Patent GB-318545-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to parachute pyrotechnic flares
IPC: F42B10/56
Filed: 1929-08-26
Abstract: 318,545. Russell Parachute Co., (Assignees of Russell, J. M.). Sept. 5, 1928, [Convention date]. Parachutes.-The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) describes a parachute flare the lid 18, Fig. 4 (Cancelled), of which is torn off when the flare is dropped from an aircraft. A cord 45 connecting this lid to a pilot parachute 14, pulls this parachute out; and after this, a wire hook 46, soft soldered to the lid 18 for the attachment. of the cord 45, is pulled off the lid, and the container 10 falls freely. The pilot parachute 14 has cross fins 39, Figs. 9 and 10, and rear pockets 38. This parachute checks the forward speed of the flare and causes it to fall slowly vertically. It also pulls on a cord 48, Fig. 4, and unwinds it from a drum 52. This drum is geared to a centrifugal governor 85 regulated by the adjustment of a brake shoe 86 bv a screw 87. The drum is also geared to a wheel 60, which is pressed up by a spring 67 against a stop 63. This stop is rotatably adjustable by a spindle 61 and a detachable key 40 provided with a graduated dial 42. The key 40 is normally soft soldered to the lid 18; but this easily yields to the manual setting operation of the key. This setting is performed and the key removed just before the flare is to be dropped. At the appointed time, a notch 66 in the hub of the wheel 60 comes opposite the stop 63 and is engaged thereby by the lifting of the wheel 60 by the spring 67. The drum 52 is thus stopped, and simultaneously a, rod 68 is lifted by the wheel 60 and pulls a pair of catches which release the frame 50 of the timing mechanism from the container 10. This mechanism is pulled out of the container with the main parachute 12 by the pilot parachute. The edge of the main parachute is attached by lines 90, Fig. 17 (Cancelled), to a cord 91, from which the flare is suspended; and extension lines 122 are attached to the edge of the parachute and to points further in, whereby a bulge 124 is formed round the parachute, which steadies the fall of the parachute and retains the hot gases from the flare. The main parachute also acts as a reflector; and when it is opened out, the timing mechanism and the pilot parachute rest idlv on its top. The cord 91 passes through a small hole in a cardboard disc cover 92, Fig. 5 (Cancelled), at the upper end of the flare 11. Below this disc, the cord has a few short loops 93, and its end is secured at points 94 to a wooden block 95 fastened to the flare 11. The block 95 contains a knurled steel member 102 on a shaft 101, and a number of flints 103 pressed against the knurled member 102 by an encircling spring 106. A short cable 98 is wound at one end on a drum 100 on the shaft 101 and is attached at its other end to one of the loops 93 of the cord 91. When the main parachute opens out, the cord 91 pulls on the cable 98 and rotates the drum 100, thereby causing sparks at the flints 103 which ignite a powder charge 110 connected by fuzes 112 to an igniting charge 115, Fig. 8 (Cancelled), at the bottom of the flare. This charge ignites the flaxe and burns through a cardboard disc 116 to another charge 117, which expels the flare 11 from the container 10. The operation is now complete, the flare burning while suspended from the parachute. This subjectmatter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.