ARRANGEMENTS FOR DISPENSING CHAFF OR THE LIKE

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispenser for laun­ ching of counter means, and a dispensing cassette adapted to the dispenser. The dispenser system according to the above shows advantages as to handling in comparence with known systems, is easy to load and has a short reloading time. The dispenser (10) magazine (11) comprises several cells (12 a-f) intended to accommodate a cassette each. Each cell is provided with a locking means (30) for locking of the cassette and guide means (18) for cooperation with the cassette (40), and furthermore electrical coupling means (20). The cassette contains a retainer accommodating at least two cartridges having counter means and a cover (55) surround­ ing the cartridges and fixing the cartridges. The cassette comprises first means for cooperation with the guide means in the dispenser, second means for cooperation with the dispenser locking means (30) and third means for electrical connection of each cartridge in the cassette to electrical coupling means of the dispenser.

Description: The present invention refers to a dispenser containing cassettes for launching counter means, preferably intended for arrangement on the underside of an airplane wing, comprising a fixedly mounted dispenser body with a space adapted to accommodate a number of detachable dispensing cassettes loaded with counter means, the cassettes being detachably mounted in the dispenser and locked to the dispenser by means of locking means, and an electronic firing control unit for supplying firing signals to means for dispensing said counter means, said cassettes containing containers accommodating counter means of the cassettes and being provided with first means for cooperation with guide means of the dispenser for guiding a cassette in the final stage of its insertion into the adapted space and ensuring a correct dispensing position of the same and electrical coupling between igniters for the containers and the electronic firing control unit. The invention also refers to a dispensing cassette containing cartridges accomodating counter means adapted to be used together with the dispenser, the cartridges being kept in position by the cassette, the cassette being provided with first means for cooperation with guide means of a respective cell and second means for cooperation with locking means. The counter means may be a radiation reflecting material, such as for example foil strips or metal coated fibers, but may also be flares or other active counter means. Such a dispenser and a dispensing cassette are disclosed in European patent application EP-A-0 067 733. When loading the dispenser a cassette or a module is put in position below a dispenser rod and pressed upwards towards the dispenser rod. Then the cassette is displaced laterally and finally locked by a rotation movement of a handle on the cassette. Electrical contact between the dispenser and the containers is established by means of a connector common to all the containers when the cassette is displaced laterally. It is an object of the invention to provide a dispenser which is easy to load and has a short reload time. Another object of the invention is to obtain a dispenser admitting the use of counter means cassettes easily stored and transported. According to the invention the dispenser is characterized in that the space adapted to accommodate the dispensing cassettes is devided into a number of cells separated by partition walls, each cell defining an opening for insertion and removal of the cassettes, a cassette when inserted being quided by the partition walls to the final stage of its insertion, the locking means are activated by the movement of the cassette inwards during said final stage of insertion to lock the cassette to the dispenser, the containers of the cassette are cartridges kept in position by the cassette and having bottoms provided with electrical contact surfaces electrically connected to igniters of the cartridges, each cartridge bottom contact surface being directly coupled to electrical coupling means in the dispenser connecting the electronic firing control unit with the contact surface of the cartridge bottom. The loading of the dispenser is very simple. When the cassette reaches the opening of a cell, the only measure of an operator is to push the cassette inwards. The cassette is guided to its final loaded position by the partition walls of the cells and guide means of the dispenser. Locking means activated by the movement inwards of the cassette lock the cassette in its loaded position. The cartridges are directly electrically connected to the dispenser. According to a preferred embodiment of the dispenser, the cells of the dispenser are inclined and have a launching direction obliquely downwards and backwards relative to the flight direction of the airplane on which the dispenser is mounted. The inclined direction is advantageous when loading the dispenser. As soon as the cassette reaches the cell opening, the cassette does not need to be lifted in an upright direction against the influence of the gravity force, but may slide along the inner side of the cell in the inclined direction. This makes the insertion of the cassette less laborious. The stated launching direction furthermore contributes to a safe launching and a strong effect of the counter means. The dispensing cassette according to the invention intended to be used together with the dispenser is characterized in that the cartridges are provided with contact surfaces in the bottom for electrical connection of each contact surface in the cassette to electrical coupling means in the dispenser, the cartridges being kept in position by a cartridge retainer included in the dispensing cassette keeping the bottoms of the cartridges uncovered and in an essentially common plane. The arrangement of the cartridges enables a direct electrical coupling between the dispenser and each individual cartridge. By means of the arrangement of cartridges holding counter means in a cassette, a dispenser cassette is also obtained which is easy to handle and there is no need for storing boxes or the like when the cassettes are stored or transported from the storage room to the airplane. While awaiting use the cassettes may be stored piled on each other in an appropriate storage room. When the cassettes are to be used they can be transported to the dispenser piled on each other. The cassette in combination with the cartridges also provides a good protection against mechanical damage of the counter means, which is of great importance for the dispenser operation. The cassette may according to prefered embodiments be provided with a porous filling material or a homogeneous plastic, providing shock absorption and fixing the cartridges to the retainer. The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which figure 1 shows a side view of a dispenser according to the invention, figure 2 shows a bottom view of the dispenser, figure 3 shows a section according to figure 2 of a part of the dispenser, figure 4 shows locking means of the dispenser according to the invention, figure 5 shows a general embodiment of a dispensing cassette intended for the dispenser, figure 6 a-b shows four steps during the production of a dispensing cassette according to a first embodiment, and figure 7 a-c shows three steps during the production of a dispensing cassette according to a second embodiment. The figure 1 shows the dispenser in a side view, the envelope being removed within an indicacted area accomodating two cells for cassettes, the rest of the cells being indicated by means of dashed lines. The dispenser 10 shown in the figures 1-3 comprises a magazine 11 and a number of cells 12 a-f, an electronic firing control unit 13, and a power supply unit 14, all comprised elements being accomodated in an envelope 15. In the following description the letter (a, b, c, d, e) in a reference number (for example 30d) means that the detail referred to relates to a specific cell, while the reference number without a letter (for example 30) means a reference to a detail in an arbitrary cell. The cells 12 a-f of the magazine 11 are, as is most apparent from the figure 3, shaped by means of inclined discs 16 a-f, preferably of metal. Each of the discs 16 are provided with a transversely arranged plate 17 fastened at least at the upper part of the magazine and accordingly at the upper part of the envelope 15. The transversely arranges plate 17, which suitably is bent at the top, in the shown way is provided with guide means 18 for mechanical cooperation with a dispensing cassette and coupling means 20 for electrical coupling of cartridges contained in the cassette to the electronic unit. The guide means 18 are shown as guide pins projecting from the transversely arranged plate and intended to cooperate with recesses in an inserted cassette. Coupling means 20 are arranged for each cartridge 80 contained in a cassette and each coupling means 20 contain spring-loaded pins, not shown, which are arranged to be loaded against a contact plate 83 arranged in each cartridge bottom, see figure 6c. The contact plate 83 may, for example, consist of a number of concentric contact rings separated by insulating regions. Such a contact plate is shown in more detail and described in our SE patent specification 7414669-7 (386 735). The coupling means 20 are fastened in the transversely arranged plate 17 by means of a holding ring 19 and on the cassette side surrounded by a shock absorbing spacer 23. In the open end of the cells 12 a-f locking means 30 a-f are arranged. The locking means 30 consist of, see figure 4, a tapering arm 30 rotatable around a shaft 32 located in the tapered end of the arm and spring loaded by means of a spring element 33 arranged around the shaft 32. In the wide end of the arm a stop element is arranged in the prolongation of the arm. In the figure 5 a general embodiment of a dispensing cassette 40 having two cartridges and intended to be used together with the dispenser as described above is shown. The cassette is defined by four rectangular side surfaces 41-44 and a first and a second end surface 45, 46. The first end surface 45 has a rectangular shape and substantially coincides with the bottoms 81 of the cartridges 80 located in the cassette 40. The second end surface 46 situated at the opening ends (82 in figure 6c and 7b) of the cartridges 80 preferably consists of two relative to each other inclined rectangular shaped subsurfaces 46.1, 46.2. At the cartridge bottoms 81 the end surface 45 is provided with openings 47 adapted to the cartridges 80 and recesses 48 for cooperation with the guide pins 18 in the cell 82 of the dispenser magazine. A recess 49 is located in the greatest side surface 41 of the cassette adjacent to the second end surface 46 in order to cooperate with the locking means 30 described in connection with the dispenser. The more detailed shaping of the cassette and its manufacturing will be described further on. The dispenser 10 (figure 1-3) is loaded by inserting dispensing cassettes 40 of the described kind into the dispenser magazine 11, a cassette 40 being arranged in each of the magazine cells 12 a-f. When loading it is ensured that the end surface 45 faces the respective cell bottom surface and that the greatest side surface 41 is directed obliquely upwards. When the cassette is inserted, the locking means 30 are so affected of the cassette 40 that its rotatable arm 31 turns away. When the cassette 40 approaches the bottom of the cell 12, the guide pins 18 engage with the recesses 48 in the first end surface of the cassette 40 and guide the cassette 40 into a correct position. At the same time the spring-loaded coupling means 20 disposed in the bottom of the cell 12 engage with the respective contact plates 83 of the cartridges 80 of the cassette 40. When the cassette has reached its bottom position the locking means 30 locks the cassette 40 by swinging the spring-loaded arm 31 into the recess 49 on the greates side surface 41 of the cassette. When firing, the electronic firing control unit 13 of the dispenser is supplied with control signals coming from outside. In dependance of supplied control signals the electronic unit 13 distributes firing signals to igniters in the cartridges 80 in order to release a firing. The tapered section of the cassette 40, being motivated by aerodynamical reasons, is split at its second end surface 46 when the content of the cartridges is fired. Empty cassettes 40 are removed from the magazine cell 12 by rotating the rotatable arm of the locking means 30 aside and the cassette 40 is pulled out and/or by means of its weight falls out of the cell. Thereafter it is possible to directly insert a new cassette 40 into the cell 12. In the following description a first more detailed embodiment of the cassette 40 and its manufacture will be described with reference to figures 6 a-d. In figure 6a two metal elements 50, 51 are shown, the metal elements being shaped by means of punching from, for example, a metal plate followed by bending. In figure 6b a further metal element 52 shaped by means of punching is shown. The metal elements 50-52 are assembled by means of, for example, welding to constitute a frame 53 as apparent from figure 6c, which apart from the frame (retainer) shows two cartridges 80 disposed in the frame. Alternatively, the frame may be obtained by means of casting. As is apparent from figures 6 b-c, openings 48 for cooperation with guide pins and openings 47 for the cartridges 80 are provided in one end of the frame. Adjacent to the other end a metal plate 54 is fixed and adapted to cooperate with the locking means 30 of the dispenser. Figure 6c shows the cassette frame when loaded cartridges have been inserted into the frame. Figure 6d shows the cassette when the frame has been provided with a cover 55 for fixing the cartridges to the frame (retainer). Figure 6d discloses that the second end 46 of the frame 53 has been given a tapered shape. The tapered shape contributes to an aerodynamically advantageous shape. The shape may be obtained by giving the metal elements 50, 51 a tapering shape at the second end 46 already when punching. However, the tapering shape may be obtained entirely by means of the cover itself. Preferably the envelope consist of porous materials or homogenous plastic films. Covers of this kind show high shock absorbing ability and are due to that fact particularly suitable. A second embodiment of a cassette and its manufacture will now be described with reference to figures 7a-7c. Figure 7a shows a cassette frame (retainer) 53 formed by means of punching and bending of a metal plate. Openings 47, 48 are punched for the cartridges 80 and the guide pins 18, respectively. Furthermore a recess 49 for cooperation with the locking means 30 is punched adjacent to the second end surface. Figure 7b shows the cassette frame after the insertion of cartridges. Figure 7c shows the cassette 40 when the frame 53 having cartridges 80 has been provided with a cover 55 for fixing of the cartridges to the frame. In the specification above one embodiment of the dispenser and two embodiments of the cassette have been disclosed. However, a lot of variants are comprised within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the locking means may be exchanged for other types and applied for engagement on another location of the cassette. Furthermore the guide pins and the recesses adapted thereto may be replaced with other types of guide means and means cooperating with the guide means.

Claims: A dispenser (10) containing cassettes (40) for launching counter means, preferably intended for arrangement on the underside of an airplane wing, comprising a fixedly mounted dispenser body (15) with a space (12) adapted to accommodate a number of detachable dispensing cassettes (40) loaded with counter means, the cassettes being detachably mounted in the dispenser and locked to the dispenser by means of locking means (30), and an electronic firing control unit (13) for supplying firing signals to means for dispensing said counter means, said cassettes (40) containing containers (80) accommodating counter means of the cassettes and being provided with first means (48) for cooperation with guide means (18) of the dispenser (10) for guiding a cassette (40) in the final stage of its insertion into the adapted space (12) and ensuring a correct dispensing position of the same and electrical coupling between igniters for the containers and the electronic firing control unit (13), characterized in that the space adapted to accommodate the dispensing cassettes is devided into a number of cells (12) separated by partition walls (16), each cell defining an opening for insertion and removal of the cassettes, a cassette (40) when inserted being guided by the partition walls (16) to the final stage of its insertion, the locking means (30) are activated by the movement of the cassette (40) inwards during said final stage of insertion to lock the cassette (40) to the dispenser (10), the containers of the cassette are cartridges (80) kept in position by the cassette (40) and having bottoms provided with electrical contact surfaces (83) electrically connected to igniters of the cartridges (80) , each cartridge bottom contact surface being directly coupled to electrical coupling means in the dispenser (10) connecting the electronic firing control unit (13) with the contact surface (83) of the cartridge bottom. A dispenser containing cassettes as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cells (12) of the dispenser (10) are inclined and have a launching direction obliquely downwards and backwards relative to the flight direction of the airplane on which the dispenser is mounted. A dispensing cassette (40) containing cartridges (80) accomodating counter means intended to be used together with a dispenser as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, the cartridges being kept in position by the cassette, the cassette being provided with first means (48) for cooperation with guide means of a respective cell and second means (49) for cooperation with locking means, characterized in that the cartridges (80) are provided with contact surfaces (83) in the bottom for electrical connection of each contact surface in the cassette to electrical coupling means in the dispenser, the cartridges (80) being kept in position by a cartridge retainer (53) included in the dispensing cassette and keeping the bottoms (81) of the cartridges (80) uncovered and in an essentially common plane. A dispensing cassette containing cartridges as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the cartridges (80) in the retainer (53) are surrounded by a porous filling material. A dispensing cassette containing cartridges as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the cartridges (80) and the retainer (53) are enclosed by a cover consisting of a homogeneous plastic. A dispening cassette containing cartridges as claimed in any of the claims 3-5, characterized in that said filling material or said cover has a tapering section (46) adapted to fit the contour of the dispenser body when inserted in dispensing position.

Inventors: WRANA, JOSEF BELE VOLMAR
Applicants: NOBELTECH SYSTEMS AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B64D1
IPC codes: B64D1, F42B5