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1 , 9 7 1 , 3 4 0ug. 2 8 , 1 9 3 4 . A . c . FOULKTOW TARGET RELEASING DEVICE

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TOW TARGET RELEASING DEVICEAlbert G. Foulk, R i v e r s i d e , C a l i f . ,

A p p l i c a t i o n A u g u s t 5 , 1 9 3 3 , S e r i a l N o . 6 8 3 , 7 5 83 C l a i m s . ( C l . 1 2 4 - 1 6 )

(Granted un der t h e a c t o ! March . 3 , 1 8 8 3 , a sa m e n d e d A p r i l 3 0 , 1 9 2 8 ; 3 7 0 O . G . ' 1 5 7 )Th e i n v e n t i o n d e s c r i b e d herein may e manu

factured a n d used by o r ' f o r the Governme nt 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 a n y r o y a l t y thereon.This invention r e l a t e s to m e a n s for r e l e a s i n ga p l u r a l i t y o f a e r i a l t o w - t a r g e t s with t h e towc a b l e f u l l y e x t e n d e d .Two m e th o d s of procedure have b e e n a d h e r e dt o , d u r i n g a n t i - a i r c r a f t p r a c t i c e , f o l l o w i n g a p r e

10 d e t e r m i n e d course o f re upon an e x t e n d e d t o wt a r g e t . On e method c o n s i s t s o f r e l e a s i n g t h eextended t o w - c a b l e a n d a t t a c h e d t a r g e t a n d o fp e r m i t t i n g - ' t h e sam e t o f a l l i n > t h e v i c i n i t y o ft h e b a t t e r y f i r i n g , wher eup o n t h e a i r c r a f t r eturns t o i t s > a i r d r o m e f o r replacements. Th e s e co n d m e t h o d c o n s i s t s o f r e e l i n g i n the exposed

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t o w - t a r g e t , o f a t t a c h i n g a f r e s h t o w - t a r g e t t othe t o w - c a b l e , a n d o f u n r e e l i n g the s ame ; f o l l o wi n g which p r o c e d u r e t h e f o r m e r t a r g e t i s r e t a i n e di n the a i r c r a f t o r dropped t o the b a t t e r y b e l o w , a sd e s i r e d . Both o f the f o r e g o i n g methods co ns u m e a c o n s i d e r a b l e p e r i o d v o f t i m e . ' I f h e l a t t e rm e t h o d often r e s u l t s in a b r o k e n tow-cable.

I t i s a n o b j e c t o f my n v e n t i o n t o attach a pl ur a l i t y o f t o w - t a r g e t s tothe i n n e r p o r t i o n o f a ne x t e n d e d t o w - c a b l e by m e a n s _ o f s l i d a b l e r i n g sa n d t o ` s u c c e s s i v e l y r e l e a s e t h e s e r i n g s a n d a ttached t a r g e t s f o r rearward t r a v e l t o w ar d theo u t e r e x t r e m i t y o f ` t h e t o w - c a b l e . Each n e w l yr e l e a s e d t o w - t a r g e t a u t o m a t i c a l l y _ d i s p l a c e s i t sp r e d e c e s s o r , which thereupon f a l l s t o t h e b a t t e r ybelow. yWith t h e f o r e g o i n g a n d o t h e r o b j e c t s i n v i e w ,which w i l l appear a s t h e d e s c r i p t i o n p r o c e e d s ,my n v e n t i o n c o n s i s t s o f c e r t a i n n e w a n d noveli m p r o v e m e n t s y i n t o w - t a r g e t r e l e a s i n g d e v i c e s ,which w i l l b e V h e r e i n a f t e r more f u l l y v i l l u s t r a t e da n d d e s c r i b e d i n t h e ` a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a w i n g , a n dmore v p a r t i c u l a r l y p o i n t e d o u t i n t h e a p p e n d e dClaims. ` l i ' . r v g . ~ .R e f e r r i n g t o t h e drawing i n which numerals o fl i k e c h a r a c t e r d e s i g n a t e s i m i l a r p a r t s t h r o u g h o u tthe several claims: .

F i g . 1 i sa s i d e e l e v a t i o n o f my n v e n t i o n , witha t o w - t a r g e t r i n g a t t a c h e d t h e r e t o .Fig-2 shows my i n v e n t i o n i n t h e p r o c e s s o fr e l e a s i n g a n o l d a n d r e c e i v i n g a n e w tow-targetring. . - .

R e f e r r i n g t o F i g . 1 , t h e body p o r t i o n o f myi n v e n t i o n c o n s i s t s o f a n e l o n g a t e d U - s h a p e dchannel 1 > p r o v i d e d a t one e x t r e m i t y with at a p e r e d ` > e ' n c l " . . , 2 > ` a n d > a t t h e o t h e r ` e x t r e m i t y w i t ha c l o s e d e n d ' f . VA t o w - c a b l e 4 i s p i v o t a l l y ' a tt a c h e d t o t h e , t a p e r e d ` e n d 2 by m e a n s o f a xed

p i n 5 . Anvopening 6 i s p r o v i d e d i n t h e chann e l 1 immediately adjacent the c l o s e d e n d 3 . Al e v e r 7 i s p i v o t a l l y attached between ends t othe channe l 1 by m e a n s o f a c l e v i s pi n 8 a n d ac o t t e r pi n 9 . The l e v e r 7 is provided a t on e ofi t s e x t r e m i t i e s with a n engaging hook 1 0 adapted t o r e g i s t e r with t h e opening 6 i n the channel1 a n d a t i t s o t h e r extremity with a tapered e n d1 1 . A e a f s p r i n g 1 2 i s f l x e d l y attached a t on eo f i t s e n d s t o a key-hole 1 3 provided in thebase o f the engaging hook 1 0 . The l e v e r 7 i s n o rm a l l y d i s p o s e d i n t h e p o s i t i o n shown i n F i g . 1 .The base o f a l e v e r 14 is p i v o t a l l y attached tothe channe l 1 b y m e a n s o f a c l e v i s pi n 15 a n da c o t t e r pi n 1 6 a n d i s provided w i th a lobed proj e c t i o n 1 7 adapted t o l i m i t c l o c k w i se r o t a t i o no f _ t h e l e v e r 1 4 . The mid-portion o f t h e l e v e r1 4 i s provided with a cammed surface 1 8 f o re n g a g i n g t h e o u t e r e x t r e m i t y o f t h e t a p e r e d e n d '1 1 o f the l e v e r 7 . The o u t e r e ndof the l e v e r 14comprises a l e v e r p o r t i o n 1 9 adapted t o be dep r e s s e d e n t i r e l y within the channel 1 , a s show ni n F i g . 2 . The foregoing p a r t s complete the e ng a g i n g a n d r e l e a s i n g p o r t i o n o f my n v e n t i o n .A l u r a l i t y o f r i n g s 2 0 a r e i i x e d l y attached t oa l i k e p l u r a l i t y o f t o w - t a r g e t s by m e a n s o f hingedbrackets 2 1 a n d t a r g e t c a b l e s 2 2 . As has beenp r e v i o u s l y s t a t e d , the r i n g s 2 0 a r e s l i d a b l y s e c u r e dto the tow-cab l e 4 a t i t s point o f a t t ach m e n tt o t h e a i r c r a f t p r o p e r . A n y s u i t a b l e d e v i c e maybe employed t o r e t a i n the r i n g s 2 0 within the

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, a i r c r a f t duri ng extension or r e t r a c t i o n o f the to wc a b l e 4 , i n c l u d i n g s e l e c t i v e r e l e a s e o f t h e r i n g s 2 0t o the rear o f the a i r c r a f t . I t i s obvious thatemp loyment o f s p l i t r i n g s would f a c i l i t a t e a ttachment t o the tow-cable 4 . In F i g . 1 , the r i n g20a ha s b e e n ma nu a l l y p o s i t i o n e d a t the a f t port i o n o f the channel 1 i n t h e p o s i t i o n which i twould normally assume d u r i n g t o w - t a r g e t o p e r at i o n .

F i g . 2 i l l u s t r a t e s the manner n which automatic9 5

' release of o n e tow-target i s accomplished througha r r i v a l o f a new ow-target a t the e n g a g i n g a n d rr e l e a s i n g portion of my nvention. The on-com-i n g r i n g s 2 0 h , h i n g e d b r a c k e t 2 l b a n d t o w - c a b l e22h have t r a v e l e d past the tapered e n d 2 a n d comi n g i n t o engagement w i t h t h e t r i g g e r p o r t i o n 1 9o f the l e v e r 1 4 , have forced the l a t t e r i n t o thee n c l o s u r e f o r m e d b y the channel 1 . Correspond- 1 0 5i n g u p w a r d m o v e m e n t o f the cammed u r f a c e 1 8r o t a t e s the e n d 1 1 u p w a r d a n d t h e engaging hook1 0 d ownward . Th e f o r e g o i n g r o t a t i o n o f t h e l e v e r' 7 i s accompanied by r e l e a s e o f t h e o u t g o i n g r i n g2 0 a , hinged b r a c k e t 21 a a n d tow t a r g e t c a b l e 22af r om f u r t h e r c o n n e c t i o n with t h e a i r c r a f t . As

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2the r i n g 2 0 h c l e a r s t h e t r i g g e r p o r t i o n 1 8 , i n i t sa f t p a s s a g e a l o n g t h e channel 1 , t h e l e a f s p r i n g1 2 automatically r e t u r n s the engaging hook 1 0 o fthe l e v e r ' I t o the p o s i t i o n show n i n F i g . 1 . Proj e c t i o n o f t h e engaging hook 1 0 through the openi n g 6 o f t h e channel 1 p r e v e n t s f u r t h e r passageo f the r i n g 20h t o the r e a r . The foregoing operat i o n i s repeated a s each s u c c e s s i v e r i n g i s r e l e a s e df r o m the a i r c r a f t .

F i g . 3 shows a c r o s s - s e c t i o n - t h r o u g h the chann e l 1 , j u s t forward o f t h e o u t g o i n g r in g 20 a a n dengaging hook 1 0 . Attachment o f t h e former r i n gt o t h e t o w - c a b l e 2 2 a , by m e a n s o f the hingedb r a c k e t 21a, i s also clearly shown a s a r e cross-s e c t i o n s o f the l e v e r ' I a n d l e a f s p r i n g 1 2 .I c l a i m :1 . A o w - t a r g e t r e l e a s i n g d e v i c e c o m p r i s i n g , a ne l o n g a t e d v U-shaped channel having a t a p e r e dlea ding e n d a n d a t r a i l i n g e n d provided with a ne l o n g a t e d o p e n i n g a t i t s o u t e r e x t r e m i t y throughthe b o t t om o f s a i d channel, a n e n g a g i n g l e v e rhaving the m i d - p o r t i o n p i v o t a l l y s e c u r e d t o s a i dchannel a n d having a forward p o r t i o n taperedi n s i d e p r o f i l e a n d a n a f t p o r t i o n terminating i n `a n outwardly t u r n e d hook adapted t o p r o j e c tthrough s a i d e l o n g a t e d o p e n i n g , s p r i n g m e a n s f o rnormally r e t a i n i n g s a i d l e v e r i n engaging p o s i t i o n ,

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o f t h e tapered l e a d i n g e n d o f s a i d channel h a v 'ing a cammed u r f a c e f o r engaging the taperedforward p o r t i o n o f s a i d engaging l e v e r , s a i d r el e a s i n g l e v e r f u r t h e r having a p o r t i o n p r o j e c t i n gwithout s a i d channel a n d a lobed p r o j e c t i o n forw a r d o f i t s p o i n t o f p i v o t a t i o n f o r engaging t h ebottom o f s a i d channe l such that said cammeds u r f a c e c o n t i n u o u s l y c o n t a c t s t h e forward p o r t i o no f s a i d engaging l e v e r .2 . A o w - t a r g e t r e l e a s i n g d e v i c e c o m p r i s i n g , a ne l o n g a t e d U-shaped channel having a t a p e r e dleading e n d termin ating i n a f i x e d pin a n d a t r a i ling e n d provided with a n elongated o p e n i n g a tthe o u t e r extremity through the bottom o f s a i dc h a n n e l , a n engaging l e v e r having the mid-port i o n secured t o s a i d channel by a bearing pin a n dhaving a forward p o r t i o n tapered i n s i d e prolea n d a n a f t portion terminating i n a n outward lyturned hook adapted t o p r o j e c t through s a i d e l o ngate d opening a n d having a s p r i n g r e t a i n i n g r ec e s s a t the base o f s a i d hook, a l e a f spring havingon e e n d f i x e d within s a i d spring r e t a i n i n g r e c e s s

1 , 9 7 1 , 3 4 0a nd i t s body p o r t i o n e x t e n d i n g s u b s t a n t i a l l y f o rw a r d o f t h e engaging l e v e r b e a r i n g p i n such t h a tt h e o u t w a r d l y p r o j e c t i n g hook o f s a i d e n g a g i n gl e v e r i s n o r m a l l y _ r e t a i n e d i n engaging p o s i t i o n ,a n d a r e l e a s i n g l e v e r secured j u s t a f t o f the t apered l e a d i n g e n d o f s a i d channel by a b e a r i n gpin a n d having a cammed u r f a c e f o r engagingt h e t a p e r e d forward p o r t i o n o f s a i d engaging l e ve r , s a i d r e l e a s i n g l e v e r f u r t h e r having a p o r t i o np r o j e c t i n g without s a i d channel a n d a lobed pr oj e c t i o n f o r w a r d o f s a i d b e a r i n g p i n f o r e n g a g i n gthe bottom i ' s a i d chann el such h a t s a i d c a m m e ds u r f a c e c o n t i n u o u s l y c o n t a c t s t h e f o r w a r d p o r t i o no i . ' s a i d engaging l e v e r .3 . A t o w - t a r g e t r e l e a s i n g d e v i c e c o m p r i s i n g ,an longated. U-sh ap e d chann el having a taperedl e a d i n g e n d terminating i n a xed _ p i n a n d ac l o s e d t r a i l i n g e n d p r o v i d e d with a n e l o n g a t e dopening a t i t s o u t e r e x t r e m i t y through t h e b o tt o m o f s a i d c h a n n e l , a n engaging l e v e r havingthe mid-portion s e c u r e d t o s a i d channel by ab e a r i n g p i n a n d h a v i n g a f o r w a r d p o r t i o n t a p e r e di n s i d e p r o f i l e a n d a n a f t p o r t i o n terminating l na n outwardly turned hook adapted t o p r o j e c tthrough s a i d P e l o n g a t e d V o p e n i n g a n d having as p r i n g r e t a i n i n g r e c e s s a t t h e b a s e o f s a i d h o o k ,a l e a f ' s p r i n g > having on e e n d f i x e d within s a i ds p r i n g r e t a i n i n g r e c e s s a n d i t s body p o r t i o n ext e n d i n g s u b s t a n t i a l l y f o r w a r d o f t h e e n g a g i n gl e v e r A b e a r i n g p i n such t h a t t h e o u t w a r d l y p r oj e c t i n g hook o f s a i d engaging l e v e r i s n o r m a l l yr e t a i n e d i n engaging p o s i t i o n , w i t h i n s a i d chann e l , a n d a r e l e a s i n g l e v e r secured j u s t a f t o f t h et a p e r e d l e a d i n g e n d o f s a i d channel by a b e a ring pin a n d having a cammed surface f o r e ng a g i n g t h e t a p e r e d p o r t i o n o f s a i d e n g a g i n g l e v e ra n d d e p r e s s i n g t h e s a m e a g a i n s t the bent p o r t i o no f s a i d c h a n n e l , s a i d r e t a i n i n g l e v e r f u r t h e r ha vi n g a p o r t i o n normally p r o j e c t i n g w i t h o u t b u ta d a p t e d t o be rotated e n t i r e l y within s a i d chan- . ,n e l such t h a t the hooked p o r t i o n o f the engagingl e v e r i s w ithdr a w n f r o m t h e elongated opening i nsaid chann el a n d a lobed projection f o r w a r d o fs a i d bearing pin a c t i n g a s a s t o p a g a i n s t the b o tt om o f s a i d channel f o r l i m i t i n g outward p r o j e ct i o n o f the l e v e r p o r t i o n o f s a i d r e l e a s i n g l e v e rwith r e f e r e n c e t o s a i d channel a n d maintaini n g the cammed s u r f a c e o f s a i d r e l e a s i n g l e v e ri n continuous contact with the f orw a r d p o r t i o no f s a i d engaging l e v e r .

ALBERT . FOULK.

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