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US3808941A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dispenser for flares and the like

Assignee: Dynapac Inc
•
Filing: 1972-02-09
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1992-02-09
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Abstract

Abstract A dispenser providing for selective single or plural flare, or other drop package, release from aircraft. The dispenser comprises a housing containing one or more flare tubes in which flares are aligned, a trip-type arming device in the outlet end of each flare tube and an arming cap on each flare arranged to engage the arming device and to pull loose from the flare, thereby pulling arming and safety pins on the flare as it is discharged from the flare tube. Explosive devices are used to provide the thrust necessary to drive the flares from the flare tube and gas ports in the housing direct the expanding gases to expansion chambers in the flare tubes at the rear of the flares.

Inventors

  • 👤 E Biggs

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 23:04
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41F; F41F3/00; F41F3/04; F41F3/052; B; B64; B64D; B64D1/00; B64D1/02; B64D1/04; B64D1/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 241 words
A dispenser for flares and the like comprising a housing adapted to be connected to a carrying vehicle; a tube within said housing adapted to receive a flare having forward and aft ends; means mounted on said tube for releasably holding said flare within said tube; an expansion chamber within said tube at the aft end of a flare in the tube; means for creating a gas expansion within tHe expansion chamber to thereby force the flare from the tube; an opening through the wall of the tube at the aft end thereof; flare arming means including an arming hook pivotally mounted on the wall of the tube to move into and out of the tube through the said opening, said arming hook being movable into a position in said tube whereby it will engage said flare to remove a safety pin and an arming ring from said flare as said flare is ejected from said tube; spring means having one end fixed to the tube and the other end fixed to the arming hook, whereby the arming hook is normally biased out of said tube; and a trigger hook connected to the arming hook and normally biased into said tube by said spring means to be engaged by the flare during the ejection thereof to thereby move the arming hook into the tube and to hold the arming hook therein during removal of the safety pin and the arming ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 241 words
A dispenser for flares and the like comprising a housing adapted to be connected to a carrying vehicle; a tube within said housing adapted to receive a flare having forward and aft ends; means mounted on said tube for releasably holding said flare within said tube; an expansion chamber within said tube at the aft end of a flare in the tube; means for creating a gas expansion within tHe expansion chamber to thereby force the flare from the tube; an opening through the wall of the tube at the aft end thereof; flare arming means including an arming hook pivotally mounted on the wall of the tube to move into and out of the tube through the said opening, said arming hook being movable into a position in said tube whereby it will engage said flare to remove a safety pin and an arming ring from said flare as said flare is ejected from said tube; spring means having one end fixed to the tube and the other end fixed to the arming hook, whereby the arming hook is normally biased out of said tube; and a trigger hook connected to the arming hook and normally biased into said tube by said spring means to be engaged by the flare during the ejection thereof to thereby move the arming hook into the tube and to hold the arming hook therein during removal of the safety pin and the arming ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 90 words
A dispenser for flares and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for holding the flare within the tube consists of a hook rotatably connected to said tube such that the end of said hook can be moved into blocking engagement with said flare within said tube, and a shear pin inserted through said hook and said housing, said shear pin being arranged to shear when subjected to a predetermined force, thereby allowing said hook to rotate out of the path of travel of said flare.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 53 words
A dispenser for flares and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for creating a gas expansion consists of a breechblock arrangement within the housing for containing and firing a gas generating cartridge therein; and a port connecting a gas output portal of the breechblock with the expansion chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 74 words
A dispenser for flares and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flare arming means further consists of a sealing cap connected to the end of the flare when loaded and forming a seal with the interior of the tube; an arming cap releasably connected to said sealing cap and separate from said flare; and means for connecting said arming cap with the arming ring and safety pin of said flare.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 65 words
A dispenser for flares and the like as set forth in claim 4, wherein the arming hook is connected to said trigger hook such that when said trigger hook is rotated fully out of said flare tube by contact with the sealing cap the arming hook is rotated into the path of the following arming cap to obtain said arming cap within said flare tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 137 words
A dispenser for air drop items as recited in claim 5, wherein the trigger and arming hooks have slide lugs thereon and are pivotally connected to a block arranged to slide on at least one guide member fixed to the tube; means biasing said block towards the forward end of the flare tube; and guide tracks arranged to be engaged by the slide lugs when said block is moved against the biasing effect of the means biasing the block towards the forward end of the flare tube said guide tracks having a portion preventing rotation of the arming hook out of the flare tube and a portion wherein both the arming hook and the trigger hook are out of the path of travel of the sealing and arming caps on a flare ejected from the flare tube.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2381332A Cited
US2422660A Cited
US2723093A Cited
US3435725A Cited
US3481246A Cited
US3712232A Cited
US3623398A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-05-06 1977-11-05 1978-05-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-05-06 1981-11-05 1982-05-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-05-06 1985-11-05 1986-05-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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