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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
SMALL STORE SUSPENSION AND RELEASE UNIT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/087822
Kind Code:
A4
Abstract:
The unit (10) uses a resiliently biased electrical connector assembly (16) and/or resiliently biased feet (50) pivotally attached to adjustable sway brace legs (20) to apply an ejection impulse to a store (not shown) after release from a suspension hook (102). A safety latch mechanism comprises a pawl (130) which engages a nib (108) on the suspension hook assembly to prevent inadvertent release of the store if the suspension hook assembly becomes jammed e.g. due to ice formation.

Inventors:
LEWENDON JAMES (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2015/053609
Publication Date:
August 25, 2016
Filing Date:
November 26, 2015
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
EDO MBM TECH LTD (GB)
International Classes:
B64D1/06; B64D7/08; F41F5/00; H01R13/635
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
PHILLIPS & LEIGH (London EC4A 3BA, GB)
Download PDF:
Claims:
AMENDED CLAIMS

received by the International Bureau on 12 July 2016 (12.07.2016)

CLAIMS

1. A suspension and release unit for an aircraft, the suspension and release unit comprising a sway brace and a suspension hook engageable with a store, the sway brace comprising an adjustable leg and a foot pivotally attached to the adjustable leg, characterised in that the pivoting of the foot is resiliently biased to provide an ejection impulse to the store upon release of the store from the suspension hook.

2. A suspension and release unit as defined in claim 1, in which a mechanical spring is used to bias the pivoting foot to provide the ejection impulse.

3. A suspension and release unit as defined in any preceding claim in which the sway brace leg is angularly adjustable to bring the foot into resiliently biased engagement with the store.

4. A suspension and release unit as defined in claim 3 in which the adjustment is provided by a lead screw.

5. A suspension and release unit as defined in claim 4, in which the sway brace comprises a pair of said adjustable legs and feet, each leg being provided with a respective drive nut; the lead screw having an oppositely handed thread at each end and the respective drive nuts being mounted one on each of these threads.

6. A suspension and release unit as defined in any preceding claim in which the adjustable leg is height adjustable with respect to the suspension hook.

7. A suspension and release unit as defined in claim 6 in which the sway brace may be freed for movement between two different vertical positions by squeezing a pair of said adjustable legs together, and upon release of the legs is automatically locked in the position to which it has been moved.

8. A suspension and release unit as defined in any preceding claim in which the ejection impulse is provided by a torsion spring which biases at least a portion of the foot in a direction outwardly away from the remainder of the suspension and release unit. 9. A suspension and release unit as defined in any preceding claim in which the sway brace or a portion thereof is additionally power actuated to provide the ejection impulse.

10. A suspension and release unit for an aircraft, comprising a main body and an electrical connector, the electrical connector being engageable with a store and movable under resilient bias which acts between the main body and the electrical connector, characterised in that the main body is adapted for fixed attachment to an aircraft, so that the resilient bias provides an ejection impulse between the aircraft and the store.

11. A suspension and release unit as defined in claim 10 in which a mechanical spring is used to bias the electrical connector and provide the ejection impulse.

12. A suspension and release unit as defined in claim 10 or 11 in which the electrical connector or a portion thereof is power actuated to provide the ejection impulse. 13. A suspension and release unit as defined in any of claims 10-12 comprising one or more coil springs which bias the electrical connector in a direction away from the main body.

14. A suspension and release unit as defined in any of claims 1-9 and any of claims 10- 12.

15. A store suspension and release unit, comprising a suspension hook, a primary latch which can be actuated to release the suspension hook for movement, thereby to release a store, and a safety latch movable from a locked position in which it lies in the path of movement of the suspension hook or of parts movable therewith so as to block movement of the suspension hook, to an unlocked position in which the safety latch lies clear of the path of movement whereby the suspension hook is free to move and release the store;

15 characterised in that the safety latch is continuously resiliency biased towards the locked position, whereby if the suspension hook has jammed following the actuation of the primary latch, the safety latch prevents the suspension hook from releasing the store. 16. A store suspension and release unit as defined in claim 15 in which in the locked position the safety latch is engageable with the primary latch to prevent actuation of the primary latch and in the unlocked position the safety latch allows actuation of the primary latch. 17. A store suspension and release unit as defined in claim 16 in which the safety latch comprises a detent to hold it in a partially locked position in which it lies in the path of movement of the suspension hook or of the parts movable therewith, but in which actuation of the primary latch is allowed. 18. A store suspension and release unit as defined in any of claims 15-17 in which the suspension hook comprises a nib engageable with the distal end of a store suspension lug as a store is offered up to the suspension hook, so as to rotate the suspension hook from a released position to a position in which the suspension hook engages the lug, the safety latch moving into the path of rotation of the nib.

19. A store suspension and release unit as defined in any of claims 15-18 in which the safety latch comprises an actuator driven rotary arm having a detent disengageable from the primary latch by operation of the actuator. 20. A store suspension and release unit as defined in claim 19 in which the rotary arm is drivingly coupled to a detent which is movable out of the path of rotation of the nib by operation of the actuator.

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