US1332022A - Method of and apparatus for releasing projectiles from moving carriers - Google Patents

Description

E. BECKER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASING PROJECTILES FROM MOVING CARRIERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26. ms.

1,332,022. Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

\ avwentz E. BECKER.

APPLICATION HLED AUG-26. l9l8.

Patented Feb. 24,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASING PROJECTILES FROM MOVING CARRIERS.

E. BECKER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASING PROJECTILES FROM MOVING CARRIERS.

' APPLICATION FIL ED AUG.26, 1918'. 1,332,022.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EDMUND BECKER, or wnsnmeron, DISTRICT or coLuMBIA.

METHOD on ANDYAPPAR'ATUS ron nELEAsIne rno nc'rILEs rnoMMovIne cAnRIEns.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

Application filed August 26, 1918; Serial No. 251,419.

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND Bnonnn, a citizenof the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have in vented new and useful Improvements in 'Methods of and Apparatus for Releasing Projectiles from Movin Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

1 Dropping bombs from a fiyingaeroplane is a. complexoperation and the hitting a target from a great height is'uncertain and erratic, and efliciency can only be expected from low flying, within easy range of'the anti-aircraft guns. h

The present invention comprises a method of and apparatus for dropping projectiles from a moving carrier, the method comprising releasing the projectile, releasing a counter-weight arranged to travel in the opposite direction from the direction in which the projectile is deflected by the momentum; of the carrier, and causing said'coim'ter-weight -to come in contact with the projectile to counteract or offset the momentum of the projectile and to cause it to fall by the force of gravity the invention further comprises an organization of apparatus H elements adapted to perform the above process consisting of means for supporting a projectile upon a moving carrier, a counter-Weight arranged in proximity to the projectile,means for maintaining the counter-weight at a gi-ven'tension and releasing means for the counter-weight operable by the release of the projectile Ito cause said. counter-weight to move in a direction opposlte to. that. 1111-.

parted to the projectile by the momentum of the "moving carrier, the counter-weight and the projectile being arranged relatively to each: other so that. the counter-weight will come in contact with the projectile to offset or overcome the horizontal momentum of the projectile; all as more fully hereinafter set forth'and as claimed.

Thepresent method offlreleasing projectiles from a moving carrier isiparticularly adapted for use in'dropping bombs from 4 aeroplanes, dropping sacks of mail from aeroplanes and dropping mail sacks from moving trainsSWhen a bomblor other .de-

.vice'is released from an aeroplane or other carrier there are two forces acting uponit,

the force, of gravity andthe momentum of the bomb caused by the movement of the carrier. The object of the presentinventlo'n {to overcome the second mentioned force and cause the bomb to fall in a substantially ratus before and after release; Fig. 5 the plan of the cradle of the bomb; Fig. 6 its elevation; Fig. 7 apart of the apparatus showing bomb, cradle and striker before release; Fig. 8 the same as Fig. 7 but after release; Fig. 9 a hook of the cradle in perspective. 1 e

In all the drawings,the respective direetions of motion are indicated by arrows Y, Z. Bombing is subservient to the three fol lowing physical laws First Zaw.A bomb-B, Fig. l, dropped from an aeroplane flying horizontally in the direction Y, Z, does not fallin the straight vertical line a, b, but describes the parabola a, c, T, which is a component ofits momentum at the instant of its release with the gravity %g|2, and this parabola will vary according to the weight of the bomb, the

horizontal velocity of the aeroplane and the body B of the same. mass and velocity is not' required, because Mofcan be reacted against by mV, that is :-'a smaller mass actuated-by a proportionally greater velocity:

poses: 1st, to keep down the mass of B,

thereby reducing the weight of the apparatus and diminishing its'momentum which, in this case, acts contrary to its intended action; 2d, to makethe same apparatus suitable for a greaterrange in sizes of bombs.

The bomb-releasing apparatus, Figs. 3,-

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, consists principally of the following parts: the bomb B suspended to latch-bar F L pivoted on p, counterrstriker B on bent lever C D pivoted on P, and the two springs s and S. 7

As perfect elastic bodies rebound after impinging, the face of counter-striker B is overlaid with compressible, shock-absorbing material (cork or cushion) so; as to act as a pusher rather than as a hammer; the same-,- deadening could also be applied to the bomb itself, but it would unnecessarily complicateits making- 7 Fig. 3 .shows the apparatus ready for release;

Fig. etshows the apparatus after release.

In these two figuresthe elements of the ap-' paratus fixed toand parts of the body of' The center. .ofgB in Fig. 3, before release, is shown atv the heightt, while in Fig. 4: it.

has'lowered to. u. at the instant ofstriking;

' this distance t, u is necessary to meet. the

conditions ofthesecond precited law, Fig.

2, viz: a free falling body struck normally along; the line of its axis of motiona Striker B. is actuated by. the resilience ofrelaxedspring S, the power of which can.

be varied initwo-wa'ys: 1st,..turning ineither 'directionthe: sc1'ew.E, which by itsx'endfaceplate e permitsto .tune the compressionof S to the most'delicate;degree;-J2d,'

replacingjs by a lighteror a heavier spring.

Tables have been prepared to indicatetov the bomber the compression and .the spring required for every and each condition.

To arm the-apparatus, see Fig. 3, the bomb-B, hung by rope H'torings i andk, pulls.--down the.end F of bar'F Lto rest on shelf9 of the frame; plate '6 havingbeen screwed backward, spring S has been re- '-ducedto its minimum of compression; lever CDof striker 'B' is pivoted toward e until. snapped'by latch-:Land 6 being screwed forward to the distance: indicated by: the

. tables, the apparatus is rca dy 'for action.

When, seeFig. .4Qthe-cord .H is-cut at 'w, 01:, the' bar F L free from the weight of the bomb .B' and pulled by the spring 8, in

.ated by crank.

tension, liberates lever CD and striker B stopsthe forward momentum of bomb B as it begins to fall; 4

Ihave chosenthe release as operated by the cutting of the rope'H, this being more simple to establish, describe and illustrate,

but'any other suitable mode of suspension of the bor lifla-airl quick release could be invention and-its; basic principle/8,11; hm

shown in Figs-.-; 1,2, 3: and 4-the bomb-'3 and itsv strik'erfBfi as spheres, the cornea of gravity of the sphere being also. its: (sum offigure; but in Figs. 6,6 and 7the apply ratustakes a more practical form, and-the sphere; of- B] is replaced by, a. cylinder. and that of B" by a prismatichammer with a concave face which fits the convexity of the bomb, as shown in-Figs; 5.and 6-;in Figs. 7 and 8, to simplify-thedrawing, Bxfis shmm as: a blade withoutthickness; also, as we: are considering here; the. use of. .bOmbsofi great bulk andgweight, the'jringsk of lever FL has been replaced by. the winch K open 0 i or any: other mechanical;- power.;

- As, -.to conform to" the 'preparedtlblam" theforce of the reaction is; to be. uniform; reliable and constant for each bomb of itI- given caliber and weight, the bomb has to be made; an integral partof {the fiyingaem plane until liberated to i fall: unrestrained through space,- until .at: the;:level: u, itvis struck; in. ,such:.manner that..it is. reacted: upon normally to: the vertical and. theahori'e zontalaxes-of its centerflo'f gravity, th'a-r.

cradle S- bEenadded: as; an essential thoughindependent adjunct of." th Helm v pparatus.-, 1 no Thezcradle cylindrical in Shape-ma encircles not more thanv seven-sixteentlis of the circumference of "the p 5.? shows it at 6; .ltumed: outland widenedfto offer. an easiewentrancefor thebombr 1% is hung to Land rigidly braced itothetframe of .the' aeroplane byv straps a 5; anopening U at the back is pnovidedfor B" tolstrike the bomb, and six inverted n, with. projecting'ends.asshown on- Figk 9; .120 are placed on the inside, at -top and tom and: at centeran'd sides; the bomb;:t1m-

top' of which is xtapered to enter the cradle.- fI'Om'IbBlOW, is provided, with belts mg-atii heights corresponding to hooks n,- shown :by Fig. 9-in perspective. Belt m could bare-:

. placed'byfany other adequate loop,-

or pocket:v p V The bombB, see Fig. 7,'havingbeentrans-" ferred from the bomb-store of the aero- 'mo plane, by means of rope H on winch K, to the cradle V, is pulled up to engage belts m into hooks n, until snugly housed in place.

It is then ready for the arming of the apparatus and the operation proceeds as explained for Figs. 3 and 4; the rope being cut at w w, the bomb, see Fig. 8, falls from t to u, where, disconnected from hooks at, its horizontal momentum is eliminated by the counter-blow of B.

It is obvious that the radii and the heights of cradles V shall agree with the corresponding dimensions of the bombs.

I claim:

1. The method of dropping projectiles from a moving carrier which comprises re= leasing the object, simultaneously releasing a counter-weight adapted to travel in the opposite direction to that of the carrier, and causing said counter-weight to come in contact with said object to overcome the momentum of the object caused by the movement of the carrier.

2. The method of dropping bombs from an aeroplane which comprises releasing the bomb simultaneously, releasing a counterweight adapted to travel in the opposite direction to that of the aeroplane, and causing said counter-weight to come in contact with said bomb to overcome the momentum of the bomb caused by the movement of the aerothe counter-weight to move in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the moving carrier and to come in contact with the object. I

a. In combination with an aeroplane, a bomb releasing apparatus comprising bomb supporting means, a counter-weight positioned with respect'to the bomb, means for maintaining the counter-weight under tension, releasing means for the counter-weight operable by release of the bomb to cause the counter-weight to move in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the aeroplane and to come in contact with the bomb.

5. In combination with an aeroplane, a bomb releasing apparatus comprising sup)- porting and releasing means for the bom a counter-weight arranged in proximity to the bomb, a pivoted supporting member for said counter-weight, means for maintaining pressure upon the opposite end of said pivoted member, and operating means to cause said pivoted element to respond to said pres sure when the bomb is released whereby the counter-weight is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the aeroplane and is brought into contact with the bomb to overcome its momentum.

6. An apparatus for dropping bombs from a moving aeroplane which comprises bomb supporting means, a counter-weight disposed near the bomb, pivoted supporting means for the counter-weight, a spring arranged upon one end of said pivoted supporting means and adapted to move the counterweight in a direction opposite to the path of travel of the aeroplane, means for normally maintaining the supporting element and counter-weight in inoperative position, and means for releasing the pivoted supporting member upon release of the bomb and causing said counter-weight to come in contact with the bomb to offset the momentum in the bomb caused by the travel of the machine.

7. An apparatus for releasing bombs from moving aeroplanes which comprises a pivoted supporting member for said bomb, a counter-weight arranged near the bomb, supporting means for said counter-weight, means for maintaining pressure upon the counter-weight, said pressure being adapted to move the counter-weight in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the machine, a latch carried by said pivoted bomb supporting element adapted to engage said counter-weight support, said latch being adapted to be disengaged upon release of the bomb whereby the pressure exerted upon said supporting element causes the counterweight to move in a horizontal direction and to come in contact with the bomb to overcome its momentum caused by the movement of the aeroplane.

8. An apparatus for releasing bombs for moving aeroplanes which comprises a pivoted supporting member for said bomb, a counter-weight arranged near the bomb, suppol ting means for said counter-weight, means for maintaining pressure upon the counter-weight, means for adjusting said pressure, said pressure being adapted to move the counter-weight in a direction oppoSite to the direction of travel of the machine, a latch carried by said pivoted bomb supporting element adapted to engage said counter-weight support, said latch being adapted to be disengaged upon release of the bomb whereby the pressure exerted upon said supporting element causes the counterweight to move in a horizontaldirection and to come in contact with the bomb to overcome its momentum caused by the movement of the aeroplane.

EDMUND BECKER.

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