Aerial Tow Target (1943)

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  • 8/22/2019 Aerial Tow Target (1943)

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    2 , 3 7 6 , 7 5 4ay 2 , 1 9 4 5 . A . E . BRICKMANAIRPLANE TOW TARGETFiled June 21, 1943

    INVENTOR:Z M 4 N ,

    ' TTORNEY

    4mm . B R I C KB Y :

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    P a t e n t e d May 2 , 1 9 4 5 2 , 3 7 5 , 7 5 4

    umrso S T A T E S P A T E N T O F F I C E ,Alan E . Brickman, New H a v e n , C o n n . , a s s i g n o rt o The American S t e e l and Wire Company o fNew e r s e y , a c o r p o r a t i o n o f New e r s e y

    A p p l i c a t i o n J u n e 2 1 , 1 9 4 3 , S e r i a l , N o . 4 9 1 , 7 1 14 Claims. ( C l . 2'73105.3) .

    T h i s i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o a i r p l a n e t o w t a r g e t sa n d ' p a r t i c u l a r l y t o an improved removable i n s e r tmember f o r the leadcable ring t h e r e o f . - 'In an a i r p l a n e tow t a r g e t , i t i s the usual pract i c e t o p r o v i d e a l e n g t h o f w i r e tow c a b l e havinga r e l a t i v e l y heavy tow t a r g e t r e l e a s e v member o rmechanism a t t a c h e d t o i t s f r e e e n d w h i c h i s l o we r e d from t h e p l a n e w h i l e i n ? i g h t . The r e l e a s emember c o n s i s t s g e n e r a l l y o f a l o n g i t u d i n a l l y e x ft e n d i n g body p o r t i o n , which s u s u a l l y c y l i n d r i c a li n shape w i t h a cone-shaped p o r t i o n arranged ont h e i n n e r end t h e r e o f o r t h a t e n d . which i s a tt a c h e d t o t h e w i r e t o w c a b l e . T h e r e i s a l s o p r ov i d e d a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t l e a d c a b l e having a s l e e v et a r g e t a t t a c h e d t o o n e en d t h e r e o f which i sa d a p t e d t o b e t o w e d b y t h e p l a n e , and a r i n gmember p i v o t a l l y a t t a c h e d t o a c o n n e c t i o n o r t e rm i n a l a r r a n g e d on the o p p o s i t e ' e n d " o r t h e l e a dc a b l e . A f t e r t h e tow c a b l e has been dropped fromt h e p l a n e with t h e r e l e a s e member ?oating f r e e l yi n t h e a t m o s p h e r e , t h e s h o r t l e a d c a b l e isthendropped from t h e p l a n e t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e s l e e v et a r g e t attached t h e r e t o with the r i n g member rt h e l e a d c a b l e p a s s i n g a l o n g t h e tow c a b l e . Theforward t r a v e l o f the plane draws the tow c a b l ethrough t h e l e a d c a b l e r i n g a t a t e r r i ? c r a t e o fs p e e d and a s t h e r i n g member a p p r o a c h e s t h ebody p o r t i o n o f t h e r e l e a s e member, t h e r i n gpasses thereover and catches on a n outwardlyp r o j e c t i n g ? n g e r - l i k e r e l e a s e m e m b e r c a r r i e d b yt h e body p o r t i o n 5 0 a s t o p r e v e n t t h e p a s s i n g o ft h e r e l e a s e mechanism a l l t h e way through t h er i n g member. The t a r g e t i s then i n p o s i t i o n ont h e end o f the tow c a b l e and ready f o r gunnerypractice. _ 'Such an arrangement s unsatisfactory f o r thereason t h a t o f t e n t i m e s , t h e r i n g member n p a s si n g a l o n g t h e tow c a b l e s h e a r s t h e same a t a p o i n ti m m e d i a t e l y n e x t t o t h e cone-shaped p o r t i o n o ft h e body p o r t i o n o f t h e r e l e a s e member due t o t h espeed a t which the tow c a b l e p a s s e s through ther i n g member and the weight o f the r e l e a s e me chanism. This condition r e s u l t s i n the l o s s o f ther e l e a s e mechanism which s hazardous t o personson the ground and may e s u l t i n terminating the?ight thereby i n v o l v i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e expense andloss of time. . v

    A c c o r d i n g l y , i t i s t h e g e n e r a l o b j e c t o f t h e p r e sent i n v e n t i o n t o i n s u r e that the r i n g o f the l e a dc a b l e o f a tow t a r g e t i s properly guided t o andpasses over the inner end of the r e l e a s e mechanism without shearing t he tow cable so as toe l i m i n a t e t h e f o r e g o i n g d i s a d v a n t a g e s .

    I t i s a more speci?c object o f t h i s invention t op r o v i d e an improved removable i n s e r t member o r

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    the r i n g o f the l e a d c a b l e o f a tow t a r g e t havinga l i m i t e d opening arranged therethrough throughwhich t h e tow c a b l e p a s s e s s o a s t o guide the r i n gt o p o s i t i o n o p p o s i t e t h e inner end o f the r e l e a s emechanism with the i n s e r t member a d a p t e d t o ' b eforced from the positionin thering upon s t r i k -i n g the i n n e r end o f the body p o r t i o n o f the r eleasemechanism. ' . '

    It i s another o b j e c t of this invention to providean i n s e r t member f o r the ring o f the lead cable0 1 a tow t a r g e t which i s simple and inexpensivei n i t s c o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d , a t t h e same t i m e , e f ? c i e n tand effective in it s use. 'Various o t h e r o b j e c t s and advantages o f t h i si n v e n t i o n w i l l b e more apparent i n the c o u r s e o ft h e f o l l o w i n g s p e c i ? ca t i o n and w i l l b e p a r t i c ul a r l y pointed out in the appended claims.

    I n t h e ac companying drawing t h e r e i s shown,f o r the purpose o f i l l u s t r a t i o n , an embodimentwhich my nvention may assume in practice. ' 'In the drawingFigure 1 ' i s a s i d e e l e v a t i o n a l View o f the outerend o f an a i r p l a n e tow t a r g e t c a b l e showing'the

    improved insert member of my invention incorporated with the r i n g ' o f the l e a d c a b l e o f thetow target; 'Figure 2 i s a s i d e elevationalview s i m i l a r t oFigure 1 showing more i n d e t a i l the tow t a r g e tr e l e a s e mechanism a n d the p o s i t i o n the tow a r g e tassumes hereonwhen nuse} ' ~ ' ' f

    ' Figure 3 i s a front elevational view of-one ofthe halves o f the improved i n s e r t member oflmyi n v e n t i o n showing how t i s assembled i n p o s i t i o ni n t o r i n g o f t h e l e a d c a b l e o f the tow t a r g e t ; and

    Figure 4 i s a s e c t i o n a l view t a ke n on l i n e IVIVofFigure . e . > -Referring more p a r t i c u l a r l y t o the drawing,t h e r e i s shown i n Figures 1 and 2 t h e r e o f , thelower end o f a wire tow c a b l e 2 having'a r e l a t i v e l yheavy tow t a r g e t r e l e a s e mechanism 3 arrangedon on e end thereof. The release mechanism 3c o n s i s t s g e n e r a l l y of a l o n g i t u d i n a l l y e x t e n d i n gc y l i n d r i c a l body member having a . cone-shapedportion 4 arranged on the inner end thereof t owhich on e end o f the tow cable 2 i s a t t a c h e d . v

    _ Intermediate the length o f the body portion o f the

    5 5

    r e l e a s e mechanism, t h e r e i s arranged i n alongit u d i n a l l y extending g r o o v e 5 t h e r e i n , a r e l e a s emember which s p i v o t a l l y a t t a c h e d t o t h e bodymember, a s a t T . On the outerend o f the r e l e a s emember 6 , _ t h e r e i s arranged a hook o r ?ngerl i k e member 8 which e x t e n d s through t h e bodymember and outwardly t o on e s i d e t h e r e o f . Atthe front end o f the groove 5 i n the body memb e r , t h e r e i s arranged a t r i g g e r 9 which i s p i v o t

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    a l l y a t t a c h e ' d t o t h e body member, a s a t I n , andc o o p e r a t e s with t h e r e l e a s e member 6 t o move h esame about i t s p i v o t a l connection 1 so as to movet h e ? n g e r - l i k e member o r hook 8 intothe bodymemberfor a purpose hereinafter t o be described.There i s adapted t o be attached t o t h e r e l e a s emechanism 6 , a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t t a r g e t l e a d c a b l el 2 h a v i n g . a i t e r m i n a l c 0 n n e ct i 0 n ' l 3 a r r a n g e d o non e end thereof t o which a s u i t a b l e s l e e v e t a r g e t ( n o t shown) i s a t t a c h e d . On t h e o t h e r en d o f

    2,376,754a r e h e l d i n p o s i t i o n t h e r e i n p r i m a r i l y due t o t h er e s i l i e n c y o f the e g p o r t i o n s t h e r e o f . 'The t a r g e t l e a d c a b l e 1 2 , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e s l e e v e t a r g e t , and the l e a d c a b l e r i n g l 1 , t o g e t h e r

    10the l e a d c a b l e I 2 , t h e r e i s arranged p r e f e r a b l y i a . ;terminal eye connection I4 having a slotted hole " '15 d i s p o s e d t h e r e i n . There i s a r r a n g e d t h r o u g h vt h e s l o t t e d h o l e l 5 , p r e f e r a b l y , a s w i v e l m e r n b e r ,l 6 which i s p i v o t a l l y attached to a argetleadc a b l e o r t r a v e l e r r i n g I T , a s a t , 1 8 . . I t w i l l , b e 7 'understoodthat both the tow c a b l e 2 a n d thet a r g e t " lead cable l 2 , as shown i n the drawing, -

    ' are disposed substantially in the p o s i t i o n v t h e y ,assume when-they are dropped from the airplanea n d a r e towed through h e a i r t h e r e b y . ~ l According t o t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n ; a s showni n l i i g u r e s Brand o f t h e d r a w i n g , t h e r e i s ' l p r ov i d e d i a p a i r . o f complementary s u b s t a n t i a l l y , U; I shaped'members I Q f o r i n s e r t i o n i n t o t h e t a r g e tl e a d c a b l e r i n g l 1 . Each o f t h e m e m b e r s - l 9 i sp r e f e r a b l y made from r e s i l i e n t sheetm'etal-andt h e _ - l e g p o r t i o n s 2 0 t h e r e o f a r e p r e f e r a b l y arc u a t e d i b o t h l a t e r a l l y and l o n g i t u d i n a l l y ~ t h e r e o f ,a n d ' there i s arranged in each o f the l e g s c e n t r a l l yt h e r e o f ; v a groove 2 | ; The bottom s i d e o f eacho f the n s e r t members I 9 i s s u b s t a n t i a l l y ?at andt h e r e i s arranged c e n t r a l l y o f t h e ?at bottom s u rf a c e , a semi-cylindrical groove 2 2 which extendss u b s t a n t i a l l y p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e l e g s 2 0 and thegrooves | , t h e r e i n ; There i s s t r u c k up from t h ef l a t bottom s u r f a c e o f each o f the members l 9 , a c e n t r a l l y t h e r e o f p r e f e r a b l y anoutwardly e x t e n d i n ' g ' l u g p o r t i o n 2 3 which i s d i s p o s e d t o o n es i d e of t h e s e m i - c y l i n d r i c a l p o r t i o n 2 2 t h e r e i n .On h e o p p o s i t e s i d e o f t h e s e m i - c y l i n d r i c a l p o rtion22 o f each o f t h e members 1 9 , t h e r e i s ' a rrangedaole 24. ' . . .The two complementary i n s e r t members H ! a r ep o s i t i o n e d v i n t h e t a r g e t l e a d - c a b l e r i n g I T i n t h ef o l l o w i n g manner.t o g e t h e r s o ' t h a t the f l a t b o t t o m s u r f a c e s t h e r e o fa r e superimposed r e l a t i v e t o v each o t h e r with t h el u g p o r t i o n 2 3 o f one o f the members p o s i t i o n e din the hole 24 of the other member So that the "t w o - m e m b e r s a r e m a i n t a i n e d i n a l i g n m e n t w i t :e a c h o t h e r . By r r a n g i n g t h e two members l 9 i ns u c h - a m a n n e r , i t w i l l b e s e e n t h a t t h e r e i s p r ov v i d e d t h r o u g h t h e ' c e n t e r t h e r e o f , " a c y l i n d r i c a lhole/due to the cooperation of 'thetwo semi- ;c y l i n d r i c a l p o r t i o n s 2 2 ' d o f t h e s e m e m b e r s . T h et wo complementary members, as an assembly, arenow r e a d y t o b e p o s i t i o n e d w i t h i n t h e l e a d c a b l e vring I 1 . They are held together and are forcedi n t o - t h e l e a d c a b l e r i n g , and i t w i l l b e s e e n t h a t vt h e i n n e r p e r i p h e r y o f t h e r i n g w i l l r i d e overt h e o u t e r e d g e p o r t i o n 2 5 v o f t h e , l e g p o r t i o n s 2 ! !w h i c h e d g e p o r t i o n s a r e s m a l l e r i n d i a m e t e r t h a nt h e i n n e r d i a m e t e r o f t h e . r i n g , t h e r e b y c o m - 4p r e s s i n g ' t h e o u t e r . ends o f t h e l e g p o r t i o n s . " A f ~t e r t h e a s s e m b l y h a s b e e n moved i n t o t h e l e a dc ' a b l e l r i n g s o ' t h a t t h e g r o o v e 2 | i n e a c h . ofthemembers I 9 V i s p o s i t i o n e d d i r e c t l y , o p p o s i t e , t h e "i n n e r p e r i p h e r y o f t h e r i n g , i t w i l l b e s e e n t h a tt h e legportions 2 0 a r e moved o u t w a r d l y . due t ot h e r e s i l i e n c y t h e r e o f and t h a t the n n e r p e r i p he r y o f t h e l e a d r i n g I ] w i l l then b e d i s p o s e d i nt h e g r o o v e s , 2 | o f e a c h o f t h e c o m p l e m e n t a r yi n s e r t m e m b e r s l 9 , a n d t h a t t h e . i n s e r t m e m b e r s

    These members ! ) a r e placed

    2 5

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    with t h e two complementary members l 9 a rranged t h e r e i n , i s now ready f o r use and adaptedt o be p o s i t i o n e d on the r e l e a s e mechanism 3 f o rg u n n e r y p r a c t i c e . I t w i l l b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h eh o l e a r r a n g e d . t h r o u g h t h e i n s e r t members l 9formed by t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e s e m i - c y l i n d r ic a l portions 22 carried thereby, i s s l i g h t l y largerthan the diameter o f the tow cable 2 . Th e upper- ' e n d o f ; the towcable 2 i s then threaded throught h e h o l e ; formed by t h e i n s e r t members and i sdropped from t h e p l a n e . As t h e p l a n e movesa l o n g , i t w i l l b e s e e n t h a t t h e l e a d c a b l e r i n g l 1 ,t o g e t h e r with the i n s e r t member assembly a rranged t h e r e i n ; p a s s e s along t h e c a b l e du e t o t h e

    ' s p e e d o f . t h e p l a n e u n t i l t h e l e a d c a b l e r i n g I ! a p p r o a c h e s t h e ' c o n i c a l - s h a p e d p o r t i o n v 4 o f t h ebody p o r t i o n o f t h e i r e l e a s e mechanism 3 . I t w i l lbe s e e n .thatthe i n s e r t - [ m e m b e r s I 9 w i l l s t r i k e t h ec o n i c a l - s h a p e d : p o r t i o n 4 o f the e l e a s e mechanismw i t h a t e r r i ? i c f o r c e t h e r e b y s p r i n g i n g t h e l e gp o r t i o n s = 2 0 o f both o f t h e i n s e r t members I 9 , s oa s t o f o r c e them from p o s i t i o n i n the l e a d r i n gI 1 . 7 , When he i n s e r t members l 9 a r e forced fromp o s i t i o n r i n t h e l e a d r i n g 1 1 , i t w i l l be s e e n t h a tt h e l e a d r i n g i s c e n t e r e d o v e r t h e upper e n d ; o ft he qconical-shaped portion 4 of the r e l e a s emechanism, and u p o n f u r t h e r movement o f t h el e a d cablering | ' ! , i t w i l l p a s s - o v e r t h e c o n i c a lp o r t i o n 4 ' and bac k o v e r t h e r e l e a s e mechanismu n t i l i t s t r i k e s the ?nger-like member or hook8 e x t e n d i n g - outwardly from the body p o r t i o no f t h e r e l e a s e ; . m e c h a n i s m . T h i s t a r g e t l e a d c a b l e ,w i t h t h e i s l e e v e t a r g e t c a r r i e d t h e r e b y , i s t h e ntowed throught he a i r p b y t h e p l a n e a n d - i s t h e nin position on theend of the t ow cable ready f o r4 , 0 gunnery-practice. . '

    A f t e r t h e desiredamount o f gunnery p r a c t i c ehasbeen- ha d w i t h t h i s t a r g e t , a new t a r g e t . i sd r o p p e d . from t h e p l a n e and t h e l e a d c a b l e r i n g. I ' l n t h e r e o f p a s s e s along the tow c a b l e 2 i n t h esame manner ashas been d e s c r i b e d . The i n s e r tmembers 1 9 - o f the l e a d c a b l e r i n g I ] of t h i s new ~t a r g e t a r e f o r c e d f r o m t h e i r p o s i t i o n i n t h e l e a dr i n g i n thesame manner a s the ? r s t t a r g e t r i n gu p o n - s t r i k i n g t h e upper end f t h e c o n i c a l - s h a p e dp o r t i o n s 4 o f the r e l e a s e mechanism 3 . " A s l t h el e a d c a b l e r i n g o f - t h i s n e w t a r g e t p a s s e s o v e r t h ec o n i c a l - s h a p e d p o r t i o n 4 a n d g ' b a c k o v e r t h e bodyp o r t i o n i o f t h e r e l e a s e mechanism, i t w i l l b e s e e nt h a t i t ; _ s t r i k e s t h e t r i g g e r 9 which, i n t u r n , movest h e r e l e a s e member about t s p i v o t a l c o n n e c t i o n1 . s o a s tomove t h e ? n g e r - l i k e member- o r hook8 : . i n t o thebody of t he releasemechanism. Uponmovementof the ? n g e r - l i k e member, or hook 8i n t o the body member, i t w i l l b e seen that the

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    lead c a b l e o f the ? r s t targetpassesoven the o u t e re n d ' o f - therelease vmechanism a n d v f a l l s ' t o t h eg r o u n d . Other new t a r g e t s a r e positionedon t h eloweren'drof t h e - tow-cable n a similar manner.I t : w i l l b e , understood t hat both o f ? t h e insertmembers l 9 , when forced from he lead ring I ' I ,f a l l t o the ground a n d j a r e , u s e d , u n l e s s r e c o v e r e d ,for positionin g only on e target on the end o f t h etowable, > . ' . - ' - ~ 'As a r e s u l t o f my n v e n t i o n , ' i t w i l l be seen thatthe tow c a b l e 2 iscenteredwithin the l e a d c a b l er i n g I 1 w h e n t h e - l e a d c a b l e r i n g - r e a c h e s t h e l i n n e rend o f t h e r e l e a s e mechanism 3 ' . By p r o v i d i n gs u c h an a r r a n g e m e n t ; i t r ' w i l l b e l s e e ' n t h a t t h er e l e a s e - m e c h a n i s m p a s s e s f r e e l y i n t o a n d t h r o u g h

    t he : l e a d - ring thereby preventing. c o n t a c t of t h e

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    2 , 3 7 6 , 7 5 4tow c a b l e 2 with the l e a d r i n g I ! a t t h e i n n e r ,end o f the r e l e a s e mechanism , so a s t o eliminatet h e danger o f s h e a r i n g t h e tow c a b l e 2 a t t h i spoint.While I have shown and d e s c r i b e d a s p e c i ? cembodiment o f my i n v e n t i o n , i t w i l l be unders t o o d t h a t ' t h i s embodiment s merely f o r t h e purpose o f i l l u s t r a t i o n and d e s c r i p t i o n and that v a r ious other forms may be devised within the scopeo f my i n v e n t i o n , a s de?ned i n the_appendedclaims.

    I claim:1 . An i n s e r t f o r the lead c a b l e r i n g o f a towt a r g e t o f t h e c l a s s d e s c r i b e d , comprising two c omp l e m e n t a r y s u b s t a n t i a l l y U-shapedhalves w i t hthe l e g p o r t i o n s o f each o f s a i d h a l v e s being r e

    ' s i l i e n t and bent inwardly toward each other andbeing arcuate-shaped, each o f s a i d l e g p o r t i o n shaving a groove arranged t h e r e i n c e n t r a l l y andl o n g i t u d i n a l l y t h e r e o f , t h e bottom o f each o f s a i dh a l v e s b e i n g s u b s t a n t i a l l y ? a t and superimposedr e l a t i v e t o each other and having a s e m i - c y l i nd r i c a l p o r t i o n arranged c e n t r a l l y o f t h e ?at b o tt om s u r f a c e t h e r e o f whereby a c y l i n d r i c a l h o l e i sarranged through t h e i n s e r t member a x i a l l ythereof when the two halves are assembled to-g e t h e r w i t h t h e d i a m e t e r o f s a i d h o l e b e i n g s l i g h t1 y larger than that o f the tow cable with whichthe i n s e r t member s adapted o be u s e d , the outerdiameter o f t h e assembled h a l v e s b e i n g s l i g h t l yl a r g e r than the inner diameter o f the l e a d c a b l er i n g , with the diameter o f the i n s e r t member a tthe bottom o f the grooves i n s a i d l e g p o r t i o n sb e i n g s u b s t a n t i a l l y e q u a l t o the i n n e r diametero f s a i d lead c a b l e r i n g , s a i d i n s e r t member due :t o t h e r e s i l i e n c y o f t h e l e g p o r t i o n s adapted t o bef o r c e d i n t o s a i d l e a d c a b l e r i n g and h e l d y i e l d a b l ytherein with the inner circumference o f s a i d leadc a b l e ring d i s p o s e d i n the grooves o f s a i d l e g portions. ' i2 . A lead c a b l e ring f o r guiding an airplanet a r g e t and the l i k e along a tow c a b l e and ontoan elongated r e l e a s e member which c o m p r i s e s ,an a n n u l a r member having an i n s i d e d i a m e t e r

    3s l i g h t l y l a r g e r than t h e o u t s i d e diameter o f s a i dr e l e a s e member, g u i d e means r e s i l i e n t l y h e l d i ns a i d annular member and shaped t o provide ac e n t r a l . opening s l i g h t l y l a r g e r than s a i d tow

    1 0

    1 5

    2 0

    30

    c a b l e , s a i d g u i d e means b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d anda r r a n g e d t o g u i d e s a i d r i n g a l o n g s a i d c a b l e andonto s a i d . r e l e a s e member and means wherebys a i d guide means may be removed from s a i d a n - _n u l a r member by c o n t a c t w i t h s a i d r e l e a s e member.3 . A l e a d c a b l e r i n g f o r g u i d i n g an airplanet a r g e t and h e l i k e a l o n g a tow c a b l e and o n t o ane l o n g a t e d r e l e a s e m e m b e r which c o m p r i s e s , . anannular member having a n , i n s i d e diameter l a r g e rthan the o u t s i d e diameterof s a i d r e l e a s e member,g u i d e means i n s a i d annular member c o m p r i s i n gtwo members having s p r i n g b i a s e d arms r e s i l ie n t l y engaging s a i d annular member, s a i d memb e r s b e i n g shaped t o p r o v i d e a c e n t r a l openings l i g h t l y l a r g e r than s a i d tow c a b l e , s a i d g u i d emeans b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d a n d , arranged t o g u i d es a i d ring-along s a i d c a b l e and onto s a i d r e l e a s emember and means whereby s a i d y g u i d e meansmay be removed from s a i d annular member bycontact with s a i d r e l e a s e member.4 . A leadcable r i n g f o r g u i d i n g an a i r p l a n et a r g e t and the l i k e along a tow cable and onto ac y l i n d r i c a l r e l e a s e member having a tapered port i o n a t the e n t r y end t h e r e o f which c o m p r i s e s ,a n annular member having a n i n s i d e diameters l i g h t l y l a r g e r than t h e o u t s i d e diameter o f s a i dr e l e a s e member, guide means i n s a i d annularmember comprising a t l e a s t two members havingspring b iased arms r e s i l i e n t l y engaging s a i d annular member, s a i d members shaped t o provide ac e n t r a l opening s l i g h t l y l a r g e r than s a i d towc a b l e , whereby s a i d g u i d e means i s adapted t og u i d e s a i d r i n g a l o n g s a i d c a b l e and onto s a i dr e l e a s e member a n d . means whereby s a i d ' g u i d e

    = = means may b e removed from said annular mem b e r b y contact with the tapered end o f s a i d r e l e a s emember. . g

    ALAN E. BRICKMAN.