May 11, 1954

Filed July 18, 1952

W. B. BREWER, JR
NONRIGID TOW TARGET

2,678,2 14
3 Sheets-Sheet 1

INVENTOR.
W/QLTEE 5 BREWER JE.

yam/MW?

May 11, 1954

Filed July 18, 1952

w. B. BREWER, JR
NONRIGID TOW TARGET

2,678,214
3 Sheets-Sheet 2

VII

64 62
68
INVENTOR. W?L 75E 5 BEfWEE J15.

Eva/Meg 3T Wmmj ,, If" HTTOE/YEYS

May 11, 1954

Filed July 18. 1952

W. B. BREWER, JR
NONRIGID TOW TARGET

2,678,2'1 4
3 Sheets-Sheet 3

INVENTOR.

WHLTEE B- BEfWfE JAE.

1. . /

HTTQENEX?

Patented May 11, 1954

2,678,214

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,678,214
NONRIGID TOW TARGET Walter B. Brewer, Jr., East Aurora, N. Y., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

1
nonrigid type.

Application July 18, 1952, Serial No. 299,714 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-1053)

This invention relates to tow targets for aerial gunnery and particularly to tow targets of the
.

2
Fig. 10 shows one of the ?exible loops with which the front of the target is provided. Fig. 11 shows one of the ?exible loops with which the rear end of the target is provided. Fig. 12 is an assembly view of the parts which appear separately in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. Like reference characters refer to like parts

Tow targets for aerial gunnery are subject to

rapid deterioration due to the violent oscillations of the ?exible fabric or similar materials from
which they are made.

To maintain these oscillations at as low a value

the troublesome oscillations.

as possible it is current practice to incorporate, The drag element 29, as shown in Fig. 8, com in the design of the tow targets, appropriate IO prises a framework consisting of vertically ex aerodynamic stabilizing elements near the trail tending angle sections 22 supported by bulkheads ing end of the target thereby introducing a power 22:33. One of the four corners of the drag element ful factor toward suppression or elimination of 28 is open in the form of a slot 28 which extends

throughout the several views.

The invention has for an object the provision of means in the stabilizing elements which facili

substantially throughout the entire length of

the drag element. Guide strips 28 with the lower portion of V form and the upper portion cir cular are spaced longitudinally of the drag ele
ment with the bottom of the V open and in reg

tate the storing and packaging of the target as

well as assisting in the operation of launching through control of the rate at which the target is unfurled.
' (Ether objects and advantages of the invention

ister with the slot 2c of the drag element. At

20 the open bottom of the V the corners are rounded.

will become apparent from the following de scription and accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts in the several ?gures.
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of apparatus em

The dimensions of the guide strips 28 should be such that the target when closely rolled around the torque tube will enter through the guide strips quite freely. The purpose of this construction
25 is important as will hereinafter appear.

bodying my invention shown with the tow cable reeled in and the target furled. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1 but with the tow cable payed out and the target partly un
furled. .

The target, see Fig. 3, consists of a piece of woven fabric 3i] which, for purposes of descrip tion, but not by way of limitation, may be about 6 feet wide by 30 feet long. rIhe front end of
30

Fig. 3 shows the ?exible fabric target com pletely unwound and extended as it appears after

the target is provided with reinforcing loops 32, Fig. 10, these loops being provided to receive the
spreader bar at from which the bridle lines as extend and by which they are held spaced apart. The bridle lines converge (see Fig. 3) and meet

the operation of the device.

Fig. 4 shows the outer or main torque tube

being provided to receive a torque tube lit, Fig. 4-, with the target 30 wrapped closely around it. This torque tubaand-target assembly may be en" tered longitudinally into the drag element 2%} within the space surrounded by the guide strips 28, Fig. 9. The reason for the shape of the guide internal threads of the internally threaded cylin~ strips 28 will now be apparent, for when the der, whereby rotation of the said cylinder effects target is rolled around the main torque tube and relative axial movement of the cylinder with is in place in the drag element 253 within the guide 50 respect to the piston. strips 28, and is being pulled through the slot Fig. 8 shows the drag element, which serves 26 to unreel it, the tube-and-target assembly bear also as a container for the torque tube with the against the V sides 29 of the guide strips thereby target wrapped around it. y oifering considerable resistance to being un Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through the drag 55 wrapped.
Fig. 6 shows a slotted torque tube sleeve which is adapted to transmit rotation from the torque tube to the internally threaded cylinder. Fig. 7 shows an externally threaded piston ar ranged to remain nonrotative while engaging the
- element.

unfurling of the target.

in a common point at 38 where they are con upon which the ?exible fabric target is rolled 35 nected to the trailing end of the conventional in readying the device for operation. tow cable 40 carried on a reel on the towing plane. Fig. 5 shows an internally threaded cylinder A weight 4-2 on the bottom end of the spreader which is constructed to contain a hydraulic fluid, bar keeps the target in a vertical plane. there being means to force said ?uid from said At the trailing end the target Girl is provided cylinder through a restricted outlet to retard with reinforcing loops til, Fig. 11, these loops

The main torque tube 46, both inside and out

2,678,214
side, is of uniform diameter throughout its length.
Next the pin 58 is withdrawn to allow the piston 58 with its shank 52, together with the Within the main torque tube, intermediate its cylinder 48, to be lifted out of the torque tube ends, there is a hollow internally threaded cylin t6, and the cylinder 48 ?lled with a hydraulic der 48, Fig. 5, closed at one end and open at the other. An externally threaded piston ts, Fig. '1, CR fluid the piston to being screwed into place, and the subassembly 48-52 returned to its position on the end of a tubular shank 52, fits freely into in the main torque tube 46. As an alternative the internal threads of the cylinder 41.3. A bear the piston 5t with its shank 52 may be removed ing collared near the outer end of the shank E2 without withdrawing the cylinder 48, the cylin maintains concentricity between the shank 52 vvd'er in that case being serviced in situ. The pin and the main torque tube at. A block 56 at the now returned to the position shown. extreme upper end of one of the vertical angle , this In the schematic view, Fig. 1, a towplane sections'22 of the drag elementfgc supports a rod
5%, the inner end of which extends into- a slot
a 3 4 7

i2 is equipped with the conventional cable reel .

to to prevent rotation of the shank 52 with re

spect to the drag element 2E3, whereby rotation 1 at being at 38. Bridle lines 36 have their leading ' of the cylinder lit relative to the piston moves

it upon which the tow cable #53 is substantially fully rolled, the trailing end of the tow cable

the cylinder axially. A small hole 55 in the piston

59 permits a hydraulic, fluid to escape escape

slowly and thereby retard axial movement of the

cylinder 48 as it is screwed over the piston 58.

ends joined at 38 to the trailing end of the tow cable 46, and diverge and are joined in spaced relation to the spreader bar 34. The leading end or the target, 36 is joined to the spreader bar

34 by loops 32. ' The torque tube sleeve Fig. 6, in the assess Within the drag element 2:) andwithin the bled device, lies between the main torque tube bounds of the guide strip '28, the target 30 is 4% and the cylinder .48. The torque tube sleeve fully rolled except for several inches which pro 62 is slotted as at 613, two slots being 186 degrees apart, and the cylinder iii; has two pins d8 cir- 1~ trude as at 18 from the slot 23 of the drag

cumferentially spaced 180 degrees, and register

ing with the slots vM. Two longitudinally spaced rivet holes 58' in the torque tube sleeve or register with two equally spaced holes in the main torque
tube. In the complete assembly, rivets is ex- . tend through holes 658 in the torque tube sleeve
and the corresponding holes in the main torque tube 66 to join these tubular members for uni

element 2%]. The device may now be launched by paying out

tow cable M} from the reel M, the hydraulic sys tem in the meantime operating automatically to control the unfurling of the target 38. Fig. 2 shows the device with the tow cable extended and the target partly unfurled.
Having described an embodiment of my inven-

tary rotation. Rivets "it should be ?nished flush with both the outside and the inside of the tube assembly. To facilitate entry of the pins be into the slots es, the open ends of the slots are flared

tion, I claim: 1. A nonrigid tow targetcomprising a rotatable

rigid torque tube, a ?exible fabric target closely

now riveted therein is slipped over the internal- .

rolled over the outside of said rigid torque tube, and resistance means including a cylinder closed outwardly as at it. at one end and a dash pot piston therein within As ?nally assembled, see Fig. 12, the main said tube responsive to unrolling of said target torque tube {it with the torque tube sleeve 62 40 from off the outside of said tube to move axially

1y threaded cylinder at with the pins 66 in the slots 6d, the piston 5b is started into the cylinder
.48, and the main torque tube llii may be rotated,

relatively toward each other to provide resist

ance to rotation of said tube to retard unrolling
or" said target. a

thereby rotating the sleeve 52 and the cylinder E8, the piston 5%) remaining nonrotative because of the pin 58. The bearing collarfild maintains concentricity of the outer end of the piston shank with the main torque tube tit. As thus assem bled the torque tube sleeve 52 may neither ro
tate nor move axially with reference to the main

2. A tow target comprising an elongated drag element, a torque tube positioned longitudinal ly in said'drag element and rotatable with refer
ence thereto, a tow target wrapped snugly around

torque tube positioned vertically in said drag ele ment and rotatable therein with reference there a torque tube 55 with the sleeve 62 inserted and fastened by rivets i8 is slipped through the loops 60 to, a flexible fabric target secured to said torque tube and closely rolled around said torque tube Men the trailing end of the target 3%, then the whereby unrolling said target rotates said torque target Ellis rolled around the outside of the tube with reference to said drag element, and tube 46. The tube 55% with the target rolled resisting means within said torque tube movable around it,is then inserted endwise into the drag axially with respect thereto by unrolling of said . elementid and'within the bounds of the guide 65 target to rotate said torque tube. ' strips 28, several inches of the leading end of ,4. A tow target comprising a drag element, a the target being unrolled and passed endwise V torque tube positioned vertically in said drag through the slot 25 when the tube it is being element and rotatable therein with respect there inserted endwise into the drag element to, a ?exible fabric target securedto said torque The spreader bar 3% is now attached to the tube vand closely rolled therearound, whereby leading end of the target, the bridle lines being

torque tube '56; the cylinder d8 may move axially but may not rotate with reference to the main torque tube 46; and the piston st, its shank 52 and bearing collar 56% may not move axially but may rotate with reference to the main torque tube 46. In readying the device for operation, the main

said torque tube and adaptedto be unrolled' to rotate said torque tube, rotation retarding means within said torque tube including an internally threaded. cylinder and an externally threaded piston therein responsive to rotation of said torquetube to move relatively axially toward each other, anda resisting means within the cylinder opposing said axial movement.
3. A tow target comprising a drag element, a

pulling on the outer end of said fabric target to 'unroll said target rotates said torque tube, a , 32, Fig. 10. From the spreader bar/3d, the bridle sleeve within said torque. tube constructed to ro lines converge and are connected at as to the 75 tate therewith, a cylinder within said sleeve. Io

permanently secured to the spreader bar by loops

trailing end of the tow cable All.

2,678,214

tatable thereby and axially movable therein, a piston in said torque tube ?xed against rotation
and axial movement with reference to said drag element, and means responsive to rotation of said torque tube to move said cylinder axially with respect to said piston. 5. A tow target comprising a drag element, a

6
guide strips of V-shaped contour in one corner of the drag element with the sides of the V lying along the sides of the drag element and the point of the v slotted and in alignment with the slot of the drag element, a torque tube extending longitudinally within the drag element and with in the con?nes of the guide strips, a ?exible fab ric target having one end secured to said torque tube and closely rolled therearound and the other

torque tube positioned vertically in said drag

element and rotatable therein with respect thereto, a ?exible fabric target secured to said

torque tube and closely rolled therearound,

whereby pulling on the outer end of said fabric

target to unroll said target rotates said torque tube, a sleeve within said torque tube construc ted to rotate therewith and ?xed against axial

movement therein, an-internally threaded cylin

der within said sleeve and rotatable thereby and axially movable therein, an externally threaded

piston within said internally threaded cylinder

?xed against rotation and axial movement with respect to said drag element, and means to re lease said piston to permit rotation thereof. 6. A tow target comprising an elongated hol

low drag element slotted throughout its length,

a torque tube of substantially less outside diame ter than the inside diameter of said drag ele ment positioned longitudinally in said drag ele

end extended outwardly through the said slots whereby pulling on the extending end of said target ?rst pulls said target against the sides of the \I then rotates the said target against the frictional resistance between the rolled tar get and the sides of the V, whereby the unrolling of the target is retarded. 8. A tow target comprising an elongated hol low framework of square transverse section with one corner slotted throughout its length, guide 20 strips of V-shaped contour in one corner of the drag element with the sides of the V lying along the sides of the drag element, and the point of the V slotted and in alignment with the slot of

the drag element, a torque tube extending lon gitudinally within the drag element and within
the con?nes of the guide strips, a ?exible fabric target having one end secured to said torque tube and closely rolled therearound, and the

ment, guide strips carried by said drag element of substantially greater inside diameter than
the outside diameter of said torque tube and slotted to correspond to said drag element, a ?exible fabric target having one end secured to

other end extended outwardly through the said

slots, whereby pulling on the extended end of said target ?rst pulls said target against the sides of the V, then rotates the said target against the frictional resistance between the rolled tar get and the sides of the V whereby the unrolling of the target is retarded, and hydraulic leakage means within the torque tube operative by ro tation of the torque tube to control said hydraulic leakage means to further retard unrolling of said target.

said torque tube and closely rolled therearound and the other end extended outwardly through
the slots of the drag element and of the guide

strips whereby pulling on the extending end of said target rotates said torque tube, a sleeve within said torque tube adapted to rotate there with and ?xed against axial movement therein, an internally threaded cylinder within said sleeve 40 rotatable thereby and axially movable therein, and an externally threaded piston threadably received in said internally threaded cylinder and

References Cited in the ?le of this patent

, UNITED STATES PATENTS

Number ?xed against rotation and axial movement dur ing rotation and axial movement of said cylin 45 700,698 der during rotation of said torque tube by un 1 1,752,010 rolling of said ?exible fabric target from the 1,794,828

Name

Date
1931 1939 1950 1951

Mountford ______ __ May 20, 1902

Lamkey ________ __ Mar. 25, 1930

said torque tube.

7. A tow target comprising an elongated hol-

low drag element of square transverse section with one corner slotted throughout its length,

2,183,540 2,523,738 2,538,719

Bleriot __________ __ Mar. 3, Campbell ________ __ Dec. 19, Trimbach ______ __ Sept, 26, Shee __________ __ Jan. 16,