US3221701A

US3221701A - Store release mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3221701A
Application number: US830684A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Smith; Raymond A Starry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-07-30
Filing date: 1959-07-30
Publication date: 1965-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-07

Description

Dec. 7, 1965 J. E. SMITH ETAL STORE RELEASE MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1959 INVENTORS JOHN E. SMITH RAYMOND A. S ARRY BY T AGENT Dec. 7, 1965 J. E. SMITH ETAL 3 9 STORE RELEASE MECHANISM v Filed July so, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m QIHFTZI:

IN VENTORS JOHN E. SMITH RAYMOND A. STARRY BY Dec. 7, 1965 Filed July 30, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 was Dec. 7, 1965 .1. E. SMITH ETAL 3,221,701

swoms RELEASE uscmnxsm Filed July 30, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 25 25\ Il g II J Ill mull

. 7,1965 J. E. SMITH ETAL I STORE RELEASE MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 30, 1959 INVENTORS JOHN E. SMITH RAYMOND A. STARRY AGENT United States Patent 3,221,701 STORE RELEASE MECHANISM John E. Smith, Hatboro, and Raymond A. Starry, Levittown, Pa., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed July 30, 1959, Ser. No. 830,684 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a store release mechanism and more particularly to a store release mechanism suitable for storing and automatically releasing replacement stores as needed.

One of the requirements of the Antimine Weapon disclosed in copending application Serial No. 793,939 of Donald F. Smith filed February 17, 1959, is a means for providing a replacement store as each store is used.

It is contemplated that the present invention will provide a means for storing and replacing the stores as they are used.

One of the principal objects of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a store release mechanism suitable for providing replacement stores as pointed out hereinabove.

Another object of the invention is to provide a store release mechanism which is free of any magnetic material.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new and novel magnetic store release mechanism suitable for holding replacement stores in readily releasable position and then automatically dispensing the stores as replacement stores are needed.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel release mechanism which is relatively simple in operation and suitable for inexpensive mass production.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a magnetic store release mechanism as set forth in the preceding objects, which is compact and efiicient in operation and requires a minimum amount of maintenance.

weapon, shown in hidden outline, embodying the invention with the stores shown in solid lines;

FIG. 2 is a detailed side elevational view of a store streaming rod with a magnetic store attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a detailed elevational view. of a fully cocked magnetic release mechanism having parts of the housing broken away and partially in section to show the details thereof, but without the magnetic stores attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the right hand side of FIG. 3 and has parts broken away to illustrate certain details thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view along section line 6-6 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a view along section line 7--7 in FIG. 3.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings and described in detail hereinafter, but is capable of being otherwise embodied and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is to be further understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and there is no intention herein to limit the invention beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 1, a hydroplane segment, shown in hid-den outline, and indicated generally by reference numeral 10, taken from the Antimine Weapon disclosed in the copending application referred to hereinabove, embodies the invention comprising a magnetic store release mechanism 11, which includes a streamer, such as a streaming rod 12 having a store 13 trailing from a free extremity thereof.

The magnetic leech 13 is connected to a hook-shaped end 14 of the streaming rod 12 by means of a pair of interhooked wires forming an eye ring 15 fastened at the leading ends of a bridle 16 attached to and supporting the magnetic leech 13 by means of a detonatable squib 16a, in the manner disclosed in the copending application Serial No. 793,939. Upon the squib 16a being exploded, the ring 15 parts and releases the magnetic leech 13. As a result, a store replacement with a ring similar to eye ring 15, disposed about the streaming rod 12, slides down the streaming rod to the hook end 14 and is suspended thereat.

A tripping cable 17, FIGS. 2 and 3, is secured at its upper end over a hooked end of a vertical hanger 18 12. The magnetic leech 13 is of sufficient weight to press the trigger 19 downwardly and at the same time, by

means of the cable 17, hold the hanger 18 in a downward position against the upwardly biasing action of a coiled spring 23 pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of the hanger 18 and at the other end to a pin 24 fixed between the two

symmetrical side panels

25 and 26, FIG. 4, forming the housing of the release mechanism 11. The cable 17 extends over a Teflon pulley 27 and through the elongated streamlined housing forming the streaming rod 12 to the swinging end of the pivot-ally mounted trigger 19. The pulley 27 is journaled at the upper end of the rod 12 between a pair of parallel plates 28.

The lower end of the streaming rod 12 is provided with an integrally connected vertical stabilizer fin 30 and a symmetrical, inverted V-shaped depressor and substantially horizontal stabilizer surface 31.

Ordinarily the streaming rod 12, by its own weight, will be held at an angle of declination varying between 30 and 50 degrees. However, with the aid of the stabilizer fin 30 and the depressor 31, a predetermined angle of declination can be suitably maintained.

So long as the magnetic leech 13 is attached to the hook end 14 of the streaming rod 12 the condition described remains the same. However, when the leech 13 is released by the exploding of the squib 16a the spring 23 will cause the hanger 18 to be biased upwardly, as shown in FIGS. 37, and cause a replacement store 35 to slide down the streaming rod 12 for replacing the store 13. When the replacement store 35 is released from the streaming rod 12, the store 36 is released. Accordingly,

stores

37 and 38 are sequentially released to serve as a replacement for the previously released store.

Referring to FIG. 1, the release mechanism housing, comprises the stainless

steel side panels

25 and 26 connected together at the four corners with four

channelshaped spacer bars

40, 41, 42 and 43, FIGS. 3, 4, 5. The

spacer bars

40, 41, 42 and 43 are preferably spot welded to the respective juxtaposed, oppositely facing corners of the

sides

25 and 26.

Sides

25 and 26 are channel-shaped with the central portions thereof being riveted together by means of rivets 44 with a rectangular spacer bar 45 disposed between the central webs 25a, 26a of the opposite channel-

shaped side panels

25 and 26. I

The release mechanism 11 is rigidly secured to an elongated rectangular, laterally extending, vertical partition 47 by means of the connecting

cross bars

41 and 42. Additionally, the release mechanism 11 can be secured by means of the

U-shaped cross bars

40 and 43 to a support plate, not shown, parallel to the partition 47 which can be connected to the parallel flanges of a pair of vertically extending channel-shaped spacer plates 49 and 50, FIG. 1, which are rigidly secured to the spacer plate 47 and the parallel support plate, not shown, in a suitable manner such as by welding.

It is to be understood that the hydroplane segment and the release mechanism 11, as well as the streaming rod 12, are of non-magnetic materials, such as stainless steel or aluminum, for obvious reasons because of the unique magnetically operated leeches or stores. It is understood that other suitable non-magnetic materials can be selected and substituted where desired and where appropriate. The spacer plates 49 and 50 are suitably spaced apart so as to accommodate the release mechanism 11 and the four

stores

35, 36, 37 and 38.

So long as the magnetic leech 13, as pointed out, trails from the hooked end of the streaming rod 12, FIGS. 1 and 2, the four

stores

35, 36, 37 and 38 remain in position as shown.

The

stores

35, 36, 37 and 38 are respectively supported by pivotable support brackets 55, 56, 57 and 58. Each of the brackets 55, 56, 57 and 58 comprises a pair of interconnected parallel arms 55a, b, 56a, b, 57a, b, and 58a, b rigidly secured to the opposite ends of

journal pins

550, 56c, 57c and 58c, respectively. The intermediate portions of each of the

pins

550, 56c, 57c, and 580 are freely journaled in

horizontal sleeves

55d, 5621, 57d and 58d, respectively. The

sleeves

55c and 570 are vertically and symmetrically spaced apart and extend through and are fixed to the obliquely and divergingly extending legs of the side panel 26 of the release mechanism housing so that the ends thereof are between the

side panels

25 and 26, FIG. 4. Similarly, the

sleeves

56d and 58d are supported by the side panel 25, FIG. 3. Pairs of parallel vertical slots are formed in the flanges of the

side panels

25 and 26 in order to accommodate the parallel arms of each of the support brackets 55, 56, 57 and 58 therein. The support brackets 55 and 57 are vertically spaced apart sufiiciently to accommodate the store 35 therebetween. The support bracket 57 is spaced from the top of the side panel 26 sufiiciently to permit the store 37 to be supported without the latter extending above the top of the panel 26. The brackets 56 and58 are similarly located on the side panel 25.

Each of the

stores

35, 36, 37 and 38 are supported on the respective support brackets 55, 56, 57 and 58 in the position shown in FIG. 1 when the support brackets are positively prevented from swinging inwardly about the respective journal pins 550, 56c, 57c, and 580 by the following stop pin and rack arrangement.

Referring to FIG. 6, each of the store supports arms b, 56b, 57b and 58b is provided with cam follower pins 550, 562, 572 and 582, respectively, which bear inwardly against the vertical edges of a vertically oscillatable rack 62 under the weight of the

stores

35, 37, and 38, respectively, and the weight of the support arms.

The rack 62 is shown in its lower-most position in FIGS. 17, when all of the support brackets carry a store as shown in FIG. 1. A powerful coiled spring 63, anchored at the lower end thereof on a horizontal anchor pin 64 between the

side panels

25 and 26, has the upper end thereof fastened to the upper end of a mechanical lever 65 for the purpose of continuously biasing the rack 62 vertically upwardly, FIG. 3. The lever 65 is pivotally mounted near the center thereof to a pivot pin 66. A pair of Teflon washers 67 serve as spacers for centering the lever 65 and reducing sliding friction.

The lower, opposite end of the lever 65 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the oscillatable rack 62 by means of a lug pin 68 extending through a necked portion 62a of the rack 62. A slot 65b is formed longitudinally of the lever 65 for accommodating the lug pin 68 and permitting the pivotal movement of the lever 65 and the rectilinear movement of the rack 62 without mutual interference. The rectilinear movement of the rack 62 is assured by four Teflon Washers 70 mounted in pairs on two vertically spaced guide pins 71, 72 fixed in the

panels

25, 26 and extending through a pair of vertically extending slots formed in the rack 62.

The configuration of the rack 62 is complex and is best shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the vertically oscillatable rack is provided with five

projections

75, 76, 77, 78 and 79 for defining six spaces on the side of the rack 62 facing the housing side panel 25 for the purpose of receiving a T-shaped lower end of a dogleg-shaped sear 80. The sear 80 is pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 81 fixed to the inner wall of the side panel 25 and is biased in a counterclockwise direction, FIG. 3, by a torsion spring 82. One end 82a of the spring 82 is curled about a transverse rod 83, fixed between the

walls

25, 26, and the other end 82b of the spring 82 is seated in a hole in the dogleg portion of the sear 80, FIG. 5. A sear stop post 84, FIGS. 3 and 5, limits the angular movement of the sear 80 into the axis slots in the rack 62.

A sear release 85, which is dogleg-shaped, is pivotally and flush mounted upon the end of the stub shaft 81 alongside the sear 80 with the upper extreme end of one leg pivotally connected to a hooked upper end 18a of the hanger 18. The free lower end of the other leg of the sear release 85 is generally T-shaped for the purpose of bearing against the lower end of the juxtaposed sear 80 and biasing the same but of the space between the

projections

75, 76, 77, 78, and 79 being immediately occupied by the sear 80 when the hanger 18 is pulled down from the position shown in FIGS. 3-7.

When the hanger 18 is pulled down, the rack 62 is biased upwardly a very short distance substantially equivalent to the difference between the lengths of the lower downwardly extending legs of the sear 80 and the sear release 85, FIG. 3, and the juxtaposed projection 76 comes to rest against the lower leg end of the sear release 85. When the hanger 18 is permitted to move upwardly again, by virtue of the leech 13 being released from the streaming rod 12, the lower end of the sear 80 is biased between the projections and 76 immediately after the sear release 85 is biased out of blocking engagement with the projection 75. The above operation may be repeated until the

stores

35, 36, 37 and 38 have been released and the sear is resting beneath the last or lowermost projection 79. If desired, a microswitch may be provided for closing a circuit and lighting a signal light to indicate that the leech 13 and all of the replacement stores 35, 36, 37 and 38 have been released in succession from the streaming rod 12, the microswitch being operated by the movement of the lower end of the sear 80 into the space beneath the projection 79. If desired, the projections 75-79 may be of trapezoidal cross-section and faired to assure the operation of the sear 80 and the sear release 85 as described.

The control of the upward movement of the rack 62 having been described, the function of the rack cam face 90, FIG. 6, of the rack 62 will be readily apparent. When the sear 80 occupies the position above the projections 75, as shown in FIG. 3, the cam follower pins 55e, 562, 57e, and 58a are blocked or prevented from swinging inwardly by a pair of vertically spaced embossments which terminates in two pairs of obliquely extending vertically staggered flat cam faces 90a, b and 900, d formed by respectively recessing the lower ends of each of the embossments of the rack cam face 90. The cam faces 90a and 900 are parallel and the cam faces 90b and 90d are parallel.

When the streaming rod 12 is armed with the leech 13, FIGS. 1 and 2, the trigger 19, FIG. 2, is depressed and the sear 80 is forced out of contact with the projection 75, FIG. 3, by the sear release 85; and the projection 75 is forced up against the sear release 85 by the power spring 63 acting through the lever arm 65. At this instant, the cam follower pins 55a, 56e, 57s, and 53e are still prevented from swinging inwardly by the embossed portions of the rack cam face 90.

However, upon the leech 13 being released in the manner described, the hanger 18 is biased upwardly and the sear 80 comes to rest between the

projections

75 and 76.

.The accompanying upward movement of the rack 62 "causes the cam surface 90a to be positioned to allow the cam pin 55:: to swing inwardly and cause the store 35 to to bear against the cam surface 90b and the store 36 is dropped to replace the released store 35.

Accordingly, the store 37 is dropped when the cam pin. 57e comes to bear against the cam surface 90c, and

the store 58 is dropped when the cam pin 58a comes to .bear against the cam surface 90d. Each of the store supports 55-58 swings free after the respective stores are V dropped.

The streaming rod 12 is removably connected to the housing by means of a pin 94' extending through the plates 28, FIG. 2, and the

support lug plates

95, 96, FIGS. 3-7. Preferably the pin 94 is fixed to the plates 28 of the rod 12 and is journaled in the

plates

95, 96

fixed to the housing", preferably by spot welding. More particularly, the flanges 95 and+96 are fixed to the inner sides of the parallel flanges of the

side panels

25 and 26, respectively, at the lower, rear corners thereof, FIG. 3. In order to permit the easy removal and/ or replacement of the streaming rod 12, particularlyduring the loading of the stores 13, 3538 when the bridle eye-springs must be disposed about the

lug plates

95, 96, there is provided a lock,'indicated generally by the numeral 97, FIGS. 3-7.

The 'lock 97 is formed by breaking the lug plate 96 near its midsection and pivotally connecting together the two

parts

96a, 96b formed thereby with a pivot pin 93. As

shown in FIG. 3, the lower lug plate part 96a is provided with a bifurcated or female hinge portion 96c and the upper lug plate part 96b is provided with a male hinge portion 96d and the hinge pin 93 is passed through the hinge portions 96c, d in a conventional manner.

, A locking bar 98 is slidably disposed in a vertically extending slot of rectangular cross-section centrally formed in the upper lug plate 96b and the hinge portion 96d,

for bifurcating the same. The locking bar 98 is biased vertically downwardly by means of a coiled compression spring 99 centered at the lower end thereof about a pin 98a formed in the upper end of the bar 98, and at the upper end thereof is seated and partially housed within a circular opening in a spring retainer 100, which is fixed to the upper end of the upper lug plate 96b in a conventional manner. A longitudinal guide slot 980, FIGS. 5-7, is formed in the locking bar 98 to receive the hinge pin 93, the hinge pin 93 serving to guide the locking bar 98 and retain the same in operative relationship in the assembly. The lower end 98d of the bar 98 is curved for enabling the lower lug plate 96a to fulcrum thereon and bias the bar 98 upwardly against the action of the spring 99.

Another feature of this invention is that the upper support bracket arms 5711, b and 58a, 1) are generally U-shaped, FIG. 7, and, accordingly, generally conform, at the outer facing edge portions thereof, to the contour of the individual stores 57 and 58 for holding the same in place.

The lower support arms and. 56 are generally of trapezoidal shape with the arms being shaped to permit the free passage thereby of the

upper stores

37 and 38, respectively, without interference, FIG. 7.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of the extension 65a of the lever arm 65, FIG. 3, with a hole 102 formed therein. The hole 102 is useful for attaching a flag to the lever arm extension 65a to show that the release mechanism is fully loaded and armed or cocked. Also, a safety pin, not shown, can be passed through the hole 102 and bear against the upper edges of the

side panels

25 and 26 for preventing the untimely operation of the release mechanism.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is understood that the same is susceptible of many changes and modifications, as known to a person skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover all such changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic release mechanism comprising, a housing, store support means for supporting a first replacement store, rack means, spring means biasing said rack means in one direction, sear means pivotally connected to said housing and acting against said rack means for preventing movement of said rack means in said one direction, torsion spring means normally biasing said sear means into engagement with said rack means, near release means pivotally connected to said housing for acting against said sear means and moving the latter a sufficient distance to permit said rack means to bypass said sear means and come to rest against said sear release means, said store support means being pivotally supported by said housing and having cam follower pin means resting against said rack means and preventing said support means from releasing the store, said rack means having at least 0116 cam recess formed therein for permitting said cam follower pin means to bypass said rack means and permit said support means to release the store when said sear release means forces said sear means out of contact with said rack means, hanger means pivotally connected to said sear release means for forcing said sear release means into contact with said sear means, resilient means connected to one end of said hanger means for normally urging said hanger means in a direction for biasing said sear release means out of contact with said sear means, streamer means including a cable connected to said hanger means and adapted to support the weight of a second store which normally biases said hanger means downwardly and causes said sear release means to force said sear means out of engagement with said rack means, and said first replacement store being released when the weight of said second store is removed from said hanger means.

2. An automatic release mechanism comprising, a housing, store support means for supporting a first replacement store, rack means, spring means biasing said rack means in one direction, sear means pivotally connected to said housing and acting against said rack means for preventing the movement thereof in said one direction, torsion spring means normally biasing said sear means into engagement with said rack means, sear release means pivotally connected to said housing for acting against said sear means and adapted to act thereagainst to permit said rack means to bypass said sear means and come to rest against said sear release means, said store support means being pivotally supported by said housing and having cam follower pin means resting against said rack means and preventing said support means from releasing the store, and said rack means having at least one cam recess formed therein 'for permitting said cam follower pin means to bypass said rack means and permit said support means to release the store when said sear release means forces said sear means out of contact with said rack means.

3. An automatic release mechanism comprising, a housing, a plurality of store support means for supporting a corresponding number of replacement stores, racks means, spring means biasing said rack means in one direction, sear means pivotally connected to said housing and acting against said rack means for preventing movement of said rack means in said one direction, torsion spring means normally biasing said sear means into engagement with said rack means, sear release means pivotally connected to said housing for acting against and moving said sear means to suflicient distance to permit said rack means to bypass said sear means and come to rest against said sear release means, said store support means being pivotally supported by said housing and each having cam follower pin means resting against said rack means and preventing said support means from releasing the store, said rack means having one cam recess formed therein for each of said store support means for permitting said cam follower pin means to bypass said rack means and permit said support means to release one of the stores each time said sear release means forces said sear means out of contact with said rack means until all of the stores have been released, hanger means pivotally connected to said sear release means for forcing said sear release means into contact with said sear means, resilient means connected to one end of said hanger means for normally urging said hanger means in a direction for biasing said sear release means out of 'contact with said sear means, streamer means including a cable connected to said hanger means and adapted to support the weight of a store depending therefrom which normally biases said hanger means downwardly and causes said sear release means to force said sear means out of engagement with said rack means, and each replacement store being released when the weight of said last-named store is removed from said hanger means.

4. An automatic release mechanism comprising, a housing, a plurality of store support means for supporting a corresponding number of replacement stores, rack means, spring means biasing said rack means in one direction, sear means pivotally connected to said housing and acting against said rack means for preventing movement of said rack means in said one direction, torsion spring means normally biasing said sear means into engagement with said rack means, sear release means pivotally connected to said housing for acting against and moving said sear means a sufficient distance to permit said rack means to bypass said sear means and come to rest against said sear release means, said store support means being pivotally supported by said housing and each having cam follower pin means resting against said rack means and preventing the support means from releasing the store, said rack means having at least one cam recess formed therein for each of said store support means for permitting said cam follower pin means to bypass said rack means and permit said support means to release one of the stores each time said sear release means forces said sear means out of contact with said rack means until all of the stores have been released, hanger means pivotally connected to said sear release means for forcing said sear release means into contact with said sear means, resilient means connected to one end of said hanger means for normally urging said hanger means in a direction for biasing said sear release means out of contact with said sear means, streamer means including an elongated tube pivotally depending from said housing and a cable connected to said hanger means extending through said tube and adapted to support the weight of a store connected thereto which normally biases said hanger means downwardly and causes said sear release means to force said sear means out of engagement with said rack means, said first replacement store being released when the weight of last-named store is removed from said hanger means.

5. An automatic release mechanism as set forth in claim 4, further comprising, depressor means secured to the free end of said streamer tube.

6. An automatic release mechanism as set forth in claim 4, further comprising, vertical and horizontal stabilizer fin means secured to the free end of said streamer tube.

7. In combination with a hydroplane, store release means carried by said hydroplane, said store release means adapted to carry at least one replacement store, streamer rod means depending from said store release means and adapted to carry a store at the freely depending end thereof, said store release means operating to automatically dispense the replacement store along said streamer rod means to said freely depending end when the store carried by said streamer means is released therefrom.

8. An apparatus for streaming a self-releasing object through a fluid and for automatically streaming a replacement object in place of the self-releasing object when the latter is released, the combination comprising: a hydroplane foil formed for sustentation and control of itself while in motion through the fluid, support means pivotally connected within said foil adapted for carrying at least one replacement object in said foil, a streamer rod connected at one of its ends to said foil, trigger means pivotally connected at the other end of said rod, release means operatively connected between said support means and said trigger means for automatically pivoting said support means and dispensing any replacement object contained in said foil when any self-releasing object sustained by said trigger is released, and means connected to said rod and slidable from end to end thereof and formed to be connected to any replacement object carried in said foil.

9. In apparatus for streaming a first object through a fluid and for automatically streaming a second object in place of the first object when the latter is released, the combination comprising: a hydroplane foil formed for sustentation and control of itself while in motion through the fluid, support means pivotally connected within said foil adapted for carrying the second object in said foil, a streamer rod connected at one of its ends to said foil, release means operatively connected between said support means and the other end of said rod for automatically pivoting said support means and dispensing the second object which may be contained in said foil when the first object which may be sustained on the other end of said rod is released, and means connected to said rod and slidable from end to end thereof and formed to be connected to the second object carried in said foil.

10. In apparatus for streaming a first object through a fiuid and for automatically streaming a second object in place of the final object when the latter is released, the combination comprising: a fluid-dynamic foil formed for sustentation and control of itself while in motion through the fluid, support means connected within said foil adapted for carrying the second object in said foil, a streamer rod connected at one of its ends to said foil and sustaining said first object at the opposite end thereof, and release means operatively connected between said support means and the other end of said rod for automatically dispensing the second object to said opposite end carried in said foil when the first object is released.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 5/ 1956 Canada.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

ARTHUR M. HORTON, Examiner.

Claims

7. IN COMBINATION WITH A HYDROPLANE, STORE RELEASE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HYDROPLANE, SAID STORE RELEASE MEANS ADAPTED TO CARRY AT LEAST ONE REPLACEMENT STORE, STREAMER ROD MEANS DEPENDING ROM SAID STORE RELEASE MEANS AND ADAPTED TO CARRY A STORE AT THE FREELY DEPENDING END THEREOF, SAID STORE RELEASE MEANS OPERATING TO AUTOMATICALLY DISPENSE THE REPLACEMENT STORE ALONG SAID STREAMER ROD MEANS TO SAID FREELY DEPENDING END WHEN THE STORE CARRIED BY SAID STREAMER MEANS IS RELEASED THEREFROM.