Store release mechanisms

Claim 2

Mechanism for predeterminately retaining and releasing a store, said mechanism comprising: a frame; at least one hook adapted for engagement with the store and pivotally mounted to said frame; control linkage, said control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said first link also being pivotally connected to said hook and said second link also being pivotally connected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said bias means, maintain said first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said hook in an open store releasing position; and release means in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of said first and second links out of general alignment so that said hook releases the store, said release means including a release ladder, a pair of sears fixedly attached to opposite sides of said ladder, and actuation means to move said ladder and said attached sears in a first direction, said first link including a bifurcated pawl portion positioned a predetermined distance from and out of alignment with the pivotal connection of said first link, said sear pair contacting said bifurcated pawl portion when said sear pair is moved by said actuation means to rotate said first link out of the first overcenter position with said second link.

Claim 3

Mechanism for predeterminately retaining and releasing a store, said mechanism comprising: a frame; at least one hook adapted for engagement with the store and pivotally mounted to said frame; control linkage, said control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said first link also being pivotally connected to said hook and said second link also being pivotally connected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said bias means, maintain aid first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said hook in an open store releasing position; and release means in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of said first and second links out of general alignment so that said hook releases the store, said release means including at least one sear, and actuation means to move said sear in a first direction to contact said first link at a position thereon a predetermined distance from and out of alignment with the pivotAl connections of said first link to rotate said first link out of alignment with said second link.

Claim 4

Mechanism for predeterminately retaining and releasing a store, said mechanism comprising: a frame; at least one hook adapted for engagement with the store and pivotally mounted to said frame; control linkage, said control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said first link also being pivotally connected to said hook and said second link also being pivotally connected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said bias means, maintain aid first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said hook in an open store releasing position; and release means in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of said first and second links out of general alignment so that said hook releases the store, said release means including at least one sear, and actuation means to move said sear in a first direction to contact said first link at a position thereon a predetermined distance from and out of alignment with the pivotAl connections of said first link to rotate said first link out of alignment with said second link.

Claim 5

The mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said release means also include: bias means to urge said sear in a second direction opposite said first direction.

Claim 6

The mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said release means also include: crank means operatively connected to said release means for movement with said sear, said crank means abutting said second link at a position thereon a predetermined distance from and out of alignment with the pivotal connections of said second link and rotating said second link as said actuation means move said sear to assure said first and second links are forced out of the first overcenter position.

Claim 7

The mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said sear includes: an abutment surface thereon, said sear abutment surface being positioned to contact with said second link at a portion thereof a predetermined distance from and out of alignment with the pivotal connections of said second link to prevent rotation thereof out of general alignment with said first link until said actuation means have moved said sear a predetermined distance in said first direction.

Claim 8

Mechanism for predeterminately retaining and releasing a store, said mechanism comprising: a frame; at least one hook adapted for engagement with the store and pivotally mounted to said frame; control linkage, said control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said first link also being pivotally connected to said hook and said second link also being pivotally connected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said bias means, maintain said first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said hook in an open store releasing position; release means in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of said first and second links out of general alignment so that said hook releases the store; a second hook adapted for engagement with a store and pivotally mounted to said frame; second control linkage, said second control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said second control linkage first link also being pivotally connected to said second hook and said second control linkage second link also being pivotally connected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said second control linkage first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said second hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said second control linkage bias means maintain said second control linkage first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said second hook in an open store releasing position, said release means being in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of said second control linkage first and second links out of general alignment so that said second hook releases the store; and locking means having a locking abutment surface, said release means including a locking abutment surface thereon, said locking means being movable so said locking abutment surface moves into a locking position in engagement with said release means locking abutment surface to prevent said release means from moving and applying releasing force to said first and second control linkages, said locking means and said release means having second abutment surfaces at angles to said locking abutment surfaces thereof which engage wheN said release means is in a position indicating said first and second control linkages are not maintaining said first and second hooks in their closed positions to prevent said locking means from being moved into the locking position.

Claim 9

Mechanism for predeterminately retaining and releasing a store, said mechanism comprising: a frame; at least one hook adapted for engagement with the store and pivotally mounted to said frame; control linkage, said control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said first link also being pivotally connected to said hook and said second link also being pivotally connected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said bias means, maintain said first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said hook in an open store releasing position; release means in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of said first and second links out of general alignment so that said hook releases the store; a second hook adapted for engagement with a store and pivotally mounted to said frame; second control linkage, said second control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said second control linkage first link also being pivotally connected to said second hook and said second control linkage second link also being pivotally connected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said second control linkage first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said second hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said second control linkage bias means maintain said second control linkage first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said second hook in an open store releasing position, said release means being in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of said second control linkage first and second links out of general alignment so that said second hook releases the store; and locking means having a locking abutment surface, said release means including a locking abutment surface thereon, said locking means being movable so said locking abutment surface moves into a locking position in engagement with said release means locking abutment surface to prevent said release means from moving and applying releasing force to said first and second control linkages, said locking means and said release means having second abutment surfaces at angles to said locking abutment surfaces thereof which engage wheN said release means is in a position indicating said first and second control linkages are not maintaining said first and second hooks in their closed positions to prevent said locking means from being moved into the locking position.

Claim 10

The mechanism defined in claim 6 wherein said release means include: a first blocking abutment surface fixedly connected to said release means, said first blocking abutment surface being positioned to engage said first control linkage when said first control linkage is not in the hook closed position, said first blocking abutment surface when engaged with said first control linkage maintaining said release means in a position in which said second abutment surfaces of said locking means and said release means engage.

Claim 11

The mechanism defined in claim 7 wherein said release means include: a second blocking abutment surface fixedly connected to said release means, said second blocking abutment surface being positioned to engage said second control linkage when said second control linkage is not in the hook closed position; said second blocking abutment surface when engaged with said second control linkage maintaining said release means in a position in which said second abutment surfaces of said locking means and said release means engage whereby the prevented movement of said locking means indicates a not closed condition of at least one hook.

Claim 12

The mechanism defined in claim 6 wherein said release means include: a first blocking abutment surface fixedly connected to said release means, said first blocking abutment surface being positioned to engage and restrict motion of said first control linkage when said first control linkage is in the closed position and said locking means are in the locking position so that said first control linkage cannot allow said first hook to open.

Claim 13

The mechanism defined in claim 9 wherein said release means include: a second blocking abutment surface fixedly connected to said release means, said second blocking abutment surface being positioned to engage and restrict motion of said second control linkage when said second control linkage is in the closed position and said locking means are in the locking position so that neither said second nor said first control linkages can allow their associated hooks to open.

Claim 14

The mechanism defined in claim 6 wherein said release means include: first and second blocking abutment surfaces, said first and second blocking abutment surfaces being positioned to engage and block movement of said first and second control linkage respectively when said first and second control linkage are in the closed positions and said locking means are in the locking position, said first blocking abutment surface being shaped to unblock and allow movement of said first control linkage when said release means are moved a distance less than a distance required to cause said second control linkage to move said second hook from a closed to an open position.

Claim 15

Mechanism for predeterminately retaining and releasing a store, said mechanism comprising: a frame; at least one hook adapted for engagement with the store and pivotally mounted to said frame; control linkage, said control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said first link also being pivotally connected to said hook and said second link also being pivotally conntected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said bias means, maintain said first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said hook in an open store releasing position; release means in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of Said first and second links out of general alignment so that said hook releases the store; a second hook adapted for engagement with a store and pivotally mounted to said frame; and second control linkage, said second control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said second control linkage first link also being pivotally connected to said second hook and said second control linkage second link also being pivotally connected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said second control linkage first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said second hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said second control linkage bias means maintain said second control linkage first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said second hook in an open store releasing position, said release means being in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of said second control linkage first and second links out of general alignment so that said second hook releases the store, said release means including an explosive device having a slot therein, and a ladder operatively connecting said explosive device to said first and second control linkage, said ladder including an upstanding tang which extends into said explosive device slot, and a cam opposite said tang, said cam riding on said frame and being shaped to allow downward movement of said ladder so said tang can be inserted in said explosive device slot and prohibit movement of said ladder to the hook closed position when said tang is not in said explosive device slot.

Claim 16

Mechanism for predeterminately retaining and releasing a store, said mechanism comprising: a frame; at least one hook adapted for engagement with the store and pivotally mounted to said frame; control linkage, said control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said first link also being pivotally connected to said hook and said second link also being pivotally conntected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said bias means, maintain said first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said hook in an open store releasing position; release means in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of Said first and second links out of general alignment so that said hook releases the store; a second hook adapted for engagement with a store and pivotally mounted to said frame; and second control linkage, said second control linkage including first and second links which are pivotally connected, said second control linkage first link also being pivotally connected to said second hook and said second control linkage second link also being pivotally connected to said frame, first overcenter abutment means and bias means to retain said second control linkage first and second links in general alignment to form a compression assembly capable of predeterminately retaining said second hook in a closed store engaging position, and second overcenter abutment means which in combination with said second control linkage bias means maintain said second control linkage first and second links at a substantial angle therebetween to predeterminately retain said second hook in an open store releasing position, said release means being in position to predeterminately apply force to said control linkage to cause relative movement of said second control linkage first and second links out of general alignment so that said second hook releases the store, said release means including an explosive device having a slot therein, and a ladder operatively connecting said explosive device to said first and second control linkage, said ladder including an upstanding tang which extends into said explosive device slot, and a cam opposite said tang, said cam riding on said frame and being shaped to allow downward movement of said ladder so said tang can be inserted in said explosive device slot and prohibit movement of said ladder to the hook closed position when said tang is not in said explosive device slot.