Patent GB-575026-A (GB)
Title: Improved means for the control of multiple bomb-release, gun firing and like circuits
IPC: B64D1/04
Filed: 1936-09-15
Abstract: 575,026. Dropping bombs ; gun-fire control. BOULTON PAUL AIRCRAFT, Ltd., and SAYERS, W. H. Sept. 15, 1936, No. 25091. [Classes 9 (ii) and 92 (ii)] Consists of electrical switch devices for dropping bombs or controlling the firing of guns in a predetermined sequence and timing. The time-switch 10 is operated by a cam 11 driven by a constant-speed (but regulatable) motor 12, or through a variable clockwork-drive, but the actual release-switch 13 is closed by a button 35 and is held on by a catch 37, until the latter is withdrawn by a solenoid 36. The bombrelease (or fire-control) solenoids, such as 4 are each connected to a contact 3 of a selector switch 2, the rotary arm of which is connected to a battery 1 and is driven by a spring 19 acting upon an escapement-controlled shaft 18. In the form shown, the number of bombs to be dropped in timed succession (or guns to be fired) is determined by the setting of the rotary ring 25 of a sequence-setting switch 7, which ring carries an interrupted-ring contact 6 and a stud-contact 26. A pointer 38 on ring 25 is set opposite one of the indices (1)-(7) on the index dial of the switch corresponding to the desired number of solenoids 4 to be operated before the switch 13 is automatically opened. The movable contact-arm 8 of the switch 7 is mounted on a shaft 23 driven by a step-by-step mechanism 20, 21, 22, 28, against the pull of the restoring spring 24 by which the arm 8 is set-back against a fixed stop 27 when the pawl 28 of the step-by-step drive is released. When the switch 13 is closed by button 35 and the timing switch 10 is also closed, current flows from battery 1 by way of switch arm 2 and contact 3 to the associated release solenoid 4 and thence through conductor 5 to the ring contact 6 of switch 7, through switch arm 8 and conductor 9 back to battery, and a release operation is performed. Current also flows by way of conductor 5 to a solenoid 14, the plunger 15 of which is drawn down and operates the escapement rocker 16, thereby permitting the wheel 17 to rotate by one tooth so as to move the switch arm 2 on to the next contact 3. The solenoid 14 also draws down the rod 20 by which the feed-pawl 21 is actuated. The wheel 22 and shaft 23 are therefore also rotated one step in counter-clockwise direction. On the next closing of the timing-switch 10, the operation is repeated and the sequence is continued for the number of times represented by the setting of the pointer 38 of the sequencesetting switch 7, the last operation carrying the switch-arm 8 onto the stud 26. This completes the circuits of the solenoids 30, 36. Solenoid 30 effects the withdrawal of the detent 28 and permits spring 24 to cause the throw-back of switch-arm 8 to its initial position against the stop 27. Solenoid 36 withdraws the latch 37 and causes the opening of the release switch 13 and therethrough the interruption of all the circuits. If the button 35 be again pressed, the same sequence of operations is repeated. Modifications. are described which enable the timing-switch 10 to be short-circuited when single operations are to be performed at the will of the operator, and to enable bombs to be dropped, or guns to be fired, in recurrent salvoes.