| 摘要 |
<p>469,557. Aircraft carrying other aircraft. MAYO, R. H., SHORT BROS. (ROCHESTER & BEDFORD), Ltd., and CLARKE, A. W. S. Jan. 27, 1936, No. 2488. Addition to 402,997. [Class 4] A composite aircraft of the kind described in the parent Specification includes locking-means comprising a hook pivoted to the lower component, and a latch pivoted to the upper component and arranged to be engaged by the hook so that the hook exercises a progressively increasing turning moment on the latch as the separating force between the components increases. A safety device normally held by a spring automatically releases the latch when the separating force has reached a predetermined limit. As shown, the upper aircraft 20 rests on adjustable spigots 25 carried by the lower aircraft 21. Two centre spigots are carried by frame members 27, 28. Further frame members 29, 30, 32 are connected to a member 31 which carries a member 56 having guides for links 5 which carry a member 52 having a certain degree of freedom in the member 56. The links 51 together with hooks 41 are pivoted by means of a bolt 43 to a beam 48 which is connected by straps 49, 50 to the members 29, 30. A second beam 58 is connected to the beam 48 by a spring-steel strip 77 and is guided by pins 60, Fig. 7, disposed between the beam 58 and abutments 59 on the beam 48. The hooks 41 are provided with rollers which are engaged by a latch 39 pivoted to members 71 which are adjustable, to vary the force on the latch, by means of a differential nut device. The other end of the latch 39 is provided with rollers which are engaged by two levers 47 operable against the action of springs 80 by the pilots of the aircraft components and by a lever 46, the load on which may be adjusted by a spring 82 and which automatically frees the latch 39 when the force of separation between the aircraft components reaches a predetermined value and after the pilot's controls have been released. During assembly, the components are placed one above the other and the latch engaged with the hook, by means of the differential nut device ; the load on the hook is increased until flexure of the beam 48 relative to the beam 58 causes closure of an electric circuit through a contact 66 and a spring loaded contact 68 to light a lamp 174. During flight further flexure of the beam 48 continues until an electric circuit is closed through a contact 67, a spring loaded contact 69 and a lamp 75 to indicate that the load on the latch is sufficient for safe release of the locking-mechanism. The play of the member 52 in the member 56 is such as to permit flexure of the beam to close the contacts but does not permit of over straining. A further lever actuated by a barometric capsule as described in Specification 445,829 may engage the latch 39.</p> |
