Tow plate for aerial cargo delivery

摘要

A tow plate assembly for an aerial cargo parachute delivery system is disclosed. The tow plate assembly includes an extraction clevis member connected between at least one extraction parachute and a cargo load and a drogue jettison clevis member mounted on the extraction clevis and connected to a drogue parachute. Remote operating linkages are provided for mechanically releasing the clevis members to extract the load or, in the case of an aborted mission, to jettison the drogue parachute. Both clevis members are releasably retained on the tow plate by mechanisms constructed to minimize the force required for release, the extraction clevis by a ball locking device and the drogue jettison clevis by a combination of anti-friction bearings and clevis structure to maintain a minimum vertical component of the drag force acting on the drogue clevis locking elements.