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2 , 1 8 3 , 5 4 0ec. 1 9 , 1939. D . H . CAMPBELL Er ALTARGET TOWING DEVICEF i l e d n e c . 2 o , 1 9 3 8

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D e c . 1 9 , 1 9 3 9 .

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D . H . CAMPBELL ET ALTARGET TowING DEVICEF i l e d n e c . 2 o , 1 9 3 8

2 , 1 8 3 , 5 4 02 Sheets-Sheet 2

INVENTORS_ D W - g n e H . a m p b e l lB Y H.Blf-@10m

ATTORNEY

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` P a t e n t e d D e c . 1 9 x , 1 9 3 9

UNITED STATES2 , 1 8 3 , 5 4 0

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A T E N T oFFIETARGET 'roWINcfv DEvIcE .

Dwayne H . c a m p b e l l a n d H a r o l d H . E n g l a n d , United States NavyA p p l i c a t i o n December 2 0 , 1 9 3 8 , S e r i a l N o . 2 4 6 , 7 8 6

7 C l a i m s .( G r a n t e d u n d e r _ t h e a c t o f( C l . 2 7 3 - 1 0 5 , ? )M a r c h s , 1 8 8 s . y a sa m e nde d A p r i l 3 0 , 1 9 2 , 8 ; 3 7 0 0 . G . 7 5 7 ' )

' I _ h i s i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o t a r g e t t o w i n g d ev i c e s and i t has a p a r t i c u l a r r e l a t i o n t o d e v i c e s 4f o r t o w i n g t a r g e t s b y , . a i r c r a f t d u r i n g a n t i - a i rcraft'gunnery practice. " >The p r i n c i p a l O b j e c t o f 4 t h i s i n v e n t i o n i s t h ep r o v i s i o n o f a . d e v i c e o f t h e c h a r a c t e r d e s c r i b e dwhich i n c l u d e s m e a n s f o r housing th e t a r g e t a n di t s towing l i n e in s u c h . m a n n e r that when thet a r g e t i s l a u n c h e d ' i t w i l l b e p o s i t i v e l y e x p e l l e df r o m I i t s , c o n t a i n e r and d r a w , i t s to w l i n e a f t e ri t w i t h o u t t h e f o u l n g l o r bunching o f t h e y l a t t e r ,a n d which may e packed f o r launching with > aminimum o f time a n d l a b o r .With t h i s a n d o t h e r o b j e c t s i n V i e w , a s w e l l; a s other advantages that may be i n c i d e n t t o t h euse o f the improvements, the i n v e n t i o n c o n s i s t si n t h e . p a r t s a nd combinations t h e r e o f h e r e i na f t e r s e t f o r t h a nd claimedwith t h e understandi n g t h a t t h e s e v e r a l n e c e s s a r y v e l e m e n t s c o n s t i

, t u t i n g t h e same may e v a r i e d in p r o p o r t i o n a n darrangement w i t h o u t d e p a r t i n g from t h e n a t u r ea n d s c o p e o f t h e i n v e n t i o n , a s d e f i n e d i n t h e appended claims. '

In v o r d e r t o make t h e A i n v e n t i o n mor e c l e a r l yu n d e r s t o o d , t h e r e a r e shown i n t h e ac c omp anyingd r a w i n g s , me a ns f o r c a r r y i n g t h e i n v e n t i o n i n t op r a c t i c a l u s e , w i t h o u t l i m i t i n g t h e improvementsvi n t h e i r u s e f u l a p p l i c a t i o n t o the p a r t i c u l a r cons t r u c t i o n , w h i c h , f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f e x p l a n a t i o n ,have been m a d e the s u b j e c t o f i l l u s t r a t i o n .In the accompanying drawin g s:

F i g . v 1 i s a s i d e l e l e v a t i o n a l view with p a r t sbroken a w a y o f a n a e r i a l t a r g e t towing d e v i c ec o n s t r u c t e d i n accordance with t h e i n v e n t i o n ;

F i g . 2 i s a view o f the a f t e r e n d o f the structureshown i n F i g . 1 with t h e t a r g e t removed;F i g . 3 i s a s i d e e l e v a t i o n a l view on a l a r g e r

s c a l e o f . t h e s t r u c t u r e shown i n F i g . 1 a f t e r t h et a r g e t h a s b e e n l a u n c h e d ; >F i g . 4 i s a n e n l a r g e d fragmentary s e c t i o n a lview taken on l i n e 4-4 o f f - F i g . 1 a n dF i g . 5 i s a n e n l a r g e d d e t a i l view o f the tow l i n e

releasing mechanism. ' yR e f e r r i n g t o t h e d r a w i n g s , t h e i m p r o v e d t a r g e ttowing d e v i c e comprises a c y l i n d r i c a l container

l h av i ng a rounded forward e n - d I I a n d a n openafter e n d I 2 . This container i s provided with ac i r c u m f e r e n t i a l b a nd o r s t r a p I 3 i n t e r m e d i a t e o fi t s ends w hic h i s f o r me d with ears I 4 a t i t s u pper ends f o r att ac h me nt b y m e a n s of a b o l t I 5t o th e middle o f a p a i r o f p a r a l l e l spaced supp o r t i n g b a r s I 6 . ' I h e s e b a r s i n t h e p r e s e n t i nstance f o r m a part o f a conventional bomb rackand are secured at t h e i r f o r w ar d a n d rear endsby m e a n s o f b o l t s I ' I a n d I B t o b r a c k e t s I 9 a n d

2 @ r e s p e c t i v e l y , xed t o t h e under s u r f a c e o f a na i r p l a n e wing 2 | . The c o n t a i n e r I i s p r e v e n t e dfrom t u r n i n g mo v e me nt by tw o a r c u a t e s t e a d y n g s a d d l e s . 2 . 2 a l s o f i x e d between t h e b a r s I 6 byb o l t s A c o i l o f tow l i n e 2 4 i s f i t t e d snuglywith the forward p o r t i o n o f the c o n t a i n e r a n d i sh e l d a g a i n s t premature u n c o i l i n g o r c o l l a p s e bya wooden block 2 5 i n the rou nded end I I o f th econtainer a n d a pair o f spaced p a r a l l e l rods 2 6extending v e r t i c a l l y through t h e c o n t a i n e r I l ) "a n d removably s e c u r e d t h e r e t o . The end o f theo u t e r c o n v o l u t i o n o f t h e l i n e extends forwardlya l o n g t h e bottom o f t h e c o n t a i n e r a nd o u t o f i t srear e n d a n d i s provided with a n ey e 2 l ' f o reng ag ement by a l a t c h p i n 2 8 y which i s s l i d a b l ym o u n t e d i n e a r s 2 _ 9 forming a part o f a bracketS l i x e d toa s t r u t 3 l o f a , p o n t oo n 32 ( F i g . 5 ) .The p i n 2 B . i s urged downwardly by a c o i l s p r i n g3 3 i n t e r p o s e d between t h e uppermost o f t h e e a r s2 9 a n d a n ear 3 4 , a l s o form ed on th e bracket 3 0 .The p i n 2 B maybe e t r a c t e d by t h e p i l o t wh enhe d e s i r e s . t o . r e l e a s e t h e tow l i n e an d t a r g e t , bymeans of a ca b l e 3 . 5 , the lower e n d of wh i ch i s s e -c ured to an e y e 36 on the pin 28 and w h i c h eX-t e n d s v upwardly i n t o t h e f u s e l a g e .The end o f th e i n n e r convolution o f th e towl i n e a l s o extends rearwardly between th e r o d s 2 Ba n d i s provided with a detachable s nap t t i n g 3 lf o r e n g a g e m e n t with a ring 3 8 on th e b r i d l e 3 9 o fa t a r g e t t 8 which i s c a r e f u l l y f o l d e d a n d snuglyp a ckedi n th e r e a r en d o f th e container I 0 . Th et a r g e t l l i ) , p r e f e r a b l y o f canvas a nd o f y c y l i n d r i c a lform when e x t e n - d e d ( F i g . 3 ) , i s u r g e d o u t w a r d l yo f t h e c o n t a i n e r by a p l u r a l i t y o f c r o s s e d e l a s t i cc o r d s o r b u n g e e s l l l ' , th e ends o f w h i c h ` a r e l o o p e dover hooks 42 carried b y th e container I l l . Be -f r i r e v t h e t a r g e t i s i n s e r t e d i n t h e c o n t a i n e r t h e s ecords 4 I extend transversely a c r o s s the open e n do f the container I B , a s show n in F i g . 2 , but ares t r e t c h e d i n w a r d l y , a s shown i n F i g . 1 when t h ef o l d e d t a r g e t i s pushed i n t o t h e c o n t a i n e r . P r emature launching o f t h e t a r g e t i s p r e v e n t e d by ag a t e 4 3 , h e r e i n shown a s ' c o m p r i s i n g a s t r a p o rb a r , ` which i s . hingedat l i l l t o t h e l o w e r e d g e o ft h e r e a r e n d - o f t h e c o n t a i n e r E l a n d whichisr e l e a s a b l y engaged at t s 4 u p p e r end by a l a t c h yhook 4 5 . p i v o t e d on t h e u p p e r r e a r e d g e o f t h ec o n t a i n e r a n d actuated by a c a b l e 4 6 extendingforwardly between the supporting b a r s I 6 a n d u pi n t o the c o c k p i t o f the a i r c r a f t . In a d d i t i o n t ot h e opening t h r u s t o f t h e t a r g e t , t h e g a t e 4 3 i surged toward i t s f u l l open p o s i t i o n by a n e l a s t i ccord i l which s secured a t i t s rear e nd t o th e gatea n d a t i t s forward en d t o the underside o f thec o n t a i n e r . When t h e l a t c h hook 4 5 i s a c t u a t e d 55

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2t o launch t h e p a r a c h u t e , t h e c o r d 4 1 s w i n g s t h eg a t e d o w n w a r d l y . and f o r w a r d l y t o a h o r i z o n t a lp o s i t i o n i n which i t i s engaged by a s p r i n g l a t c h4 8 ( F i g . 4 ) . T h e t a r g e t , when t h e g a t e i s t h u sr e l e a s e d , i s e x p e l l e d from t h e c o n t a i n e r by t h ee l a s t i c c o r d s 4 | , t h e ' l i n e 2 4 p a y i n g o u t f r e e l y b etween the r o d s 2 6 u n t i l the c o i l i s completely u nw o u n d a n d th e l i n e a n d t a r g e t a r e towed f romt h e l a t c h p i n 2 8 .In o r d e r t o p r e v e n t t h e s e v e r a l l a t c h e s fromb e i n g r e l e a s e d by v i b r a t i o n o r s h o c k , they may es e c u r e d i n p o s i t i o n by t w i n e which i s b r e a k a b l ewh e n the l a t c h e s a r e i n t e n t i o n a l l y a c t u a t e d .

I t w i l l b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e above d e s c r i p t i o nand accompanying d r a w i n g s comprehend o n l yt h e g e n e r a l and p r e f e r r e d embodiment o f t h e i nv e n t i o n , a nd t h a t v a r i o u s o t h e r changes i n thec o n s t r u c t i o n , p r o p o r t i o n and arrangement o f t h ep a r t s may be m a d e b y those s k i l l e d i n the a r twithout d e p a r t i n g from th e nature a n d s c o p e o fth e i n v e n t i o n a s d e f i n e d i n the appended c l a i m s .The invention d e s c r i b e d herein may be manuf a c t u r e d and/or used by o r f o r the Governme nto f t h e United S t a t e s o f America f o r governmentalp u r p o s e s w i t h o u t t h e payment o f l a n y r o y a l t i e sthereon or therefor.We l a i m :l . A i r c r a f t t a r g e t t o w i n g d e v i c e c o m p r i s i n g a

c y l i n d r i c a l c o n t a i n e r adapted t o b e s e c u r e d h o r iz o n t a l l y t o the under r i g g i n g o f a n a i r c r a f t a n dwithin the s l i p s t r e a m t h e r e o f , a c o i l o f l i n e d i sposed i n t h e forward end of s a i d c o n t a i n e r a n dhaving one en d t h e r e o f f i x e d with r e s p e c t t o s a i da i r c r a f t , a f l e x i b l e t a r g e t f o l d e d i n t o the r e a r endo f s a i d c o n t a i n e r a n d f i x e d > t o the o t h e r en d o fs a i d l i n e , m e a n s f o r r e l e a s a b l y r e t a i n i n g s a i d t a rg e t i n s a i d c o n t a i n e r , a n d m e a n s f o r e x p e l l i n gs a i d t a r g e t r e a r w a r d l y from s a i d c o n t a i n e r wh ens a i d r e t a i n i n g m e a n s s r e l e a s e d .2 . A i r c r a f t t a r g e t towing d e v i c e comprising ac o n t a i n e r adapted t o be s e c u r e d t o the under r i gging o f a n a i r c r a f t , a c o i l o f l i n e disposed i n th eforward end o f s a i d c o n t a i n e r a n d having oneen d o f an o u t e r convolution t h e r e o f f i x e d withr e s p e c t t o s a i d a i r c r a f t , a f l e x i b l e t a r g e t f o l d e di n t o th e r e a r e n d o f s a i d container a n d f i x e d t oth e e n d o f a n inner convolution o f s a i d l i n e , a n dr e s i l i e n t m e a n s f o r e x p e l l i n g s a i d t a r g e t froms a i d c o n t a i n e r .3 . A i r c r a f t t a r g e t towing d e v i c e comprising ac o n t a i n e r adapted t o be s e c u r e d t o t h e under r i gg i n g o f a n a i r c r a f t , a c o i l o f l i n e disposed i n theforward en d o f s a i d c o n t a i n e r a n d having oneend t h e r e o f f i x e d with r e s p e c t t o s a i d a i r c r a f t , ai i e x i b l e t a r g e t f o l d e d i n t o the r e a r en d o f s a i dc o n t a i n e r a n d f i x e d t o t h e o t h e r end o f s a i d l i n e ,a nd a p l u r a l i t y o f r e s i l i e n t c o r d s e x t e n d i n g a l o n gth e s i d e s o f the f o l d e d t a r g e t a n d a c r o s s the f o rward end t h e r e o f f o r e x p e l l i n g s a i d t a r g e t froms a i d c o n t a i n e r .4 . A i r c r a f t t a r g e t towing d e v i c e comprising ac o n t a i n e r adapted t o b e s e c u r e d t o t h e under r i gging o f a n a i r c r a f t , a c o i l o f l i n e disposed i n th eforward en d o f s a i d c o n t a i n e r a n d having one en dt h e r e o f f i x e d with r e s p e c t t o s a i d a i r c r a f t , me a nsextending a c r o s s th e r e a r en d o f s a i d c o i l f o r supp o r t i n g s a i d c o i l a g a i n s t c o l l a p s e , a f l e x i b l e t a rg e t f o l d e d i n t o the r e a r end o f s a i d c o n t a i n e r a n d

2 , 1 8 3 , 5 4 0f i x e d t o t h e o t h e r end o f s a i d l i n e , r e s i l i e n t m e a n sf o r e x p e l l i n g s a i d t a r g e t from s a i d c o n t a i n e r ,r e t a i n i n g m e a n s f o r r e l e a s a b l y h o l d i n g s a i d t a rg e t i n s a i d c o n t a i n e r a g a i n s t t h e a c t i o n o f s a i de x p e l l i n g means, an d l a t c h me a ns c o n t r o l l a b l e byt h e p i l o t f o r r e l e a s i n g s a i d r e t a i n i n g m e a n s t op e r m i t o f t h e e x p u l s i o n o f s a i d t a r g e t a nd t h eunwnding o f s a i d c o i l o f l i n e , whereby s a i d t a rg e t may be towed by s a i d a i r c r a f t a t a p r e d e t e rmined d i s t a n c e t h e r e f r o m .5 . A i r c r a f t t a r g e t towing d e v i c e c o m p r i s i n g ac o n t a i n e r adapted t o be s e c u r e d t o t h e underr i g g i n g o f a n a i r c r a f t , a c o i l o f l i n e d i s p o s e d i nthe forward end o f s a i d c o n t a i n e r a n d having oneen d t h e r e o f f i x e d with r e s p e c t t o s a i d a i r c r a f t , ap l u r a l i t y o f r e m o v a b l e r o d s f o r s u p p o r t i n g s a i dc o i l a g a i n s t c o l l a p s e , a f l e x i b l e t a r g e t f o l d e d i n t othe rear en d o f s a i d container a n d f i x e d t o theo t h e r end o f s a i d l i n e , r e s i l i e n t m e a n s f o r e x p e ll i n g s a i d t a r g e t from s a i d c o n t a i n e r , r e t a i n i n gm e a n s f o r r e l e a s a b l y h o l d i n g s a i d t a r g e t i n s a i dc o n t a i n e r a g a i n s t t h e a c t i o n o f s a i d e x p e l l i n gmeans, a nd l a t c h m e a n s c o n t r o l l a b l e b y t h e p i l o tf o r r e l e a s i n g s a i d r e t a i n i n g m e a n s t o permit o ft h e e x p u l s i o n o f s a i d t a r g e t a nd t h e unwndingo f s a i d c o i l o f l i n e , whereby s a i d t a r g e t may betowed by s a i d a i r c r a f t a t a predetermined d i stance t h e r e f r o m .6 . A i r c r a f t t a r g e t towing d e v i c e c o m p r i s i n g ac o n t a i n e r open a t i t s r e a r e nd a n d adapted t o besecured t o th e under r i g g i n g o f a n a i r c r a f t , a c o i lo f l i n e d i s p o s e d in th e forward en d o f s a i d cont a i n e r a n d having one en d t h e r e o f f i x e d withr e s p e c t t o s a i d a i r c r a f t , a f l e x i b l e t a r g e t f o l d e di n t o t h e r e a r en d o f s a i d container a n d xed t othe o t h e r e nd o f s a i d l i n e , e l a s t i c m e m b e r s r el e a s a b l y s e c u r e d t o t h e r e a r o f s a i d c o n t a i n e r a nde x t e n s i b l e i n t o s a i d c o n t a i n e r whe n t h e t a r g e t i si n s e r t e d t h e r e i n f o r e x p e l l i n g s a i d t a r g e t froms a i d c o n t a i n e r , a s t r a p hinged t o s a i d c o n t a i n e ra n d extending a c r o s s the open e nd t h e r e o f f o rr e l e a s a b l y h o l d i n g s a i d t a r g e t i n s a i d c o n t a i n e ra g a i n s t t h e a c t i o n o f s a i d e x p e l l i n g means, a n dl a t c h m e a n s c o n t r o l l a b l e by t h e p i l o t f o r r e l e a si n g s a i d r e t a i n i n g m e a n s t o permit o f t h e e xp u l s i o n o f s a i d t a r g e t a nd t h e unwnding o f s a i dc o i l o f l i n e , whereby s a i d t a r g e t may be towed bys a i d a i r c r a f t a t a predetermined d i s t a n c e t h e r e from.7 . A i r c r a f t t a r g e t towing d e v i c e c o m p r i s i n g ac o n t a i n e r adapted t o be s e c u r e d t o t h e under r i gging o f a n a i r c r a f t , a c o i l o f l i n e d i s p o s e d i n theforward e n d o f s a i d c o n t a i n e r a n d having oneen d t h e r e o f r e l e a s a b l y s e c u r e d t o s a i d a i r c r a f t , af l e x i b l e t a r g e t f o l d e d i n t o th e r e a r end o f s a i dc o n t a i n e r a nd f i x e d t o t h e o t h e r end o f s a i d l i n e ,r e s i l i e n t m e a n s f o r e x p e l l i n g s a i d t a r g e t from s a i dc o n t a i n e r , r e t a i n i n g m e a n s f o r r e l e a s a b l y h o l d i n gs a i d t a r g e t i n s a i d c o n t a i n e r a g a i n s t t h e a c t i o no f s a i d e x p e l l i n g means, a n d l a t c h m e a n s cont r o l l a b l e by t h e p i l o t f o r r e l e a s in g s a i d r e t a i n i n gme a ns t o p e r m i t o f t h e e x p u l s i o n o f s a i d t a r g e ta n d t h e unwnding o f s a i d c o i l o f l i n e , wherebys a i d t a r g e t may be towed by s a i d a i r c r a f t a t ap r e d e t e r m i n e d d i s t a n c e t h e r e f r o m .

DWAYNE . CANIPBELL.HAROLD H. ENGLAND.

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