US2883930A - Quick attachment device - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1959 R. F. GOTT ET AL QUICK ATTACHMENT DEVICE Filed March 29, 1956 2 Sheet-Sheec 1 FIG. 1

36 NW, 52 4 a7 35 f 3/ 4/ 40 42 27 26 IVENTORS R. F. 6077' E. J. H. LANE April 1959 Q R. G O'l 'T ET AL 2,883,930

QUICK ATTACHMENT DEVICE Filed March 29, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS R. E 607T E. J. H. LANE ATTO EYs United States Patent V QUICK ATTACHMENT-DEVICE :Richard F. Gott, Silver Spring,-andFEdward 'I. I-I. Lane,

The i en on e cr b d he in may be manufac ured and used er o th Governmen of th Un ed ta s of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor,

The invention relates to a device for-securing together plates, joints, containers, on the like and more particularly to :a'fastening device for quickly attaching and locking a fin assembly to abomb casing.

Moreover, the invention relates to new andirnproved attaching means for quickly attaching i8. fin assembly to a bomb or othermissile at the time the bomb is to be released .firoman aircraft .or at the time of :other dis-' char e o fir n I pre e pra h t ss v s mashed to the hpmb a in by e s I set s s bolts or the like which is time consuming and requires the use of different sizes of wrenches and other tools. The invention contemplates the provision of -a new and improved attaching device which overcomes the disadvantages encountered in prior art devices by providing a quick attaching device whereby the fin assembly i. attached to the bomb casing substantially instantaneously without the use of screws, boltsor wrenches.

. An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved devicefor quickly connecting apvair of casings, join s Plate tesether insuch m r that the l ti p ssesses i d y to the extent. that a lo connection is achieved which prevents separation of the parts in response to all types of loading force applied thereto.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device for quickly connecting a fin assembly to the casing of an ordnance missile.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an attaching device for a fin assembly which is quickly and easily secured to a bomb casing without the use of screws or bolts or any tools.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fastener wherein means are provided for quickly attaching and detaching a fin assembly to an ordnance missile.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood hy reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: V

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in section and partially in elevation of a bomb casing and tin assembly illustrating the attaching device constructed in accordance with the present invention for detachably securing the assembly to the casing;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the attaching device locked to the bomb casing;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the device in a released condition;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the device in a position for rotation into locking engagement with the bomb casing;

2,883,930 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 2 Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken the line 5--5 of Fig. 1, and; Fig. 6 is an enlarged end View of the tail assembly of Fig. '1 illustrating the arrangement of the locking devices thereon. Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the numeral 10' indicates a bomb casipg having a plate 11 arranged internally thereof and secured thereto in any suitable manner such, for example, as by welding the parts together. A detachable tail or fin sembly is generally indicated by the reference character 12 and comprises a casing 13 having an annular men} ber 14 arranged internally therein and secured thereto, preferably by welding the parts together. The quick attaching device constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by' the numeral 16 and comprises a sleeve, housing or casing 17 secured to the annular member 14 in any suitable man.- ner, preferably by welding the parts together as at 15. The casing 17 is provided at one end thereof with awall 18, the other end thereof being provided with a bushing 19 in threaded engagement with a centrally disposed bore 21 formed in the casing. Disposed within the bore ta tia y .1

21 and generally indicated by the reference character 22.

lateral ofliset clamping head 28 having a cam surface 129.

formed thereon, the purpose of which will be more clea ly apparent as the description pnoceeds.

As more clearly shown on Fig. 2 the clamping head 28 is maintained in locking engagement with platefll'hy a wedge element generally indicated by the numeral 31 comprising a member 32 having one end thereof tapered as at 33, the other end thereof being formed at an angle as illustrated to provide an actuating element 34, the element extending through an elongated slot 30 formed in casing 17 and a corresponding slot 30' formed in the tail casing 13. The member 32 is further provided with a flat surface 35 in engagement with a corresponding fiat surface 36 on the rod 22 and a cylindrical portion 37 disposed within a bore 38 formed in bushing 19 and in engagement with the wall defining the bore, Fig. 4. By this arrangement it will be noted that the Wedge element 31 is slideably supported within the casing 17. It will be further noted, Fig. 2, that when the device is in a locked condition, the cam surface 29 on clamping head 28 is in engagement with the beveled seat 39, bordering on opening 41 in plate 11, the cam surface being maintained in engagement with the seat 39 by the member 32, on Wedge 31, the wedge being urged toward the opening 41 'by a spring 42 disposed within the bore 21 having one end thereof in engagement with wall 18, the other end thereof being in engagement with the wedge 31. The spring urges the tapered end 33 of member 31 in opening 41 in wedging and locking engagement with the wall thereof as at 40, Fig. 2, and thus further movement of the member. 31 is prevented and the actuating member 34 thereon is maintained spaced from the bushing 19 such that the pressure of the wedging action maintains the wedge in a locked condition. Moreover, when the device is in a locked condition, Fig. 2, it will be noted that the cam 29 is disposed within seat 39, the tapered end 33 is wedged in opening 41 and the forward end of casing 17 is in abutting engagement with plate 11 whereupon the tail assembly is securely locked to the bomb casing.

As more clearly shown on Figs. 2 and 3 the opening 41 is provided with an entrance chamber 43 for guiding the lateral offset head and tapered end 33 into opening 41 as the tail assembly is being attached to the bomb casing.

It will be understood, however, that the offset head 28 substantially fills the opening 41 thereby preventing the tapered end from entering the opening until the head has passed through the opening. During the insertion of the head within the opening 41, Fig. 3, the wedge 31 is moved rearwardly against the tension of the spring 42 as'the tapered end on wedge 31 engages the chamber 43 on'plate 11. Thus when the olfset head clears the opening the spring 42 drives the wedge forwardly with suflicient force to wedge the tapered end 33 thereof in opening '41 thereby forcing and maintaining the cam 29 on head 28 in locking engagement with the seat 39 in plate 11 whereupon the tail assembly is securely locked to the bomb casing.

It will be noted, Fig. 6, that the locking devices are arranged circumferentially around the member 14 in mutually spaced relation in such a manner thatthe olfset the-wedge structure.

Although, the device has been described in connection with an ordnance missile it will 'be understood that, if desired, the device may be used for securely locking other articles together such, for example, as containers,

plate partitions and joints in any type of body.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the aboveteachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim the invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: v A device for detachably securing a fin tail assembly to a bomb casing comprising in combination;

4 1 a substantially circular plate fixed within said bomb casing and having a plurality of apertures in quadrature relation at the periphery thereof, each aperture defining a tapered seat formed at a surface of the plate remote from the fin tail assembly, a plurality of tubular members secured internally of said fin tail assembly and having a plurality of bores each extending through a respective tubular member, each of said members being aligned with a respective one of said apertures, a plurality of clamping rods each fixed at one end to a respective one of said tubular members and extending through the bore thereof, a laterally otfset head formed at thevother end of each of said rods and extending through a corresponding aperture in said plate laterally adjacent to the seat prior to locking of the fin tail to the bomb casing, each of said rods having a cut out portion formedvin and extending along the side of the rod opposite to the offset head, a plurality of wedge means disposed respectively within the bores of said tubular members and in slidable engagement with the respective rods at the cut out portions thereof, spring means urging each wedge means along'the cut out portion of said wedge toward the plate in the casing, whereby rotational movement of said fin tail moves. each rod laterally with respect to the opening in said plate-to permit" each offset head to engage its respective seat and allow said spring means to urge each wedge means into its corresponding aperture thereby to wedge and-retain each offset head in locking engage-' ment with its' respective seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,315,358 Baldwin Sept. 9, 1919 1,403,655, 1 Tirrill 'Jan. 17, 1922- 2,284,180 ,Thomas May-26, 1942 2,394,749 Chester Feb. 12, 1946 2,464,543 Modrey Mar. 15, 1949 2,578,723 McKenzie Dec. 18, 1951 Modrey Apr. 27, 1954

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