cloth tow target sleeve (1941)

8/22/2019 Cloth Tow Target Sleeve (1941)

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F . G . l v i ' ? k ? l ' ? o N v ETALAERIAL Tow TARGET

N o v . 4 , 1 9 4 1 . 2 , 2 5 1 , 1 7 1sued May 6 , 1 9 4 1 2 S h e e t s - S h e e t 1

FRANK .MANSONJ4M$ . / * 2 4 KEV%a , M


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N o v . 4 , 1 9 4 1 . F . G . MANSON Em 2 , 2 6 1 , 1 7 1AERIAL TOW TARGETFiled May 6, 1 9 4 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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//VVE/VTORSFR?/VK6 M4/vs0/vWMES AMKEW


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ent invention.

P a t e n t e d N o v . 4 , 1 9 4 1 z , 2 6 1 , i 7 1

U N I T E D . S T A T E S PATENT O F F I C EFrank G . Manson and James . M a s k e y ,

Dayton, OhioA p p l i c a t i o n May . 1 9 4 1 , S e r i a l No . 3 9 2 . 0 8 8

7 C l a i m s . (Cl. 273-1053)(Granted under the a c t o f M a r c h 3 , 1 8 8 3 , as 'amended A p r i l 3 0 , 1 9 2 8 ; 3 7 0 0 . G . 7 5 7 )

The n v e n t i o n d e s c r i b e d herein may be manuf a c t u r e d - a n d u s e d by o r f o r t h e Government 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 ous o f a ny r o y a l t y t h e r e o n .This n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o a s l e e v e t y p e a e r i a l towt a r g e t , and h a s s p e c i a l r e f e r e n c e t o t h e c o n s t r u ct i o n and arrangement o f t h e m out h end o f t h et a r g e t , i n c l u d i n g t h e mouth r i n g and t o w i n g

bridle. > 'An bject of the invention i s v t o provide a n i m -proved c o l l a p s i b l e mouth r i n g f o r a s l e e v e t a r g e t ,

t o permit compact f o l d i n g o f the t a r g e t / t o r e l a - 't l v e l y s m a l l d i m e n s i o n s t o e x p e d i t e p a c k i n g andh a n d l i n g andto f a c i l i t a t e l a u n c h i n g v t h r o u g h arestricted opening. ' gA p a r t i c u l a r o b j e c t i s t o p r o v i d e a f o l d i n gmouth r i n g , c o m p r i s i n g t w o s e m i - c i r c u l a r p a r t shinged t o g e t h e r t o f o l d on a diameter o f t h er i n g , f o r a s l e e v e - t y p e t a r g e t .A u r t h e r o b j e c t i s t o p r o v i d e an improved r i d l ef o r a s l e e v e- t y p e t a r g e t h a v i n g a f o l d i n g mouthr i n g , which w i l l i n s u r e proper'opening'of t h emouth ring when the target i s launched'from anairplane in ?ight. > 'Other o b j e c t s and advantages e s i d e i n t h e co ns t r u c t i o n o f p a r t s , t h e c o m b i n a t i o n t h e r e o f andthe vmode o f o p e r a t i o n , a s w i l l become m o r e a pp a r e n t f r o m t h e f o l l o w i n g d e s c r i p t i o n . I n the drawings; pF i g . 1 i s a fragmentary s i d e elevation view of

launching through a e s t r i c t e d opening. The ing2 _ comprises a pair o f s i m i l a r semi-circular parts3 and 4 having d i a m e t r i c e l e m e n t s 5 a nd 6 d i sposed i n side-by-side r e l a t i o n in the manner l - .l u s t r a t e d . s t i f f e n i n g s t r u t s I m a y b e p r o v i d e dt o add r i g i d i t y t o t h e r i n g . To p e r m i t f o l d i n gthe t w o parts 3 a nd 4 one upon the o t h e r , hingemeans a r e provided on the d i a m e t r i c e l e m e n t s 5a nd 6 . This hinge arrangement ha s been co nv e n i e n t l y c o n s t r u c t e d i n t h e p r e s e n t embodimento f s t r a p l o o p s 8 welded t o t h e element 6 v s o a st o l o o s e ly e n c i r c l e t h e e l e m e n t 5 , t h u s p r ov i d i n gf r e e p i v o t a l motion o f t h e p a r t 3 upon t h e p a r t 4 .P r o j e c t i o n s 9 a r e p r o v i d e d on t h e element 5 f o rp r e v e n t i n g l o n g i t u d i n a l movement o f t h e e l e m e n t5 i n ; the s t r a p l o o p s 8 .Th e f o l d i n g r i n g a b o v e d e s c r i b e d i s i n c o r p or a t e d i n t o the c i r c u l a r m out h o f the t a r g e t s l e e v e

' I , p r e f e r a b l y by i n c l o s i n g ' the r i n g within a2 0

25

30a s l e e v e t a r g e t c o n s t r u c t e d according t o t he p r e s -

F i g . 2 i s a plan viewof t h e mouth r i n g . _F i g . 3 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e w o f t h e t a r g e t p r i o r

t o o p e n i n g o f the mouth r i n g , a s ~ t h e t a r g e t i slaunched from an a i r p l a n e i n ?ig h t. '

F i g . 4 i s a perspective view showing one s i d eo f t h e mouth r i n g i n open p o s i t i o n a s v t h e s l e e v ebegins to ?ll with i r . ' _ _

F i g . 5 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e view showing t he ?nals t a g e i n which t h e mouth r i n g h a s f u l l y o p e n e d .and t he sleeve h a s ?lled w i t h a i r . 7

F i g . 6 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e w showing h o w t h ef o l d i n g mouth r i n g m a y r e f u s e t o open i n ' t h e

\ ' a i r stream i f t he b r i d l e does no t include meansf o r s e p a r a t i n g t h e t w o , p a r t s o f ' t h e I .h e t o w v t a r g e t o f th e present invention com

s t i t c h e d f o l d i n t h e m a t e r i a l o f t h e s l e e v e . Th er i n g i s t h e r e b y a d a p t e d t o h o l d t h e mouth o f t h esleeve in t he form of a circular opening and to p r o v i d e a r i g i d marginal p o r t i o n f o r attachmento f t h e b r i d l e r o p e s . In t h e p r e s e n t embodiment,t h i s means o f attachment c o m p r i s e s grommetsl 0 and located a t i n t e r v a l s around themarginof t h e c i r c u l a r o p e n i n g . This s p e c i ? c m e a n s o f .atta chment forms no part o f th e present invent i o n v a nd may take a ny other f o r m s u i t a b l e . f o ra t t a c h m e n t s o f t he b r i d l e r o p e s , e i t h e r t o t h ef a b r i c o f - the s l e e v e o r t o the r i n g 2 i t s e l f . In t h ep r e f e r r e d embodiment t h e r e are a p a i r o f gro mqmets l l adjacent each o f the s t r u t s 1 s o that al o o p o f each b r i d l e r o p e m a y b e p a s s e d througheach p a i r , o f grommets i n t h e manner shown.Thus t h e r e i s a r i d l e rope l 2 , l 3 l e a d i n g f r o meach junction of . a strut 1 w i t h t he ring 2 ' to a g

towing l i n e attaching ring or eye l 5 . A pair of

p o i n ts o f the ring. These last mentioned grom-mets secure t he ends of a pair of b r i d l e ropes I 6 ,45

p r i s e s a s l e e v e I having a c i r c u l a r r i n g 2 i n - .c o r p o r a t e d i n t h e mouth end t h e r e o f , f o r attachment o f a t o w i n g b r i d l e and t o k e e p t h e s l e e v eopen and?lled with a i r i n ?ight. On e o f thep r i n c i p a l f e a t u r e s o f n o v e l t y i s t h e c o n s t r u c t i o no f the r i n g 2 . s o a s t o f o l d t o s m a l l e r dimensionst o e x p e d i t e p a c k i n g and h a n d l i n g ; and t o p e r m i t

50

grom me ts [ H I are also provided adjacent the _j u n c t i o n o f t h e diametricmembers 5 and 6 witht h e p a r t s 3 and 4 r e s p e c t i v e l y , a t t h e f o l d i n g

which t e r m i n a t e a t t h e i r o t h e r e n d s inthe r i n g o reye l 5 . Th e b r i d l e ropes Hi are s i m i l a r t o t h e b r i d l e r o p e s l 2 a nd I 3 except tha t they a r e co nn e c t e d by a t r a n s v e r s e r o p e member I ! a t p o i n t sa d i s t a n c e o f a b o u t h a l f t h e r i n g r a d i u s a h e a d _ 'of thegrommets l0. " , . _Th e p e c i f i c arrangement f the b r i d l e d e s c r i b e da b o v e c o n s t i t u t e s a n a d d i t i o n a l f e a t u r e o f - n o v e l t y' d e s i g n e d t o i n s u r e p r o p e r i n f l a t i o n o f t h e t a r g e tby s e p a r a t i n g t he o l d i n g p a r t s o f t h e m out h i n g55 t o form a c i r c u l a r o p e n i n g i n t h e a i r s t r e a m . _


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2 . This i s accomplished by reason o f t h e f a c t t h a tt h e t r a n s v e r s e member I 1 i s o f a l e n g t h j u s t s u ? ic i e n t t o span t h e b r i d l e r o p e s l 6 when t h e y a r et e n s i o n e d by t h e t o w i n g l i n e , which l e n g t h i sseen t o be somewhat l e s s t h an t h e diameter o ft h e r i n g 2 , t h e r e b y c o n s t r a i n i n g t h e member I !t o l i e between the two p a r t s 3 a nd 4 o f the f o l di n g r i n g when t h e l a t t e r i s f o l d e d l i k e a purse i nt h e p a c k i n g and f o l d i n g o f t h e s le e v e . By m a int a i n i n g t h e member l 1 a l w a y s b e t w e e n t h e p a r t s3 a nd 4 , t e n s i o n upon the r i n g i t i n launchingt h e t a r g e t w i l l s e p a r a t e t h e p a r t s 3 a nd 4 s u f f iciently to engage t he air stream so a s to in?a tethe s l e e v e . W i t h out the member I ' l , i t i s some+t i m e s found i n l a u n c h i n g t h e t a r g e t t h a t t h eb r i d l e r o p e s w i l l a l l l i e o u t s i d e o f t h e f o l d e dmembers 3 and 4 , b e i n g d i s p o s e d on one s i d e o ft h e r i n g i n such a manner as t o prevent t h eproper n f l a t i o n o f t h e s l e e v e by t h e a i r s t r e a m .

F i g u r e s 3 , 4 and 5 r e p r e s e n t s u c c e s s i v e s t a g e si n the opening o f the s l e e v e t a r g e t a f t e r i t i slaunched f r o m a n a i r p l a n e i n ? i g h t . When thefolded target i s caught in the a i r stream, thet e n s i o n e x e r t e d upon t h e e y e l 5 . i m m e d i a t e l yp u l l s t h e r o p e s l 5 t a u t , a l l o w i n g t h e m a t e r i a lo f t h e s l e e v e l t o u n f o l d , t h e s e m i c i r c ul a r p a r t s3 a nd 4 f o r t h e mo ment b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d t o bes t i l l i n t h e i r f o l d e d p o s i t i o n , one a g a i n s t t h e

other, allowing the ropes l 2 a nd I 3 t o slackena s shown. I t , w i l l b e a p p r e c i a t e d , however, t h a tt h e p a r t s 3 a nd 4 w i l l not remain t i g h t l y t o g e t h e r ,s i n c e t h e y a r e s e p a r a t e d b y t h e member l 1 , whichi s c o n s t r a i n e d t o occupy t h e p o s i t i o n i l l u s t r a t e d .F r o m t h e momentary c o n d i t i o n i l l u s t r a t e d i nFigure 3 , one o r the other o f the p a r t s 3 or 4w i l l b e i m m e d i a t e l y opened t o i t s f u l l e s t e x t e n tby th e pressure o f the a i r stream. a s i l l u s t r a t e di n Figure 4 where i t i s assumed t h a t the part 3h as been blo wn open, l e a v i n g the part 4 s t i l l i nt h e p o s i t i o n assumed i n F i g u r e 3 . The s w i n g i n gmovement o f t h e p a r t 3 w i l l be a r r e s t e d a s ther o p e s l 2 a r e p u l l e d t a u t , whereupon the planeo f t h e part 3 w i l l be s u b s t a n t i a l l y normal t o thel i n e o f ? i g h t . I t w i l l be c l e a r l y seen i n Figure 4t h a t t h e member I ] p o s i t i v e l y p r e v e n t s t h e p a r t4 f r o m f o l l o w i n g thepart 3 i n t o a plane a t r i g h ta n g l e s t o t h e d i r e c t i o n o f ? i g h t.In t h e p o s i t i o n o f Figure 4 , the s l e e v e I w i lr a p i d l y ? l l with a i r and draw open t h e p a r t 4 ,i f t h i s p a r t has no t a l r e a d y opened s i m u l t a n eo u s l y w i t h t h e p a r t 3 . F i g u r e 4 , t h e r e f o r e , l i k eF i g u r e 3 , r e p r e s e n t s a n u n s t a b l e c o n d i t i o n whichcannot be maintained i n ? i g h t . Figure 5 , t h e n ,r e p r e s e n t s t h e f u l l y opened p o s i t i o n o f t h e twop a r t s 3 a nd 4 o f t h e m out h r i n g , e s t a b l i s h i n g ac i r c u l a r opening a t t h e l e a d i n g edge o f t h e s l e e v e

I a s i s d e s i r e d t o be maintained i n steady ? i g h t .Figure 6 i l l u s t r a t e s a n undesirable s i t u a t i o n' which i s found t o occur f the transverse member

[ 1 i s o m i t t e d . The mouth r i n g a nd the b r i d l ei n Figure 6 correspond t o t h e m out h r i n g a ndb r i d l e d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , e x c e p t f o r the omissiono f t h e member 1 1 . Wh i le the b r i d l e sho w n i nFigure 6 w i l l o f t e n produce a proper openingo f t h e s le e v e , i t \ i s found i n p r a c t i c e t h a t o cc a s i o n a l l y , i n s t e a d o f o p e n i n g , t h e p a r t 4 w i l l b eblown aro und with the part 3 i n t o a plane m o reor l e s s no r ma l t o the l i n e o f ? i g h t , the a i r pressure upon the s l e e v e material attached t o thep a r t 4 h o l d i n g t h e s a i d p a r t 4 t i g h t l y a g a i n s tthe part 3 with the ropes 1 3 s u b s t a n t i a l l y as t a u tas the ropes l 2 a nd I t . When the parts assumet h i s p o s i t i o n they remain s o i n the a i r s t r e a m ,witlithe r e s u l t t h a t t h e t a r g e t m a y b e towed

1 0

1 5

20

25

3 0

3 5

40

45

50

65

6 0

7 0

7 5

2,261,171i n d e ? n i t e l y w i t h o u t o p e n i n g t h e mouth r i n g a n din?ating the sleeve. - _I t w i l l b e a p p r e c i a t e d t h a t t h e p r o v i s i o n o ft h e t r a n s v e r s e member I ! would p o s i t i v e l y p r ev e n t t h e p a r t 4 f r o m p a s s i n g between t h e b r i d l eropes I E t o assume the p o s i t i o n i l l u s t r a t e d i n F i g u r e 6 . W i t h the member I ! connecting t h er o p e s i t , any a i r ?ow c o n d i t i o n which mightt e n d t o p r o d u c e the s i t u a t i o n shown i n F i g u r e6 could i n f a c t do no m o re tha n momentarilyhold t h e part4 i n a p l a n e p a r a l l e l with t h e l i n eo f ? i g h t , a s i n F i g . 4 , which, a s s t a t e d a b o v e , h a s been found to be an unstable position dueto the in?ati on of t h e sleeve through the openh a l f o f the r i n g . When the c o n d i t i o n o f F i g . 4o c c u r s , t h e r i n g i m m e d i a t e l y o p e n s t o t h e ' p o s it i o n shown i n F i g . 5 . The p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n t h u snot o n l y p r o v i d e s a f o l d i n g mouth r i n g f o r co mpact f o l d i n g o f a s l e e v e t a r g e t . but i n a d d i t i o np r e v e n t s o b j e c t i o n a b l e f o u l i n g o f t h e b r i d l e r o p e s ,a nd i n s u r e s the proper op ening a nd in?ation o fthe s l e e v e , even w hen packed a nd launched byi n e x p e r t p e r s o n s .W h i le we h a v e sho wn and described but as i n g l e embodiment o f our invention, i t i s t o be Iunderstood t h at i t i s capable o f many modi?ca- t i o n s . Changes, t h e r e f o r e , i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o na nd arrangement may be made which do notdepart f r o m the s p i r i t a nd s c o p e o f t h e invent i o n a s de?ned i n the appended c l a i m s .We laim: .1 . In a s l e e v e type a e r i a l t o w t a r g e t , a f o l d i n g

c i r c u l a r m out h r i n g comprising two s e m i - c i r c u l a rp a r t s hinged together t o f o l d o n a diameter o ft h e r i n g , a nd a b r i d l e f o r towing s a i d t a r g e t ,s a i d b r i d l e comprising a p l u r a l i t y o f b r i d l e r o p e sattached a t i n t e r v a l s around the r i n g a nd co nverging t o a common point o f attachment w itha t o w l i n e , t w o o f s a i d b r i d l e ropes being a ttached t o the r i n g a t t h e f o l d i n g p o i n t s , a nd at r a n s v e r s e rope member connecting s a i d twob r i d l e ropes a t the approximate d i s t a n c e o f h a l ft h e r i n g r a d i u s ahead o f t h e i r attachments withthe r i n g , s a i d tra nsverse rop e member having al e n g t h l e s s t h an t h e diameter o f s a i d r i n g .2 . In a s l e e v e type a e r i a l tow t a r g e t , a f o l d i n gcircular mouth ring comprising t w o semi-circularp a r t s hinged together t o f o l d on a diameter o ft h e r i n g , a nd a b r i d l e f o r towing s a i d t a r g e t , s a i db r i d l e comprising a p l u r a l i t y o f b r i d l e r o p e s a ttached at i n t e r v a l s around the ring a nd co nverging t o a common point o f attachment witha tow l i n e , t w o o f s a i d b r i d l e ropes being a ttached t o s a i d r i n g a t t h e f o l d i n g p o i n t s , a nd at r a n s v e r s e member c o n n e c t i n g s a i d t wo b r i d l eropes s o a s t o l i e between s a i d parts w h en thelatter a r e folded to gether. '3 . In a s l e e v e type a e r i a l t ow t a r g e t , a f o l d i n gc i r c u l a r mouth r i n g c o m p r i s i n g two s e m i - c i r c u l a rp a r t s hinged together t o f o l d on a diameter o ft h e r i n g , a nd a b r i d l e f o r towing s a i d t a r g e t , s a i db r i d l e comprising a p l u r a l i t y o f b r i d l e r o p e s a ttached a t i n t e r v a l s around the ring a nd converging t o a common point o f attachment witha t ow l i n e , t w o o f s a i d b r i d l e r o p e s being a tt a c h e d t o t h e r i n g a t t h e f o l d i n g p o i n t s , andmeans a s s o c i a t e d with s a i d t w o b r i d l e ropes t oi n s u r e s e p a r a t i o n o f t h e two p a r t s o f t h e mouthr i n g when the t a r g e t i s launched f r o m an a i rplane in?ight. 4 . In a s l e e v e type a e r i a l t ow t a r g e t , a f o l d i n gc i r c u l a r m out h r i n g comprising two s e m i - c i r c u l a rp a r t s hinged together t o f o l d o n a diameter o ft h e r i n g , a nd a b r i d l e f o r towing s a i d t a r g e t , s a i db r i d l e comprising a p l u r a l i t y o f b r i d l e r o p e s a t


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361,171t a c h e d a t i n t e r v a l s around t h e r i n g and c o nv e r g i n g t o a . common p o i n t . o f a t t a c h m e n t w i t ha t o w _ l i n e , - a nd means { o n s a i d b r i d l e t o i n s u r es e p a r a t i o n o f t h e two p a r t s o f t h e mouth r i n g when t h e t a r g e t i s launched f r o m a n a i r p l a n e i n?ight. '

5 . I n a s l e e v e t y p e a e r i a l tow t a r g e t , a f o l d i n gc i r c u l a r mouth r i n g c o m p r i s i n g two s e m i - c i r c u l a rparts hinged together t o t o l d o n a l - d i a m e t e r , o f - i It h e r i n g , a nd a b r i d l e a t t a c h e d t o s a i d r i n g , s a i db r i d l e having a p a r t t h e r e o i . I c o n s t r a i n e d t o l i eb e t w e e n s a i d p a r t s o i s a i d ring/when s a i d r i n gi s f o l d e d , t o i n s u r e separation o f the t w o p a r t so f s a i d r i n g a nd proper o p e n i n g . o f the s l e e v ewhen t h e t a r g e t i s launched f r o m a n a i r p l a n e i n?ight. ~ ' '

. 6 . A r i d l e f o r a s l e e v e t y p e a e r i a l tow t a r g e t ih a v i n g a f o l d i n g mouth i n g , c o m p r i s i n g a p l u

1 0

1 5

i n ? a t i o n 0 1 ' s a i d s l e e v e y w h e n

r a l i t y o i b r i d l e r o p e s a d a p t e d f o r a t t a c h m e n t ' a ti n t e r v a l s a r o u n d " t h e mouth o f s a i d , s l e e v e andc o n v e r g i n g t o a common p o i n t o f a t t a c h m e n twith a t o w l i n e , and a t r a n s v e r s e member connecting ' t w o o p p o s i t e ones o r s a i d b r i d l e ropesp r o p e r o p e n i n g o f sa i d f o l d i n g r i n g andthe t a r g e t i slaunched from a n ' a i r p l a n e i n ?ight. ' W7 . In a s l e e v e t y p e a e r i a l tow t a r g e t , a f o l d i n gc i r c u l a r mouth r i n g c o m p r i s i n g a p a i r o f s e m ic i r c u l a r p a r t s , e a c h p a r t h a v i n g a d i a m e t r i c e l e

t o i n s u r e

m e ' n t i n t e g r a l t h e r e w i t h , and h i n g e means conenecting s a i d t w o elements f o r f o l d i n g one o i . said' p a r ts back upon the other p a r t. I ,

FRANK G. MANSON.v/ JALIIES J . MASKEY.

cloth tow target sleeve (1941)

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