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2 , 3 8 2 , 8 5 4ug. 1 4 , 1 9 4 5 . A . E . BRICKMANAIRPLANE TOW TARGET_RELEASE DEVICE

Filed Jan. 2 2 , 1944

, \. nm E

INVENTORIVA

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Patented Aug. 1 4 , 1945 2 , 3 8 2 , 8 5 4

U N I T E D S T A T E S P A T E N T o r r v i c gAIRPLANETOWTARGET ELEASE DEVICEAlan E . Brickman, New aven, C o n n . , a s s i g n o r t oThe American S t e e l a n d Wire Compa ny o f NewJ e r s e y , a c o r p o r a t i o n o f New J e r s e yA p p l i c a t i o n J a n u a r y 2 2 , 1 9 4 4 , S e r i a l N o . > 5 1 9 , 3 8 5

11 Claims. ( 0 1 . 2735-1054)T h i s i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o a i r p l a n e tow t a r g e t s ,

a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y , t o a n improved m e a n s or devicef o r r e l e a s i n g t a r g e t s towed by a i r c r a f t f o r u s e i ngunnery p r a c t i c e .

( I t i s now common practice t o employed a r el e a s e device on the en d o f a target t ow cable f o rr e p l a c i n g the used t a r g e t beingtowed with a n ewt a r g e t . In o r d e r t o r e p l a c e t h e t a r g e t b e i n gtowed'with a n ew t a r g e t , t h e l a t t e r t a r g e t whichi s f o l d e d a n d secured by a r i p c o r d , i s secured t oa ring placed on the t ow l i n e a n d launched fromt h e p l a n e . T he r i n g i s threaded onto the towc a b l e a n d t h e forward motion o f t h e p l a n e drawst h e t ow c a b l e a n d r e l e a s e d e v i c e through t h e r i n gu n t i l t h e r i n g s t r i k e s a p r o j e c t i n g p o r t i o n u s u a l l yc a r r i e d by t h e r e l e a s e d e v i c e . The r e s u l t a n t j e r kr e l e a s e s t h e r i p cord a n d t h e t a r g e t opens up duet o t h e wind v e l o c i t y a n d i s i n t o w . After a predetermined a m o u n t o f target s h o o t i n g , a n ewt a r g e t , i n bundled form, i s launched i n the s a m em a n n e r . As the ring passes over the r e l e a s i n gd e v i c e , i t d e p r e s s e s u s u a l l y a t r i g g e r arrangementwhich i n turn withdraws t h e p r o j e c t i n g p o r t i o n

1 5

t o which the ring o f the spent target i s attached .a n d the ring passes o f f the r e l e a s e device a n d thet a r g e t r e l e a s e s i t from t ow a n d i t f a l l s t o t h eearth for recovery and scoring.

Various t y p e s o f r e l e a s e d e v i c e s have been heret o f o r e suggested a n d u s e d . O n e o f the mostcommon types used c o n s i s t s o f a l o n g i t u d i n a l l ye x t e n d i n g r a t h e r heavy c y l i n d r i c a l body memberhaving a t r i g g e r a n d hook r e l e a s e mechanism.Such a r e l e a s e device has been found t o be u ns a t i s f a ct o r y f o r s e v e r a l r e a s o n s .p l a c e , t h e r i n g member o f t h e r e p l a c e m e n t t a r g e toftentimes sheared the t ow c a b l e a t a p o i n t i m - m e d i a t e l y n e x t t o t h e heavy body m e m b e r du e t ot h e speed a t which the r i n g p a s s e s o v e r the t owc a b l e a n d t h e Weight o f t h e r e l e a s e m e c h a n i s m .A l s o , a heavy r e l e a s e d e v i c e o r assembly t e n d s t owhip about on the en d o f the tow c a b l e a n d oftent i m e s , t h e r i n g o f t h e replacement t a r g e t p a s s e so v e r t h e t r i g g e r without r e l e a s i n g t h e s p e n t t a rg e t a n d , a t o t h e r t i m e s , both t h e n ew targettogether with the spent t a r g e t w o u l d pass c omp l e t e l y over a n d o f f the r e l e a s e d e v i c e with ther e s u l t that there wa s a l o s s of a target a n d thatn o target wa s i n tow. Thus, i t w i l l be seen thatthe use o f such a r e l e a s e d e v i c e not only r e s u l t e di n damagi ng t h e tow c a b l e but a l s o r e s u l t e d i nl o s s o f the t a r g e t a t t i m e s , a n d d e l a y o r incomp l e t i o n o f gunnery p r a c t i c e .

A c c o r d i n g l y , i t i s t he g e n e r a l o b j e c t o f t h ep r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n t o p r o v i d e a n improved tow

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t a r g e t ' r e l e a s e devicewhereby a l l o f t h e a b o v ementioneddisadvantages are eliminated. ,I t i s anotherobject o f t h i s i n v e n t i o n t o p r o v i d e ,a n improved t ow t a r g e t r e l e a s e d e v i c e which i sr e l a t i v e l y l i g h t i n i t s c o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d , s u b s t a nt i a l l y f o o l p r o o f i n i t s use s o a s t o i n s u r e - t h e r e - pl a c e m e n t o f a spent target with a new a r g e t . . .

I t v i s a f u r t h e r o b j e c t o f t h i s ' i n v e n t i o n t o prov i d e - a n improved tow t a r g e t r e l e a s e d e v i c e whichi s s i m p l e and i n e x p e n s i v e i n i t s c o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d , ~a t the s a m e time, e f f i c i e n t a n d v e f f e c t i v e in i t s u s e .V a r i o u s o t h e r o b j e c t s a n d - a d v a n t a g e s o f t h i sinvention w i l l be more apparent i n the course o ft h e f o l l o w i n g s p e c i ? c a t i o n a nd w i l l b e p a r t i c u l a r l ypointed out n the appended c l a i m s . . - ,I n t h e - a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a w i n g t h e r e i s s h o w n ,f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f , i l l u s t r a t i o n , an-embodimentwhich my i n v e n t i o n may a ssume i n p r a c t i c e .Inthedrawing: g , Figure i s aside e l e v a t i o n a l View o f t h e o u t e ren d o f a n a i r p l a n e tow t a r g e t c a b l e i n t o w , showi n g ' t h e improved r e l e a s e d e v i c e o f m y - i n v e n t i o ni n c o r p o r a t e d t h e r e w i t h t o g e t h e r w i t h a tow t a r g e tconnectedqthereto;" I - 1 - l- ' ~ ,Figure 2 i s a n enlarged s i d e e l e v a t i o n a l view o fmy improvedrelease d e v i c e showing t h e p a r t s

t h e r e o f i n t h e i r r e l e a s a b l e p o s i t i o n ;F i g u r e 3 ' i s a n e n l a r g e d s i d e view o f t h e o u t e re n d of my i m pr o v ed release device; and

Figure 4 i s a sectional view tak en on l i n e IV-'IVof Figure 3. ' ' rReferring more p a r t i c u l a r l y t o t he drawing,

t h e r e i s :shown i n Figure 1 , a t a r g e t t o w ' c a b l e2'having t h e " inner en d t h e r e o f attached t o a na i r c r a f t ; On the outer end o f the t ow c a b l e ,t h e r e i s arranged a connecting m e m b e r 3 havinga n e y e ' p o r t i o n , > 4 v t o which t h e improved r e l e a s ed e v i c e 5 v o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s p i v o t a l l yconnected i n ' a m a n n e r h e r e i n a f t e r t o \ b e . d es c r i b e d . On he o u t e r en d o f t h e r e l e a s e d e v i c e5 , t h e r e i s r e l e a s a b l y c o n n e c t e d t h e r e t o , a t a r g e tl e a d c a b l e 6 having a t r a v e l e r r i n g 1 arrangedorithe i n n e r en d t h e r e o f by which i t i s attachedt o the r e l e a s e " d e v i c e ' , a n d on the outer en d o ft h e l e a d c a b l e , t h e r e i s d i s p o s e d a t a r g e t 8 .The'improved r e l e a s e device 5 o f t h e presenti n v e n t i o n , a s more c l e a r l y shown i n F i g u r e s 2 ,v 3 a n d 4 , comprises a r e s i l i e n t m e t a l l i c m em ber ,p r e f e r a b l y m a d e o f round w i r e , which i s bentuponitself so'as toprovide a longitudinally extending body m e m b e r having a s u b s t a n t i a l l y Ushaped portion 9 arranged on on e en d thereofwith t h e f r e e ends l 0 a n d I 2 o f the same beingnormally spaced from each o t h e r du e t o the r es i l i e n c y v t h e r e o f . On h e o u t e r s i d e o f t h e o u t e r

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2en d o f the f r e e end I I J , t h e r e i s d i s p o s e d a ne n l a r g e d p o r t i o n I 3 which i s p r e f e r a b l y formedby bending t h e en d o f t h e f r e e en d i n t o the formo f a hook a n d inserting a n irregular-shaped member or slug I 4 in the hook portion, a s more l e a r l yshown in Figure 3 o f the drawing. The i n s e r tmember I 4 i s p r e f e r a b l y welded i n p o s i t i o n i nt h e hook p o r t i o n s o a s t o b e s e c u r e l y h e l d t h e r e i na n d c o n s t r u c t e d s o a s t o e n t i r e l y ? l l t h e same.Intermediate t h e l e n g t h o f t h e f r e e en d I 0 , t h e r ei s a r r a n g e d an outw a rdly e x t e n d i n g 0r cam por-t i o n I 5 . In o t h e r w o r d s , t h e f r e e end I 0 i s p r e ferably bent so a s to form a cam portion on t heo u t e r s i d e t h e r e o f i n t e r m e d i a t e the length o fthesame. I . _ gT he outer en d o f the opposed f r e e en d I 2 i sbent inwardly a n d outwardly s o a s t o provide a na n g u l a r o r , p r e f e r a b l y a n a r c u a t e - s h a p e d p o r t i o nI 6 adjacent t h e en d t h e r e o f . On t h e extremeo u t e r end o f the f r e e end I 2 beyond t h e a r c u a t eshaped p o r t i o n I 6 , t h e r e i s a r r a n g e d a l o n g it u d i n a l l y e x t e n d i n g ? n g e r - l i k e p o r t i o n I ! whichi s d i s p o s e d beyond t h e e n l a r g e d p o r t i o n I 3 o f t h efree end I0 . 'There i s a t t a c h e d t o the f r e e en d I 2 a t a p o i n ta d j a c e n t t h e a r c u a t e - s h a p e d p o r t i o n I 6 t h e r e o f ,p r e f e r a b l y aninwardly e x t e n d i n g m e t a l l i c Ushaped m e m b e r I 8 with t h e extreme ends o f t h ef r e e ends o f t h e U-shaped members d i s p o s e d t oe i t h e r s i d e o f t h e f r e e e n d I 2 a n d s e c u r e d t h e r e t opreferably by a b a l l a n d peen connection a sa t I 9 . The U - s h a p e d m em ber I 8 s t r a d d l e s t h eopposed f r e e end I 0 a n d i s p o s i t i o n e d betweent h e c a m p o r t i o n I 5 a n d the e n l a r g e d p o r t i o nI 3 c a r r i e d t h e r e b y . By p r o v i d i n g such a cons t r u c t i o n , i t w i l l be seen that t h e f r e e en d I 0 i smovable r e l a t i v e t o t h e opposed f r e e end I 2 t og e t h e r with t h e U ' - s h a p e d m em ber I 8 c a r r i e dt h e r e b y . T he f r e e en d I 2 p r e f e r a b l y has a camp o r t i o n 2 0 arranged t h e r e i n a t a p o i n t i m m ed i a t e l y ' f o r w a r d l y o f t h e U-shaped me mbe r I 8f o r a purpose l a t e r t o be d e s c r i b e d . The s i d e so f both f r e e ends I 8 a n d I 2 a t a point o p p o s i t ethe U-shaped m e m b e r I 8 a r e p r e f e r a b l y ?attenedas at 2 | s o as t o provide a n area o f greater beari n g s u r f a c e f o r t h e U - s h a p e d me mbe r I 8 .T he i m p r o v e d r e l e a s e d e v i c e o f my inventionfunctions in the f o l l o w i n g ma n n e r. I t w i l l be a ss u m e d that a target isin t ow a n d un der such cond i t i o n s , t h e t ow c a b l e , the r e l e a s e d e v i c e a n d t h et ow t a r g e t w i l l assume the p o s i t i o n , a s shown i nFigure 1 o f the drawing. I t willbe seen thatt h e U-shaped p o r t i o n 9 o f t h e r e l e a s e d e v i c e 5 i s p o s i t i o n e d i n the e y e - 4 o f the connection 3 o nthe en d o f the t ow l i n e s o a s t o b e p i v o t a l l ya t t a c h e d t h e r e t o . When h e t a r g e t ' i s - i n x t o w , i tw i l l beseen t h a t t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g I ' o f t h e t a r g e ti s disposed on the outer e n d o f t h e " r e l e a s e d e v i c es o that on e side thereof r e s t s upon the outer orupper s i d e o f t h e U-shaped m em ber I 8 a n d a b u t sa g a i n s t t h e e n l a r g e d p o r t i o n I 3 ' o f the f r e e en dI n o f the body m e m b e r a n d the o p p o s i t e s i d eo f t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g a b u t s a g a i n s t t h e ? n g e r - l i k ep o r t i o n I I o f t h e f r e e en d I 2 . In o t h e r w o r d s ,t h e e n l a r g e d p o r t i o n I 3 a n d t h e ? n g e r - l i k e port i o n I ! a r e d i s p o s e d d i a m e t r i ca l l y o p po s i t e eacho t h e r w i t h i n t h e t r a v e l e r - r i n g ' I a nd r e s t a g a i n s tt h e i n n e r periphery o f t h e r i n g . I t . w i l l beunderstood t h a t i n o r d e r t o m a i n t a i n : thetravelerring on the en d o f the r e l e a s e d e v i c e i n sucha manner, t h a t t h e d i s t a n c e between the i n n e rs i d e o f the enlarged p o r t i o n I 3 a n d the o u t e ren d o f t h e ? n g e r - l i k e p o r t i o n I 1 i s g r e a t e r thant h e i n n e r d i a m e t e r o f t h e v t r a v e l e r r i n g 1 1 .As shown i n Figure 1 o f the drawing, a f t e r a

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2 , 3 8 2 , 8 5 4s u ? i c i e n t a m o u n t o f gunnery p r a c t i c e ha s beenha d with a t a r g e t i n t o w , a n d i t i s d e s i r e d t or e p l a c e t h i s spent t a r g e t with a n ew t a r g e t , t h et r a v e l e r r i n g 1 o f a new a r g e t i n bundled formi s threaded a t t he a i r c r a f t onto the t ow cable 2 ,a n d the traveler ring 1 together with the newt a r g e t 8 attached t h e r e t o p a s s e s b ack o v e r t h etow c a b l e a n d o v e r theconnection 3 onto t h er e l e a s e d e v i c e 5 , a s shown i n the broken l i n e s o fF i g u r e 2 , du e t o t h e v e l o c i t y o f t h e a i r c r a f t a ndt he w i n d . Upon r e a c h i n g t h e r e l e a s e d e v i c e 5 ,the t r a v e l e r r i n g I w i l l continue i n i t s s l i d i n gmo v e m e n t thereover a n d s t r i k e the cam portionI 5 o f the f r e e en d I l l thereby d e p r e s s i n g the s a m ea n d m o v in g i t toward the f r e e en d I 2 , a s showni n the f u l l l i n e s o f Figure 2 . In order t o o b t a i nt h i s d e p r e s s i n g a c t i o n , i t w i l l be understood t h a tt h e d i s t a n c e normally between the o u t e r s i d e o fthe c a m portion I 5 o f the f r e e en d I n a n d theo u t e r s i d e o f t h e , f r e e end I 2 i s g r e a t e r than t h ei n n e r diameter o f t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g I . When h ef r e e en d I 0 i s depressed o r f o r c e d toward t h eopposed f r e e en d I 2 , i t w i l l be seen that the enl a r g e d p o r t i o n I 3 c a r r i e d t h e r e b y i s moved i nwardly o r below t he o u t e r s u r f a c e o f the Us h a p e d member I 8 , asshown i n F i g u r e 2 , t h u sp e r m i t t i n g t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g I o f t h e s p e n t t a r g e tt o pass o f f v t h e en d o f the r e l e a s e d e v i c e 5 a n dt h e s p e n t t a r g e t then f a l l s t o t h e e a r t h . A f t e rthe t r a v e l e r r i n g I of the replacement o r n ewt a r g e t ha s passed o v e r ' t h e cam o r t i o n I 5 o f t h ef r e e en d I I ) , t h i s f r e e end w i l l move outwardlya n d away from the f r e e end I 2 du e t o the r e s i l ~i e n c y t h e r e o f a n d again a s s u m e i t s normal p o s i

' tion against the inner side o f the U-shaped member I 8 w i t h t h e e n l a r g e d p o r t i o n I 3 p r o j e c t i n gtherebeyond, a s shown i n the broken l i n e s o fFigures 2 . T he t r a v e l e r r i n g I o f t h e n ew t a r g e tw i l l continue t o s l i d e over the r e l e a s e d e v i c e a n dpass over the U-shaped vmember I 8 u n t i l theinner o r upper s i d e o f the t r a v e l e r r i n g I s t r i k e sthe e n l a r g e d p o r t i o n I 3 o f t h e f r e e en d I I ] . Theo p p o s i t e o r lower s i d e o f the t r a v e l e r r i n g I w i l lco n ti n ue t o move up over the arcu ate-shapedp o r t i o n I I i o f t h e f r ' e e en d I 2 u n t i l t h e o u t e r s i d et h e r e o f s t r i k e s t h e ? n g e r - l i k e p o r t i o n I ! c a r r i e dthereby during which time the t a r g e t 8 w i l l openu p from i t s o r i g i n a l bundled f o r m t o the expanded form a s i n d i c a t e d a t the extreme r i g h ta t 8 i n Figure 1 o f the d r a w i n g . I t w i l l be s e e nt h a t t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e e n l a r g e d p o r t i o n I 3a n d t h e ? n g e r - l i k e p o r t i o n I T with t h e t r a v e l e rring! prevents a n y f u r t h e r m o ve m e n t of t h es a m e over the r e l e a s e d e v i c e 5 a n d i t i s r e l e a s a b l yheld thereon u n t i l i t i s d e s i r e d t o r e p l a c e t h i st a r g e t with another new a r g e t . I t i s the purposeo f the cam portion 2 8 on the f r e e en d I 2 t o d i r e c tthe s i d e o f the t r a v e l e r r i n g t o the o u t e r s i d e o ft h e 'U-shaped p o r t i o n I 8 . I t w i l l be understoodt h a t t h e impact o f t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g , when i treaches i t s p o s i t i o n on the en d o f the r e l e a s ed e v i c e , i s absorbedby the combination o f thel o n g i t u d i n a l ' r e s i l i e n c y o f the arm I 0 a n d thec a n t i l e v e r r e s i l i e n c y o f t h e f i n g e r - l i k e p o r t i o n I Iof t he free end I 2 .

A s a r e s u l t o f my n v e n t i o n , i t w i l l b e ' s e e n t h a tt h e r e i s provided a r e l e a s e d e v i c e which w i l l t e n dtoneither r o t a t e norwhip when n use due p r imarily t o the g r e a t l y reduced weight o f t h e bodymember . In other words, the t ow c a b l e , the r el e a s e d e v i c e a n d the t a r g e t w i l l always be i n a l i g nm e n t with each other s o a s to provide ' a s t r a i g h tl i n e t o w , so that a l l the f o r c e s exerted on ther e l e a s e d e v i c e are l o n g i t u d i n a l a n d absorbed by

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2 , 3 8 2 , 8 5 4t h e r e l e a s e d e v i c e i t s e l f . I n m y i m p r o v e d v r e l e a s ed e v i c e , i t w i l l be seen that t he r e l e a s e - o f thes p e n t o r u s e d t a r g e t i s p o s i t i v e d u e t o t h e d e p r e s s i o n o f t h e f r e e member I D t o g e t h e r with t h ee n l a r g e d p o r t i o n 1 3 c a r r i e d t h e r e b y , a s c a u s e d bythe t r a v e l e r r i n g p r e s s u r e on theicam s ' u r f a c e ' l ithereof a n d the under drag on the l e a d c a b l e , 6o f t h e n ew t a r g e t , a s caused b y t ow r e s i s t a n c e .While I have shown a n d d e s c r i b e d on e s p e c i ? cembodiment o f my i n v e n t i o n , i t w i l l be unders t o o d t h a t t h i s embodiment i s merely f o r t h ep u r p o s e ' o f i l l u s t r a t i o n a n d d e s c r i p t i o n a n d thatv a r i o u s o t h e r forms may be d e v i s e d within thescope o f my n v e n t i o n , a s de ?ne d i n the appendedclaims.v ' 'I claim: ' ' ~1 . In apparatus f o r exchanging a n a e r i a l - t a r

g e t towed by a n a i r c r a f t t ow l i n e f o r a r e p l a c em e n t t a r g e t w i t h each t a r g e t having a t r a v e l e rring arranged therewith, a target r e l e a s e devicesecured t o the en d o f the t ow l i n e comprising ar e s i l i e n t metallic member bent upon i t s e l f so ast o p r o v i d e a l o n g i t u d i n a l l y extending body memb e r ' o f g e n e r a l l y U - s h a p e , t h e tow l i n e b e i n g a ttached t o t h e c l o s e d en d o f the U-shaped bodymember, t h e opposed arm s'of s a i d body m e m b e rb e i n g normally s p a c e d from each o t h e r , t h e t r a ve l e r r i n g o f each r e p l a c e m e n t t a r g e t b e i n gadapted t o s l i d e o v e r s a i d body m e m b e r ' l o r i g i et u d i n a l l y t h e r e o f ; m e a n s arranged on the endso f s a i d opposed a r m s w h i c h cooperate with t h et r a v e l e r r i n g o f a t a r g e t f o r holding the s a m er e l e a s a b l y t h e r e o n , i n t e r m e d i a t e p o r t i o n s o f t h etwo a r m s o f the body member being s o shapedt h a t t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g o f a replacement t a r g e tm u s t f o r c e the ends o f the a r m s o f the body memb e r t o g e t h e r f r o m t h e i r normal s p a c e d r e l a t i o ns h i p a s such r i n g t r a v e l s thereover c a r r y i n g . areplacement t a r g e t bu t a l l o w s separation o f theends o f the a r m s a f t e r i t has passed over su chi n t e r m e d i a t e p o r t i o n s o f t h e arms, whereby t h et a r g e t b e i n g towed i s r e l e a s e d a n d the r e p l a c em e n t t a r g e t i s coupled t o t h e t ow l i n e .

2 . The combination a s d e ? n e d in claim 1 ,wherein t h e r e s i l i e n t m e t a l l i c m em ber s m a d e o fw1re. ' '3 . In a p p a r a t u s f o r exchanging a n a e r i a l t a r g e ttowed by a n a i r c r a f t tow l i n e f o r a replacementt a r g e t with each t a r g e t having a t r a v e l e r r i n g a rr a n g ed t h e r e w i t h , a t a r g e t r e l e a s e d e v i c e secured t o the en d o f the tow l i n e comprising a r e s i l i e n tmetallic member bent upon i t s e l f s o as t o providea l o n g i t u d i n a l l y extending body m e m b e r o f gene r a l l y U - s h a p e , t h e tow l i n e b e i n g a t t a c h e d t o t h ec l o s e d end o f t h e U-shaped body member, the opposed a r m s o f s a i d body m em ber being normallyspaced from each o t h e r , t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g o f eachr e p l a c e m e n t t a r g e t b e i n g adapted t o s l i d e o v e rs a i d body member l o n g i t u d i n a l l y t h e r e o f , me a n sa r r a n g ed on the ends o f the opposed a r m s whichcooperate with t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g o f a t a r g e t f o rh o l d i n g t h e same r e l e a s a b l y t h e r e o n , p o r t i o ns o fs a i d opposed arms i n t e r m e d i a t e t h e l e n g t h t h e r eo f being so shaped that when the a r m s are int h e i r normal spaced r e l a t i o n t h e d i s t a n c e betweenl i n e s drawn p a r a l l e l t o t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l a x i s o ft h e U-shaped body m em ber a n d tangent t o t h eouter s u r f a c e s o f the t wo a r m s a t such intermed i a t e p o r t i o n i s g r e a t e r than t h e d i s t a n c e betweent wo l i n e s p a r a l l e l t o the a x i s o f the body membera n d tangent t o the inner a r m contacting s u r f a c e so f the t r a v e l e r r i n g i n t h e p o s i t i o n i t assumeswhen s l i d i n g o v e r t h e body p o r t i o n o f t h e Ushaped member c a r r y i n g a r e p l a c e m e n t t a r g e t ,whereby t r a v e l o f t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g o f a r e p l a c e

1 0

1 5

30

40

4 .

60

m e n t ' t a r g e t o v e r ' s u c h i n t e r m e d i a t e p o r t i o n o ft h e arms c a u s e s r e l e a s e o f t h e u s e d t a r g e t a ndc o u p l i n g o f t h e r e p l a c e m e n t t a r g e t t o t he towline. ~ -' ' I" 4 ; I n apparatusfor ex c h a n g i n g a n aerial targettowed by'a n a i r c r a f t tow l i n e fora r e p l a c e m e n tt a r g e t with each-targethavin g a t r a v e l e r r i n ga r r a n g e d t h e r e w i t h ; a t a r g e t r e l e a s e d e v i c e s e - c u r e d i t o t h e end o f t h e t ow l i n e comprisinga r es i l i e n t m e t a l l i c member b e n t upon i t s e l f was t o p r o v i d e a l o n g i t u d i n a l l y e x t e n d i n g body meme"b e r o f g e n e r a l l y U - s h a p e , t h e t o w l i n e v b e i n g a tt a c h e d l t o t h e c l o s e d end o f t h e U-shaped bodym e m b e r g v t h e o p p o s e d arms o f s a i d body memberb e i n g normally s p a c e d from each o t h e r ; t h e t r a ve l e r r i n g o f e a c h r e p l a c e m e n t t a r g e t b e i n g a d a p t e dt o s l i d e over said body member longitudinallyt h e r e o f , m e a n s arranged o n ' the ends o f the opposed a r ms which c o o p e r a t e with t h e t r a v e l e rr i n g o f f a v t a r g e t f o r h o l d i n g t h e samereleasablyt h e r e o n , t h e opposed a r m s o f t h e body vmemberbeing s o spaced from each other from the c l o s e de n d ' o f ' t h e U-shaped body f o r a s u b s t a n t i a l p o rt i o n i ' o f l t h ' e t o t a l l e n g t h o f t h e body t h a t thetraveler ring s l i p s over such body f r e e l y when hea r m s a re i n t h e i r no rm al spaced p o s i t i o n ; a t l e a s ton e o f t h e a r ms having suc h shape a t a v p o r t i o ni n t e r m e d i a t e i t s l e n g t h t h a t t h e o u t e r s u r f a c et h e r e o f d i v e r g e s from t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l a x i s o f t h eU-shaped body a n d then c o n v e r g e s toward thea x i s , i n a d i r e c t i o n a w ay from the c l o s e d e n d o f .t h e b o d y , t h e d i s t a n c e between l i n e s drawnpara l l e l t o t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l a x i s o f ' t h e U-shapedbody-member an d tangent t o t h e ' o u t e r s u r f a c e s o ft h e twoarms a t such i n t e r m e d i a t e portionbeingn o r m a l l y g r e a t e r than t h e d i s t a n c e between twol i n e s p a r a l l e l t o t h e a x i s o f t h e - b o d y me mbe r an dt a n g e n t t o t h e inner'arm c o n t a c t i n g s u r f a c e s o ft h e t r a v e l e r r i n g i n t h e p o s i t i o n i t assumes whens l i d i n g ; o v e r - t h e body p o r t i o n when carrying ar e p l a c e m e n t t a r g e t , whereby t r a v e l o f ' a v t r a v e l e rr i n g o f v a replacement t a r g e t over t he intermed i a t e p o r t i o n s o f t h e a r ms o f t h e body r e l e a s e st h e u s e ' d ' t ' a r g e t a n d ' e f f e c t s c o u p l i n g o f the . r eplacement a r g e t w i t h the tow line. " ' 4

' 5 . ~ In pp a r a t u s for e x ch a n g i n g a n - a e r i ' a l t ' a r' g e t towed b y a n a i r c r a f t tow l i n e j f o r i a r e p l a c em e n t t a r g e t with each t a r g e t having a t r a v e l e rr i n g a r r a n g e d t h e r e w i t h , a t a r g e t r e l e a s e d e v i c es e c u r e d t o t h e en d o f t h e tow l i n e comprising ar e s i l i e n t metallic member bent upon i t s e l f so ast o p r o v i d e a l o n g i t u d i n a l l y extending body memb e r o f g e n e r a l l y U - s h a p e , t h e tow l i n e b e i n g a ttached t o t h e c l o s e d en d o f t h e U-shaped bodymember, t h e opposed arms o f s a i d body m em berb e i n g normally s p a c e d from each o t h e r , t h e t r a ve l e r r i n g o f each replacement t a r g e t b e i n g adapted t o s l i d e o v e r s a i d body m em ber l o n g i t u d i n a l l yt h e r e o f , a h o o k - l i k e m e m b e r extending o u twardly from t h e l o n g i t u di n a l a x i s o f t h e bodymember a r r a n ge d on the en d o f on e of the a r m so f the body member a n d a n en d on the other armcooperating therewith t o hold a t r a v e l e r r i n g r el e a s a b l y thereon when the a r m s a r e i n t h e i r n or

m a l spaced r e l a t i o n s h i p , portions o f the t wo a r m sintermediate t h e i r length being s o shaped thatthe t r a v e l e r r i n g o f a replacement t a r g e t mustf o r c e the a r m s o f the body member o g e t h e r a s i ts l i d e s thereover carrying a new a r g e t bu t a l l o w sseparation o f t h e a r m s a f t e r i t ha s passed overs u c h i n t e r m e d i a t e p o r t i o n s t h e r e o f , whereby t h et a r g e t b e i n g towed i s r e l e a s e d from t h e h o o k - l i k em em ber a n d t h e replacement t a r g e t i s c o u p l e dto t he tow i n e . .6 . The combination a s de?ned i n claim 5 ,

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4wherein the hook-like m e m b e r on the e n d o f oneofthe arms: c o n s i s t s o f a n enlarged portion a rra n ged on t he outer s i d e o f the e n d - o f such a rm,a n d thecooperating end on the other arm c o n ;s i s t s o ? aportion o f such a r m bentinwardly a n doutwardly . and having a , longitudinally extendi n g ' ? n g e r - l i k e p o r t i o n arranged on the extremeo u t e r en d t h e r e o f beyond s a i d h o o k - l i k e m e m b e ro n theen d o f the o t h e r arm, t h e t r a v e l e r r i n g o f at a r g e t held by such d e v i c e ? t t i n g o v e r t h e hookl i k e member on the ?rst me n tion ed arm a n d t he?nger-like p o r t i o n on the second mentioned arm.

' ' 7 . The combination a s d e ? n e d in cl a i m 1 , inc l u d i n g m e a n s f o r l i m i t i n g the outward movem e n t of on e o f s a i d a r m s o f the body m em berr e l a t i v e t o t h e opposed a r m o f t h e body member,said m e a n s being adapted t o guide s a i d a r m s i nt h e i r m o ve m e n t r e l a t i v e t o each o t h e r ;

" 8.'The combin a tion a s d e ? n e d in claim 4 ,wherein the m e a n s arranged, on the en d o f on eo f t h e a r m s which cooperate with the t r a v e l e rr i n g o f . a t a r g e t f o r holding t h e s a m e r e l e a s a b l ythereon c o n s i s t s o f a n outwardly extending hookl i k e member on the e n d o f such arm o h o l d . thet r a v e l e r r i n g o f a target when the arms are intheir normal sp a ced position.9 . T he combination a s d e f i n e d i n claim 4 ,wherein the a r m o p p o s i t e that whose intermedia t e ' p o r t i o n d i v e r g e s - from the a x i s o f t h e bodya n d then converges toward the a x i s , ha s aport i o n which d i v e r g e s from the a x i s a t a point subs t a n t i a l l y opposed t o the p o i n t on the ?rst armwhere the second a r m begins t o converge-whereby a t r a v e l e r r i n g o f a replacement t a r g e t i ntraveling over the U-shaped body cooperates with - 'the diverging portions o f the t wo a r m s t o movethe two arms ogether.~ 1 0 . In v a p p a r a t u s for exchanging an erial t a rg e t towed by a n a i r c r a f t t ow l i n e f o r a replacem e n t target with each t a r g e t having a t r a v e l e rr i n g arranged t h e r e w i t h , a t a r g e t r e l e a s e d e v i c esecured t o the en d o f the t ow l i n e comprising ar e s i l i e n t metallic member bent upon i t s e l f so a st o p r o v i d e a l o n g i t u d i n a l l y extending-body memb e r o f g e n e r a l l y U - s h a p e , t h e tow l i n e b e i n g a ttached t o t h e c l o s e d end o f the U-shaped bodymember, the opposed a r m s o f s a i d body member

1 0

20

40

2 , 3 8 2 , 8 5 4b e i n g n o r m a l l y s p a c e d from e a c h o t h e r , t h e en do f on e arm being provided with an enlarged port i o n a r r a n ge d on t he outer s i d e t h e r e o f , and theo u t e r end o f t h e o t h e r a r m b e i n g bent i n w a r d l ya n d outwardly a n d having a l o n g i t u d i n a l l y extending ?nger-like portion a r r a n ge d on the extreme outer en d t h e r e o f beyond said enlargedp o r t i o n on t h e en d o f t h e opposed arm , t h e t r a ve l e r r i n g o f e a c h r e p l a c e m e n t t a r g e t b e i n g a d a p ted t o s l i d e o v e r s a i d body m e m b e r l o n g i t u d i n a l l yt h e r e o f , t h e a r m s being s o spaced from each o t h e rfrom'the c l o s e d en d o f t h e U-shaped body t oap o i n t i n t e r m e d i a t e t h e l e n g t h t h e r e o f t h a t t h et r a v e l e r r i n g s l i p s o v e r t h e a r m s f r e e l y when t h e yare i n n orma l open p o s i t i o n , at l e a s t on e armbeing s o shaped i n a portion intermediate i t sl e n g t h t h a t i t s o u t e r s u r f a c e d i v e r g e s from t h ea x i s o f t h e U-shaped body m e m b e r a n d then conv e r g e s toward t h e a x i s o f t h e b o d y , t h e d i s t a n c e ,between l i n e s drawn p a r a l l e l t o t h e l o n g i t u d i n a la x i s o f t h e U-shaped body member a n d t a n g e n tt o the outer s u r f a c e s o f the t wo a r m s at eachi n t e r m e d i a t e p o r t i o n b e i n g g r e a t e r , when t h ea r m s are i n t h e i r no rm al spaced r e l a t i o n , thant h e d i s t a n c e between two l i n e s p a r a l l e l t o t h ea x i s o f the body a n d tangent t o the inner a r mcontacting s u r f a c e s o f the t r a v e l e r r i n g o f a r eplacement t a r g e t i n t h e p o s i t i o n i t assumes whens l i d i n g over the body p o r t i o n carrying a r e p l a c e ,m e n t t a r g e t , a n d m e a n s attached t o that a r mo f the body which has a ? n g e r - l i k e p o r t i o n a t t h een d t h e r e o f c l o s e t o a n d cooperating with the enl a r g e d outwardly d i r e c t e d p o r t i o n on the o t h e ra r m t o support the t r a v e l e r r i n g o f a t a r g e t i nu s e , travel o f a traveler ring of a r eplacementt a r g e t p a s t the i n t e r m e d i a t e p o r t i o n s o f the armso f the body causing the a r m provided with t h ee n l a r g e d o u t w a r d l y d i r e c t e d p o r t i o n t o b e p r e s s e dtoward t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l a x i s o f t h e body me mbe ra n d consequent r e t r a c t i o n o f t h e enlarged ou twardly d i r e c t e d p o r t i o n t h e r e o f with r e s p e c t t othe c o o p e r a t i n g t r a v e l e r r i n g s u p p o r t i n g means,whereby the used t a r g e t i s r e l e a s e d .

1 1 . The c o m b i n a t io n as d e ? n e d in cl aim 1 0 ,wherein t he r e s i l i e n t m e t a l l i c m e m b e r i s m a d eo f w i r e .ALAN . BRICKMAN.