the ring pin I4 and Will be exploded in the usual manner, which will in turn set oi the charge I2; and this will then project the unit 6 a considerable distance away from the plane, from which point a broadcast signal'm'ay .be transmitted. The unit 6 comprises an outer casing, I8, the sides of which are curved-inwardly (see Figs. 3 and 4). This casing has curved ends, as shown at I9. This particular shape is such that the unit when it lands willl not rou urineceesarilyv and will not rest on either end;` therfore, one side/will be uppermost andthrigh'this'side' the 'antenna may be projected through hinged doors 2l and 22. These doors are ordinarily closed by springs not shown.

Within the casing is an inner casing 23 which is shock mounted by sponge rubber, as shown at 24. This inner casing in turn has mounted within it a radio transmitter 26, a code wheel 2, which is provided with a contact 28. This code Wheel is in turn driven by a spring motor 29 through the medium of gears 3l and 32.

This motor also drives a wheel Sii, having pins 33 and 35 formed thereon, the purpose of which Will be later seen.

A battery is shown at 3ft, which serves to furnish the A and B current to the transmitter 26.

A division Wall 36 formed in the inner casing 23 serves to pivotally support an antenna bearing 37, in which is slidably supported a collapsible antenna designated as a whole by the numeral 38, which antenna consists of a plurality of telescopic sections normally held in telescoping position by a solenoid actuated pin 39, which pin is actuated by a solenoid 4i.

The antenna is kept from rotating on its pivot 3'i through the medium of a solenoid actuated pin 42, actuated by the solenoid 43.

Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the gear 32 is engaged by the nose it of a pivoted lever 3. nose out of its engagement with the gear 32 but the same is held through the medium of a rod 48 secured to the housing 5. (See Fig. 2.) This rod 43 has its free end extending through a waterproofed sleeve 49, the purpose of which will be later seen.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and "I, it will be noted that I have provided switches 5l and 52, which have their ends in alignment with the pins 32 and 33. These switches are in turn connected to the solenoids di and i3 and to the transmitter 26.

Assuming now that my broadcasting unit has been positioned in the housing 5 of an airplane, and that the airplane crashes, the impact of the crash will cause the cylinder I to advance and drive the primer I3 against the firing pin I4, thus setting off the primer and the explosive charge, with the result that the broadcasting unit will be projected from its housing 5, as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1.

The unit will undoubtedly roll When it contacts the ground and will eventually come to rest on one of its sides due to the peculiar construction of the outer casing I8. As the unit was projected from the airplane the rod 48 will have been withdrawn from the rubber sleeve 49, and consequently the spring 41 will function to withdraw the nose i4 of the lever 43 from its engagement With the gear 32, and the motor 29 will now cause rotation of the gears 3i and 32 and the wheel 30.

A delayed action of about ten minutes permits the entire unit to come to rest upon the ground, after which the contact 33 will engage the switch 52, which will actuate the solenoid 43, drawing in the pin 42 and releasing the antenna so that it may revolve upon its pivot, the bottom of the antenna being counterweighted so that it will assume a vertical position.

Further rotation of the wheel will cause the pin 35 to engage the switch iii, which in turn will actuate the solenoid lli, withdrawing the pin 39, after which the spring in the antenna may iunction to cause the telescopic .sections to be A spring 4l tends to pull this I projected through the doors 2| and 22 on the top of the unit.

By this time the transmitter tubes have become properly excited and are then capable of transmitting code signals as given off by the code wheel 2l and its Contact 28.

it is of course obvious that any form of transmitter can be employed, as for example a voice transmitter and that a microphone and miniature loud speaker could be easily incorporated in the device without altering the spirit of the invention.

It is also obvious that instead of using a telescopic type of antenna a cartridge might be used, which When red out of the unit, would inate a balloon connected to the apparatus by an aerial wire. This type of antenna would increase the sending range of the unit and would also be readily visible for a greater distance, so that rescue parties could locate the balloon traveling directly toward the same with greatest speed.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjolned claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A signalling unit for expulsion from an airplane, comprising an outer casing having concaved sides and convexed ends, an inner casing shock mounted in said outer casing and having a broadcasting transmitter positioned therein, a collapsible antenna rotatably positioned therein, and means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing and in substantially vertical position.

2. A signalling unit for expulsion from an airplane, comprising an outer casing having concaved sides and convexed ends, an inner casing shock mounted in said outer casing and having a broadcasting transmitter positioned therein, a

i collapsible antenna rotatably positioned therein,

means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing and in substantially vertical position, and a time delay mechanism for controlling the ejection of said antenna.

3. A signalling unit positioned in an airplane body and adapted to be expelled therefrom, comprising a substantially rectangular outer casing having concaved sides and convexed ends, an inner casing positioned in said outer casing and resiliently supported therefrom, said inner casing having a radio transmitter, a code Wheel for actuating said transmitter, a drive mechanism there-for, means carried by said airplane for releasing said drive means When said unit is expelled from said airplane, an antenna positioned in said inner casing, and means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing in a substantially vertical position.

4. A signalling unit positioned in an airplane body and adapted to be expelled therefrom, comprising a substantially rectangular outer casing having concaved sides and convexed ends, an inner casing positioned in said outer casing and resiliently supported therefrom, said inner casing having a radio transmitter, a code wheel for actuating said transmitter, a drive mechanism therefor, means carried by said airplane for releasing said drive means when said unit is eX- pelled from said airplane, an antenna positioned .in said inner casing, and means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing in a substantially vertical position, said last mentioned means comprising a time delay antenna release actuated by said driving means,

5. A signalling unit for expulsion from an airplane, comprising an outer casing having concaved sides and convexed ends, an inner casing shock mounted in said outer casing and having a broadcasting transmitter positioned therein, a collapsible antenna rotatably positioned therein, means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing and in substantially vertical position, and a counter weight at the lower end of said antenna urging the same to rotate into vertical position.

6. A signalling unit for expulsion from an airplane, comprising an outer casing having concaved sides and convexed ends, an inner casing shock mounted in said outer casing and having a broadcasting transmitter positioned therein, a collapsible antenna rotatably positioned therein, means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing and in substantially vertical position, a time delay mechanism for controlling the ejection of said antenna, and a counter Weight at the lower end of said antenna urging the same to rotate into vertical position.

7. A signalling unit for expulsion from an airplane, comprising an outer casing having concaved sides and convexed ends, an inner casing shock mounted in said outer casing and having a broadcasting transmitter positioned therein, a collapsible antenna rotatably positioned therein, means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing and in substantially vertical position, a counter weight at the lower end of said antenna urging the same to rotate into vertical position, means normally holding said antenna against rotation, and timing means releasing the last means at a predetermined time a-fter expulsion of said outer casing.

8. A signalling unit for expulsion from an airplane, comprising an outer casing having concaved sides and convexed ends, an inner casing shock mounted in said outer casing and having a broadcasting transmitter positioned therein, a collapsible antenna rotatably positioned therein, means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing and in substantially vertical position, a time delay mechanism for controlling the ejection of said antenna, a counter weight at the lower end of said antenna urging the same to rotate into vertical position, means normally holding said antenna against rotation, and timing means releasing the last means at a predetermined time after expulsion of said outer casing.

9. A signalling unit for expulsion from an airplane, comprising an outer casing having concaved sides and -convexed ends, an inner casing shock mounted in said outer casing and having a broadcasting transmitter positioned therein, a collapsible antenna rotatably positioned therein, means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing and in substantially vertical position, a counter weight at the lower end of said antenna urging the same to rotate into vertical position, means normally holding said antenna against rotation, timing means releasing the last means at a predetermined time after expulsion of said outer casing, and means restraining the timing means from action prior to expulsion of the casing.

10. A signalling unit for expulsion from an airplane, -comprising an outer casing having concaved sides and convexed ends, an inner casing shock mounted in said outer casing and having a broadcasting transmitter positioned therein, a collapsible antenna rotatably positioned therein, means for ejecting said antenna through said outer casing and in substantially vertical position, a time delay mechanism for controlling the ejection of said antenna, a counter Weight at the lower end of said antenna urging the same to rotate into vertical position, means normally holding said antenna against rotation, timing means releasing the last means at a predetermined time after expulsion of said outer casing, and means restraining the timing means from action prior to expulsion of the casing.

11. In combination with the hull of an airplane, of a casing mounted substantially radially in said hull and having an outer end opening therethrough, s, signalling device held in the outer end of said casing, a cylinder in the inner end of said casing and having an eX- plosive charge at its inner end, said cylinder being spring mounted for a lateral movement at its inner end, a firing nipple provided with a cap projecting laterally from the inner end of said cylinder, and a firing pin carried by said casing and engageable by said cap upon lateral movement of said cylinder.

12. In combination with the hull of an airplane, of a casing mounted substantially radially in said hull and having an outer end opening therethrough a signalling device held in the outer end of said casing, a cylinder in the inner end of said casing and having an explosive charge at its inner end, said cylinder being spring mounted for lateral movement at its inner end, a iiring nipple provided with a .cap projecting laterally from the inner end of said cylinder, a firing pin carrie-d by said casing and engageable by said cap upon lateral movement of said cylinder, and manually controllable means causing said iiring pin to engage said cap independently of lateral movement of said cylinder.

CHARLES J. CAMP.

REFERENCES CITED 'I'he following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,414,273 Gwynn Apr. 25, 1922 1,836,495 Paulson Dec. 15, 1931 2,149,808 Ellis Mar. 7, 1939 2,160,974 Lueck June 6, 1939 2,192,450 Miller Mar- 5, 1940 2,323,064 Lustfield June 29, 1943 2,328,208 Friedman Aug. 31, 1943 2,357,417 Marple Sept. 5, 1944 2,361,177 Chilowsky Oct. 24, 1944 2,380,587 Fenton July 31, 1945 2,402,143 Arenstein June 18, 1946

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