US3615116A - Pelican hook remote release mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A PELICAN HOOK RELEASE MECHANISM HAVING A HOUSING ATTACHED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FRAME MEMBER. A SHEAR WIRE HOLDS A RELEASE PIN IN POSITION BETWEEN TWO LOBES ON THE HOUSING. AN EXPLOSION CHAMBER AND MEANS FOR RETAINING AN EXPLOSIVE SQUIB OR CARTRIDGE IS DISPOED IN ONE LOBE AND A PIN RECEIVER BARREL IS DISPOSED OPPOSITE IN THE OTHER LOBE. THE HOOK IS RELEASED WHEN THE RELEASE PIN IS DRIVEN INTO THE RECEIVER BARREL BY THE PRESSURE FROM THE EXPLOSION CHAMBER IN THE SQUIB RETAINER LOBE.

Description

Oct. 26,1971 RQSENTHAL ETI'AL 3,615,116

PELICAN HOOK REMOTE RELEASE MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1969 INVENTORS. Smarty fiauwmu.

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| U 13 TI 5 o 1 3 y 16124217 C. 3567'! 7' United States Patent Oce 3,615,116 Patented Oct. 26, 1971 3,615,116 PELICAN HOOK REMOTE RELEASE MECHANISM Sidney Rosenthal, Newton, James C. Payne, Bedford, and

Hazard C. Benedict, Waltham, Mass., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Mar. 25, 1969, Ser. No. 810,263 Int. Cl. 1366c ]/34 US. Cl. 29483 AE 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pelican hook release mechanism having a housing attached to the upper portion of the frame member. A shear wire holds a release pin in position between two lobes on the housing. An explosion chamber and means for retaining an explosive squib or cartridge is disposed in one lobe and a pin receiver barrel is disposed opposite in the other lobe. The hook is released when the release pin is driven into the receiver barrel by the pressure from the explosion chamber in the squib retainer lobe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a release mechanism for a pelican type of hook and, more particularly, the invention is concerned with providing a remotely operable release mechanism including a release pin which maintains the hook in closed position until a charge is fired causing the pin to slide out of engagement with the hook allowing the hook to release to the open position.

Heretofore, when using the pelican hook as a means for holding or pulling a load, it was necessary to physically release the load at the required time. This meant that the hook had to be within reach of the person using it. For example, in the fishing industry, the pelican hook is used a great deal around the ships for hauling nets and raising heavy loads. In order to release the load, it is necessary for a man to hit the latch with a hammer. Many times this operation requires that the man assume a precarious position over the side of the ship. Thus, although the pelican hook is extremely versatile and inexpensive, the release operation detracts considerably from its usefulness and limits its utility under certain conditions.

It would be most desirable to provide a remote means for releasing the load from the hook at the desired time. Since the pelican hook is readil available in several sizes depending on the strength requirements, a remote release capability would greatly increase the versatility of the item. The pelican book could be used in a variety of ways, such as, on large plastic balloons that carry loads into the upper atmosphere, as well as rockets and other aircraft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a reliable, low-cost, remotely activated mechanism for releasing a preloaded pelican type book. The hook is retained in the closed position by a pin held in place between two lobes of a locking fixture. One lobe operates as an explosion chamber and the other as a pin receiver. The explosion chamber is so designed to permit its use with either explosive squibs or explosive cartridges. A second quib retainer is in communication with the explosive chamber may be included for redundancy or added force. Also, a bellows type initiator could be used where an explosive would be undesirable.

The hook is released by activating the explosive in either one or both squib retainers which sends gas at high pressure into the explosion chamber. The pressure of the gas exerts a pressure against the end of the retaining pin, driving it into the receiving lobe, thereby releasing the hook. The hook is then free to rotate downward by the moment created by the shape of the hook and the weight of the suspended load.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a pelican type hook having remotely controllable means for releasing the load from the hook.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pelican hook wherein the release pin does not support the load on the hook, thereby requiring only minimal force to release the load.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pelican hook wherein the means for remotely releasing the load from the hook includes a slidable bolt-type release pin which operates to release the load upon activation of an explosive cartridge or the like.

A further object of the inveintion is to provide a reliable and low-cost means for remotely releasing a pelican type hook in response to a radio signal or timer after passage of a predetermined time or when a specified altitude is reached.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pelican hook having a locking fixture with two lobes in spaced lateral relationship. A release pin is positioned between the lobes and slides into one of the lobes when an explosive charge on the other lobe is activated.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become more apparent after considering the description that follows taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein like reference characters are used throughout to identify like elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front View of a pelican hook having a remote release mechanism according to the invention in condition for holding a load; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pelican hook assembly of FIG. 1 showing the hook in the closed or loaded position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the pelican hook remote release mechanism according to the invention includes a hook portion 13 having its lower end ivotally attached to a frame 15. The release assembly 17 includes two outwardly extending lobes 19 and 21. The first lobe 19 is provided with an explosion chamber 23 which comprises a cylindrical opening through the central portion thereof. Squib retainers 25 and 27 are fixedly attached to the lobe 19 in communication with the explosion chamber 23.

The second lobe 2-1 is provided with a receiving barrel 29 threadably attached thereto and includes a central cylindrical opening therein. The receiving barrel 29 is provided with a bolt head to aid in the installation thereof on the lobe 21 and to close the outer end of the cylindrical opening. A release pin 31 is positioned between the lobes 19 and 21 with the ends thereof extending into the central openings of the lobes. The end of the release pin 31 nearest the lobe 19 on which the squib retainers 23 and 25 are installed is provided with a cupped portion 33 so as to react more elfectively to the gas pressure from the explosive chamber 23. The other end of the release pin 31 is provided with a small hole 35 into which a soft metal wire may be inserted. In practice, the wire passes through an aligned opening in the receiving barrel 29 and serves to prevent relative movement between the pin 31 and the barrel 29 until such movement is desired.

MODE OF OPERATION In operation, the hook 13 is retained in the closed position by the release pin 31 which is held in position between the lobes 19 and 21 of the locking fixture 17. The lobe 19 which includes the explosion chamber 23 has attached thereto a pair of squib retainers '25 and 27 containing explosive material. Cartridges" may also be inserted in the elements 25 and 27 before they are attached to the lobe 1-9. Threadedly attached to the lobe 21 is the receiving barrel 29 which is hollow to receive the pin 31 When it is driven thereinto. A wire inserted in the hole 35 prevents any unwanted movement of the pin 31.

The hook 13 is released by activating the explosives contained in one or both of the retainers 25 and 27 which creates a high pressure gaseous area in the chamber 23. The pressure of the gas exerts a force against the cupped end 33 of the release pin 31 which shears the soft metal wire in the hole 35 and drives the pin 31 into the receiving barrel 29. This releases the hook 13 which is then free to rotate downward by the moment created by the shape of the hook and the weight of the suspended load.

Since the release pin 31 does not support the load on the hook 13, only minimal force is necessary to release the hook. This would indicate that either one or both of the retainers 25 and 27 may be activated to accomplish the release of the hook 13 and, if only one is used, the other may be either for redundancy or for added force. Also, a bellows type initiator could be used in situations where an explosive would be undesirable.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in terms of preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes, alterations, modifications and substitutions, particularly with respect to the construction details, can be made in the arrangement and location of the various 3 closed position including a hook portion and a frame portion, a remote release mechanism comprising a pair of lobes extending outwardly from the frame portion,

the first of said lobes having a central opening therethrough and the second of said lobes having a corresponding opening in alignment therewith, said second lobe being positioned laterally opposite said first lobe and spaced therefrom, the lower portion of said hook portion being pivotally attached to the lower portion of said frame portion, the upper end of said hook portion being positioned within said frame portion between said first and second lobes when pivoted into the closed position, a sliding release pin positioned between said first and second lobes and straddling said lobes, the upper end of said hook portion resting against the inner surface of said release pin, the ends of said release pin extending partially into the central openings of said lobes effectively holding said hook in the closed position, and means for driving said release pin into said second lobeincluding an explosion chamber in the central opening in said first lobe and at least one squib retainer in communication with said explosion chamber, said squib containing an explosive therein to cause said release pin to be driven laterally from its position straddling said first and second lobes into said second lobe thereby vacating the space between said lobes to allow the upper part of said hook portion to pivot downward to the open position and release the load being held.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 821,407 5/1906 Ferguson 254l93 1,625,910 4/1927 'Ramsey 254-l93 2,407,758 9/ 1946 MacCluney 294-83 2,489,984 11/ 1949 Shoemaker 29483.l ER 3,130,703 4/ 1964 Thompson 294-83 3,228,332 l/l966 Snyder 294-83 HARVEY C. HORNSBY, Primary Examiner M. F. MAFFEI, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 29483, 84

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