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2 , 2 1 6 , 7 7 6ct, 8 . l940 E . | _ . HOFFMANAERIAL TOWED TARGET

2 S h e e E s - S h e e t y liled Sept. l 0 . , 1935

EDM-449? 4. HOFFM/VFfG 5.

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o c t . 8 , 1 9 4 0 . l E | _ _ HOFFMAN 2 , 2 1 6 , 7 7 6AERIAL TfOWED TARGETFiled S e p t . l O , 1 9 3 5 2 S h e e t S V - S h e e t 2

INVIA/TOREDM/452.0 _ HoF/:M4N

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P a t e n t e d O c t . 8 , 1 9 4 G 2 , 2 1 6 , 7 7 6UNITED STATES AParam o r t i c a - .

2 , 2 1 6 , 7 7 6AERIALTOWEDTARGETEdward L . Hoffman, San A n t o n i o , T e x .

A p p l i c a t i o n S e p t e m b e r 1 0 , 1 9 3 5 , S e r i a l N o . 3 9 , 9 4 9r

19 Claims. ( C l . Mii-105.3) (Granted under t h e a c t o f M a r c h 3 , 1 8 8 3 ,mended A p r i l 3 0 , 1 9 2 8 ; 3 7 0 0 . G . 7 5 7 )

The invention d e s c r i b e d herein may be manufactured a nd used y b y o r f o r the Go vernment f o rg o v e r n m e n t a l p u r p o s e s , w i t h o u t t h e payment t ome f any royalty thereon.This i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o improvements i n a e r i a ld i s p l a y d e v i c e s o f the t y p e adapted t o be towedbehind a n airplane or other a i r c r a f t as a targeti n a n t i - a i r c r a f t o r a e r i a l gunnery.The t y p e o f a e r i a l towed t a r g e t i n p r a c t i c a l useconsists generally of a hollow s treamlined bodyof i i e x i b l e f a b r i c material having a n open end ormouth into which the a i r rushes t o innate ord i s t e n d the body when the l a t t e r i s towed behindthe a i r p l a n e . The mouth or open en d of thet a r g e t i s u s u a l l y about l i v e f e e t i n diameter a n d i smaintained t o permit i n f l a t i o n b y a b r a c i n g ands t i i l e n i n g member, s u c h as a metal r i n g . Due othe presence o f s u ch a l a r g e r i n g i t i s d i i i l c u l t t obundle o r r o l l u p the t a r g e t i n t o a small compact`m a s s f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d l a u n c h i n g .Among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h e r e f o r e , i t i s an o b j e c to f the i n v e n t i o n t o p r o v i d e f o r the e l i m i n a t i o n , i na t o w t a r g e t s t r u c t u r e , o f the r i n g reinforcementa n d to substitute l t h e r e f o r novel means a c c o mplishing the s a m e purposes as the ring reinforc ement a n d , i n a d d i t i o n , p r o v i d i n g f o r t h e ready a ndconvenient bundling o r packing o f t h e t a r g e t i n t oa m a l l r o l l o r m a s s .B r i e f l y , the i n v e n t i o n c o n s i s t s i n t h e a d d i t i o nto the streamlined or usual cigar-shaped b ag ofa p l u r a l i t y o f panels l o c a t e d forwardly o f but sewnb a c k i n t o the mouth f the b a g a n d meeting in acommon s e a m c o i n c i d e n t with the l o n g i t u d i n a l .a x i s o f ` t h e b a g . In f l i g h t , t h e panels f o r m a polygonal f i n o r a i r f l o w s t r a i g h t e n e r . Throu gh t h e i re m p l o y m e n t , ~ t h e r i n g r e i n f o r c e m e n t h e r e t o f o r ei n s e r t e d i n the m o u t h o f the t a r g e t i s e n t i r e l ye l i m i n a t e d .The above a nd other o b j e c t s o f the inventionare attained by the novel c o n s t r u c t i o n , arrangement, and combination o f p a r t s h e r e i n a f t e r m o ref u l l y d e s c r i b e d a nd pointed out with r e f e r e n c e t othe accompanying d r a w i n g s , wherein

' Figure l i s a view in perspective of an erial tow' target embodying the imp rovement s o f the invent i o n .Figure 2 i s a s i d e elevation o f the front or f o r eportion of t he target.

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Figure 3 i s a v e r t i c a l s e c t i o n a l view o f the rearo r a f t portion o f the t a r g e t .

Figure 4 l s a v e r t i c a l s e c t i o n o n l i n e 1_4 o fF i g u r e 3 .Figure 5 i s a h o r i z o n t a l s e c t i o n o n l i n e 5--5 o f

Figure . ' Figure 6 i s a v e r - t i c a l section o n l i n e 6-6 o f

Figure l .Figure ' 7 i s a v e r t i c a l section on l i n e 1--7 o f

F i g u r e 1 .Figure 8 i s a v e r t i c a l c r o s s s e c t i o n o f the open

en d o r m o u t h o f the t a r g e t t o show the i i n or~ p a n e l s t r u c t u r e t h e r e o f .Figure 9 i s a s i d e view on a n enlarged s c a l e o ft h e l o o p e d o r towing en d o f t h e t a r g e t .Figure 10 i s a view in perspective of t he struc

ture s h o w n i n Figure 9 .Figure 1 1 i s a s e c t i o n o n l i n e I l - I o f Figure l .Figure l 2 i s a s e c t i o n o n l i n e l 2 - - I 2 o f Figure l 0 .Figure 1 3 i s a diagrammatic view o f a modifiedfo rm o f a i r s t r a i g h t e n e r c o n s t r u c t i o n .U p o n f u r t h e r r e f e r e n c e t o the drawings i t w i l lbe ` s e e n that the t a r g e t o f the p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o ni s co mp o sed o f t wo s e c t i o n s , the f o r e p a r t ' o r - f r o n ts e c t i o n A omprising i n night a hexagonal f i n ora i r straightener I b y m e a n s o f which the > a i r f l o wi s d i r e c t e d i n t o a s u b s t a n t i a l l y cigar-shaped o rs t r e a m l i n e d bag B o m p r i s i n g _ t h e a f t p o r t i o n o fthe t a r g e t . Sections A a n d B r e m a d e o f s u i ta b l e f l e x i b l e m a t e r i a l , such a s b a l l o o n c l o t h ,The bag t a p e r s fro m a l a r g e unreinforced c i r c ul a r m o u t h l a t i t s f r o n t en d t o a much m a l l e r ventopening 2 a t i t s rear end. I t i s c o m po sed o f ap l u r a l i t y o f p a n e l s 3 c o n n e c t e d a l o n g t h e i r s i d e sb y l a p - se a m s a nd s t i t c h i n g a s shown t o advantagea t 4 a n d 5 r e s p e c t i v e l y i n Figure 6 . - The f r o n t andr e a r edge o f each panel i s doubled b a c k a n d seweddown as shown a t > 6 in Figure 3 a n d a t 1 i n Figure5 , a n d e n c l o s e d i n each o f t h e l c i r c u m f e r e n t i a lborders or hems thus formed a t t he m o u t h I a ndv e n t Zof t h e bag s a s i l k f i l l e r t a p e 8 , t h e ends 8 aa n d 8b o f which overlap a s s h o w n t o ad v ant a ge i nFigure 4.

I t w i l l be noted that thediameter o f the bag i sconstant from the mouth> l rearwardly f o r a d i stance r , F i g . 3 , approximately a h i r d o f the lengtho f the bag, and sewn b a c k i n t o the m o u t h o f the

> b a g i s the f o r e part A f the t a r g e t , the s a i d f o r epart being s o constructed, as hereinafter exp l a i n e d , as t o f o r m in f l i g h t a polygonal f i n or a i rstraightener which s e r v e s t o maintain the s i z ea nd shape o f t h e v opening o r m o u t h a nd a t - t h es a m e time d i r e c t s a nd guides the a i r f l o w along thechannels a t the angles o f the f i n s a n d i n t o the

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bag t o c a u s e inflation thereof. The air pressureWithin the bag keeps a l l p a r t s t a u t . Through t h ee m p l o y m e n t of the a i r straightener A, l t h e s t i f fring reinforcement heretofore inserted i n them o u t h o f t h e t a r g e t i s e n t i r e l y e l i m i n a t e d andby c o n s t r u c t i n g the a i r s t r a i g h t e n e r o f a f l e x i b l ematerial t he same a s , or s i m i l a r t o , the balloonc l o t h material o f the b a g , a t a r g e t i s providedwhich s p e r f e c t l y f l e x i b l e a n d which c an be r o l l e d

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upon i t s e l f o r otherwise done up into a . b u nd l e \without d i f i i c u l t y f o r c o n v e n i e n c e i n t r a n s p o r t a #t i o n a n d l a u n c h i n g .The a i r s t r a i g h t e n e r A may be composed o ft h r e e f a b r i c diaphragms o r p a n e l s 9 meetingin a common seam l 0 coincident with the longit u d i n a l a x i s o f the t a r g e t and arrangedto p r ov i d e s i x n n i t s a s shown i n F i g u r e s 1 a nd 1 0 ,

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2o r s i x separate panels 9a may e s t i t c h e d togethera s s h o w n i n Figure 1 3 . _ I n e i t h e r c a s e , the panelsdiminish V i n width f r o m t h e i r rear cons tant diame t e r p o r t i o n s I I , which a r e i n s e r t e d i n t o t h e bagl e s s than the f u l l distance x , u n t i l they c l o s e l yapproach the a x i s o f the target at t h e i r outerends I 2 a substantial distance forwardly of thebag opening I . The material along the s i d e s a n dends o f the p a n e l s i s f o l d e d b a c k a n d s t i t c h e dup o n i t s e l f t o provide s u i t a b l e borders o r hems,the borders or hem s a t the outer ends I 2 havinga s i l k f i l l e r tape I 3 while each o f the s i d e bordersor hems has a s i l k tape I 4 o n the outs ide thereofand s t i t c h e d t h e r e t o f o r the f u l l length o f thetapered e d g e . The t a p e s I 4 pass o n the o u t s i d eo f the bag a nd beyond'the end o f the panels a ss h o w n a t I4 a a n d are secured to the rear portionsI I o f the p a n e l s through the f a b r i c o f the b a g b ys t i t c h i n g I 5 as seen i n F i g . 1 l . Fo r t h i s purpose,the tapes i 4 and the hemmed part o f the panelrear portions I l are twisted or folded over, a sshown a t I 6 a n d I l r e s p e c t i v e l y , t o l i e i n planesa t r i g h t a n g l e s t o t h e p l a n e s o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v epanels. -The forward o r leading en d I 2 of the a i r

straightener i s provided with a loop f o r c onne ct i o n with the r i n g o r hook o f ~ a t o w l i n e . Uponr e f e r e n c e t o Figures 9 a nd 1 0 , i t w i l l be observedthat the l o o p i s conveniently formed o f t h r e es i l k t a p e s I 8 , I 9 a nd 2 0 , c a r r i e d by t h e middlev e r t i c a l panel and t h e l e f t a nd r i g h t s i d e panelsr e s p e c t i v e l y .o p p o s i t e en d portions d i s p o s e d o v e r a nd alongthe t a p e s I 4 a t the hemmed edges o f the panelwith which i t i s a s s o c i a t e d , t h e panel a n d t a p e sb e i n g f i r m l y s e c u r e d by t h e s t i t c h i n g 2 I . Thep o r t i o n s o f the t a p e s I 8 , I 9 an d 2 0 which o v e rhang or extend forwardly o f the leading en dI 2 of the a i r straightener A re nested, one withi n t h e o t h e r , a nd p r o v i d e a composite l o o p 2 2 ,the m e m b e r s o f which are secured b y the s t i t c hi n g 2 3 .F r o m t h e f o r e g o i n g d e s c r i p t i o n , i t i s b e l i e v e dt h a t the nature and advantage o f the improvem e ' n t s w i l l be r e a d i l y a p p r e c i a t e d a nd i t i s t o beunderstood, a l s o , that v a r i o u s m o d i f i c a t i o n s a nda l t e r a t i o n s I _ n the s t r u c t u r e a nd d e s i g n o f theinvention may be resorted t o within the scopeo f the appended c l a i m s .

I claim:1 . In a n a e r i a l target t o be towed behind a i rc r a f t a nd including a hollow i n f l a t a b l e bag, ana i r s t r a i g h t e n e r l o c a t e d forwardly o f but a t i t sr e a r en d extending back i n t o the m o u t h o f thebag a nd comprising a p l u r a l i t y o f elongated f a b r i cpanels m ee t i n g in a common s e a m c o i n c iden twith t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l a x i s o f the t a r g e t a nd i nr a d i a l arrangement about s a i d s e a m t o p r o v i d ean e l o n g a t e d p o l y g o n a l f i n , s a i d p a n e l s b e i n gsecured t o the bag along the s i d e edges o f t h e i rr e s p e c t i v e b a g - i n s e r t e d p o r t i o n s , and a p l u r a l i t yo f t a p e s secured t o g e t h e r a t t h e i r o p p o s i t e t e rminals t o the outer ends o f the panels t o formi n d i v i d u a l l o o p s ' , s a i d l o o p s being n e s t e d one withi n another a n d secured together t o provide as i n g l e c o m p o s i t e towing l o o p s u b s t a n t i a l l y a t t h eaxis of t he target.2 . An a e r i a l member t o be towed behind a i rc r a f t which comprises a p l u r a l i t y o f f l e x i b l e f a b r i cp a n e l s connected along t h e i r s i d e s by lap seamsa n d s t i t c h i n g t o f o r m a hollow str eamlined sleevehaving a l a r g e unreinforced opening o r _ m o u t ha t i t s front end a n d a much sm a ller vent openi n g a t i t s r e a r end, a nd a p l u r a l i t y o f f l e x i b l ef a b r i c p a n e l s l o c a t e d f o r w a r d l y o f but extending

Each l o o p - f o r m i n g t a p e h a s i t s _

2 , 2 1 6 , 7 7 6b a c k i n t o the m o u t h o f the s l e e v e a n d meetingin a common seam coincident with the longitudin a l a x i s o f the s l e e v e t o provide a polygonal f i no r a i r s t r a i g h t e n e r , the segments o f the p a n e l swhich extend within the s l e e v e being r e s p e c t i v e l yprovided with doubled back s i d e edge p o r t i o n sf l a t t e n e d against a n d secured t o the s l e e v e a tthe lap se a m s thereof a n d providing the s o l ebracing a nd s t i i f e n i n g me a n s whereby the openen d or mouth f t he s l e e v e i s maintained i n f l i g h tt o permit i n f l a t i o n o f the s l e e v e .3 . A d e v i c e f o r a e r i a l d i s p l a y comprising ani n f l a t a b l e f a b r i c b a g , a n a i r catcher co mp o sedo f elongated r a d i a l l y d i s p o s e d f a b r i c panels extending from a p o i n t forwardly o f the m o u t h o fthe bag t o a point Within the m o u t h o f the ba gwith the e x t e r n a l p o r t i o n s o f the panels r e s p e ct i v e l y tapered t o diminish i n width u n t i l they approach the a x i s o f the b ag a t t h e i r forward ext r e m i t i e s , s a i d p a n e l s having doubled b a c k edgep o r t i o n s along t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e s i d e s a nd e n d s ,the doubled back edge p o r t i o n s along the s i d e s o fthe b a g - i n s e r t e d segments o f the _ p a n e l s b e i n gf l a t t e n e d a g a i n s t and s e c u r e d t o t h e b a g t o r e i n - _f o r c e a n d s t i i f e n the m o u t h t h e r e o f , a n d r e i nf o r c i n g t a p e s s e c u r e d d i r e c t l y t o the doubled backs i d e edge p o r t i o n s o f the external segments o fthe panels a n d passing on the o u t s i d e o f the b aga nd beyond the b a g - i n s e r t e d ends o f the p a n e l s ,s a i d t a p e s being attened a g a i n s t t h e b a g andsecured t o the i n t e r n a l f l a t t e n e d edge portion o fthe p a n e l s through the m a t e r i a l o f the b a g .4 . An e r i a l t a r g e t t o be towed behind a i r c r a f ta n d c o m p o s e d o f a n elongated f a b r i c s l e e v e ha vin g a l a r g e a n d a normally s u b s t a n t i a l l y u n s t i f fened circular mouth at o ne en d and a considera b l y s m a l l e r a nd a x i a l v e n t opening a t i t s oppos i t e e n d , the diameter o f the s l e e v e being constantf r o m the mouth inwardly f o r a distance approximately a third o f the length o f the s l e e v e a nd

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40thereafter gradually decreasing t o w a r d t he axialvent opening, a n d a polygonal n f f a b r i c 'materialhaving an end portion o f constant diam

_ e t e r d i s p o s e d within the m o u t h o f the s l e e v e i ncontact with a n d secured t o the constant _ d i a me t e r portion o f the s l e e v e f o r l e s s than the f u l ll e n g t h o f t h e constant diameter p o r t i o n ofthesaid s l e e v e t o s t i f f e n a n d reinforce the mouth ft h e s l e e v e , s a i d f i n extending outwardly o f t h emouth o f the s l e e v e f o r a distance s l i g h t l y l e s sthan h a l f o r approximately two f i f t h s the t o t a llength o f the t a r g e t a nd d e c r e a s i n g i n diameterf r o m i t s s a i d end portion t o i t s outer end t o pr ovide a tapered a i r s t r a i g h t e n e r f o r guiding a ndd i r e c t i n g a i r f l o w i n t o the s l e e v e when towed t ocause i n f l a t i o n thereof.5 . An e r i a l t ow t a r g e t comprising a n i n f l a t a b l ebody c omposed o f a p l u r a l i t y o f elongated f a b r i cp a n e l s connected t o g e t h e r b y lap seam s ands t i t c h i n g t o provide a c o l l a p s i b l e f a b r i c c y l i n d e rhaving a l a r g e mouth at the forward end a n d avent at the rear end, the material at the endso f the c y l i n d e r being'doubled b a c k a nd seweddown t o provide c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l s t i f l e n i n g rimso f s e v e r a l thicknesses o f f a b r i c a t the mouth a ndthe vent r e s p e c t i v e l y , a n d an a i r straightener f o rd i r e c t i n g a i r through t h e c y l i n d e r composed o fa p l u r a l i t y o f f a b r i c diaphragms r a d i a t i n g froma common seam and shaped to provide fabricvanes o f long s u b s t a n t i a l l y r i g h t - a n g l e d t r i a ng u l a r contours having t h e i r base p o r t i o n s d i sposed d i a m e t r i c a l l y a c r o s s the m o u t h o f the c y linder a t the i n s i d e o f the forward en d o f the c y li n d e r a nd having t h e i r a p i c e s d i s p o s e d t o meetin a common o i n t , the material at the ends a nd

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2 , 2 1 6 , 7 7 6a l o n g t h e s i d e s o f the vanes being f o l d e d backa nd s t i t c h e d u p o n i t s e l f t o p r o v i d e s t i i f e n i n gf a b r i c borders on the s e v e r a l vanes, each vanehaving that p o r t i o n o f i t s s i d e border which i s onthe i n s i d e o f the c y l i n d e r f o l d e d over a n d f i a ttened against a l a p seam o f the c y l i n d e r , a n de x t e r i o r tapes s t i t c h e d - over the s i d e borders f o rt h e f u l l l e n g t h s o f the exposed p o r t i o n s o f ther e s p e c t i v e vanes a n d passing o n the o u t s i d e o ft h e forward en d o f t h e c y l i n d e r a nd o v e r t h el a p seams t h e r e o f , the s a i d tapes a n d the f i a ttened borders o f the vanes being secured throughthe f a b r i c o f t h e c y l i n d e r a nd the seam bys t i t c h i n g .6 . An a e r i a l t o w t r a i l e r comprising a n i n f l a ta b l e c o l l a p s i b l e f a b r i c s l e e v e open a t both endsf o r the-passage o f a i r therethrough, a n d a n a i rcatcher a n d s t a b i l i z i n g _ member a t the a i r entrance en d o f the s l e e v e providing the s o l e s t i i f e ni n g an d reinforcement f o r the s l e e v e whereby thes a i d forward en d o f the l a t t e r i s maintained i nf l i g h t to permit i n f l a t i o n of the s l e e v e , said mem

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b e r c o m p r i s i n g r a d i a l l y d i s p o s e d f a b r i c p a n e l smeeting i n a common s e a m coincident with thet ow a x i s of the s l e e v e a n d at t h e i r rear ends e x - 4t e n d i n g _ s l i g h t l y i n t o t h e a i r e n t r a n c e en d o f t h es l e e v e a nd having doubled-back o u t e r l o n g i t u d in a l edge p o r t i o n s f l a t t e n e d a g a i n s t and s e c u r e d t o 'the s l e e v e .7 . An a e r i a l t o w t r a i l e r comprising a l o n g i t ud i n a l l y e l o n g a t e d i n f l a t a b l e c o l l a p s i b l e f a b r i cs l e e v e open a t both ends f o r the passage o f a i rt h e r e t h r o u g h , a p l u r a l i t y o f r a d i a l l y d i s p o s e df a b r i c panels meeting a t the a i r entrance en d o fthe s l e e v e in a common seam coincident withthe t ow a x i s o f the s l e e v e , s a i d panels a t t h e i rr e a r ends extending s l i g h t l y i n t o the a i r entranceo f the s l e e v e a n d a t t h e i r forward ends extending outwardly o f the s l e e v e f o r a distance l e s sthan the length o f the s l e e v e , the rear end port i o n s o f the panels which extend within the s l e e v eh a v i n g d o u b l e d - b a c k o u t e r s i d e - e d ge p o s i t i o n sf l a t t e n e d a g a i n s t a nd s e c u r e d t o t h e s l e e v e t o i nt e r n a l l y s t i e n and r e i n f o r c e t h e l a t t e r a t i t s a i rentrance e n d , and r e i n f o r c i n g tapes on the outs i d e o f the s l e e v e and secured t o the s a i d attenede d g e p o r t i o n s o f t h e p a n e l s through t h e m a t e r i a lofthe leeve. . ' 8 . A owing l o o p f o r a n a e r i a l t ow t a r g e t c o mp r i s i n g a p l u r a l i t y o f tapes secured a t t h e i r r es p e c t i v e o p p o s i t e e n d s t o t h e t a r g e t t o form i nd i v i d u a l l o o p s , s a i d l o o p s a t t h e i r o u t e r ends being nested one within another an d secured t og e t h e r t o p r o v i d e a s i n g l e c o m p o s i t e t o w i n g l o o p .9 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a n e l o n g a t e ds l e e v e - l i k e s t r u c t u r e having a r e l a t i v e l y l o n g c o ll a p s i b l e s l e e v e - l i k e main body p o r t i o n open a tboth e n d s , a n d ~ a p l u r a l i t y o f p a r a l l e l a i r curr e n t d i r e c t i n g s l e e v e - l i k e c e l l s opening i n t o t h eforward en d o f t h e s l e e v e - l i k e b o d y , each o f s a i dc e l l s being open a t i t s f o r e a n d a f t ends,.andmeans f o r maintaining the l e a d i n g open end po rt i o n s o f s a i d c e l l s i n s u b s t a n t i a l l y p a r a l l e l r e l ation with one nother in f l i g h t .

1 0 . In a n a e r i a l t ow t a r g e t the combination o fa n elongated s l e e v e having a passageway therethrough open a t both e n d s , means a t the entranc een d of the s l e e v e t o d i r e c t the a i r in a s t a b i l i z e dstream through s a i d s l e e v e , a n d other me a n s ass o c i a t e d forwardly o f a n d with s a i d l a s t ment i o n e d means t o p r o v i d e a p o s i t i v e a nd uniforma c t i o n t h e r e o f .

1 1 . In an e r i a l t o w target the combination ofa n e l o n g a t e d s l e e v e having a passageway t h e r ethrough open a t bo th e n d s , me a n s a t the en

3trance end o f t h e s l e e v e t o d i r e c t the a i r i n as t a b i l i z e d stream i n t o a n d through s a i d s l e e v e ,a n d a f i n construction associated forwardly o fa n d with s a i d l a s t mentioned mea n s a n d with s a i ds l e e v e t o p r o v i d e p o s i t i v e and uniform a c t i o nthereof. , ,

1 2 . In a n a e r i a l t ow t a r g e t the combination o fan elon g a ted sleeve h a v i n g a passageway therethrough open at b o t h ends, means at the en

, t r a n c e en d of said sleeve to divide t he a i r s t r e a mi n t o a p l u r a l i t y o f s t a b i l i z e d s t r e a m s, a nd o t h e rm e a n s a s s o c i a t e d forwardly of a n d with s a i dstream d i v i d i n g me a n s t o p r o v i d e p o s i t i v e a n duniform a c t i o n ` o f s a i d l a s t mentioned means.

1 3 . In a n a e r i a l t o w t a r g e t the combination o fan elongated s l e e v e having a p a s s a geway therethrough~ open a t b oth e n d s , means a t t he entrance end of said s l e e v e t o d i v i d e the a i r streami n t o a p l u r a l i t y o f s t a b i l i z e d streams, a nd a r a d i a ln construction a s s o c i a t e d forwardly o f a n d withs a i d l a s t mentioned means t o p r o v i d e p o s i t i v e andu ni f or m action t h e r e o f .1 4 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a s the majorbody p o r t i o n t h e r e o f a n e l o n g a t e d s l e e v e havinga p a s s a geway therethrough f o r direction of a i rstream f l o w therethrough, a n d a plane i i n connected at the forward open end o f the s l e e v e a n dextending forwardly therefrom f o r a l e s s d i s t a n c e

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t h a n the length of t he s l e e v e , said i i n a t the f o r -ward en d t h e r e o f b e i n g adapted t o be connectedto a o w c a b l e .1 5 . An a e r i a l t r a i l er comprising a n ' e l o n g a t e ds l e e v e - l i k e s t r u c t u r e having a r e l a t i v e l y l o n g c o ll a p s i b l e s l e e v e - ' l i k e main body p o r t i o n open a tboth e n d s , a n d a p l u r a l i t y o f p a r a l l e l a i r currentd i r e c t i n g s l e e v e - l i k e c e l l s opening d i r e c t l y i n t o t h eforward en d o f t h e l s l e e v e - l i k e b o d y , each o f s a i dc e l l s being o p e n ' a t i t s f o r e and a f t e n d s .

1 6 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a n elongateds l e e v e - l i k e s t r u c t u r e having a r e l a t i v e l y l o n g _ c o ll a p s i b l e s l e e v e - l i k e main body open a t both e n d s ,a p l u r a l i t y o f grouped p a r a l l e l a i r current d i r e c ti n g s l e e v e - l i k e c e l l s which a r e s h o r t e r than t h emain body s l e e v e opening i n t o s a i d main s l e e v el i k e body a t t h e forward en d t h e r e o f , each o f s a i d .c e l l s b e i n g open a t i t s f o r e a n d a f t e n d s .

1 7 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a n elongateds l e e v e - l i k e main body s t r u c t u r e having a r e l at i v e l y l o n g c o l l a p s i b l e s l e e ve - l i k e body open a tboth e n d s , a y p l u r a l i t y o f p a r a l l e l a i r c u r r e n t d ir e c t i n g s l e e v e - l i k e c e l l s opening i n t o t h e forwarden d o f s a i d s l e e v e - l i k e b o d y , each o f s a i d c e l l sbeing open a t f o r e a nd a f t e n d s , t h e a f t en d o fthe main body s l e e v e being choked with a r es t r i c t e d s p i l l o p e n i n g .

1 8 . An a e r i a l t ow t r a i l e r j f o r t a r g e t p r a c t i c ea nd the l i k e comprising an e l o n g a t e d f l e x i b l ea nd c o l l a p s i b l e main body s l e e v e which i s r e l at i v e l y long t o permit use a s a t a r g e t when bei n g towed from a n a i r c r a f t , a n d a s l e e v e - l i k e arrangement o f c e l l s a t the f o r e en d o f the m ainbody s l e e v e and o f a p p r e c i a b l y l e s s l e n g t h thant h e main body s l e e v e f o r d i r e c t i n g a i r f l o w i n t othe main ody leeve. '

1 9 . An e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a long n a r r o wm ai n body s l e e v e c o n s t r u c t i o n open at i t s f o r eand a f t ends t o permit the p a s s a g e therethrougho f a n a i r stream, a n d a forwardly extendingtapered b r i d l e v ane c o n s t r u c t i o n connected a tthe forward open . e n d o f the s l e e v e c o n s t r u ct i o n i n c l u d i n g a - p l u r a l i t y o f r a d i a l l y e x t e n d i n gPlane vanes which r a d i a t e from the a x i s o f thes l e e v e c o n s t r u c t i o n e x t e n d e d .

E D W A R D L . H O F F M A N .

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