Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02424446 2003-04-04
F i ~ ~
C~t~ITP~If'~(ER APRARATUS FOR OB,J~CT TO B~ PROPPED
Field of the Irnerrtion
The present invention relates to a container apparatus for an object to be
dropped, which c:ontai~ns an object to be dropped (hereunder referred to as a
drop
ob~eef~ functioning as a point marker or a hydrographic condi#ion~ measuring
device
or the like and is dropped dy a transport airplane such as $n aircraft flying
in the air to
a water surtace of sea, lake or the tike, or to land or the tike.
Description of the Related Art
Conventianalty, in order to drop an abject from a transport airplane such as
an
aircraft, to a water surface of sea, latce or the like, or to land or the
like, the object is
simply thrown out, as it is, into the fir to be dropped. However, an object
thrown out
by art aircraft fl~rlng of a high speed is subjected to a large aerodynamic
load
immedia'~ely after being thro~nrrt down. Act~rdingty, it is necessary for the
drop object
to kie of high strength- Furthermore, sometimes a trajectory of the drop,
object after
threw out by the aircraft becomes unseable under an influence of an a.ir
current near
the transport airplane, and an influence of the aerodynamic interference
between the
drop object and the transport airplane: Ac~oordingly, when the trajectory of
the drop
object is disturbed, there is a danger of the thrown drop object con~tactirlg
the
transport airplane, and in order to prevent this from occ~rrring, it is
necessary to invest
a great dsal of effort to test and guarantee that such contact does not occur.
In order to deaf with this problem, conventionally, the drop object is housed
in
a container of a suitable shape, the container housing the drop object therein
is
loaded orrrn an aircraft fo be transfer~d to a position over a target point,
and is then
dropped into the air. Immediately after being dropped by the aircraft, the
container
opens tv release the drop object housed therein Into the air. Altemativel~r,
the
container opens after having reached a cereain altitude determined by an
altimeter
{barometer) installed in the container, to release the drop object housed
therQin into
the air.
However, in this conventional method of dropping art object using a container,
since immediately after being dropped by tire aircraft, the container opens to
r~etease
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2
fhe drop object house( therein info the air, the drop object is subjected tc~
a large
aerodynamic load (mmediate(y after being released; in subs'tantisl(y the same
manner
as mhen the drop object is simply released: as it is; into the air.
Conseguentiy, therie
may fhe~ case wherie the drt~p object is bn~ken, or is unable to perform a
desired
function. Therefore, the drop object must be of high strength: Alternatively,
in the
case where the container opens after having reached a certain altitude
deberm(ned by
an altimeter barometer) instalted in the container, to release the drop object
housed
therein into the air; the drop object may be released into the air before a
falling speed
of the container is decreased to a Yxed speed to be subjected t~o a large
aerodynamic
load in the same manner as above. Accordingly, in the same manner as described
above, the drop object must be of high strength.
SUMMARY fJF THE INVENT10N
The present invention has beers ac~xomplished in view of the above problems,
and has an object of providing a container apparatus for an object to be
dropped,
which, after being dropped by a transport airplane; follows a substantially
uniform
trajectory and decreases a falling speed thereof to a fixed speed, to release
the drop
objQCt housed therein.
In order fo achieve the object described above, a container apparatus for an
abject to be dropped according to the present invention compr<ses: a
cylindrical
container main body which is just divided vertically into two portions, with
one ends of
the two portions at one end section thereof being connected with each other by
a
hinge and the other ends of the two portions at the opposite end section
thereof
capable of being decoupled from each other to both sides, for housing therein
an
object to be dropped which exhibits a predetemtined function, to be dropped by
a
trar~spart airplane; main body couptin8 means for coupling the other ends at
the
opposite end section of the container main body so as to prevent them from
being
decoupled from each other; main body releasing rneans for releasing the
coupling by
the ma(n body coupling means, to decouple the other ends from each other; and
an
automatic extending cable which extends from the one end section of the
container
main body and is attached to the transport airplane to activate the main body
releasing means.
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3
Acx:ording to such a construction, the drop object twhich e~chibits the
predetermined function is housed in the ,cylindrical oor~iner main body which
is just
divided vertically into two portions, with ttre one ends of the two p~rrtions
connected
by the Hinge and tY~e opposite ends of the two portions capad(e ofbeing
deroup~ied
from each c~thewba both sides, the conf~ainer housing the dra~p object thefein
is
dropped by the transport airplane, and them, the main body releasing means are
activated by the automatic extending cable which extends from the one end
section
of the conrain~er maim body to be attached to the transport airplane, thereby
releasing .
the coupling by the main body coupling means which couples the other ends at
the
opposite end section ofi the container main body to prevent the other ends
from being
deooupied from each other, to decouple the other ends at the opposite end
section of
the container main body. As a result, since the drop object is not released
directlyr by
the transport airplane, it is possible to pre~rerlt the drop object from being
subjected to
a iarage aerodynamic load immediately after tx;ing dropped. Accordingly, it is
not
necessary for the drop abject to be e~oess'nrely strong. t=urtherrnore, fhe
container
main body housing ire drop object therein is able to follow a substantially
unifann
trajectory after being dropped.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FtG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a container apparatus
for an object to be dropped acxording to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front vriew showing the embodiment of the container appmratus for
nn object.ro be dropped.
FtG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the container
apparatus for an object to be dropped is used,
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of main body
coupting means and main bndy releasing_ means of the container apparatus for
an
object to be dropped.
FIG, s is a circuit diagram sho~nr'mg a heating avntml circuit for heating a
heating member used as the main body ref~easing means shown in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a container $pparatus
for an object t~o be dropped (hereunder referred to as a drop object)
according to the
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a
present icrrention. This ao~ainer apparatus houses therein a drop object
~rrhich
functions as a paint marker or s hydrographic conditions measuring device or
the like,
to be dapped by a ~~ansport airplane such as an e~ircraft dying in the air to
a water
surface of sea, Iake or the like, or fro land or the like, The container
apparatus
comprises a container main body 't, main body coupling means 2, main body
releasing means 3, an automatic extending cable 4, and a plumb bob 5.
In FtG. ~ , the ~ntainer main body 1 houses therein a drop object which
exhibits a predeterrt~ined function, to be dropped by the xransport airplane
'not shown
in the frgures), and is formed from thick paper, plastic or metal or the like
in the st~rape
of a ~riinder with a circular or polygons! cross~sectioh. The container main
body i is
just di~ded vertically into two portions (1 a and 7 b), and as shown in FIG,
3, one ends
(upper ends) of the t~rvo portions at one end section of the container main
body 1 are
connected by a hinge 6 and the other ends (lower ends) at the apposite end
s~tion
of the container main body 1 are able to be deooupled from each other to both
sides,
as indicated by the arrows A and B. Speciily, as shovm in FiC. 1; the shape of
the c~ntainsr main body 1 is a circular cylinder witft an outer diameter of
approximately 120mm and a total length of approximately 1 QOamm, for example;
and
one of division lines 7 between the vertically divided main body members 1 a
and 1 b
is shown on the side wail of the container main body 1.
The main body coupling means 2 is provided at the opposite end section near
the bottom of the container main body 1. This main body coupling means 2
couples
the other ends of the two porlaons of the container main body 1 to prevQnt the
other
ends from being decoupled, and as an examples consists of a tape member wound
around the outer peripheral surface of the opposite end section of the
container main
body 1. specifically. an adhesive tape with a width of approximately 100mm and
a
length of appro~cirna'tety 22bmm is wound around the outer peripheral surface
of the
apposite end section.of the container main body 1. ~rdingly, it is possible
with a
simple ntate~al to couple the other ends at the opposite end section Qf the
container
main body 7 to prevent the other ends firom being decoupted. This main body
coupling means Z consisting of the tape member can bye cut with a card type
member
as described befnw.
The main body releasing means $ are attached to opposite side waif portions
of the container main body 1. The main body releasing means 3 release the
coupling
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of the main body coupling means 2, thereby deaoupling fhe other ends at the
opposite end section of the container main body 1, and as art ex2rr~ple,
consists of a
cord type memE~er,v~hich is connected to the automatic extending cable ~,
described
below to cut the tape member serving as the main ~dy coupling means 2 by the
e~ctensiQn of the aufomatic extending cable ~4. Specifically; a type of line
known as
°'sflken gut", ~nrhich is a strong fine used in fishing, can be used
for the cord type
member serving,as the main body releasing means 3. This cord type member (3'j
is
not limited do the silken gut mentioned above, and a line made of ynthetic
fibers or
metal or the like may also ire used. By using such members, it is possible
with a
simple construction to retea$e the coupling by the main body coupling means 2,
thereby decoupling the other ends at the opposite end section of the
carrtainer main
body '( .
Then, as shown in FIG. i and FIG. 2, the" cord type member (a) is arranged in
an elongated loop shape in a manner to loop around the inside and outside of
the
container main body 1, along each of the division lines 7 on the opposite side
well
portions of the container main body "1, and also to loop around the lowver
edge of the
tape memfaer (Zj at a Iflwer end portion thereof, and to be connscted to the
automatic
extending cable 4 described below at ~n upper end portion thereof.
Accordingly, the
cord type member (3) is pulled upward due to the extension of the autorrtatic
extending cable 4 to cut through the tape member (2). At this time, it becomes
possible to facilitate the arcing if a tape easy to be cut is used as the tape
member
(2), 2nd incision is made at the lower edge of the tape member (2), to loop
around the
incision with the lower end portion of the looped cord type member (~.
The automatic extending cable 4 is connected to the one end section (upper
end section) of ~e container main body 1. This automatic exr~ending cable 4 is
for
operating the main body releasing means 3, and extends from the upper end
section
of the container main body 1 to be attached to the transport airplane (not
shown in
the figures). The automatic extending cable 4 consists of, for example, a
flexible rope
member A rfng B tn be hooked onto a part of the aircraft or the like serving
as the
transport airpls.ne is attached to an end portion of tile rope member.
plccordingly, if
the entire container apparatus is dropped into the air while this ring 8 is
hooked onto
the part of the aircraft or the lifte, then the automatic e~ctending cerble 4
vn'il exteryd
automatically, thereby operating the main body releasing means 3.
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b
/~ plumb bob S~is in~:orporated in the inside of the container main,body 1.
This
plumb bob S is for adjusting a trajectory followed by the entire conta~irrer
apparatus 9
housing therein the dn~p object, constructed as described above. after being
dropped
by tfre transport airplane. Gne or a plurality of weights is provided at
predety mined
(ocatia~ns inside the container main body ~i , acxording to need, for example
at tfie
upper end section, yr in the middle of the main k~ody 1. As a result, it
becomes
possible to adjust the weight, center of grauity, and momer~ of inertia of the
entire
container main body 7 hoc~sing therein the drop object to conform the dropping
property of the transport airplane. In the oe~se where the plumb i~ob 5 is
unnecessary,
depend;ng on the ~weEgfit or center of gravity or the like of the entire
container main
body 1 housing therein the drop object, the plumb bob 5 needs not be provided.
Next, the use and operation of the container apparatus 8 oonatructed in this
manner are described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. First, in FIG, t and
FIG. 2,
the lower ends of the main body members 1 a and 1 b which are fiormed by just
dividing the container main body 1 vertically into two are placed in a state
in which
they can tie opened, these lower ends of the main body members 1 a and 1 b are
opened oufv!vards to the left acrd right, and the drop object whieh exhibits
the function
xs. the point marker or the hydrographic conditions mea.$uring device or the
like, is
housed in the container main body 1.
Subsequently, the lower ends of he main body members 1 a and 1 b are
closed, acrd as shown in FIG. 'I and FIG. 2, the tape memf~er serving as the
main
body coupling means 2 is wound around thg outer peripheral surface of the
opposite
end section, thereby coupling the lower ends of the main body members 1 a and
1 b of
the container main body 1 and preventing it from b~ing opened. At this time,
as
si,ovm iv F'fG. 2, tMe cord type merrcber searing as the main body releasing
means ~
is arranged in a to p shape in a matter to loop around the outside and the
inside of
the tape member (2j in a loop, and is connected to the automatic extending
cable 4
at the upper end poirGon thereof. The drop objedc is thereby housed in the
container
main body 1.
Next, the container apparatus 9 housing therein the drop object as described
aborre, is loaded onto the aircraft serving as the transport airplane. The
air~aft
c~,nying the container apparatus 9 housing lt~e drop object then flies to a
position
a predetermined land area or sea area, and upon reaching a point of salvage
CA 02424446 2003-04-04
or search practice, for example, an operator on the aircraft: hooks the ring
8~ of the
autiomatic extending cable 4 onto a part of the sirrraft, opens a door or
hatnh and ,
drops tire entire container apparatus 9 into the air. Tha~ container apparatus
9
housing therein the drop object then falls freel~l, and felto~rvs a
subsTatttially uniform
trajectory after being drppped by the transport airplane, due to the
cylindrical
container shape and trte plumb bobs 5 and the (ifce°
In this state, the automatic extending cable 4, the ring 8 of x~rhhich is
hooked
onto the part of the aircraft, gxtgnds automaticaJty to a predetermined
length, and
upon reaching the foil Length; the auts~matic extending cable 4 pulls the cord
type
member (3'), thereby cutting the tape mernE~er 2 with the cord type , member
(3j.
Consequently, the coupling at the opposite end section of the container main
body 1
is released, and as shown in FtG: 3, an ait pressure during the falling causes
~ehe
main body memt7ers ~ a and 1 b tv rotate about the hinge B tv be opened, as
indicated
by the arrows A and B. As a result, a drop object 10 housed in the corrt-
airrer main
body 1 is released, and then falls as indicated by the arrornr C.
Subsequently, the drop object 1o tells freely, or felts using a paracf-~uce or
the
like, and (ands on the land or water surtace of the predeterm(ned (and area or
eea
area, to exhibit the function as thg point marker or the hydrographie
oonditi4ns
me4suring device, or the like.
FIGS. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the main
body coupling means 2 and ifie main body releasing means 3. F1C,. 4 shotrvs a
configuration of the bottom face of the container main body 1 shown in FtG. ~f
, and in
this embodiment; as a m in body reupiing means 2', there is used a thread type
member which draws together and ties the main body members 1 a and 1 b trvhich
a~
formed by just di~riding the containQr vertically into ~t~rvo, and which (s
melted to be
broken at a predetermined heating temperature, and as a main body releesin~
means 3', there is used a heating member which in activated by oho extension
of the
autorrratic extending cable 4, and melts to brake the main body coup((ng means
a°.
A strong line used in fishing known as °'silk guts can be used for the
thread
type member serving as the main body coupling means 2°. Furthermote,
opposing
hooks 't 1 which face inward are mounted et 'the lower ends of the main body
members 't a and 1 b of the container main body 1, and the thread type member
(2'~ is
CA 02424446 2003-04-04
wound fyetween these hooks 11 a plurality of times, and ~gi~tened so as ~to
draw the
main body members 1 a and 1 b together. Moreover, it is possible to adjust a
distance
bet~reen the hooks t 1 by fuming screws 12 used to mourn the hooks 11, by a
screwd~rsrer, therjeby adjusting the tightness of this tf~read type member
(2~.
Furthermore, provided 'ti~at thethread type rrrember (2~ is melted to be
broken at the
pre;ier~m,ined heating r~mperature, the thread Type member (2') is not limited
to the
silk gut mentioned above, and a line made of a synthetic fiber or a metal or
the lilac
may also be used: Accordingly, it: ig possible with a simple material. to
couple the
other ends at the opposite end section of tl~ oontafner maim body 1 so as to
prevent
them from being decoupled.
A nichroms Wire having a suitable resistance can be used as the heating
member serving as the main body releasing means ~', for example. Then, the
heating member t~') is wound onto a part of the thread type member (2') wound
between the hootcs 11, as shown in FtCi. 4, and power is supplied tQ this
heating
member (3') from a battery (not shown in the figure] via a lead wire 13. In
FIG. 4,
reference nurnera! 14 denotes a hook cover provided In the vicinity of the
hooks 11,
which also serves as a bottom plate of the container main body ~
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagra:rn showing a heating control circuit for heating
the
heeding member serving as the main body releasing means 3'. This heating
control
circuit comprises a battery E, a heating member (3~ formed from nichrome wire,
a
time oontroffer 15, s main switch 16, a test switch 17 for battery testing,
and a battery
test tamp (such es a light emitting diode) 1$:
The time controller 15 controls a period of time until the thread type member
(,2'~ serving as the main body coupling means is fieated and melted to be
broken by
the heating member (3'), and cnmp~ris~es a resfsto~r which gives a
predetermined delay
time, and v~hich may be a variable resistor. Furthermore, the main switch 16
svvicches me ON/OFF of the power supply w the hea~ng member (3~ from the
battery
E, and a switching member thereof is acti~ra'ted by the exzensfon of the
automatic
extending cable 4 shown in FIC. 1 and FfC, 2, to tum the main switch i a
Ot~/OFF. In
other ~nrords, the main switch 15 is normally OFF, but turns ON by the
extension of
the automatic extending cable ~4 attached o the transport airplane.
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~lexct is a ~desortption of the operations of the main body coupling means ~'
~d
the main body releasing means 3' shown in FIG. 4 and FfG. 5. Frtsk, the drop
objet
i 0, which e7ifiibits 'the funcoion as the poirft marker or the hydrographic
conditions
measuring device or the ~ lake, is hou5e~d in the container main body 1 in
e~ca~ctty the
same manner as in the embodiment described above. Trlen, in the crate where
the
lower ~cnds of the main body members 1 a and 1 b are dfosed, the thread type
member
(2'~ is wound a plurafily of times bet~veert the opposing hooks 1 i and
tightened so as
to draw the main body members 1 a sod' 1 b together, thereby coupling the
lower ends
of the main bode members 1 a and 1 b at the opposite end section of the
vocttainer
main body 1 so as to prevent the opposite end section of the container main
body 1
from being opened.
Next, the heating member (3') is wound onto a part of the thread type member
(2') wound between the hooks 11, and tile battery E shown in FfG. 5 is
vonnected to
this heating member (3~ via a lead v~ire 13, At this tirrre; an actuating
portion for the
switching meinb~er of the main switch 16 shown in FtG. 5 is connected to the
automatic ending cable ~4 shown in FtC: 1 and FIG. 2. The drop object 10 is
thereby housed in the container main body 1.
Next, the container apparatus 9 housing therein the drop object t0 is loaded
vrrto an aircraft serving as the transport airplane. Then, in the carne manner
as
above, the aircraft carrying the container apparatus 9 housing therein the
drop object,
flies to a position above a predetermined fend area yr sea area, an operator
on the
aircraft hooks the ring 8 of the automatic extending cable 4 onto a pett.of
the aircraft,
opens a door or hatch, and drops the entire container apparatus 9 into the
air.
In this state, the automatic extending cable 4, the ring 8 of which is hooked
onto the part of thg aircraft, extends automatically to a predetermined
length, and
upon reaching the full lengfh, activates the switching merrrber of trre main
swirch 16,
fuming the main switch i8 ON. As a result, the power trorn the battery t= is
sent to
the beefing member (3~: and after s delay time determined by the time
controller ~ 5,
the heating member (3~ i5 heated up to a predetermined heating temperature.
Consequently, the temperafur~e of this heating member (3~ melts the thread
type member (2') to be broken. ~i,s a result, the coupling at the opposite end
section
of the container main body 1 is released; and as shown in FtG. 3, the air
pressure
CA 02424446 2003-04-04
during the falling causes the mom body members 1 a and 1 b to rotate about the
hinge
B to be Qpened, es indicated by tile arrows A and B. A~s a resuti, the ~irOp
object i0
Roused in the container main body 1 is released, and then fatla 5s indicated
by the
arroanr C. Subsequently, the drop object 10 falls freehy, or fgtls using a
parachute or
the Rice, and lands on the (and or Water surface of the predetermined land
area or sea
area, to exhibit the function as the point marker or the hydrographie
conditions
measuring device, or the like_
tn this manner, since the heaitng member (3~ which melts to bBaic the thread
type member (2ywhen activated by the extension of the automatic extending
cable 4
is used as the main body rdi2asing means; it is possible to reduce the filight
speed of
the container main body 1 to a fixed speed within a fired time before the
dread type
member (2'j is matted to be broken, pausing the Power ends at the opposite end
section of the container main body 1 Ro be dscoupled, thereby releasing the
drop
obfect 10 housed in the container main body 1. Accordingly, it is possible to
prevent
the drop object 10 from being subjected to a large aerodynamic toad, and it is
not
necessary,for the drop object 10 to be excessively strong.
Furthermor~s, since the main body releasing means 3 is provided with the time
controtter 15 uKrhich corrtrots the period of time until the thread type
member (~~ is
heed and melted tQ be broken by the heating member (3~, it is possible tc~
control a
period oY time until the container reduces the Right speed thereof to the
speed tv
rotsase the drop object 10 llouaed therein after being dropped. Accordingly,
it is
possible to control the object release time according to the configuration and
function
and the like of the drop object 10, to prevent the drop object i o from being
subfeeted
'6o a large aerodynamic io~ad.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a vtape member serving as the main body
coupling means 2 matt also be wound around the opposite end section ~f the
container main b~ad~r 1 in the same manner as shown in FI~. 1 and FtG, 2, in
such a
case, When the container apparatus 9 housing theraein the drop objet Is
dropped by
an aircraft into the air and the automatic extending cable 4 is extended
automatipaliy
to p predetermined length and upon reaching the full length, the tape member
(2) is
cut, and also the switching member ofi tJ~e main sv~tch 16 is activated,
fuming the
main switch 16 OM. After a predetermined detay time; tfie thread type member
(2~ is
melted to be broken, the coupling between the lower ends at the apposite end
, CA 02424446 2003-04-04
secrian of the corrtain2r main body 9 is released; the lower ends are opened
as
ir~dica~ed by the arrorive Al and '~, artd the drop abject 1 d housed in the
carYt~tiner
apparatus 9 is released.
