US2430940A - Bomb release - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 18,1947. e. H. LELAND 2,430,940

BOMB RELEASE 4 Filed June 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 INVENTOR. ,GEORGE H. LELAND Nov. 18, 1947.

G. H. LELAND BOMB RELEASE Filed June 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m mm W H E m m .G

Y B o vm mm on w kn \nm Nov, 18, 1947. G. H. LELAVND 3 BOMB RELEASE Filed June 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig /47 mw' wnuun 48 INVENTOR. EORGE H. LELAND BYM Nov. 18, 1947. G. H. LELAND BOMB RELEASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 29, 1945 INVENTOR GEORGE H. LELAND Nov. 18, 1947. I G. H. LELAND 2,430,940

BOMB RELEASE Filed June 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fl ll 9' 3 w E g I\IIIIIIIII:\A

Patented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a bomb release for use on military aircraft.

In normal bombing operations it may be desirable when over the target, to release a single bomb or to release a plurality of bombs successively and at properly spaced intervals. Under abnormal conditions it is sometimes necessary, for the safety of the aircraft and its crew, to salvo, or jettison, the entire bomb load, that is, to release all the bombs in rapid succession, Due to the fact that the salvo may take place over friendly territory, or for other reasons, it is desirable that the bombs shall be released in an unarmed condition so that they will not explode. The bombs are supported in the bomb bay of the aircraft in an unarmed condition, that is, the mechanism which controls the firing of the bomb is locked against operation, and the ordinary bomb release includes separate devices for releas ing the bomb from its supporting shackle and for arming the same. Usually the arming of the bombs is controlled by an arming wire, one end portion of which extends through the bomb in the path of a movable part or the firing mechanism and the other end of which is adapted to be connected With the shackle which supports the bombs so that the downward movement of the released bomb will disengage it from the wire and thus release the firing mechanism for operation. The arming wire is normall disconnected from the shackle and must be connected therewith prior to or substantially simultaneously with the release of the bomb. When the bomb is to fall in an unarmed condition the releasing device is operated Without operating the arming device so that the arming wire is unconnected with the shackle and will fall with the bomb. Bomb releases have heretofore been provided with electrically controlled means for releasing the bombs and for arming the same, whereby the bombardier could selectively release and arm the bombs, but the salvo, or release of all the bombs in an unarmed "condition, involved an elaborate system of mechanical linkage.

One object of the invention is to provide a bomb release having separately operable electrically controlled means for releasing and arming the bomb and for releasing the .bomb in an unarmed condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a bomb release which upon the release of the bomb unarmed will be electrically connected with another bomb release to release the unarmed bomb of the latter, thereby enabling a plurality of unarmed bombs to be released in rapid succession, and which upon the release of the bomb in an armed condition will not be connected with said other bomb release until the electrically controlled means for releasing the bomb has been deenergized, thereby enabling a plurality of armed bombs to be released at intervals determined by the bombardier.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a bomb release in which the releasing of the bomb and the arming thereof are controlled by an electrically controlled member the movement of which normally efiects both release and arming, but may be so limited by separately operable electrically controlled means as to effect release without arming.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a bomb release in which the switch for connecting the same with another bomb release will be prevented from closing after the bomb has been released in an armed condition until the electrically controlled means for effecting such release is deenergized but will be closed while the said. electrically controlled means is energized when the bomb is released in an unarmed condition.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the apparatus is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a bomb release embodying the invention, with the back plate broken away and with the mechanism in its normally uncooked position; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the bomb release; Fig, '3 is a rear elevation of the operating mechanism showing the same in its operative or cooked position, with the rear frame member removed; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in the position which they occupy when the bomb is released in an unarmed condition; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line t-t of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the spring means for actuating the releasing and arming members; Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on the line of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the rotary solenoid; Fig. 1 1 is a side elevation of the rotary solenoid; Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line i2l2 of Fig, 10; Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line -|3|3 of Fig. 10; Fig, 14 is a section taken on the line IA-44 of Fig. 10; Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section of the salvo solenoid; Fig. 16 is a fractional section showing the plunger of the salvo solenoid in engagement with the rotatable part of the rotary solenoid; Fig. 17 is a sectional 3 detail showing the manually operated means for releasing the bomb; Fig. 18 is a detail view of one of the controlling levers and its trip arm; Fig. 19 is an edge view of the device shown in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is an edge view of the switch mechanism showing the parts thereof in the positions which they occup when the releasing and arming members are in their uncocked positions; Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the switch mechanism; and Fig, 22 is a top end view of the same.

In these drawings I have illustrated one em bodiment of the invention showing the same in the form which has been approved by the United States Army Air Corps, but it will be understood that the mechanism may take various forms and may be assembled in Various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As here shown, the bomb release comprises a casing 25, the side and end walls of which are integral with the front wall 26 thereof and the rear side of which is closed by the removable rear wall 2?. Mounted in the casing adjacent the rear wall 72? is a longitudinal frame member 28 which is rigidly secured to the frame. Rotatably mounted in the front wall of the casing and in the frame member 28 near the respective ends of the casing are shafts 29 and 39, the ends of which extend through and beyond the front wall 26 of the casing. Rigidly mounted on the projecting end of the shaft 2% is a lever 32 having means for actuating the bomb releasing devices on the bomb supporting shackle, not here shown, this lever being herein designated as the releasing lever. Rigidly secured to the projecting end of the shaft 39 is a lever 32 having means whereby it may be connected with the arming device of the bomb shackle, and herein referred to as the arming lever. larged intermediate portion 33 provided on opposite sides thereof with recesses forming shoulders or ratchet teeth 34. Mounted above and below each shaft are studs 35 and 35 and mounted on each stud is a leaf spring 31 which extends across the shaft with which it is associated and engages the ratchet tooth 344 on that side of the shaft opposite the stud on which the spring is mounted. Thus the two springs act upon each shaft to exert balanced force thereon to rotate the shaft and actuate the lever connected therewith. The ratchet teeth and spring means are so arranged that the springs tend to move the shaft 2% in a clockwise direction and to thereby move the releasing lever 3! toward the arming lever 32, this being its releasing movement, and to rotate the shaft 38 in a counterclockwise direction and thereby move the arming lever 32 toward the releasing lever, this being its arming movement.

The movement of the arming lever 32 and of the releasing lever St to their retracted or cooked positions causes the same to be locked in those positions, the locking means being movable and being of such a character that its movement may be so controlled as to release the arming lever and the releasing lever for substantially simultaneous operation to release the bomb in an armed condition, or to release the releasing lever only, retaining the arming lever in its retracted position, thus preventing the arming of the bomb and causing the latter to be released in an unarmed condition. In the particular mechanism here illustrated a controlling lever 38 is rigidly secured to the shaft 29 for the releasing lever between the enlarged portion of that shaft and the frame member 28. This lever is of curved or Each of the shafts 29 and 33 has an en 4 angular shape so that it extends downwardly from the shaft 29 and then longitudinally of the casing, and rigidly secured to this lever, adjacent the shaft 29, is a stud or a roll-er 39.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 33 for the arming lever 32 is a second controlling lever 3E! also of a curved or angular form which extends downwardly from the shaft and then lengthwise of the casing in a direction opposite the direction in which the controlling lever 38 extends. When the mechanism is in its idle or uncooked position the longitudinally extending portions of these levers are in overlapping relation, as shown in Fig. 1, their movement by the spring means being limited by the bottom wall of the casing and inasmuch as these levers are moved downwardly under considerable force I have provided cushioning means which comprises a curved spring plate il supported at its ends on the bottom wall of the casing and having its ends notched to receive Vertical studs 32 and which is retained in operative position by a coiled spring 453 connected at its ends with the studs i2'and extending across the plate adjacent the front wall of the casing.

Rigidly connected with the controlling lever d!) and thus rigidly connected with the shaft 55 is a trip arm til which extends lengthwise of the controlling lever it above and in spaced relation thereto. The movement of the arming lever 32, thus moves the trip arm it about the aXis of the shaft 39 and into locking engagement with a movable supporting member or stud M. Pref-- erably this supporting member is carried by a rotatable member and is spaced from the axis of that member. In the present instance the rotatable member is a part of a rotary solenoid, which will be hereinafter described, and the supporting member or stud 55 is carried by the armature ili of the solenoid and is yieldabl r tained in its normal operative position by a spring 4! connected at one end with a stud #33 carried by an annular member 49 rigidly secured to the armature it, and connected at its other end with a part 5t fixed with relation to the casing. The free end of the trip arm is inclined or rounded, as shown at are in Fig. 18, and as the trip arm moves upwardly about the shaft 3'3 the rounded end of the arm engages the stud 5 with a cam action and moves the same about the of the armature against the action of the spring '2? and as soon as the end of the trip arm has passed the stud t5 the latter is returned to its normal position beneath the trip arm by the spring T1. When the pressure exerted on the shaft 38 to rotate the same against the action of its operating springs 3'5 is relieved the spring will move the end of the trip arm into engagement with the supporting member or stud 55. This supporting stud 45 comprises a cylindrical portion 5! adjacent the armature and a flattened or slightly recessed portion 52 adjacent its outer end and the cylindrical portion 5i lies in the path of and is engaged by the trip arm it, thus locking the shaft 30 against operation by its spring and retaining the arming lever in its retracted position.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 3G between the controlling lever 3 and the frame member 28 is a second trip arm 53 which is rigidly connected with, and is preferably formed integral with, a member 54 which extends downwardly from the axis of the shaft 36 and is provided with an opening 55 to receive the adjacent end portion of the corresponding stud 3%, the opening being of such size that the trip arm 53 can move freely with relation to the stud. The lower end por tion of this downwardly extending part is in the form of a finger 56. The trip arm 53 and the downwardly extending member 54 are arranged in the vertical plane of the controlling lever 38 and the forward edge of the member 54 is curved to conform substantially to the path of travel of the free end of the level 33. At its upper end the part 54 is provided with a shoulder 5'! adjacent to the shaft 35. The trip arm 53 and member 54 being rotatably supported on the shaft 39 do not rotate with that shaft when the arming lever 32 is moved to its retracted or cocked position. When the releasing lever 3i is moved to its retracted or cooked position the controlling lever 38 moves upwardly about the axis of the shaft 29' and the free end portion thereof engages the trip arm 53 and rotates that arm and the member 54 connected therewith about the axis of the shaft 39. The free end of the trip arm 53 is inclined and is so arranged that its upward movement will cause the inclined edge thereof to engage the supporting stud 45 and move the latter against the action of the spring 47 to permit the end of the trip arm to move past the same, the trip arm being so positioned that when the supporting stud is returned to its normal position the flattened portion 52 thereof will lie in the path of the trip arm 53. However, at the time the movement of the controlling member 39 begins the trip arm 45 is in contact with the supporting stud 45 and is pressed against the same by the actuating springs for the shaft 33 and a very considerable force would be required to enable the trip arm 53 to move the stud out of engagement with the trip arm 44. Therefore the controlling lever 38 is provided with the roller 39 which engages the lower edge of the free end portion of the controlling lever 49 and moves the latter upwardly, thereby moving the trip arm 44 out of engagement with the supporting stud and permitting the latter to be moved by the contact of the inclined edge of the trip arm 53. When the controlling lever 38 contacts the trip arm 53 the free end of the lever 38 is positioned adjacent to and just above the shoulder 51 adjacent the shaft 33 and the movement of the trip arm 53 by the controlling lever 38 to its uppermost position moves the shoulder 5'! into the path of the downward movement of the free end of the controlling lever 38. When the lifting pressure on the shaft 29 has been relieved the operating springs 3'! move the lever 38 downwardly into supporting engagement with the shoulder 5! and this movement permits the trip arm 53 to move into supporting engage ment with the flattened portion of the support ing stud 45. The trip arm thus locks the shoulder 51 in supporting relation to the controlling lever 38 and retains the releasing lever 3| in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 3. Only a slight downward movement of the lever 38 is required to bring it into supporting contact with the shoulder 5'! and when in its locked position it supports the trip arm 44 out of contact with the supporting stud 45. The shoulder 51 being close to the axis of the trip arm 53 and the roller 49 being close to the axis of the controlling lever 38 the leverage is so compounded that the trip arm 53 exerts only a light pressure on the supporting stud and the stud can be easily moved out of engagement therewith. With the several parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3 the contact of the trip arm 53 with the supporting stud locks both spring operated shafts 28 and 30 against movement by their springs and the movement of the supporting stud out of engagement with the trip arm 53 and out of the path of the trip arm 44 will release both the shafts for movement by their springs and thus actuate both the releasing lever and the arming lever to release the bomb in an armed condition. If the movement of the supporting stud is interrupted after the trip arm 53 has been released and before it has been moved out of the path of the trip arm 44 the shaft 29 only will be operated and the bomb will be released in an unarmed condition. In the present instance the movement of the supporting stud 45 by the rotary solenoid is interrupted in a predetermined position in which the trip arm 53 is permitted to pass the same but the trip arm '44 engages the stud and is prevented from moving to releasing position.

The rotary solenoid which actuates the supporting member 45 for the trip arms to release the latter is fully shown and described in my pending application for patent filed June 26, 1944, Serial No. 542,188, and forms no part of the present invention except in so far as it enters into combination with the other parts of the mechanism herein described. As shown in Figs. 10 to 14 the rotary solenoid comprises a casing 58 which is rigidly secured to the front wall 26 of the main casing. Rigidly connected with and extending into the casing 58 is a core 59 having a longitudinal bore 60. Rotatably and slidably mounted in the bore is a shaft 6| on the rear end of which is rigidly mounted the armature 46 for the solenoid, the armature being circular in form and extending into and being rotatable in an opening in the rear wall of the solenoid casing 58. In order to provide a long bearing for the shaft a bushing 60a i mounted in the bore 60 and extends into a recess in the armature 46, which is rotatable with relation to the bushing. An annular magnetic coil 62 is mounted in the casing and extends about the core 59 and the armature 46. The annular member 49 is rigidly secured to the armature and is spaced a short distance from the rear wall of the solenoid casing. The casing wall and the annular member 49 ar provided with a plurality of pairs of opposed grooves 63 and 64, see Fig. 14, the bottom walls or bases of the grooves being inclined in opposite directions. The grooves of each pair are so arranged that when the solenoid is deenergized and the armature is in its normal position the shallower ends of the grooves will overlap and will receive between them a ball 65. When the solenoid is energized the magnetic flux will move the armature axially toward the core 59 and the pressure exerted by the part 49 on the balls will cause the part 49 and therefore the armature to rotate on the balls and to move over the same as the balls travel in the slots in the casing wall, until the balls contact with the ends of the grooves of the respective pairs at the deeper ends thereof, thus imparting a predetermined rotation to the armature upon each energization of the solenoid, unless that rotation is interrupted as hereinafter described. Thus the energization of the rotary solenoid will move the supporting stud 45, which is carried by the armature, out of the paths of both the trip arm 44 and the trip arm 53, thereby releasing the shafts 29 and 30 for rotation and causing the spring means to actuate the two shafts, and therefore the releasing lever and the arming lever, substantially simultaneously and cause the bomb to be released in an armed condition. When it is desired to release the bomb in an unarmed condi- 7 tion the rotation of the armature 46 is interrupted when the stud 45 has been moved out of the ath of the trip arm 53 but is still in the path of the trip arm 54, so that the triparm 53 will be released and the releasing lever 3| operated while the trip arm 44 will be held against movement and the arming lever retained in its retracted position. Means for so interrupting the rotation of the armature may take various forms but preferably the annular member 49 which is carried by the armature is provided with a radially extending lug 6i and a second solenoid 68, herein referred to as a salvo solenoid, when energized, moves a stop 9!! into the path of the lug B7, In the particular arrangement here shown, see Figs. 15 and 16, the solenoid 68 is provided with a reciprocatory core or plunger 69 the end portion of which constitutes the stop 90 and which is so arranged that, when energized, the plunger 69 will be projected into the path of the lug8l, the parts being so positioned that the lug will engage the plunger or stop 69 when the supporting stud '45 has been moved out of thepath of the trip arm 53, but is still in the path'of the trip arm 54. As has been stated, when the releasing and arming levers are in their retracted orcocked positions the end of the trip arm 53 rests upon the flattened portion of the supporting stud 45, see Figs. 3 and 9, and the trip arm 44 is positioned above and out of contact with the cylindrical portion *of the stud, it being held in that position bycontact of the roller 39 with the controlling lever'w. When the bomb is to be released unarmed the salvo solenoid is energized prior to the energization of the rotary solenoid so that the end 90 of the plunger 69 thereof lies in the path of the lug 61 connected with the armature of the rotarysolenoid. Thus when the rotary solenoid is energized the supporting stud 45 is moved to and stopped in the position shown in Fig. 4, where the trip arm -3 has been released and the releasing lever operated but the end portion of the trip arm '44 is in engagement with the cylindrical portion of the stud and the arming lever is still retained in its retracted position.

The rotary solenoid and the salvo solenoid are controlled primarily by exterior circuits, not here shown, but which are adapted to be connected with circuits within the casing by a connector 10 and which are separately controlled by switches adjacent the bombardiers station. The internal circuits are controlled by switch mechanism Within the casing which in turn is controlled by the operation of the releasing mechanism. As shown in Figs. to 22 this switch mechanism comprises a pair of resilient switch arms 1i and 12 provided with contact members 13 and 1 4, the contact arm ii being connected by a conductor-15 with one or" the terminals of the connector 10 and the switch arm 12 being connected by a conductor iii with the rotary solenoid 58, which is grounded. The switch mechanism also includes a second pair of resilient arms El and 18 provided, respectively, with contact members 19 and 8U, the'arm H'being connected through a conductor, not here shown, with the second terminal of the connector 10 and the arm Ti being connected by a conductor 18' with the salvo solenoid, which is grounded. 'The switch mechanism also includes a fixed contact member 8i adapted to be engaged bya second contact member 32 on the resilient-arm '12. The resilient arms areso arranged that when the mechanism is in its idle or inoperative positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and-20,the contacts 13 and 14 and i9 and 88 will be out of engagement so that the interior circuits will be opened through both solenoids and the second contact 82 on the arm 12 will be in engagement with the fixed contact member 8i. This fixed contact member is connected by a conductor 83 with the third terminal of the connector H! which terminal is connected with an exterior circuit leading to another bomb release. Pivotally mounted within the casing and above the shaft 39 is a switch actuating device 84 having connected therewith below its pivotal axis a member 85 arranged to contact the upper end portions of the resilient switch arms II and T1 and to move them rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the two solenoid circuits are closed and the circuit leading to the succeeding bomb release, herein referred to as a transfer circuit, is open. To effect this movement the switch actuating device is provided with a downwardly extending curved arm 86 arranged in the path of a shoulder 31 on the hub portion of the trip arm 53 so that when the trip arm is moved to its upper or locking position to cook the releasing lever 3| the shoulder 3! will engage the arm 86 and move the device 34 to the position shown in Fig. 3. The switch actuating device also includes an arm 88 extending therefrom toward the rotary solenoid and having its free end portion arranged in the path of a stud carried by the rotatable member of the rotar solenoid, this being in the present instance the stud 48 with which the spring 41 is connected.

With the mechanism and switch in the position shown in Fig. 3 the closing of the exterior circuit for the rotary solenoid will cause that solenoid to e energized to release both trip arms and at the end of the movement of the rotary member 49 the stud 48 will contact with or be close to the free end of the lever 38 and will be held in that position so lon as the rotary solenoid is energized, thus retaining th switch elements in the positions shown in Fig. 3, with the transfer circuit open. As soon as the exterior circuit is opened and the rotary solenoid deenergized the resiliency of the switch elements will return the same to their normal positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 20, thereby opening the interior solenoid circuits and closing the transfer circuit, that is, causing the contact 52 to engage the contact 8! and the closing of this transfer circuit connects the same with a succeeding bomb release. Thus a series of bomb releases may be successively operated by repeated closings of the bombardiers switch in the exterior circuit but due to the fact that the transfer circuit is held open until the exterior circuit has been opened to deenergize the rotary solenoid the succeeding bomb release cannot be operated until the preceding bomb release has completed its operation. When the bombs are to be salvoed the bombardier closes the exterior circuit for the salvo solenoid 58 before he closes the exterior circuit for the rotary solenoid, thereby causing the stop 90 to be projected into the path of the lug on the rotary member of the rotary solenoid and interrupting the rotation of that member in a position to cause the operation of the releasing lever and prevent the operation of the arming lever. In this position of the rotary member of the solenoid 1e stud 53 is spaced from the arm 83 of the switch actuating device such a distance that the latter and the switch elements are free to return to their normal positions while the exterior circuit for the rotary solenoid is closed. Thus the transfer circuit is closed as soonas the bomb has been released and the current passes immediately to the succeeding bomb release. By main- 9 taining the exterior circuits closed the series of bomb releases can be operated to release their bombs successively and in very rapid succession.

Means are also provided for manually releasing the bomb releasing lever and the arming lever in the event the electrically controlled means should be inoperative. For this purpose the armature shaft 61 for the rotary solenoid is provided at its front end with a projection or rib 9|, see Figs. 12 and 17, and a device 92 rotatably mounted in the front wall '26 of the main casing, in line with the shaft 6!, carries studs 93 arra ged on opposite sides of the projection 9| and spaced therefrom to permit the normal movement of the shaft. The device 92 has in its outer surface a kerf 95 to receive the bit of a screw driver or the like by which the device may be rotated to cause one of the studs to engage the projection 9| and rotate the shaft and armature to move the supporting stud 45 out of the paths of the trip arms and thus release the latter for operation.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not, desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bomb release, a releasing lever, an arming lever, spring means for separately actuating said levers, means including a movable member to retain both levers in retracted positions against the action of said spring means, electrically controlled means for actuating said movable memberto release said levers in rapid succession, and separately controlled electrical means for interrupting the movement of said movable member after said releasing member has been released and before said arming lever has been released.

2. In a bomb release, a releasing lever, and an arming lever, spring means for separately actuating said levers, separately movable trip arms for the respective levers, a rotatable device having a member spaced from the axis thereof and arranged normally in the paths of both trip arms to retain said levers in their retracted positions, electrically controlled means to rotate said device and move said member out of the paths of both trip arms and thereby release both levers, and separately operable electrically controlled means to interrupt the movement of said rotatable device after said member has moved out of the path of the trio arm for said releasing lever and before said member has moved out of the path of the trip arm for said arming lever.

3. In a bomb release. a releasing lever, an arming lever. spring means for separately actuating said levers, trip arms to retain the respective levers in their retracted positions against the action of spring means, a movable member to support both trip arms in retaining positions, one of said trip arms being connected with one of levers for movement therewith. means actuated by the other of said levers to move the other trip arm to retaining position and to support the last mentioned lever inits retracted position. means for moving said movable member out of supporting relation to both trip arms, and separately operable means for interrupting the movement of said movable member after it has been moved out of supporting relation to one of.

10 said trip arms and while it is in supporting relation to the other trip arms.

4. In a. bomb release, two parallel shafts, a releasing lever and an arming lever rigidly connected with the respective shafts, spring means for separately actuating said levers, controlling levers rigidly connected with the respective shafts, a trip arm rigidly connected with the shaft of said arming lever to retain the latter in its retracted position, a second trip arm movable about the axis of the shaft for said arming lever and arranged to be actuated by the controlling lever for said releasing lever as the latter is moved to its retracted position and to retain said releasing lever in said retracted position, a rotatable device having a member Sp m t axis thereof to support both trip arms in retaining positions, electrically controlled means to rotate said device and release both trip arms and separately operable electrically controlled means to interrupt the rotation of said rotatable device after the trip arm for said releasing lever has been released and before the trip arm for said arming lever has been released.

5. In a bomb release, two parallel shafts, a releasing lever and an arming lever rigidly connected with the respective shafts, spring means for separately actuating said levers, controlling levers rigidly connected with the respective shafts, a trip arm rigidly connected with the shaft of said arming lever to retain the latter in its retracted position, a second trip arm movable about the axis of the shaft for said arming lever and arranged to be actuated by the controlling lever for said releasing lever as the latter is moved to its retracted position and to retain said releasing lever in said retracted position, arotatable device having a member spaced from the axis thereof and yieldably held in a position to support both trip arms in retaining positions, said trip arms having cam surfaces to move said member out of the paths thereof as they move to retaining positions, a controllin lever for said releasing lever having means to move the trip arm for said arming lever out of engagement with said supporting member and to retain the same out of engagement therewith while the trip arm for said releasing lever is supported by said member, electrically controlled means to rotate said device and release both of said trip arms, and separately operable electrically controlled means for interrupting the movement of said rotatable device after the trip arm for said releasing lever has moved past said supporting member and before the trip arm for said arming lever has moved past said supporting member.

6. In a bomb release, two parallel shafts, a

releasing lever and an arming lever rigidly connected with the respective shafts, spring means for separately actuating said levers, controlling levers rigidly connected with the respective shafts, a trip arm rigidly connected with the shaft of said arming lever to retain the latter in its retracted position, a second trip arm movable about the axis of the shaft for said arming lever and arranged to be actuated by the controlling lever for said releasing lever as the latter is moved to its retracted position and to retain said releasing lever in said retracted position, a rotatable device having a member spaced from the axis thereof and yieldably held in a position to support both trip arms in retaining positions, said trip arms having cam surfaces to move said members out of the paths thereof as they move to retaining positions, said supporting member having a cylindrical surface-:in thepath of. the trip. arm for said arming lever, and; a.- substantially. flat surfacein'the path ofitl'ie etrip' armior. said releasing lever, the. controlling lever forsaid releasing lever having apartto engage. the controlling lever for said arming lever and move the trip arm for the latter out of" engagement. with said supporting member as the trip arm for said releasing lever approaches said suppcrting member'and to retain the same-out of engagement therewith while said'trip arm for said releasing lever is in engagement .with said supporting member, electrically controlled means to actuate said rotatable device to movesaid supportingmember out ofthe paths of both trip arms, and separately operable electrically controlledmeans to interrupt the movement ofsaid rotatable device afterv the: flat, surface ofsaid supporting member has moved out of the'path-oi the trip arm for said releasing lever and while the cylindrical surface of said supporting member isin the path of the trip arm for'said arming lever.

7; In a bomb release, two parallel'shafts, a releasing lever and anarming-ilever rigidly connectedwith the respectiveshafts', spring means for separately actuating said levers; a--controllinglever rigidly secured'to each shaft and'extendingtoward the other'shaft, a trip armrigidly con nected with the shaft of: said; arming lever to retain the latterin its retracted position a second trip arm rotatabl-yrmountedrontheishaft or said arming lever and-having apart to-be engaged by the controlling lever for" said releasing lever as the latter is-movedto its-retracted position and to be moved thereby'toa pesition toretain said releasing lever inits-retractedposition, said'secondtrip arm having adjacent its-axisa-part to engage the free end portion of the controlling lever for said releasing-lever andlsupport'thesame while said secondtrip-arm is inrretainin-gposition, arotatable.device-having a-member spaced from the axis thereof and -yieldably:heldin apotion to support both trip-arms in retaining=positions, said trip armshaving cam-surfacesto movesaid-Inember out of' the pathsithereofas they move-to retaining positions,- the controlling lever for said releasinglever having-adjacent the axis thereof 1 apart to' engagethe-iree. end portion of the controllinglever-for said arming lever and 'move the trip arm for the latter. out of engagement with said supporting member and toretain said lever in such engagement While: the .freeend of-said controllingmember is in engagement with the supporting part-ofsaid second .-trip arm, elec.- trically controlled means to-actuate saidrotatable device and move said supporting member out of the paths-of both trip arms', and separately operable electrically controlled means to interirupt the-rotation of said rotatable device after said' supporting member hasbeenmoved out of the path'of the trip arm-:for said releasing. lever and while said supporting mem'ber is in thepath of'the trip arm-for said arming lever..

8; In' a bomb release, a releasing. lever,. an arming lever; spring-,meansior separately actue atin'g said levers,- separately movabletrip arms to retain the respective levers in.-their retracted positions against theaction otsaidspringmeans, a rotary solenoid including a rotary. armature and a member carried by, said armature.- and spaced from the axisthereof, means-Tor retain-.- ing said member in the pathsf" said trip arms to support the latter in :their. retaining positions, whereby theenergization ofsaid solenoid will move said member out of thepathsof said trip arms and ireleasesboth a levers; andxa second and;- separately 'energizablei solenoid havin g;- means to: interrupt:theemovementof saidsupporting meme her: after it; has movedout: of the path of the trip-armfor said releasing lever andbeioreit' has-moved'outof the-path of the trip; arm for; said arming lever:

91. In abomb release, a releasinglever; an -arm-- ing lever, s pring -means for separately actuating saidlevers; separately movable trip arms-to re. tain.:the--respective levers in their retracted" posi-- tionsr'against the action'ofisaid spring-means, a rotary solenoid including a: rotary armature. and atmembercarriedbysaidarmature and spaced. from theaxis thereohmeans for. retaining said, member inthe pathsof said .trip arms to. support the latter inthein retaining, positions; whereby the energization. of said solenoidwill .moye said member. out of. thepathsof said trip armsv and release. both levers, asecond. andiseparately ens ergizablesolenoid having means to interrupt the. movement of said supporting member after it has. moved. outof. the pathof. the. trip arm-for said. releasinglever andbefore it has moved out oitheipath of the .trip arm for said arminglever, meansincluding a switch-to connect the electric circuit of said b'omb release with the corresponding circuit of another bomb release, and means for" preventing-the closing; of'said switch while said'rotary solenoid remains energized after both trip arms have been released and for closing said switch w hile said rotary solenoid remains energized after its movement has been interrupted toprevent the release of said'tripiarm for said arming lever. l

10. In a bomb release, areleasing lever, an arming lever; spring means for: separately actu= ating' said levers, a movablemember: to. retain both levers in retracted positions against the action of" said spring means; electrically controlled means forxactuatingz said movable menrber" to releasesaid. leversin rapidsuccession; separately controlled electrical means for interrupting the movement of-saidmovable'memb'er after? said". releasing member. has been: re= leased and. beforesaid". armingleverhas been released; normally open switch means for" con= neeting theifirst: mentioned electrically control-led means: in an exteriorly controlled circuit, normally'openzswitch means for-.sconnectingthe last mentioned electrically controlled means in a second ext'eriorly controlled:- circuit; normally closed switch means for connecting'thefirst mentioned circuit with another. bombrelease, means controlled; by the movement of: said. releasing lever to close bothnormally openswitch means and to: open saidnormally closed switch means when said releasing lever is moved to .itsrretracted position, and to restore. said switch. meansto their normal positionswhensaidreleasing; lever is released.

11; In a b'omb'release, a-- releasing lever, an arming lever, s pringfmeansefori separately actuating said levers, separatelymovable trip. arms to retain the respectivelevers. in their retracted positions againsttheaction of..said spring means, a rotary solenoidincludingarotary armature and a:member carriedbysaid armature and spaced from .theaxis. thereof,.means for retaining said member in..the. pathsof said. trip arms to. support. the latter in. their retaining positions, whereby the energization. of said. solenoid will move said member out of'the path of said trip arms-andmeleaseboth levers, a. second and separately energizable solenoid having means to in- 13 terrupt the movement of said supporting member after it has moved out of the path of the trip arm for said releasing lever and before it has moved out of the path of the trip arm for said arming lever, normally open switch means to connect said rotary solenoid in an externally controlled circuit, normally open switch means to connect said second solenoid in a separate externally controlled circuit, normally closed switch means to connect the first mentioned circuit with the corresponding circuit of another bomb release, means controlled by the trip arm for said releasing lever to close the normally open switch means and to open the nor- ,zmallyoclosed switch means when saidrrreleasing lever is moved to its retracted position and to 15 Number GEORGE H. LELAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name a Date 2,332,795

Hooven Oct. 26, 1943

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