Patent GB-481694-A (GB)
Title: Remote control apparatus for the successive release of bombs in aircraft
IPC: B64D1/04
Filed: 1937-04-08
Abstract: 481,694. Bomb - dropping apparatus. SERVO-FREIN DEWANDRE SOC. ANON. April 8, 1937, No. 10071. Convention date, April 8, 1936. [Class 9 (ii)] Relates to a remotecontrol device for mechanisms for releasing bombs in succession from aircraft by means of a number of pneumatically actuated members connected to a single pipe for fluid supply, said members being actuated against the opposition of resilient means and bemg displaced successively under the action of the pressure of the driving fluid controlled by a control member provided in said piping. According to the invention, each pneumatically actuated member is associated with a valve distributer for fluid supply thereto, said distributer being so arranged, that after actuation of its associated pneumatically actuated member and release of the fluid control member, fluid communication to said pneumatically actuated member is interrupted and communication of the fluid supply with the next pneumatically actuated member is established. As shown, each bomb 13 is supported from a bracket 11, carried by a support 10 on the aeroplane, by a pin 14, which passes through apertures in the bracket and a lug 12 provided on the bomb, V-shaped abutment members 15 secured to the support 10 serving to hold the bomb in a suitable position. The pin 14 is pivotally connected by a rod 16 to one end of a lever 17 pivoted at 18 and having its other end controlled by a spring 19. A rod 20 further connects the lever 17 to a lever 21 which is pivoted at 22 to an extension 23 on the body 24 of the actuating mechanism secured to the support 10. This mechanism comprises a cylinder 25 in which slides a piston 27, the rod 28 of which is apertured at 29 to receive the lever 21, a pivot pin 30 extending into a diametral boring in the rod 28 and into an eyelet on the lever 21. The body 24 is also provided with a two valve distributer, the valves 31, 32 being connected together by a rod 33 and controlled by springs 36, 37 acting respectively behind the valve 31 and on a guide piston 38 integral with the control rod 39 of the valves. The valve 31 is adapted to cut off communication between the cylinder 25 and the source of compressed air delivered by the conduit 34 whilst the valve 32 is provided for cutting off communication between the conduit 34 and a further conduit 35. The rod 39 passes through an aperture 43 in a constricted portion of a spring-pressed bolt 41 sliding in a transverse guide 40, the bolt being intended automatically to engage a groove 44 in the rod 39 when the latter is displaced against the opposition of springs 36, 37 so as to close valve 32 and open valve 31. This displacement of the rod 39 is effected under the action of a lever 45 pivoted at 46 and provided with a stop 47 adapted to act on the end 48 of rod 39 when the lever 45 is angularly displaced as shown in Fig. 1 to allow the bomb 13 to be placed in position on the support 10. A spring-pressed ball 49 holds the lever 45 in either of its two positions. A tappet 50 pivoted at 51 on the rod 28 and normally held against a stop 53 on this rod by a spring 54 is adapted to act on a boss 52 of the bolt 41 The different bomb supports and their release mechanisms may be secured as shown in Fig. 6 at A, B, C and D under the wings of the aeroplane, a compressed air tank 55 being connected by means of an expansion valve 56 to a selector valve 57 adapted to put the ducts 58, 58a in communication either with the tank 55 or with the atmosphere. The duct 58 extends from valve 57 to the conduit 34 of the release mechanism of bomb A while the conduit 35 of this mechanism is connected by a channel 59 to the conduit 34 of the mechanism of bomb B, the conduit 35 of which is connected to the mechanism of bomb C and so on for each following bomb. In operation, the lever 45 of each mechanism having been actuated to put the bombs in position, the valves 31, 32 of the different mechanisms will be locked by the bolt 41 in the position shown in Fig. 4, in which position the cylinder 25 of the first bomb is in communication with channel 58 while channels 59 connecting the mechanism of this first bomb to the next is closed by valve 32. When it is desired to release bomb A from each wing, the operator, after having opened selector valve 57, operates on the expansion valve 56 so as to cause compressed air to pass through the ducts 58, 58a and the conduit 34 of the bombs A and operate in the cylinder 25 to displace the piston 27 and rod 28. This displacement of the piston and rod moves the lever 21 which in turn actuates the rod 20, lever 17 and rod 16 to withdraw the pin 14 from the lug 12 on the bomb. During this movement of rod 28, the tappet 50 rocks on the boss 52. As soon as the operator ceases his action on valve 56, the ducts 58, 58a and cylinders 25 of the mechanisms of bombs A are put into communication with the atmosphere and the piston 27 is returned to its original position. In so doing, the tappet 50 is caused to act on the boss 52 to depress the bolt 41 and release the rod 39, the valves 31, 32 being then caused by their springs 36, 37 to take up the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the valve 31 cuts off communication between the conduit 34 and cylinder 25 and valve 32 opens communication between the conduits 34, 35. In this position, the compressed air can now pass through channels 58, 58a, conduits 34, 35 and channels 59, 59a to the mechanisms of the bomb B of each wing so that when the operator again actuates the expansion valve 56, the bombs B are released. Bombs C and D arc subsequently released in a similar manner. If desired, the bombs may be arranged vertically instead of horizontally, in which case, the pin 14 engages a lug 12 provided at the tail of the bomb.