US2492370A - Automatic load-release device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1949 J. C. RUMSEY AUTOMATIC LOAD ELEASE DEVICE lF'iled Oct; 6, 1945 I. VII,

.qlllk 39 Trag/Vey.

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 AUTOMATIC LOAD-RELEASE DEVICE John C. Ramsey, Mission, Kans.

Application October 6, 1945, Serial No. 620,802

Claims.

This invention relates to automatic load-release devices and aims to provide a novel and improved construction adapted to satisfy all the requirements of an efficient and practical -appliance of this type as regards its load-supporting function, and yalso provide releasing means adapted to operate to effect release of the load upon slackening of the pull of such load to a predetermined point or fraction of the full actual weight of the load.

The-invention relates particularly to devices of this class which are used in aerial transportation and requiring load-releasing means operative to maintain a continuous and positively acting holding and supporting connection with the load, and including means 'also operating tc insure instant release of said supporting connection at the landingpoint or place of delivery of the load.

For the embodiment of my invention, I provide a device comprising separable connecting elements designed for attachment to the transport or carrier (such as a parachute) and to the load respectively, and also latching means operative to maintain said elements connected in positively latched relation under the weight of the load until automatically released by any slackening of the pull thereon to a given predetermined point or weight factor equivalent to but a small fraction of the actual full weight of the load.

For accomplishing these objects of the invention I provide a construction comprising separable elements and automatic releasing means of the character referred to and including a yielding type of load-supporting means having a given predetermined load-carrying capacity, and combined with supporting means operating automatically to receive and carry any load in excessV of said given capacity, but to which no part of the load is transmitted or applied except when the capacity of said yielding supporting means is exceeded.

With the foregoing general objects in view lthe invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one form of constructionwhich Ihave devised and found to be a suitable and practical embodiment of the proposed improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating a load-releasing appliance constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the 2 parts in initially latched relation, with dotted lines indicating the releasing position of the detent means or latching mechanism;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the appliance, representing a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view, showing only the lower parts appearing in Figure 2, and illustrating the yielding supporting means extended and parts of the structure shifted for imposing a part of the load upon the positive loadsupporting elements of the appliance; and

Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views, representing sections taken on the lines 4--4 and 5 5, respectively, of Figure 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, my improved load-releasing appliance is illustrated as comprising a link connection I 0 designed to be attached to the supporting means of the carrier, such as the harness suspended from a parachute or the like (not shown). This link ID is swiveled to a strap I2 secured by rivets I3 to the opposite sides of a casing I4 which is provided with pins I5 on which are pivotally mounted the upper ends of a pair of automatic releasing arms I6. These arms I6 are of tubular or channel construction, with opposed longitudinal slots I8 designed for slidingly aecomodating the oppositel edges of a plate 2li carrying the latching means hereinafter referred to. The arms IE moreover are provided with a set of supporting and latching pins 22 for supporting and releasing engagement with a set of recesses or notches 24 in the opposite side edges of the plate 20, and also with the opposite ends of a release l bar 2G to which is anchored theupper end of a coil spring 28 as represented in Figures l and 2. The pins l5 also serve to support a plate 30 fitting in the upper ends of the slots I8 and limiting the inward swinging movement of the arms I6, which are swung normally outward into releasing position (as represented by dotted lines in Figure l) by the action of a' spring 32 held in place by lugs 33 on the upper margins of said plate 3!) and with the free ends of said spring projecting into operative engagement with the other, for reasons which will hereafter appear. The ends of the levers 34 are formed with notches 40 opening in opposite directions, thus providing terminal detent fingers 42 for the corresponding pins 22 of the arms i6 when the levers are in the position illustrated in Figure 1. To the longer arm of the levers 34 is pivotally connected a pair of strap links or bars 44 on the opposite faces of the plate` ZILn and" connected bypinsz46f=operatf ing throughsuitable-slots 4l and '48.in-fsaid.plate, the upper pin 46 providing a pivotal connection with the detent levers 34, and the upper slot 4T:

being slightly curved to accommodate thecorresponding movement of said upper-pin 46"'abouir the aXis or pivot pin 36.

To the lower end of the bars 4.4. is attachedr swivel link 5D, which in turn is'pivotally embraced (at 52) by the intermediate portion of acstrap` link bar 54 with which .it is adapted to cooperate in forminga toggle link connection.,between-.the lower end`of the bars .4'4"andj'a loopl, swiveled to one end ofthe bar 541' TheY other endgof said bar 54 is attached'at`55 .to the lower endlofthe coil springj'as, shown in' Figures 1, 2 and 3,.

The loop 56"is designed to form the connecting.

link,rfor attachmentto the ,load (not shown).

In the use and'operation of; the appliance', the partsA thereof-"are assembledinthe relation illus?. tratedby th,e;full'lnes,in Figures l' and 2;With the bar 26isupported on the upper ,pins 22" and the plateH 2li' also supported.' byV engagement of' its side notches24witlitheeother pins 22ofA thearms |61v Firstyapullisiapplied to .the bars 4451501 swingu ing-the detent levers 34"'intd'position lfor bring.Y ing the detent lingers` into; place as shown in Figurelfor latching the arms I6, anda frangible pin` lllf` inserted into registering openings 62.. in said leversn and plate 2115i forY the; purposeN of` preventing any casuali release of the arms. I5 during Vthe necessaryhandlingl of the appliance; before the inalrelease operation;

Now VtheY purpose of the spring-Zliis to provide. a means'for supporting-a fraction offthe load (on t'heupper-pins 22 of the arms It)` duringF the initialoperationand up tothe application of the main-I portion ofthe l'oad'into supported relation tothe other pins 22i` through the-mediumI of the' plate-2B, which-takes place as the spring 28" isv expandedunder the pulltofthel'oad7 onAv the link 54?..and straighteningof 'the toggle 'connection 50i-547withctheresultthat the pinwie broken; thus allowingA the-det`ent levers :34t'o swing yfreely ineither direction, that.i is, for either mairfp'aini-v ingfthe f latching function by means ofi the detent ngers- 42 under'the continued pull' off the7 load-3 orffor releasing the arms Il'asitheidetent levers 3M are swung inzthef oppositdirectionf (into theY positionrindicatediby-therdottedflines in Figure l) bylthe lpull .of tlrre-sprin'g`r 28ffol-lowingf theereleasef ofi-the main-portion offthe floadv It will thus-beseemthatrthe-springf28s-assmnes three differenti 'working' positionsccorrespondingto three differentA working.- positionsfof the'det'ent* levers+34e irst,4 thefinitiali la/tcliingrpositiorr` of said-levers,y asl represented; by the full: linesrinf Eigiirerl in` which positionsaid'. springs Aundera, slight.V initial. tension, second;,-thefpositiorrA following clockwise movement; of.;y said detentflevers-f 34 underthepull of-.thefloacl` for. vshearing f the pinV SEL-.Jn which movement theI springen: reaches y.

its fullyr extended; position. as indicated in Figure 3; when .the greater. portion .fot the. floadlisappliedf to:y and.supported\.byi.the-p1ate 20'; andfnally; thereleasing.v` position, Jon; reverse vv'movement-off said detent. 1evers.34 in response, toitheaotionyoff the spring 28 following release of the load on the plate 2B, thereby effecting the unlatching or release of the arms I6 and allowing the latter to be spread outward into releasing position by action of the spring 32 as represented by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

It will be understood that the type of spring 28 to be used will be governed by the proportion of the maximum load which is to be supported therebynrrtoatherpoint-oifapplcationof the main pontionlof'thezload to thef'plate 22D following the straightening of the toggle connection thereto and the full expansion of said spring as illustratedin Figure 3. The percentage of the load wlnchis-'supported by the spring 28 under such ,conditionsais-.therefore a predetermined quantity or factor, as. represented by that proportion of the loadwhichist'o remain supported by said spring aftensay;v initial contact by the load with the ground, following whiohthe action of said spring will continue ,tot prevent any nal. operation of the,loadrreleasingmechanism until substantially` the fullspri'ng actionof the springis taken up; that,is,t'o.say,any varyingrpullV of the load, following,,groundcontactg'or any fluctuations in the pulling action of'theparachute or carrier supporting` connection, will be automatically absorbedby, the action.of'the spring 28,`as it contracts, and without any-final release of the loadreleasing arms ISuntil a predetermined pointis reached, at or about the point of complete contraction of the spring,gwhich is, governed by the strength or tensional 3. capacity Aof the particular spring .being used.

Thisrinalreleaseof-'the:arms I6 of courseallows. the, bar 26j't0 become dislodgedfromthe upper supportingpinsA 22 (as represented ley-dottedlines inFigure 1)A and'hence effects' complete release of the latching and detent means from said arms,. and therefore entire separation ofthe partsoi the device attached` to the load andthe parachute or carrier, respectively.

WhileI have illustrated and.described what I have found to represent a suitable embodiment of. rny. improvedV load-,releasingappliance I wishL to, be. understood as resenving the right to make. suchjchanges or modications as may. fallwithin the ,scope `of my,l invention. as dened by, the. ,fol--- lowing claims.

What I claimisg..

1., Loadereleasing ,meansl tor.. releasing.A loads from carriers.. .comprising .separableAw connectormembers for..attachment..to-` the carrier.- and, ton theloadmespectively, one` of said,.members.being providediwith, latching..V means. mounted. fort relae tive. movement. thereon and actuated.A automatiecally, underthe p1111.,of.the load 7into latching. engagement. with` theother. of saidmembers and the ,latter` having automaticallyseparating arms-- for. releasaloleA engagement bysaidlatchingrmeans;.

and, yielding, means4 acting in opposition tothe",4

weight of the load to effect unlatchingaof--said latching. means, andi ,ar-rangedv4 to. complete said unlatohing.. operatiorhby.V substantially fullf collapse-v of, said` yielding ,'means. f

load-releasing means forl releasingy loads:-

fromf parachute carrier-sl and the like; ,comprising` separable connector-.members foreattaehment to the. carrier andtolthealoadf respectively, onerofz' said-members;beingfprovided `with latching means" actuated under the pull of the load into latching-y engagement with the other of said'nrembers and the-,lattenl .heningfautomatically:separatingv arms fori.releasableengagementgby said-latchingmeansg and;L yieldingmcans -releasasbly.fsupported'iby. said' arms and tending normally to effect unlatohing of said latching means and arranged to complete said unlatching operation by the substantially full collapse of said yielding means.

3. Load-releasing means for releasing loads from parachute carriers and the like, comprising separable connector members for attachment to the carrier and to the load respectively, one of said members being provided with latching means pivotally mounted thereon and actuated automatically under the pull of the load into latching engagement with the other of said members and the latter having automatically separating arms for releasable engagement by said latching means, yielding means tending to effect unlatching of said latching means in opposition to the weight of the load and operative on substantially full collapse of said yielding means to complete said unlatching operation, and frangible means for temporarily locking said latching means and rendered inoperative by movement of said latching means under the pull of the load.

4. Load-releasing means for releasing loads from parachute carriers and the like, comprising separable connector members for attachment to the carrier and to the load respectively, one of said members being provided with latching means operable under the pull of the load into latching engagement with the other of said members and the latter having automatically separating arms for releasable engagement by said latching means, yielding means releasably supported by said arms and tending normally to effect unlatching of said latching means, and load-supporting means at- 6 tached to said yielding means and provided with an operative toggle connection to said latching means.

5. Load-releasing means for releasing loads from carriers, comprising separable connector members for attachment to the carrier and to the load respectively, one of said members being provided With latching means operable automatically under the pull of the load into latching engagement with the other of said members and the latter having automatically spreading arms for releasable engagement by said latching means, yielding means releasably supported by said arms and tending normally to eiect unlatching of said latching means, frangible means for temporarily locking said latching means and rendered inop# erative by movement of said latching means under the pull of the load, and load-supporting means attached to said yielding means and provided with a toggle link connection with said latching means.

JOHN C. RUMSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,845,466 Williams Feb. 16, 1932 2,270,317 Larson Jan. 1, 1942 2,373,386 De Freitas Apr. 10, 1945 2,383,485 Irby Aug. 28, 1945

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