GB239044A - Improvements in aeroplane launching devices or catapults - Google Patents

Abstract

239,044. JeansÚn, C. F., and Stone, E. F. Sept. 1, 1924. Launching-ways.-Aeroplanes are launched from a carriage adapted to be impelled along a track by the force derived from the expanding gases of an explosive such as smokeless powder. The aeroplane rests on a carriage 1 adapted to be drawn along rails 3 by a cable 13 which is passed over the guide pulleys 14, 15 and backwards and forwards over multiple pulleys 17, 18 and is secured to lug 16 on a cross-head 8 carrying the pulleys 17. The cross-head 8, sliding on rods 9, is connected to a piston moving in a cylinder 6, one end of which is in communication with one end of a chamber 21 having an explosion chamber 20 at its other end for the reception and firing of appropriate cartridges. As the piston nears the end of its stroke is uncovers ports leading to exhaust chimneys 24. Buffers 12, 25 cushion respectively the cross-head 8 and carriage 1 at the end of their travel. The cable 13 is initially tensioned, and the carriage 1 released when a predetermined pressure in the chamber 21 is exceeded, bv a device shown enlarged in Fig. 7. The carriage is connected to a drawbar 28 by a pivoted catch 30 held in its closed position by a dog 34 on a trip lever 35 which is engaged by a surface 137 on a member adjustably connected to a frame 26. The frame has lugs 27 sliding on the rails 3 and is adjusted in position and anchored by a screwed shaft 45. The drawbar 28 is resiliently .held in its normal position by springs 43, 44, and upon a predetermined outward displacement of the drawbar the catch 30 is released. A modification is described in which the expansion chamber 21 surrounds one end of the cylinder 6, and the piston-rod connected to the crosshead is drawn in instead of being pushed out of the cylinder. The valve is moved over ports 49 by a non-rotary screwed stem 51 engaged by a drum 53 turned by a cord 56 attached at 58 to the crosshead 8. The ports 49 are partially open initially and the opening is increased as the crosshead moves outwards. Passages 59 transmit the cylinder pressure to the ends of the valve chamber.