Patent GB-404775-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to devices for carrying automobile torpedoes on, and releasing them from, aircraft
IPC: B64D1/04
Filed: 1932-10-18
Abstract: 404,775. Launching torpedoes from aircraft. WHITEHEAD TORPEDO CO., Ltd., and JONES, A. E., Weymouth, Dorset. Oct. 18, 1932, Nos. 29145/32 and 13059/33. [Class 9 (ii).] Relates to apparatus in which a T-shaped piece h, Fig. 2, on a torpedo T is suspended from an aircraft by two hooks H, H<1> pivoted at H<3>, H<2> and held in operative position by a distancepiece J between the tail ends of the hooks, said distancepiece being adapted to be pulled out by a device which previously turns the starting lever A, Fig. 1, of the torpedo. According to the invention, a power-operated device is provided to perform these successive operations. As shown in Fig. 1, the power is provided by a spring C acting on a piston B, the rod B<4> of which is connected by a pivot B<3> to another rod B<2> having a notch B<1> engaged by a sear D holding the piston cocked. The sear D is pivoted at D<1> and its extended tail D<2> is engaged by a hook lever D<3> pivoted at D<4>. A lever D<6> is pivoted at D<5> on the hook lever D<3> and is urged to the operative position by a spring D<8>; and an arm D<9> on the lever D<6> is normally locked by a shoulder F<1 >on the frame F of the apparatus to prevent accidental release of the sear. Accidental release of the distance-member J is also prevented by a bolt d<1> connected by a pin-and-slot joint d to the sear tail D<2>. To launch the torpedo, the lever D<6> is rocked by a Bowden wire D<7>, which, after the arm D<9> has been freed,.lifts the hook lever D<3> from the tail D<2 >of the sear D and allows the spring piston B to move. During the first part of this movement, the starting lever A is deflected and the locking bolt d<1> withdrawn by the sear tail D<2>. After this, a ramp J<2> on the rod B<2> lifts the distance-piece away, thereby releasing the hooks H, H<1> and allowing the torpedo to drop. The tube E containing the piston B may be pivoted at its front end E<1> on horizontal trunnions, and its rear end is then locked by a catch S<3>, Fig. 11, against a fixed shoulder S<4>. The catch S<3> is on one arm S<1> of a bell-crank pivoted at S on the rear end of the tube E, and the other arm S<2> of the bellcrank is connected to a vertical rod S<5> operable from the cock pit. If this rod is pulled up, the catch S is disengaged, and after that, a continuation of the pull lifts the rear end of the tube E and puts the piston B out of reach of the starting lever A. The operation of the releasing mechanism then drops the torpedo without operating its starting lever. In a modification, the piston B is operated by the gases from an electrically exploded cartridge, and the piston is connected by links to a cam which is adapted, when. the piston moves, to deflect a safety lock and then to withdraw the distance member. Vents are provided in the sides of the tube E and the buffer at its rear end to bring the piston smoothly to rest and liberate the gases. In another modification, the distance-piece is withdrawn by a horizontal displacement instead of by a vertical one, and this displacement is performed by a spring- controlled rod connected to a lever situated at the rear end of the tube E and adapted to be deflected by the piston B near the end of its stroke. Specification 328,662, [Class 9 (ii), Torpedoes &c.], is referred to.