Patent GB-557167-A (GB)
Title: Bomb releasing device for aircraft
IPC: B64D1/04
Filed: 1942-05-04
Abstract: 557,167. Bomb dropping. from aircraft RUDLICKI, J. S. May 4, 1942, No. 5953. [Class 9 (ii)] Bomb releasing means comprises detent retaining means for the bombs which is locked in retaining position and unlocked automatically so that the bombs are released in sequence at time controlled intervals after the releasing operation has been initiated, The bombs 21, 22 are superposed in racks 23 and are retained therein by a detent 15 actuated by a spring 20 and locked in position by a toggle link 16, 17 which in turn is locked by a rotatable control lever 31. Pivoted on an axle 2 fixed to the fuselage is a main lever 1 carrying a projection 26 and a pawl lever 10, the pawl being adapted to coact with a gear-train 4, 5, 34, 12, 35 to drive a starwheel 13 and an escapement 14, while the outer end 38 of the pawl lever is adapted to bear against a cam 11 on a lever 3 also pivoted on the axle 2. The main lever projects into the path of the bombs and is retracted by a spring 7, and the detent 15 has a projection 28 which also projects into the path of the bombs. On manual release of the control lever 31, the main lever 1 is turned by its spring 7 and the projection 26 therein unlocks the toggle 16, 17 and pulls the detent from under the bomb 21 which then descends carrying the lever 1 downwardly with it and also engages the projection 28 on the detent which is pushed into the bomb-rack to engage the next bomb 22 and locked in position by the toggle. The pawl lever runs over the head of the cam lever 3 until its head engages a depression therein, whereupon the pawl engages the wheel 4 of the gear train. The main lever spring now reacts to raise the lever but the motion is retarded through the gear train, star wheel and escapement until the head of the pawl lever runs on to a projection 11 on the head of the cam lever 3 when the pawl is disengaged from the gear train and the main lever is free to move quickly under the reaction of its spring. The projection 26 then unlocks the toggle gear and the process is repeated. The timing is set by rotation of the cam lever 3 to alter the position of its cam surface. In a modification the detent is replaced by a starwheel 41 to which is secured a ratchet plate 67 and a notched stop disk 65 and the toggle link is replaced by a stop lever 64 carrying a roller 61 which engages an arcuate slot 63 in the main lever 1. Pivoted to the frame of the machine at 52 is a control lever 53 attached by a link 55 to the cam lever 3. The control lever 53 is manually operated to release the first bomb and the star wheel is locked at each downward movement of the main lever by the upper end of the arcuate slot in the main lever pressing on the end of the stop lever and causing a stop 60 on its inner end to engage a ratchet tooth on the ratchet plate 67. On the upward swing of the main lever an offset portion of the arcuate slot in it causes the stop lever 64 to be disengaged from the ratchet plate so that the star plate is released and another bomb is free to fall. As before the time interval is set by rotation of the cam lever 3 the maximum time interval being given at the position where the control lever 53 just disengages the stop disc 65.