US2010511A - Bomb sway brace - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1935. M. a. CRAWFORD BOMB SWAY BRACE Filed Jan. 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l SYWWYIM Aug. 6, 1935. M. B. CRAWFORD BOMB SWAY BRACE Filed Jan. 16. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 PATENT OFFICE BOMB SWAY BRACE Marion B. Crawford,

Seattle, Wash., assignor to Boeing Airplane Company, Seattle,

Wasln, a

corporation of Washington Application January 16, 1934, Serial No. 706,843 19 Claims. (01. 244-1) Bombing airplanes customarily carry bombs beneath the wing or fuselage, where, with their releasable securing means and braces ordinarily fixed in position to prevent them from swaying from side to side, they constitute a drag upon the airplane, and even after the bombs have been released the sway braces, still projecting from, the streamlined contour, produce a very considerable drag. After the bombs have been released it is of the utmost importance that the bomber be able to get away as rapidly as possible, for it is only by its speed that it can hope to escape enemy fighter planes. It is highly desirable, therefore, that all such projecting parts, especially the sway braces which produce drag, be withdrawn within the streamlined contour, or in some manner that the streamlined contour be restored, following the release of the bombs. Since the pilot has his hands -i'ull at such time in maneuvering his; plane and in watching for enemy pursuit ships, it is also desirable that no burden be placed on the pilot or other members of the crew of the bomber, who are likewise busy, to think and act to restore this streamlined contour, and it is therefore desirablethat such means for restoring the streamlined shape be automatically operable.

My invention has the accomplishment of the above aims as its principal object. It is also an object in instances where an airplane is equipped to carry a number of bombs that each of the means for restoring the streamlined shape be operable independently of all others, so that if only a portion of the bombs are released the brace members and the like which engaged the bombs which were released can be withdrawn into the streamlined shape, and the latter be restored and drag eliminated or lessened that much.

plane is equipped for supporting a plurality of bombs, to provide such brace means which are urged into engagement each with its respective bomb, and retractable independently of all others,

to provide means whereby all such means may be relaxed simultaneously to facilitate the securement of the bombs, and further, which may be simultaneously brought into operation so that each means will then brace its respective bomb, regardless of variations in their size.

It is a further object to provide a bomb sway brace means for one or a plurality of bombs, which shall be simple in construction and easily operable, self-conforming to difl'erent sizes oi. bombs, and one which can be readily incorporated into an airplane structure, lying within the streamlined shape of the structure except as the brace means are projected into the wind stream to brace the bombs supported outside the streamlined structure.

Other objects will be ascertained from the attached drawings and from this specification, especially such as relate to structural details.

My invention comprises the novel sway brace means, both of each individual unit and of the plurality of units as a whole, and the novel construction and assemblage of parts to the end of accomplishing the above and other objects.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention embodied in a typical form, as now preferred by me. 1

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device as a whole, the operating handle being omitted, and with parts shown in the relaxed position, ready for the securement of bombs.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing parts in the operative position.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of the device as a whole, showing parts in the operative position.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a similar section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3. a

Figure 6 is an underside view in perspective of the center section. of a typical bomber, showing my device incorporated therein.

In Figure 6 the bombs B2, B3, I34 and B5 are shown supported beneath the center section of the wing 9. It will be understood, of course, that they might be supported from the fuselage 90, or from any suitable part of the airplane structure, which part would usually be streamlined. In any instance they are supported outstream. The manner of their securement is immaterialv in so far as my invention is concerned, and is illustrated only diagrammatically at Si in Figure 3. In this same figure the skin 92 of the wing 9 is illustrated in section. It is a further object, especially where the air- To prevent the bombs from swaying from side to side I employ brace members each comprising a plate I pivoted at l0 within the airplane structure on an axis extending longitudinally of the airplane, whereby the braces will swing transversely. Each plate may be apertured for lightness, .but in effect it constitutes a flat surface directly opposed to the wind stream, which causes an appreciable amount of drag. To eliminate this drag I provide means whereby as each bomb is released the pair of brace members, one engaging each side of such bomb, is withdrawn within the airfoil or streamlined shape, and to this end I provide on each plate I an arm II which is pivotally connected at i2 to a clip 22 which is mounted and slidable upon a rod 2. Two such rods are employed, which to distinguish them are designated 2 and 2', and these are slidable lengthwise in guides 20 supported from the airplane structure. As a convenient means of supporting the rods and the brace members I I side of the streamlined contour in the wind provide a channel structure 3, the pivots Ill being supported in the flanges of the channel, and the guides 20 being mounted on the web thereof. This channel 2 may conveniently be secured in any suitable manner, as by the rivets 2i, which connect its outspread flanges to the skin 82 of the wing or fuselage. Connection is. established from each of the members I to a rod 2 or 2' by means of the clips or arms 22 heretofore referred to, these clips being freely slidable along the respective rods. The reason for employing two rods is that the two brace memhers I of each pair swing oppositely on their pivots toward each other, and engage on opposite sides of a bomb, hence by movement of one of the clips 22 in one direction and the oth'er clip in the opposite direction the two brace members of a pair can be moved toward each other and through the aperture 93 in the wing skin through which they project, into the streamlined shape. They may be formed to substantially close this aperture when retracted, as seen in the middle pair of Figure 3, whereby they not only lessen or eliminate the drag caused when they project, but substantially restore the streamlined shape.

It would be possible to provide a rod such as 2 breach of the brace members I, but it is unnecessary to do so, and it eliminates weight to provide only the two of them, the rod 2 and the rod 2', and each such rod may be caused to urge each one of the brace members I which is connected thereto against the side of a bomb by such means as an extension coil spring 4, one end of which is connected cated at ",and the other end of which is con nected to the clip 22, as indicated at H. 1 By moving the point 40 away from the point ll, the spring is tensioned and the brace member connected the to is caused to be drawn against the side of the bomb. If, however, the bomb is released the extended spring will act to throw the brace member I upward within the wing. If, on the other hand, the point 40 is moved toward the point ll, and the movement of the latter point and of the associated brace member is stopped by reason of the engagement of the pivot l2 at the end of an arcuate slot 23 in the channel member 4, then the tendency to withdraw the brace members is relieved, and the springs are relaxed, whereupon a bomb may readily be se-' cured in place beneath the wing. Notwithstanding that the device may be so operated that all the brace members are relaxed simultaneously, it will be clear that each individual pair of brace members may be withdrawn independently of all other pairs, immediately upon release of the bomb with whichthey are associated, so long as its springs remain extended.

In order to accomplish such relaxation and extension of the several springs, means areprovided to move the rods 2 and 2' longitudinally, and to this end there may be formed upon each of them a series of rack teeth 25 (see Figure 1) and these portions of the rods may be guided in a guide 26, whereon is journaled a rack pinion 21, with which is associated a handle 28, and a spring pawl 29 is provided, engageable with the pinion 21 and operable to hold the springs extended,- or when released from the pinion,-to permit the springs to relax as they draw the rods from the position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 1.

The device is supported, as described, preferably within the streamlined form of the airplane structure, though the manner of its support is imto the rod, as indi-' material. The channel member 8 in effect forms purposes of supporting the braces I. The springs are relaxed, the bombs are secured in place, and the springs are then extended by rotating the handle 28, the pawl 29 being engaged with the pinion 21. Now as each bomb is released the extended spring associated with the corresponding braces causes these braces tobe withdrawn, yet the force of all other springs is retained 'unchanged so long as the bomb associated therewith remains in place.

It may be pointed out here that the physical withdrawal of the braces is only one of a number of ways in which the drag of such members can be lessened. They might be turned into a position where their drag is lessened without any or without entire withdrawal thereof, or the streamlined structure may be altered by the projection of devices such as fairing means to include the braces, after the bomb has been released. I do not desire to be limited merely towithdrawal of the braces, whether partial or complete, other than as required by the appended claims. Purthermore,'the movement of the braces might be otherwise than a pivotal movement, and this is within the intended scope of my invention. The

particular means for operating the braces might by the brace means or other means associated with the. bomb,.whether. by movement thereof into a position of less drag, or by their complete withdrawal or shielding.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with an airplane structure whereon are means to releasably support bombs, means separate from the bomb supporting means to brace such bombs, said brace means projecting, when in operative position, into the wind stream, and means operable following release of its bomb to lessen the drag of said brace means.

2. In combination with an airplane structure, means to brace bombs, releasably supported thereon, against swaying, said means projecting from the airplane structure into the wind stream, and means automatically operable upon release of a bomb to lessen the drag of said brace means.

3. In combination with an airplane structure,.

on, against swaying, said means, when in operative position projecting from the airplane structure into the wind stream, and means automatically operable upon release of a bomb to move said brace means from such operative position into a position wherein its drag is lessened.

4. Incombinatlon with a streamlined structure, means to brace bombs which are releasably supported thereon, against swaying, said means projecting from the structure into the wind stream, and means automatically operable upon release of a bomb to withdraw said brace means to restore the streamline thereof.

5. In combination with an airplane structure, a pair of members mounted thereon and in operative position cooperatively engageable with a, bomb releasably mounted thereon'to brace the bomb against swaying, and projecting, when in such operative position, into the wind stream, and means operable following release of such bomb to lessen the drag caused by such members.

6. In combination with an airplane structure, a pair of brace members pivotally mounted at points spaced transverselyof the airplane structure, on axes extending longitudinally, and spring means normally acting upon said brace members to. swing the latter into the airplane structure, and holding them, when a bomb is disposed therebetween, against opposite sides of the bomb.

7. In combination with an airplane structure, a pair of brace members pivotally mounted at points spaced transversely of the airplane structure, on axes extending longitudinally, spring means normally acting upon said brace members to swing the latter -into the airplane structure,

and holding them, when a bomb is disposed therebetween, against opposite sides of the bomb, and means to relax said spring means to facilitate securement of the bomb in such position.

8. In combination with an airplane structure, a plurality of means each operable to brace its respective one of a plurality of bombs which are by other means releasably supported from theairplanestructure, said brace means projecting, when in operative position, into the wind stream, and means operable following release of any given bomb to lessen the drag of the corresponding brace means.

9. In combination with an airplane structure, a plurality of means each operable to brace its respective one of a plurality of bombs which are releasably supported from the airplane structure, said means projecting, when in operative position, into the wind stream, and means automatically operable upon release of a bomb, to move the corresponding brace means into a position wherein its drag is lessened.

10. In combination with an apertured streamlined structure, a plurality of means each operable to brace its respective one of a plurality oi bombs which are releasably supported from said structure, said means, in such operative position, projecting through the apertures in the structure into the wind stream, and means operable upon release of any bomb to move the corresponding brace means into the structure, to substantially close the corresponding aperture and restore the streamline forrnof the structure.

11. In combination with an airplane structure, a plurality of means each engageable with its respective one of a plurality of bombs releasably supported from the airplane structure, to brace such bomb against swaying, and means acting upon each of said brace means to cause the latter to conform automatically and individually to various sizes of bombs, said means being further and automatically operable, independently of the other brace means, and following release of its corresponding bomb, to lessen the drag caused by the projection of such bracing means into the air stream.

12. In combination with an airplane structure, a plurality of means each engageable with its respective one of a plurality of bombs releasably supported from the airplane structure, to brace such bomb against swaying, spring means urging each such brace means against its respective bomb, and means to relax the spring means of all brace means simultaneously, to facilitate securement of the bombs.

13. In combination with an airplane structure, a plurality of pairs of brace members pivotally mounted upon and in operative position'projecting from the airplane structure, spring means acting upon said members when projected to urge the two members of each pair into engagement with opposite sides of its respective one of a plurality of bombs releasably supported from,

3 the airplane structure. and further operable, independently of all other pairs of brace members, to retract its associated brace members within the airplane structure.

14. In combination with an airplane structure, a plurality of pairs of brace members pivotally mounted upon and in operative position projecting from the airplane structure, spring means acting upon said'members when projected to urge the two members of each pair into engagement with opposite sides of its respective one of a pinrality of bombs releasably supported from the airplane structure, and further operable, independently of all other pairs of brace members, to retract its associated brace members within the airplane structure, and means to simultaneously relax the spring means of all pairs of brace members, to facilitate securement of the bombs to the airplane structure.

15. In combination with an apertured streamlined airplane structure, a plurality of pairs of brace members of generally flat shape disposed transversely of the air stream, and pivotally mounted upon the airplane structure upon longitudinally extending axes, to swing through the apertures into the wind stream, thereby to engage the two members oi. each pair with opposite sides of its respective one of a plurality of bombs releasably supported from the airplane structure, and in the wind stream, and meansoperable following release of any bomb to withdraw its brace members, independently of all other brace members through their respective apertures, thereby to restore this portion of the streamline form of the airplane structur 16. In combination with a streamlined airplanestructure whereon a bomb is releasably supported in the wind stream, means projecting from the streamline form and engageable with such bomb, while thus supported and means operable following the release of such bomb to restore the streamline form of the airplane structure.

17. In combination with a streamlined airplane structure whereon a bomb is releasably supported in the wind stream, means projecting from the streamline form and engageable with such bomb, while thus supported, and means operable automatically by release of such bomb to move said projecting means into, a position wherein its drag is lessened.

18. In combination with an airplane structure, and with means thereon to suspend a bomb freely beneath the airplane structure, for release therefrom, means engageable with such a bomb to brace the bomb against swaying, and means acting upon said brace means to cause the latter to conform automatically to any one of various sizes of bombs, said means being further and automatically operative, following the release of the corresponding bomb, to lessen the drag caused by the projection of the bracing means into the air stream.

19. In combination with an airplane structure,

and with means thereon to suspend a bomb freely beneath the airplane structure, for release therefrom, means engageable with such a bomb to brace the bomb against swaying, means acting upon said brace means to cause the latter to conform automatically to any one of various sizes of bombs, and means to render inoperative the bracing means, at will.

MARION B. CRAWFORD.

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