Tow plate and load extraction system

摘要

A tow plate (1) for retaining and releasing an extractable unit (35) from an aerospace vehicle comprises a base plate (7), an actuating assembly (3) and a retaining assembly (5). The actuating assembly and the retaining assembly releasably hold a load transmission unit (17) attached to the tow plate. The actuating assembly comprises a locking element (9) movable between a retaining position and a releasing position. The load transmission unit can be detached from the tow plate when the locking element has been moved to the releasing position. The retaining assembly comprises at least one load sensor adapted for measuring a load acting on the load transmission unit. The tow plate comprises a central data processing unit (30) adapted to move the at least one locking element from the retaining position to the releasing position when the load acting on the load transmission unit measured by the load sensor exceeds a predetermined value. Further, a load extraction system and a method for releasing a load transmission unit are described.