Nov. 4, 1941.

F. G. lvi'?k?l'?oNv ETAL
AERIAL Tow TARGET

2,251,171
2 Sheets-Sheet 1

sued May 6, 1941

FRANK 6. MANSON

J4M$ a. /*24 KEV

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Nov. 4, 1941.

F. G. MANSON Em
AERIAL TOW TARGET

2,261,171

Filed May 6, 1941

2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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FR?/VK 6 .M4/vs0/v WMES LA M SKEW

Patented Nov. 4, 1941

z,261,i71 *

- UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE

Frank G. Manson and James J. Maskey,
Dayton, Ohio -

Application May 6. 1941, Serial No. 392.088

7 Claims.
(Cl. 273-1053) '

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as '

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757)

The invention described herein may be manu

factured-and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon. This invention relates to a sleeve type aerial tow target, and has special reference to the construc tion and arrangement of the mouth end of the

, launching through a restricted opening. The ring 2_ comprises a pair of similar semi-circular parts _

3 and 4 having diametric elements 5 and 6 dis

posed in side-by-side relation in the manner il- .

lustrated. stiffening struts I may be provided to add rigidity to the ring. To permit folding
the two parts 3 and 4 one upon the other, hinge means are provided on the diametric elements 5 and 6. This hinge arrangement has been con veniently constructed in the present embodiment of strap loops 8 welded to the element 6 vso as

target, including the mouth ring and towing

bridle. > '

An object of the invention isvto provide an im- _

proved collapsible mouth ring for a sleeve target, to permit compact folding of the target/torela- '

tlvely small dimensions to expedite packing and handling andto facilitate launchingv through a
restricted opening. ' g

to loosely encircle the element 5, thus providing

free pivotal motion of the part 3 upon the part 4. Projections 9 are provided on the element 5 for

A particular object is to provide a folding mouth ring, comprising two semi-circularparts

preventing longitudinal movement of the element

5 in; the strap loops 8. .

hinged together to fold on a diameter of the rated into the circular mouth of the target sleeve ring, for a sleeve-type target. ' I, preferably by inclosing' the ring within a A further object is to provide an improved bridle 20 stitchedfold in the material of the sleeve. The for a sleeve-type target having afolding mouth ring is thereby adapted to hold the mouth of the ring, which will insure proper'opening'of the sleeve in the form of a circular opening and to . I mouth ring when the target is launched'from an provide a rigid marginal portion for attachment - airplane in ?ight. > ' of the bridle ropes. In the present embodiment, Other 'obj ects and advantages reside in the con 25 this means of attachment comprises grommets struction of parts, the combination thereof and l0 and located at intervals around themargin the vmode of operation, as will become more ap of the circular opening. This speci?c means of. parent from the following description. attachment forms no part of the present inven
a sleeve target constructed according to the pres- '
ent invention. .

The folding ring above described is incorpo

In the drawings; p tionv and may take any other form suitable. for - Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view of 30 attachmentsof the bridle ropes, either to the

Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the mouth ring. _ Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the target prior to opening of the mouth ring, as~ the target is
launched from an airplane in ?ight. '

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing one side

begins to ?ll with air. ' ' _ _

fabric of- the sleeve or to the ring 2 itself. In the preferred embodiment there are a pair of gromq mets ll adjacent each of the struts 1 so that a loop of each bridle rope may be passed through each pair ,of grommets in the manner shown. Thus there is a bridle rope l2, l3 leading from
each junction of .a strut 1 with the ring 2' to a g

of the mouth ring in open position as vthe sleeve . towing line attaching ring or eye l5. A pair of

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the ?nal

grommets [HI are also provided adjacent the _

stage in which the mouth ring has fully opened.

and the sleeve has ?lled with air. 7

junction of the diametricmembers 5 and 6 with the parts 3 and 4 respectively, at the folding
v ' points of the ring. These last mentioned grom-

\' air stream if the bridle does not include means

I Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing how the mets secure the ends of a pair of bridle ropes I6, 1 folding mouth ring may refuse to open in 'the 45 which terminate at their other ends inthe ring or
eye l5. The bridle ropes Hi are similar to the bridle ropes l2 and I3 except that they are con

for The separating towv target theof two, the parts present of'the inventionI com .
prises a sleeve I having a circular ring 2 in- .

nected by a transverse rope member I! at points

corporated in the mouth end thereof, for attach 50 of the grommets l0. " , . _ ment of a towing bridle and to keepthe sleeve . The specific arrangement of the bridle described open and?lled with air in ?ight. One of the above constitutes an additionalfeature of- novelty principal features of novelty is the construction 'designed to insure proper inflation of the target of the ring 2 .so as to fold to smaller dimensions by separating the folding parts of the mouth ring to expedite packing and handling; and to permit 55 to form a circular opening in the air stream._

a distance of about half the ring radius ahead _'

2 -

' 2,261,171

This is accomplished by reason of the fact that the transverse member I1 is of a length just su?i cient to span the bridle ropes l6 when they are

inde?nitely without opening the mouth ring and

in?ating the sleeve. _

tensioned by the towing line, which length is

seen to be somewhat less than the diameter of

It will be appreciated that the provision of the transverse member I! would positively pre vent the part 4 from passing between the bridle
ropes IE to assume the position illustrated in Figure 6. With the member I! connecting the ropes it, any air ?ow condition which might

the ring 2, thereby constraining the member I!

to lie between the two parts 3 and 4 of the fold ing ring when the latter is folded like a purse in

tend to produce the situation shown in Figure the packing and folding of the sleeve. By main 6 could in fact do no more than momentarily taining the member l1 always between the parts 10 hold the part4 in a plane parallel with the line 3 and 4, tension upon the ring it in launching of ?ight, as in Fig. 4, which, as stated above, the target will separate the parts 3 and 4 suffi has been found to be an unstable position due ciently to engage the air stream so as to in?ate
of the ring. When the condition of Fig. 4 times found in launching the target that the 15 half occurs, the ring immediately opens to the'posi bridle ropes will all lie outside of the folded tion shown in Fig. 5. The present invention thus members 3 and 4, being disposed on one side of not only provides a folding mouth ring for com the ring in such a manner as to prevent the pact folding of a sleeve target. but in addition proper inflation of the sleeve by the air stream. Figures 3, 4 and 5 represent successive stages 20 prevents objectionable fouling of the bridle ropes,
the sleeve. Without the member I'l, it is some+
to the in?ation of the sleeve through the open

in the opening of the sleeve target after it is launched from an airplane in ?ight. When the
' folded target is caught in the air stream, the

and insures the proper opening and in?ation of the sleeve, even when packed and launched by inexpert persons.

other, allowing the ropes l2 and I3 to slacken

While we have shown and described but a tension exerted upon the eye l5. immediately pulls the ropes l5 taut, allowing the material 25 single embodiment of our invention, it is to be I understood that it is capable of many modi?ca- of the sleeve l to unfold, the semicircular parts tions. Changes, therefore, in the construction 3 and 4 for the moment being considered to be and arrangement may be made which do not still in their folded position, one against the depart from the spirit and scope of the inven

tion as de?ned in the appended claims. as shown. It ,will be appreciated, however, that 30 We claim: . the parts 3 and 4 will not remain tightly together, 1. In a sleeve type aerial tow target, a folding since they are separated by the member l1, which circular mouth ring comprising two semi-circular is constrained to occupy the position illustrated. parts hinged together to fold on a diameter of From the momentary condition illustrated in the ring, and a bridle for towing said target, 35 Figure 3, one or the other of the parts 3 or 4 said bridle comprising a plurality of bridle ropes will be immediately opened to its fullest extent attached at intervals around the ring and con
by the pressure of the air stream. as illustrated in Figure 4 where it is assumed that the part 3 has been blown open, leaving the part 4 still in
verging to a common point of attachment with a tow line, two of said bridle ropes being at

bridle ropes at the approximate distance of half ropes l2 are pulled taut, whereupon the plane the ring radius ahead of their attachments with of the part 3 will be substantially normal to the the ring, said transverse rope member having a line of ?ight. It will be clearly seen in Figure 4 length less than the diameter of said ring. 45 that the member I] positively prevents the part 2. In a sleeve type aerial tow target, a folding 4 from following thepart 3 into a plane at right circular mouth ring comprising two semi-circular angles to the direction of ?ight. parts hinged together to fold on a diameter of In the position of Figure 4, the sleeve I wil the ring, and a bridle for towing said target, said rapidly ?ll with air and draw open the part 4, bridle comprising a plurality of bridle ropes at if this part has not already opened simultane 50 tached at intervals around the ring and con ously with the part 3. Figure 4, therefore, like verging to a common point of attachment with Figure 3, represents an unstable condition which a tow line, two of said bridle ropes being at cannot be maintained in ?ight. Figure 5, then, tached to said ring at the folding points, and a represents the fully opened position of the two transverse member connecting said two bridle parts 3 and 4 of the mouth ring, establishing a 65 ropes so as to lie between said parts when the circular opening at the leading edge of the sleeve latter are folded together. ' I as is desired to be maintained in steady ?ight. 3. In a sleeve type aerial tow target, a folding Figure 6 illustrates an undesirable situation circular mouth ring comprising two semi-circular ' which is found to occur if the transverse member parts hinged together to fold on a diameter of [1 is omitted. The mouth ring and the bridle 60 the ring, and a bridle for towing said target, said in Figure 6 correspond to the mouth ring and bridle comprising a plurality of bridle ropes at bridle described above, except for the omission tached at intervals around the ring and con of the member 11. While the bridle shown in verging to a common point of attachment with Figure 6 will often produce a proper opening a tow line, two of said bridle ropes being at

to the ring at the folding points, and a the position assumed in Figure 3. The swinging 40 tached transverse rope member connecting said two movement of the part 3 will be arrested as the

of the sleeve, it\is found in practice that oc casionally, instead of opening, the part 4 will be

tached to the ring at the folding points, and

means associated with said two bridle ropes to

insure separation of the two parts of the mouth blown around with the part 3 into a plane more ring when the target is launched from an air or less normal to the line of ?ight, the air pres . sure upon the sleeve material attached to the 70 plane in ?ight. 4. In a sleeve type aerial tow target, a folding part 4 holding the said part 4 tightly against the part 3 with the ropes 13 substantially as taut circular mouth ring comprising two semi-circular as the ropes l2 and It. When the parts assume parts hinged together to fold on a diameter of this position they remain so in the air stream, the ring, and a bridle for towing said target, said witlithe result that the target may be towed 75 bridle comprising a plurality of bridle ropes at

' 361,171 tached at intervals around the ring and con rality oi bridle ropes adapted for attachment'at verging to a. common point. of attachment with intervals around "the mouth of said, sleeve and a tow_line,- and means {on said bridle to insure converging to a common point of attachment separation of the two parts of the mouth ring
when the target is launched from an airplane in
?ight. '

5. In a sleeve type aerial tow target, a folding circular mouth ring comprising two semi-circular
parts hinged together to told on al-diameter, of- i I

with a towline, and a transverse member con necting 'two opposite ones or said bridle ropes ' to insure proper opening of said folding ring and
the target is
' a W

in?ation 01' said sleeve ywhen I

launched from an'airplane in ?ight.

, is folded, to insure separation of the two parts of said ring and proper opening. of the sleeve when the target is launched from an airplane in
?ight. ~ ' '

7. In a sleeve type aerial tow target, a folding the ring, and a bridle attached to said ring, said circular mouth ring comprising a pair of semi 10 bridle having a part thereoi.I constrained to lie circular parts, each part having a diametric ele between said parts oi said ring/when said ring me'nt integral therewith, and hinge means cone
necting said two elements for folding one voi. said
'parts back upon the other part. \ I, 1 ,

15

.6. A bridle for a sleeve type aerial tow target .i having a folding mouth Ting, comprising a plu

FRANK G. MANSON.v
/ JALIIES J. MASKEY.