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N O V - 9 , 1 9 4 8 - H . P . KLEINKORT v 2 , 4 5 3 , 1 3 9T O W RE L EASE MECHANISM

Filed June 14 , 1946 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1

. 3 7 /6 > \ y

E. n v m v r o x ., Hen/y-Pefer /(/e/hka/'f 'BY - -

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N o v . 9 , 1 9 4 8 . H . P . KLEINKORT 2 , 4 5 3 , 1 3 9TOW RELEASE MECHANISM

Filed June 1 4 , 1946 2 Sheds-Sheet 2

' uvwszvron.M e n / y , P e f e r / ( / e / } 7 k a r f. ATTORNEYS

. 3 4EI

2 4 4 .

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P a t e n t e d N o v . 9 , 1 9 4 8

'UN I T ED STATES PATENT

2 , 4 5 3 , 1 3 9

O F F I C E2 , 4 5 3 , 1 3 9

TOW ELEASE MECHANISMHenry P . K l e i n k o r t , New Washington, Ohio, a s

s i g n o r t o Agatha K. Bremer, New Washington,OhioA p p l i c a t i o n J u n e 1 4 , 1 9 4 6 , S e r i a l N o . 6 7 6 , 8 3 6

( C l . 280-3315)Claims.1This invention r e l a t e s t o tow r e l e a s e mechanism o f the type employed i n a i r c r a f t f o r con

necting the tow c a b l e s o f d e v i c e s such a s t a r g e ts l e e v e s , g l i d e r s , g l i d e r bombs, e t c . t o t o w i n g a irc r a f t an d more p a r t i c u l a r l y t o mechanism f o re f f e c t i n g a p o s i t i v e r e l e a s e o f such d e v i c e s whendesired.When an a i r c r a f t and, in p a r t i c u l a r , a highs p e e d a i r p l a n e i s t o w i n g a g l i d i n g d e v i c e , t h e a irr e s i s t a n c e c r e a t e d b y the towed d e v i c e i s su bs t a n t i a l an d i t sometimes becomes necessary t or e l e a s e such d e v i c e i n s t a n t l y an d p o s i t i v e l y s othat the towing a i r c r a f t may defend i t s e l f froma t t a c k . S i m i l a r l y , i f i t i s necessary t o r e l e a s ethe towed d e v i c e a t an exact p o i n t t o permit i t sf u r t h e r o p e r a t i o n , for example, t h e landing o f apassenger carrying g l i d e r o r the d i r e c t i o n a t thetarget o f a g l i d e r bom b, i t i s necessary that thetow r e l e a s e be p o s i t i v e i n a c t i o n .In order t o o b t a i n p o s i t i v e r e l e a s e the towingc a b l e often i s r e l e a s e d a t i t s p o i n t o f connectionto the towed mechanism, i n the case of a p ass e n g e r c a r r y in g g l i d e r , f o r example, by t h e p i l o to f the g l i d e r . However, t h i s s t i l l l e a v e s the towing cable i t s e l f attached t o the towing aircraft an d unless t h i s cable can be released from thetowing a i r c r a f t i t i s extremely l i k e l y t o becomefouled on landing an d cause a c c i d e n t s .

I t i s the p r i n c i p a l o b j e c t o f t h i s invention t oprovide a tow release mechanism which can b ea c t u a t e d by t h e standard c o n t r o l s a l r e a d y e x i s ten t i n an o p e r a t i o n a l a i r c r a f t and which i s p o s it i v e in a c t i o n .I t i s another object o f t h i s invention t o provide a tow release mechanism which can veryquickly be attached to or detached from an opera t i o n a l a i r c r a f t without t h e a d d i t i o n t h e r e t o o fs p e c i a l brackets o r attachments.

I t i s a further object o f t h i s invention t o provide a tow r e l e a s e mechanism which can be j e ttisoned completely i n the event o f power o r otherf a i l u r e rendering i t s normal r e l e a s e mechanismi n o p e r a t i v e .More s p e c i ? c o b j e c t s an d advantages a r e apparent from t h e d e s c r i p t i o n , i n which r e f e r e n c ei s hadito t h e accompanying drawings i l l u s t r a ti n g a p r e f e r r e d form o f mechanism embodyingthe i n v e n t i o n .In the drawings:Figure I i s a s i d e e l e v a t i o n o f a . tow r e l e a s e

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2mechanism embodying the i n v e n t i o n showing i t sattachment t o a bomb rack a s employed i n ano p e r a t i o n a l a i r c r a f t . F i g u r e I I i s a fragmentary elevation on ag r e a t l y enlarged s c a l e o f a tow r e l e a s e mechanismembodying t h e i n v e n t i o n , c e r t a i n p a r t s b eing broken away t o more c l e a r l y show t h e i r opera t i o n .Figure I I I i s a fragmentary view from belowo f that p o r t i o n o f the d e v i c e shown i n Figure I I .Figure I V i s a fragmentary pl an view o f thatp o r t i o n o f t h e d e v i c e shown i n Figure I .Figure V i s a rear elevation of a tow releasemechanism embodying t h e i n v e n t i o n .Figure VI i sa fragmentary side elevation showing a portion o f a tow release mechanism simil a r t o that i l l u s t r a t e d in Figure I I , b ut o f a modi?cation o f a portion of the mechanism.Figure VII i s a fragmentary horizontal s e c t i o ntaken s u b s t a n t i a l l y on the l i n e VII--VII o f Figu re VI .A bomb rack I 0 i s mounted on the under b e l l yo f an aircraft I I and may e enclosed b y a fairedhousing I 2 . T he bomb rack I 0 may be equippedwith two r e l e a s e ?ngers I 3 which normally areactuated f o r the r e l e a s e o f bombs or other dev i c e s c a r r i e d therein b y operation o f a c o n t r o lbutton which u s u a l l y i s l o c a t e d i n the handle o fthe control s t i c k o f the a i r c r a f t . Bomb racks a semployed i n o p e r a t i o n a l a i r c r a f t a l s o u s u a l l y havean auxiliary mechanical r e l e a s e which may beemployed t o operate the r e l e a s e ?ngers I ' 3 i nthe event o f f a i lu r e o f the e l e c t r i c a l mechanism.A tow r e l e a s e bracket I 4 i s designed t o ?t thep a r t i c u l a r bomb rack with which the a i r c r a f t t obe employed i s equipped. I n the example illust r a t e d the bracket I 4 has two l o o p s [ 5 wedgedor otherwise secured on it s u p per surface which?t into spaces in the bomb rack an d are heldt h e r e i n by engagement with t h e r e l e a s e ?ngers I 3 .A r e l e a s i n g mechanism I 6 i s secured t o thea f t e r en d o f the bracket I 4 b y b o l t s I T . T hemechanism I 6 has a main frame I 8 on the u pp e r surface o f which i s mounted a s o l e n o i d I 9 .The main frame I 8 has a rearwardl y extendin gb i f u r c a t e d p o r t i o n 2 0 through t h e arms o f whicha h o r i z o n t a l l y d i s p o s e d b o l t M i s t h r e a d e d . Theb o l t 2 | serves as a mount for a downwardly ext e n d i n g l e v e r 2 2 . Through t h e l o w e r p o r t i o n o f

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the l e v e r 2 2 there i s bored a hole 2 3 i n which i slocated on e en d o f a stirrup l i n k 2 4 .The s o l e n o i d [ 9 comprises a c o i l i n the centero f which there i s l o c a t e d a v e r t i c a l l y extendingbore 2 5 an d a solenoid core 2 6 which i s locatedi n the bore 2 5 . A short rod 2 ! i s f i x e d i n the core2 6 an d extends downwardly through a bore 2 8d r i l l e d i n the frame 5 3 , A o il spring 2 9 i s l o c a t e di n the upper en d o f the bore 2 5 an d serves t o pressthe core 2 3 an d rod 2 ' ! downwardly when thes o l e n o i d i s not e n e r g i z e d . T he lower en d o f therod 2 ? extends i n t o a space 3 0 , behind a hookshaped bracket 3 i formed on the u n d e r s i d e , o fthe frame i t . r I h e bracket 3 | has two spacedarms 3 2 through which t h e r e extends a b o l t 3 3 .An upwardly extending ?nger 3 4 i s mounted onthe b o l t 3 3 s o that i t w i l l pivot i n a v e r t i c a l planewith the b o l t 3 3 a s i t s a x i s . T h e , lower en d 0 1 .the rod 2 ' ! has a shoulder 3 5 which cooperateswith a s i m i l a r but o p p o s i t e l y c u t shoulder 3 6 c u ti n the upp er end o f the ?nger 3 4 . An en d of thes t i r r u p l i n k 2 5 o p p o s i t e t h a t en d p i v o t e d i n t h el e v e r 2 2 , extends i n t o t h e space 3 0 an d i s heldt h e r e i n behind t h e ?nger 3 4 b y engagement o fthe s h o u l d e r s 3 5 an d 3 5 .An armored e l e c t r i c a l conducting c a b l e 3 1 conn e c t s the s o l e n o i d i s t o a power source an d thestandard bo m b r e l e a s e button which u s u a l l y i slocated i n the handle of the control s t i c k o f the

a i r c r a f t . 'The cable 3 1 i s equipped with a conn e c t i n g p l u g 3 8 which s d e s i g n e d t o ?t the standard bomb r e l e a s e connector.T he l e v e r 2 2 has a shoulder 3 9 extending f o rwardly c l o s e t o t h e l o w e r r e a r o f - t h e frame l 8an d forming a space M n which a tow cable conn e c t i n g r i n g 4 1 i s p l a c e d . T he r i n g 4 | i s mountedi n a tow cable ?xture 4 2 t o which a tow cable 43i s s e c u r e d .In Figure VI a modification o f the r e l e a s i n gd e v i c e i s shown. In this modification a rod 21ai s f i x e d i n the lower en d o f the s o l e n o i d c o r e 2 6e x t e n d s downwardly through t h e b o r e 2 8 i nthe frame i t . T he lower en d o f the rod Z i a , ext e n d s ] i n t o a s o c k e t $ 3 4 which i s bored i n a lowerarm 2 5 o f a hook'shaped bracket am ocated onthe underside o f the frame l 8 . One en d o f as t i r r u p l i n k 2 1 1 a i s secured i n the lower p o r t i o n ' o ft h e l e v e r 2 2 , a n d . has a r o l l e r 1 3 6 h o r i z o n t a l l y j o u rnaled on a b o l t A l l extending between i t s arms.T he r o l l e r Z 1 6 s u b s t a n t i a l l y ? l l s a space 0 1 1 . de?nedby the bracket 2 " i l l .

In operation the tow r e l e a s e mechanism i s . a ttached t o t h e bom b r a c k i n t h e f o l l o w i n g way:T he bo m b r e l e a s e button i s p r e s s e d causing t h e?ngers i t t o withdraw an d p e r m i t t i n g t h e l o o p si i i t o be i n s e r t e d i n p l a c e . T he button i s thenr e l e a s e d . The c a b l e c o n n e c t i n g t h e bomb r e l e a s emechanism t o t h e c o n t r o l button i s detached an dt h e p l u g i s attached i n i t s p l a c e . The button i sa g a i n d e p r e s s e d c a u s i n g t h e s o l e n o i d , 1 9 t o p u l lthe rod 2 ? upwardly. T he ?nger 3 4 i s swung backpermitting t h e s t i r r u p 2 t an d l e v e r 2 2 t o be swungbackwardly an d u p w a r d l y . The l i n k 2 4 i s threaded through the r i n g 4 ! an d t h e r i n g I l l p o s i t i o n e dabove the shoulder 3 9 . T he forward en d o f thel i n k 2 5 % i s p l a c e d i n t h e space 3 6 , t h e ?nger 3 4swung upwardly an d t h e bo m b r e l e a s e button i sthen r e l e a s e d permitting t h e rod 2 1 t o be p o s itioned t o hold the ?nger 34 in p l a c e .When the a i r c r a f t i s i n ?ight an d i t i s d e s i r e

t o r e l e a s e t h e , towed d e v i c e t h e bomb r e l e a s e buti s p r e s s e d e n e r g i z i n g the s o l e n o i d I 9 whichin t u r n withdraws the rod 2 1 . A d r a g c r e a t e don towed d e v i c e s by a i r r e s i s t an c e e x e r t s tremenad o u s f o r c e on t h e v c a b 1 e ' 1 l 3 p u l l i n g on t h e r i n g 4 |

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4causing the l e v e r 2 2 t o swing back an d up withdrawing the l i n k 2 4 from the space 3 0 a s the?nger 3 4 swings back an d down between t h e arms32 of the bracket 3 I . . _ .T he l e v e r 2 2 i s o f the second c l a s s i n o r d e rt o s u b s t a n t i a l l y reduce t h e p r e s s u r e e x e r t e d bythe s t i r r u p l i n k 2 : 3 a g a i n s t the ?nger 3 4 when heldin place thereby.

In the embodiment shown i n Figure VI t h er o l l e r 3 6 i s h e l d a g a i n s t t h e rod 21a b y t h e dragbut when the s o l e n o i d i s energized an d the rodwithdrawn upwardly t h e r o l l e r d e c r e a s e s t h e f r i ct i o n o f such withdrawal a l l o w in g t h e d e v i c e t owork f r e e l y .

I t i s contemplated t h a t under adverse c o n d it i o n s , f o r example power f a i l u r e , i t may not bep o s s i b l e t o operate t h e tow r e l e a s e mechanisme l e c t r i c a l l y . In such c a s e t h e o p e r a t o r o f thetowing a i r c r a f t can j e t t i s o n t h e e n t i r e mechanismby manually o p e r a t i n g an a u x i l i a r y mechanismt o cause the ?ngers 5 3 i n the bomb rack t o withdraw t h u s r e l e a s i n g t h e l o o p s I 5 an d t h e b r a c k e tM. For t h i s reason the c a b l e 3 1 is attached t othe s o l e n o i d 5 9 b y a f r i c t i o n connection whichp a r t s e a s i l y when the tow r e l e a s e mechanism i sno longer held i n the bom b r a c k . Such a u x i l i a r ymechanism i s standard equipment i n o p e r a t i o n a la i r c r a f t .T he embodiment o f the i n v e n t i o n t h a t has beend i s c l o s e d may be mod i ?ed t o meet various r eq u i r e m e n t s .

Having described b y inventions, I claim:1 . In a tow cable r e l e a s i n g mechanism, i n combination, a framaa force reducing l e v e r pivotedat on e end on said frame, a link p i v o t a l l y a ttached t o the o t h e r en d o f s a i d l e v e r , a ' d e v i c emounted on s a i d frame f o r holding t h a t en d o fsaid l i n k not attached t o said l e v e r an d meansf o r c a u s i n g s a i d d e v i c e t o r e l e a s e s a i d l i n k , s a i dframe, s a i d l e v e r an d said l i n k de?ning a spacei n which a tow cable?tting can be h e l d , suchs p a c e b e i n g l o c a t e d l o n g i t u d i n a l l y a l o n g s a i d l e v e r whereby such ? t t i n g engages s a i d l e v e r between the p o i n t s o f connection o f s a i d l e v e r an ds a i d frame an d o f s a i d l e v e r an d s a i d l i n k .2 . In a tow c a b l e r e l e a s i n g mechanism, i n comb i n a t i o n , a frame, a f o r c e reducing l e v e r p i v o t e da t on e en d on said-frame an d extending transv e r s e l y t o the l i n e o f p u l l o f the t o w , a l i n k p i vo t a l l y attached t o the other en d o f s a i d l e v e r an dextending p a r a l l e l t o t h e l i n e o f p u l l , a f r e e l ymovable member mounted on s a i d frame f o rholding t h a t en d o f s a i d l i n k . not attached t os a i d l e v e r an d r e l e a s a b l e means f o r holding s a i dmember i m m o v a b l e , s a i d f r a m e , s a i d l e v e r ands a i d l i n k de?ning a space i n which a tow c a b l e? t t i n g can be h e l d , such space being l o c a t e d l o n - 'g i t u d i n a l l y a l o n g s a i d l e v e r whereby s u c h ? t t i n gengages s a i d l e v e r between the p o i n t s o f connect i o n o f s a i d l e v e r an d s a i d frame and'of s a i dleverand said l i n k. '

3 . In a tow c a b l e r e l e a s i n g mechanism, i n comb i n a t i o n , a frame, a l e v e r pivoted a t one end o ns a i d f r a m e , a l i n k p i v o t a l l y a t t a c h e d t o t h e o t h e ren d o f s a i d l e v e r , a f r e e l y movable t o g g l e engagea b l e with t h e f r e e end o f s a i d l i n k an d r e l e a s a b l emeans f o r holding s a i d t o g g l e i n engagement witht h e f r e e end o f s a i d l i n k , s a i d f r a m e , s a i d l e v e ran d s a i d l i n k de?ning a space i n which a towc a b l e ? t t i n g can be h e l d .4 . A tow c a b l e r e l e a s i n g mechanism c o m p r i s ei n g , i n combination, a frame, a l e v e r p i v o t e d a ti t s upper en d on said frame an d extending downw a r d l y t r a n s v e r s e l y t o t h e l i n e o f f o r c e o f t h et o w , a l i n k p i v o t a l l y c o n n e c t e d t o t h e l o w e r end

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2 , 4 5 3 , 1 3 9o f s a i d l e v e r , a f r e e l y movable member mountedi n a s e c t i o n o f s a i d frame an d adapted t o engagean d hold t h e f r e e en d o f s a i d l i n k with s a i d l i n ki n h o r i z o n t a l p o s i t i o n , p a r a l l e l t o t h e l i n e o f f o r c eo f s a i d tow an d r e l e a s a b l e means f o r immovablyh o l d i n g s a i d member i n engaged p o s i t i o n w i t hs a i d l i n k , a tow c a b l e r i n g - ? t t i n g being engagea b l e over s a i d l e v e r between i t s e n d s .HENRY . KLEINKORT.

REFERENCES CITEDThe following references are o f record i n the

? l e o f t h i s p a t e n t :

N u m b er3 3 1 , 2 8 48 7 0 , 1 7 79 1 6 , 8 3 01 , 4 3 0 , 9 2 22 , 3 9 6 , 9 2 11 0 Number

1 0 2 , 0 4 7

UNITED STATES B A ' Q E N T SName : Date

Davis ______________- Dec. 1 , 18 8 5Hurd _____________ __ Nov. 7 , 1907Bergman ____ _ _ _ _ _ _ Mar. 3 0 , 1909Mueller _____ __,__,,___ Oct. 3 , 1 922Leslie __________ / _ _ Mar. 1 9 , 1 94 6FOREIGN P A T E H Z I S

Country DateAustria __________ _ Dec. 10 , 1 92 5