Dispenser

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispenser for feeding out packages (3) containing jamming means, preferably chaff, and applied to an air craft. In order to reduce the separation time for the packages (3) and to make the separation time more distinct, the dispenser is provided with air guiding means (11, 12) in connection to the feeding out opening (4) for the packages (3). The air guiding means (11, 12) create a pressure differens at the feeding out opening (4) pulling out the packages (3) in the air stream behind the dispenser.

Description: The present invention relates to a dispenser intended to be brought with an air craft, such as an airplane, comprising a magazine provided with a feeding out opening and a feeding out and separation device, the magazine accommodating a number of packages arranged in a row from the feeding out opening and containing jamming means, preferably radar chaff, the feeding out and separation device separating and feeding out the packages located closest to the feeding out opening of the magazine. Such a dispenser is previously known from, for example, SE B 8302508-0. In that case the separation of packages at the feeding out opening of the magazine is carried out by means of separation means in the shape of gear wheels cooperation with means on the packages similar to teeth. Commonly, the dispenser is applied on the under side of an air craft, preferably an airplane, and has an elongated body shape with its longitudinal direction coinciding with the flight direction of the air craft. The elongated body is exposed to air streaming having a speed corresponding to the fight speed of the air craft. The feeding out opening of the magazine terminates the rear section of the dispenser. During a flight a wake is formed behind the feeding out opening. Immediately behind the dispenser, the wake has a sectional area of the same order of magnetude as the sectional area of the dispenser. The formation of this wake inter alia influences on the separation time of the packages, that is the time required for the package located closest to feeding out opening to separate from the rest of the packages in the magazine and to leave the feeding out opening. It is an object of the present invention to reduce the separation time and obtain a distinct separation of the packages and due to that possibility to improve the radar target area. According to the invention the object is obtained by means of a dispenser characterized in that air guiding means are provided in connection to the dispenser to guide an air stream to the feeding out opening of the magazine in order to create a pressure differens acting to remove packages released at the feeding out opening from the feeding out opening of the dispenser. The pressure differens obtained by means of the guiding of air results in a reduced separation time and connected to the reduced separation time a distinct separation. Due to the reduced separation time inter alia the reaction time of the dispenser may be shortened. The fact that the separation of the packages is distinct, further more implies that a plurality of dispensers may be coordinated at a high accuracy and thereby the target area may be enlarged. The separation time shortened by air guiding and the distinct separation connected thereto also admits that separate radar chaff cloudes may be obtained according to fixed preprogrammed patterns. Preferably a plurality of the dispensers may be coordinated to generate the patterns. According to a favourable embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is characterized in that the air guiding means are air scoops provided with an air inlet in connection to the side of the dispenser and an air outlet in connection to the feeding out opening. Due to the location of the air scoops, a vortex is generated. Superposed on the cross streaming created behind the dispenser by the air scoops there is the free stream, resulting in that the streaming is deflected backwards so that a three dimensional vortex is formed. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompaning drawings, in which fig 1 shows a schematical perspective view of a dispenser without air guiding, fig 2 shows a schematical perspective view of a dispenser according to the invention provided with air guiding means and fig 3 shows the dispenser according to fig 2 in a further perspective view, the dispenser being presented essentially from the back. The dispenser shown in fig 1 has an elongated body 1 accommodating a magazine 2 containing packages 3. The elongated body is only partly shown in the figure. In connection to the feeding out opening 4 of the magazine 2 there is provided a feeding out and separation device 5. The feeding out and separation device 5 in the shown embodiment comprises two gear wheels on each side of the feeding out opening 4 of the magazine 2, two gear wheels 6.1,6.2 being shown. The gear wheels are driven by a driving device, not shown, via a driving belt 7. The packages 3 are provided with means similar to teeth 8.1-8.4 cooperating with the gear wheels 6.1-6.4. The teeth of the gear wheels during separation release the package located closest to the feeding out opening at the same time as the packages located behind are retained. The arrows 9 schematically shows the air streams present at the rear section of the dispenser when the dispenser is moved in the air space. A wake 10 arises in the region behind the feeding out opening 4. The wake delays the separation of the rear package from the rest of the packages and causes a large variation in separation time for the individual packages. Figures 2 and 3 show a dispenser according to the invention Corresponding elements have been given the same reference numerals as in figure 1 and the elongated body is as in fig 1 only partly shown. In order to change the air streams in the rear section of the dispenser, it is provided with air guiding means in the shape of two air scoops 11, 12. Each air scoop is provided with an air inlet 1.3 and 1.4, respectively, in connection to the elongated body section 1 of the dispenser and an air outlet 15 and 16, respectively, at the feeding out opening 4 of the magazine 2. The opening planes of the air inlet are located essentially in planes perpendicular to the moving direction of the dispenser while the opening planes of the air outlets are located in planes essentially perpendicular to the plane of the feeding out opening 4. The air scoop 11 is applied adjacent to one of the vertical sides of the feeding out opening in its upper section while the air scoop 12 are applied adjacent to the opposite vertical side of the feeding out opening in its lower section During the movement of the dispenser in the airspace, an air stream 17, 18 running along the long sides of the dispenser is catched by the air inlets 13, 14 of the air scoops 11, 12. When the air stream leaves the air outlets 15, 16, the air stream guided by the air scoops provides a vortex becoming three-dimensional when the free stream present behind the dispenser is superposed. By means of a strong and stable vortex immediately behind the dispenser, a pressure differens is generated pulling out a packages 3 in the air stream behind the dispenser. The separation of the package from the dispenser becomes distinct and repeatable. The strength of the vortex is in addition to the flight speed influenced by the size of the air scoops and their location. The air stream condition behind the feeding out opening may be varied in that the exhaust directions of the air scoops are allowed to superpose each other to a higher or lower extent and due to that fact an optimation of the separation process of the packages. The above described embodiment of the invention is not limiting for the invention, but a lot of other embodiments lie within the scope of the invention as claimed. Inter alia the air guiding means may be totally or partly located on the inside of the dispenser.

Claims: A dispenser mountable on an air-craft, such as an airplane, comprising a magazine (2) provided with a feeding out opening (4) and a feeding out and separation device (5, 6.1, 6.2, 7), the magazine being capable of accommodating a number of packages (3) arranged in a row towards the feeding out opening and containing jamming means, preferably radar chaff, such that the feeding out and separation device separates and feeds out the package located closest to the feeding out opening of the magazine, characterized in that the dispenser is provided with air guiding means (11, 12) to guide an air stream to the feeding out opening of the magazine thereby creating a pressure difference acting to remove packages released at the feeding out opening from the feeding out opening of the dispenser. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the air guiding means are air scoops (11, 12) provided with air inlets (1.3, 1.4) in connection to the side of the dispenser and air outlets in connection to the feeding out opening (4). A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the air scoops (11, 12) are disposed in pairs. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the air streams from the air outlet of the two in pairs disposed air scoops (11, 12) are opposite directed and mutually displaceable in parallel relative to the the centre of the feeding out opening (4).

Inventors: NAESVALL ALF, SCHNUERER MAGNUS, NAESVALL, ALF, SCHNUERER, MAGNUS, Näsvall, Alf, Schnürer, Magnus
Applicants: NOBELTECH ELECTRONICS AB
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B64D1
IPC codes: F41H11, B64D1