cloth tow target sleeve (1991)

7/27/2019 Cloth Tow Target Sleeve (1991)

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United S t a t e s Patent [ 1 9 1L u t t r e l l e t a 1 .

P a t e n t Number:Date o f P a t e n t :

5 , 0 2 6 , 0 7 3J u n . 2 5 , 1 9 9 1

[ 1 1 ][ 4 5 ]

[ 5 4 ][ 7 5 ]

[ 7 3 ][ 2 1 ][ 2 2 ][ 5 1 ][ 5 2 ][ 5 3 ][ 5 6 ]

AERIAL GUNNERY TARGET

A s s i g n e e :A p p l . N o . :F i l e d :

1 , 8 6 0 , 9 8 21 , 9 0 1 , 8 8 51 , 9 7 4 , 0 3 92 , 0 1 1 , 2 0 22 , 0 3 5 , 0 3 8

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS5 6 1 8 3 0

0 1 8 3 8 6 60 1 2 4 7 8 52 6 0 2 4 3 22 6 0 3 0 6 12 6 0 4 9 2 92 6 1 3 9 5 32 8 5 0 2 1 73 0 0 5 6 1 14962307834898659708 6 5 1 0 95 2 3 0 5 4

1 5 7 0 0 2 57 5 0 0 6 8 7 A

_ 590448435393456076

1 4 4 8 0 3 61 5 5 1 9 0 4

2 0 3 4 2 6 7 1 32 1 2 2 9 6 4 1 3

I n v e n t o r s : C l y d e K . L u t t r e l l , N e w M a r k e t ;D o n a l d T . M o o r e , H u n t s v i l l e , b o t h o fA l a .T e l e d y n e I n d u s t r i e s , I n c . , L o sA n g e l e s , C a l i f .3 4 3 , 4 3 8A p r . 2 6 , 1 9 8 9

I n t . Cl.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F41J 9/10US. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7 3 / 3 6 0; 2 4 4/ 1 TDField of Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7 3 / 3 6 0 , 3 6 1 ; 2 4 4/ 1 TD

R e f e r e n c e s C i t e dU . S . PATENT DOCUMENTS

5/1932 B i n n i e .3 / 1 9 3 3 Du o n t .9/ 1 9 3 4 Bohannon e t a 1 . .8/1935 Satt erle e .3/ 1936 Young

( L i s t c o n t i n u e d on n e x t p a g e . )

1 1 / 1 9 5 74 / 1 9 8 44 / 1 9 8 57 / 1 9 7 78 / 1 9 7 78 / 1 9 7 7

1 0 / 1 9 7 74 / 1 9 8 08 / 1 9 8 17 / 1 9 1 94 / 1 9 3 52 / 1 9 4 05 / 1 9 4 1

l O / 1 9 5 34 / 1 9 6 91 / 1 9 7 59 / 1 9 7 79 / 1 9 3 5

1 1 / 1 9 3 69 / 1 9 7 69 / 1 9 7 9

1 1 / 1 9 8 29 / 1 9 8 5

Belgium .European P a t . O f f . .E u r op e a n P a t . O f f . .F e d .F e d .F e d .F e d .F e d .F e d .

Rep. of GermanyRep. of Germany .Rep. of G e r m a n y .Rep. of G e r m a n y .Rep. of G e r m a n y .Rep. of G e r m a n y .

France

France

France .France .FranceFrance

SwedenSwitzerland .U n i t e d Kingdom .U n i t e d Kingdom .U n i t e d Kingdom .U n i t e d Kingdom .U n i t e d Kingdom .U n i t e d Kingdom .

4 8 4 2

7 4 7 2 7 O 4 6

OTHER PUBLICATIONST e l e d y n e Brown E n g i n e e r i n g b r o c h u r e "A/A37U-33A e r i a l G u n n e r y T a r g e t S y s t e m .T e l e d y n e Brown E n g i n e e r i n g b r o c h u r e A/A37U-36A e r i a l G u n n e r y T a r g e t S y s t e m .M a r q u a r d t Company b r o c h u r e The Model M TR-lO lA e r i a l T a r g e t Launch a n d Recovery Tow e e l .H a y e s C o r p o r a t i o n H a y n e s U n i v e r s a l T o w T a r g e tSystem.1 9 7 8 T e c h n i c a l R e p o r t ADTC-TR-78-47, P r o t o t y p eA e r i a l Gunnery T o w T a r g e t (AGTT) V e h i c l e DT&E./OT&E ( C o r d T a r g e t ) .A b s t r a c t f o r UK. P a t e n t No. 1 , 2 9 8 , 7 5 3 .A b s t r a c t o f UK. P a t e n t N o . 1 , 3 5 3 , 3 3 8 .A b s t r a c t o f UK. P a t e n t N o . 1 , 3 5 9 , 7 9 7 .A b s t r a c t o f UK. P a t e n t N o . 1 , 4 8 5 , 3 5 4 .A b s t r a c t o f E u r o p e a n P a t e n t A p p l i c a t i o n N o s .1 8 4 , 5 6 4 - A and 1 4 0 .P r i m a r y Examiner-William H . G r i e b

[ 5 7 ] ABST RA CTAn e r i a l gunnery t a r g e t which i s towed behind a t owi n g a i r c r a f t . T he gunnery t a r g e t i n c l u d e s a n e x t e n s i o nd e v i c e t h a t s e p a r a t e s a f o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y f r o m a v i s u a la u g m e n t e r . T he t a r g e t a l s o i n c l u d e s a v e n t e d i n f l a t o rp o s i t i o n e d a t t h e f o r e w a r d end o f t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r .T he v e n t e d i n f l a t o r m a i n t a i n s t h e f r o n t end ofthe v i s u a la u g m e n t e r o p e n d u r i n g t o wi n g . The v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r i sg e n e r a l l y c y l i n d r i c a l i n s h a p e w i t h a n o p e n a f t e n d a n da n a d j u s t m e n t d e v i c e f o r v a r y i n g t h e s i z e o f t h e a f to p e n i n g . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e v i s u a l body i s c o m p r i s e d o f amesh n e t t i n g which p r e f e r a b l y i n c l u d e s a p l u r a l i t y o fi n t e r c o n n e c t e d s t r a n d s j o i n e d t o g e t h e r t o form a p l u r a li t y o f d i a m o n d s h a p e d o p e n i n g s . The i n t e r c o n n e c t e ds t r a n d s a r e each formed o f a p l u r a l i t y o f k n i t t e d t h r e a d sa n d t h e s t r a n d s a r e p r e f e r a b l y j o i n e d t o g e t h e r b y k n i tt i n g s o m e or a l l ofthreads of on e s t r a n d with s o m e or a l lo f t h e t h r e a d s o f a n i n t e r c o n n e c t i n g s t r a n d .

5 8 C l a i m s , 1 5 D r a w i n g S h e e t s

6 4 5 6 5 O 5 4

4 537 6 7 0 0 0 8 0 * 6 6 8 6 2 5 8 6O 44


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U.S. PATENTDOCUMENTS 2 , 5 2 3 , 7 3 8 9 / 1 9 5 0 Trimbach .2,095,350 10/1937 Soule . 2,538,719 6/1951 Wing Shee e t a 1 . .2 , 1 2 2 , 7 6 6 7/1 9 3 7 Wiemer . 2,731,046 1 0/1 95 1 B a c h n e r .2 , 1 5 3 , 5 6 2 4/1 93 9 Ho vga r d . 2 , 7 5 1 , 1 6 7 6/1956 Hopper e t a 1 . .2,153,924 4/1 93 9 Haincs . 2,807,287 9/ 1 9 5 7 Frey .2,238,875 4/1 9 4 1 Manson . 2,907,095 1 0/1 9 5 9 F r ey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7 3 / 3 6 0 X2 , 2 3 8 , 8 7 6 4 / 1 9 4 1 Manson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7 3 / 3 6 0 3 , 0 0 0 , 6 3 4 9 / 1 9 6 1 South .2 , 2 7 0 , 8 8 4 1/1 94 2 Manson . 3,135,511 6 / 1 9 6 4 Norman t a 1 . .2,342,651 2 / 1 9 4 4 Dir cksen . 4 , 2 0 5 , 8 4 8 6 / 1 9 8 0 S m i t h e t a 1 . .2 , 4 0 2 , 1 5 6 5/1944 Griesinger . 4 , 4 9 6 , 1 5 9 1/1985 Dugan e t a 1 . .2 , 4 8 6 , 9 9 9 11/1950 T a p p . 4,624,648 11/1986 W a t e r s .


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5 , 0 2 6 , 0 7 31AERIAL GUNNERY TARGET

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1 . F i e l d o f t h e I n v e n t i o nThe ? e l d o f t h i s i n v e n t i o n l i e s w i t h i n t h e t a r g e t a n d

g u n n e r y a r t . I n p a r t i c u l a r , i t l i e s w i t h i n t h e s p e c i ? c ? e l do f a e r i a l t a r g e t s t h a t a r e towed behind a n a i r c r a f t .2 . D e s c r i p t i o n o f R e l a t e d A r tT o i m p r o v e t h e s h o o t i n g a n d p u r s u i t s k i l l s o f a i r c r a f tp i l o t s , v a r i o u s t y p e s o f t a r g e t s h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e dwhich a r e towed b e h i n d a towing a i r c r a f t . Som e o f t h ee a r l i e r t a r g e t c o n s t r u c t i o n s i n c l u d e d e l o n g a t e d f a b r i cp a n e l s o r b a n n e r s such a s t h o s e d i s c l o s e d i n U S. P a t .N o s . 2 , 7 3 l , 0 4 6 a n d 2 , 8 0 7 , 2 8 7 . T h e s e t a r g e t s i n c l u d e dwoven p a n e l s a t t a c h e d t o a b r i d l e a s s e m b l y , w h i c h , i nt u r n , wa s a t t a c h e d t o a l o n g c a b l e s e c u r e d t o a towinga i r c r a f t . A l t e r n a t e p r i o r a r t f o r m s o f tow t a r g e t s i n c l u d et h o s e f o u n d i n U . S . P a t . N o s . 2 , 3 4 2 , 6 5 1 a n d 3 , 0 0 0 , 6 3 4which f e a t u r e one o r more c y l i n d r i c a l s l e e v e s beingdragged behind a t ow a i r c r a f t . Such t a r g e t s haveproven t o b e s u s c e p t i b l e t o ? a g g i n g a n d o s c i l l a t i o nwhen dragged a h i g h s p e e d s .US. P a t . N o . 4 , 2 0 5 , 8 4 8 d i s c l o s e s a b a n n e r p r o p o s e df o r use a s an a e r i a l gunnery t a r g e t which i n c l u d e s ap l u r a l i t y o f s i n g l e s t r a n d s e x t e n d i n g b e t w e e n f o r w a r dand a f t f r a m e s t r u c t u r e s . T h i s t y p e o f p r i o r a r t t a r g e t i sd e s c r i b e d a s a v o i d i n g t h e p r i o r a r t p r o b l e m s o f ? a g g i n ga n d o s c i l l a t i n g a t h i g h s p e e d s d u e t o t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o ft r a n s m i t t e d f o r c e s between t h e i n d i v i d u a l s t r a n d s e xt e n d i n g a l o n g t h e l e n g t h o f t h e t a r g e t .

N o n e t h e l e s s , s i n g l e s t r a n d s a l s o t e n d t o whip a n d ?aga nd snap i n a m a nner s i m i l a r t o a whip c r a c k i n g . Thisw h i p p i n g a c t i o n t e n d s t o b r e a k t h e e n d s o f t h e s t r a n d st h u s s h o r t e n i n g t h e l e n g t h o f t h e a u g m e n t e r . A l s o , t h eu s e o f i n d i v i d u a l i z e d s t r a n d s c r e a t es a problem o f t a r g e ts u r v i v a b i l i t y a f t e r r e p e a t e d h i t s b y t h e p u r s u i n g p l a n e .O n c e t h e i n d i v i d u a l i z e d s t r a n d s a r e h i t they tend t of r e e l y ? ow a b o u t t h u s d e g r a d i n g t h e v i s u a l a c u i t y o f t h et a r g e t a n d i t s p e r f o r m a n c e . M o r e o v e r , t h e p o s i t i o n i n go f t h e r a d a r o r s c o r i n g d e v i c e c l o s e t o t h e f o r w a r d endo f t h e t a r g e t makes t h e d e v i c e s u s c e p t i b l e t o d e s t r u c t i o ndue t o h i t s b y t h e p u r s u i n g a i r c r a f t .T he v a r i o u s v i s u a l augmenters such a s t h e b a n n e r s ,s l e e v e s , a n d i n t e r c o n n e c t e d s t r a n d s d i s c u s s e d a b o v e ,h a v e a l s o p r e s e n t e d t h e p r o b l e m o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l i mp a c t . For t h o s e v i s u a l augmenters which a r e r e l e a s e db e f o r e l a n d i n g o f t h e t o w i n g a i r c r a f t , t h e r e l i e s t h ep o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r d r o p p i n g i n t o a bodyo f w a t e r . T h i s i s e s p e c i a l l y t r u e f o r t h e l i g h t e r b a n n e r swhich a r e more a p t t o be in?uenced by wind c u r r e n t s .T he v i s u a l augmenters which f a l l i n t o a body o f w a t e rand a r e formed o f r e l a t i v e l y buoyant m a t e r i a l s u c h a sp o l y p r o p e l e n e p r e s e n t a p r o b l e m t o ?shermen a n d t h el i k e i n t h a t t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r s t e n d t o t a n g l e u p i nt h e n e t t i n g u s e d b y ? s h e r m e n a n d t h e p r o p e l l e r s o f b o t hcommercial and r e c r e a t i o n b o a t s . P r i o r a r t a t t e m p t s t os o l v e t h i s p r o b l e m h a v e i n c l u d e d t h e p o s i t i o n i n g o fw e i g h t s on t h e f o r w a r d e n d o f t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r .However, even w i t h t h e w e i g h t s a t t a c h e d t o t h e f o rward e n d o f t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r , p o r t i o n s o f t h e v i s u a la u g m e n t e r t e n d t o ? o a t upwardly t o w a r d s t h e s u r f a c e' of t h e water thereby causing even a g r e a t e r hazard d uet o d i f ? c u l t y i n s p o t t i n g t h e a u g m e n t e r s .

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r s o f t h e p r i o r a r twere prone t o be d i f ? c u l t t o v i s u a l l y d e t e c t due t o al a c k o f v i s u a l a c u i t y . T h i s p r o b l e m i n v i s u a l d e t e c t i o nb e i n g e s p e c i a l l y t r u e f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l s t r a n d con?gu

20

2 5

40

45

50

60

6 5

2r a t i o n o f t h e p r i o r a r t a s o f t e n t h e i n d i v i d u a l st r a n d sb e l l o w o u t w a r d l y d e c r e a s i n g c o n t r a s t between t h e a u gmenter and t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l b a c k g r o u n d .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n , among o t h e r t h i n g s , p r e s e n t s a

s o l u t i o n t o t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d p r o b l e m s a s s o c i a t e dw i t h t h e p r i o r a r t . I n s o d o i n g , t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o np r o v i d e s f o r t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r t o b e s p a c e d w e l laway from t h e f o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y c a r r y i n g t h e r a d a r o rs c o r i n g d e v i c e . T o a c h i e v e t h i s s p a c i n g , a n e x t e n s i o nd e v i c e i s u t i l i z e d which h a s a f r o n t end a t t a c h e d t o t h er e a r end o f a forebody assembly and a r e a r end a t t a c h e dt o t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r . H e n c e , t h e e x t e n s i o n d e v i c ep l a c e s t h e f o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y i n a p o s i t i o n which s l e s sl i k e l y t o b e s u b j e c t e d t o h i t s b y p u r s u i n g a i r c r a f t .

T he e x t e n s i o n device i n c l u d e s on e or m o r e r i s e r l i n e se x t e n d i n g e i t h e r from a f r a m e o r s w i v e l c o n n e c t i o na t t a c h e d t o t h e f o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y . A l u r a l i t y o f s u sp e n s i o n l i n e s e x t e n d from t h e end o f e a c h o f t h e r i s e rl i n e s . The s u s p e n s i o n l i n e s e x t e n d o u t w a r d l y away fromt h e r i s e r l i n e s a nd a r e attached t o a vented i n ? a t e rwhich i s a t t a c h e d t o t h e f o r e f r o n t o f t h e v i s u a l augmenter.

I n t h e p r i o r a r t s y s t e m s r e f e r r e d t o , t h e v i s u a l a u gm e n t e r was con n ect e d t o a frame structure which g a v et h e f r o n t , open end o f t h e v i s u a l augmenter t h e d e s i r e ds h a p e . T h i s f e a t u r e o f u s i n g t h e f r a m e s t r u c t u r e a t t a c h e dt o t h e f o r e b o d y i s n o t a v a i l a b l e when u t i l i z i n g t h e p r e sen t i n v e n t i o n s ?exible extension device which extends -f a r from t h e f r a m e . I n o t h e r words, without a frames t r u c t u r e connected d i r e c t l y t o t h e forward en d o f t h ev i s u a l a u g m e n t e r , t h e r e e x i s t s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e v is u a l a u g m e n t e r l o s i n g i t s s h a p e a t t h e f o r w a r d e n d .T he v e n t e d i n ? a t e r o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n a v o i d st h i s p r o b l e m b y c r e a t i n g t h e a e r o d y n a m i c f o r c e s n e c e ss a r y t o keep t h e forward en d o f a c y l i n d r i c a l t y p e v i s u a laugmenter open and i n an i n ? a t e d c o n d i t i o n . T hevented i n ? a t e r i n c l u d e s a forward hoop and a rearwardh o o p j o i n e d t o g e t he r b y a p l u r a l i t y o f ? e x i b l e p a n e l sc o n n e c t e d between t h e f o r w a r d a n d r e a r w a r d h o o p s .T he p a n e l s a r e s p a c e d from one a n o t h e r a l o n g t h e p er i p h e r y of each of t h e hoops s o a s t o c r e a t e a i r v e n t sb e t w e e n a d j a c e n t p a n e l s . The p a n e l s a r e a l s o p r e f e r a b l yconnected t o t h e hoops i n a manne r which p r e v e n t ss l i p p a g e o f t h e p a n e l s a l o n g t h e h o o p . A l s o , t h e f o r w a r dhoop s l a r g e r t h a n t h e r e a r w a r d hoop s u c h t h a t whent h e forward and rearward hoops a r e t e n s i o n e d t h e pa ne l s form a f r u s t o c o n i c a l rim a t t h e forward end o f t h ev i s u a l augmenter. T he vented i n ? a t e r t h u s a c t s t o maint a i n t h e forward en d o f t h e v i s u a l augmenter i n a n openp o s i t i o n .The v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r i s g e n e r a l l y c y l i n d r i c a l w i t h a nopen f r o n t end and an open a f t end which i n c l u d e s ana d j u s t i n g d e v i c e t h a t e n a b l e s t h e s i z e o f t h e a f t o p e n i n gt o b e a d j u s t e d . T h i s a d j u s t m e n t f e a t u r e a l l o w s f o r m an i p u l a t i o n o f t h e d r a g c r e a t e d b y t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r .For s i t u a t i o n s i n which t h e v i s u a l augmenter i s t o b et o w e d a t h i g h s p e e d s , i t i s p r e f e r a b l e t h a t t h e a d j u s t i n gd e v i c e c r e a t e a l a r g e opening t t h e a f t end o f t h e v i s u a la u g m e n t e r . I f l o w e r s p e e d s a r e a n t i c i p a t e d t h e n t h ea d j u s t m e n t d e v i c e i s p r e f e r a b l y m a n i p u l a t e d t o c r e a t el e s s o f a n opening a t t h e a f t e n d .

' T he v i s u a l augmenter i s formed o f mesh n e t t i n g t h a ti s c o m p r i s e d o f a p l u r a l i t y o f s t r a n d s which i n t e r s e c tone a n o t h e r t o form a p l u r a l i t y o f l o n g i t u d i n a l l y e x t e n di n g diamond s h a p e d o p e n i n g s . The s t r a n d s a r e com


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5 , 0 2 6 , 0 7 33p r i s e d o f k n i t t e d t h r e a d s a n d a t t h e p o i n t o f i n t e r s e c t i o no f each s t r a n d s ome o r a l l o f t h e k n i t t e d t h r e a d s (formi n g each s t r a n d ) a r e k n i t t e d t o g e t h e r s o a s t o c r e a t e t h ed i a m o n d s h a p e d m e s h n e t t i n g . The a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h ei n t e r - c o n n e c t e d s t r a n d s f o r m i n g t h e mesh n e t t i n g t e n d st o reduce t h e drag o f t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r . T h i s r educed d r a g i s due i n p a r t t o t h e c o m p r e s s i o n o f t h ei n t e r c o n n e c t i n g s t r a n d s c a u s e d by t h e wind f o r c e s a c ti n g o n t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r . The mesh n e t t i n g a l s ot e n d s t o improve v i s u a l a c u i t y by m a i n t a i n i n g a co mp a c t e d c o n d i t i o n r a t h e r t h a n a b e l l o w i n g c o n ? g u r a t i o na s e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h e p r i o r a r t .

The mesh n e t t i n g a l s o i n c r e a s e s t h e u s e f u l l i f e o f t h ev i s u a l augmenter even a f t e r r e p e a t e d h i t s . I n t h e e v e n tt h a t a h i t tends t o puncture a hole or sever a s t r a n d i nt h e me sh n e t t i n g t h e r e i s no adverse a f f e c t on t h e n e tt i n g w h i c h s u r r o u n d s t h e p o i n t o f i m p a c t a n d h o l d s t h ed e v i c e t o g e t h e r . The v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r o f t h e p r e s e n ti n v e n t i o n i s a l s o n o t a s s u s c e p t i b l e t o ? o a t i n g whenm a t e r i a l s u c h a s n y l o n i s u s e d a s t h e t h r e a d s f o r k n i t t i n gt h e i n d i v i d u a l s t r a n d s t h a t a r e j o i n e d t o g e t h e r t o formt h e mesh n e t t i n g . The mesh n e t t i n g a l s o t e n d s t o b ecome e n t a n g l e d a l o n g i t s e n t i r e l e n g t h w i t h t h e v a r i o u se l e m e n t s l y i n g on t h e underwater s u r f a c e . T he u s e o fl e a d w e i g h t s f u r t h e r e n s u r e s t h a t t h e v i s u a l augmenterw i l l n o t e a s i l y d r i f t w i t h t h e wind c u r r e n t s and w i l lremain on t h e bottom ofa body o f water i n t o which t h ev i s u a l a u g m e n t e r d r o p s .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n w i l l b e more f u l l y u n d e r s t o o d

f r o m t h e d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n g i v e n h e r e i n b e l o w a n d t h ea c c o m p a n y i n g d r a w i n g s w h i c h a r e g i v e n b y wa y o fi l l u s t r a t i o n o n l y . and t h u s a r e n o t l i m i t a t i v e of t h e p r e se n t i n v e n t i o n , a n d w h e r e i n :

FIG. 1 i s a s i d e view o f a p r i o r a r t a e r i a l gunneryt a r g e t b e i n g t o w e d b y a t o w i n g a i r c r a f t ;

FIG. 2 i s a s i d e view o f a n em b o dim ent ofthe p r e s e n ti n v e n t i o n b e i n g t o w e d b y a t o w i n g a i r c r a f t ;

FIG. 3 i s a s i d e view o f a p r i o r a r t a e r i a l gunneryt a r g e t ;FIG. 4 i s a s i d e view of an embodiment of t h e p r e s e n ti n v e n t i o n ;F I G . 5 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e , p a r t i a l l y c u t - a w a y v i e w o f

t h e embodiment shown i n F I G . 4 ;FIG. 5 A and 5 B a r e p a r t i a l l y cut-away views o f t h e

v e n t e d i n ? a t e r shown i n FIG. 5 ;F I G . 6 i s a c l o s e - u p o f t h e m e s h . n e t t i n g f o r m i n g t h ev i s u a l a u g m e n t e r ;FIG. 7 i s a p l a n a r view o f one o f t h e p a n e l s f o r m i n g

t h e v e n t e d i n f l a t e r shown i n FIGS. 5A and 5 8 ;FIG. 7 B shows a c r o s s - s e c ti o n a l s i d e view o f a p a n e l

and t h e manner i n which t h e p a n e l i s connected t o t h eh o o p s .FIG. 7 C shows a c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l cut-away view o fm a t e r i a l f o r m i n g t h e v e n t e d i n f l a t e r p a n e l s .FIG. 8 i s a graph which i l l u s t r a t e s a c a l c u l a t e d co mp a r i s o n o f t h e d r a g e x p e r i e n c e d b y a n i n c r e a s e d l e n g t hv i s u a l a u g m e n t e r w i t h t h e d r a g o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n;FIG. 9 shows a n i n f l a t e r p a n e l s normal f o r c e and

drag with r e s p e c t t o v e l o c i t y ;FIG. 1 0 shows t h e a d d i t i o n a l c a l c u l a t e d d r a g i n c r ement r e s u l t i n g from t h e a d d i t i o n o f a v e n t e d i n f l a t e r .

FIG. 1 1 shows a f o r c e diagram f o r t h e v e n t e d i n f l a t e rp a n e l s w h i l e i n a s t a t e o f t e n s i o n ;

FIGS. 12A-1 2B show a cutaway view o f t h e r i s e ra n d s u s p e n s i o n l i n e s f e a t u r e d i n F I G . 5 ;

3 0

4 5

5 0

5 5

4FIG. 1 3 shows a n a l t e r n a t e embodiment o f t h e p r e s

e n t i n v e n t i o n which u t i l i z e s a swivel connection bet w e e n t h e f o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y a n d t h e r i s e r l i n e s ;

FIG. 1 4 shows a n o t h e r embodiment o f t h e p r e s e n ti n v e n t i o n which h a s a s w i v e l c o n n e c t i o n and a drag l i n ec o n n e c t i n g t h e f o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y t o t h e r i s e r l i n e s ;

FIG. 1 5 shows t h e v i s u a l a ugmenter i n a n ond e p l o y e d s t a t e ;F I G . 1 6 shows a c l o s e - u p v i e w o f t h e f r a m e a s s e m b l yp o s i t i o n e d b e h i n d t h e f o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y ; a n d

FIGS. 1 7 A and 17B show t h e a f t end o f t h e v i s u a la u g m e n t e r c u t - a w a y f r o m t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e v i s u a laugmenter a s w e l l a s t h e a d j u s t i n g d e v i c e p o s i t i o n e d a tt h e a f t e n d .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a p r i o r a r t a e r i a l gunnery t a r g e t 2 2i being towed by towing a i r c r a f t 2 4 . A e r i a l gunnery t a rg e t 2 2 i n c l u d e s v i s u a l augmenter 2 6 formed o f a p l u r a li t y o f i n d i v i d u a l st r a n d s 2 8 which a r e connected t o t h eb r a n c h e s o f f r a m e 3 0 . A p l u r a l i t y o f t h e i n d i v i d u a ls t r a n d s a r e a r r a n g e d i n s e r i e s a l o n g e a c h o f t h e b r a n c h e so f frame 3 0 and e x t e n d r e a r w a r d l y t o a p o i n t o f connect i o n made p o s s i b l e b y c a p 3 2 . Radar d e t e c t i o n d e v i c e 3 4i s p o s i t i o n e d a t t h e c e n t e r o f f r a m e 3 0 and c r e a t e s r a d a rz o n e R . A u r s u i n g a i r c r a f t ( n o t shown) p u r s u e s t h eu s u a l l y b r i g h t l y c o l o r e d v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r 2 2 a n d a tt e m p t s t o s h o o t w i t h i n z o n e R h i l e p r e f e r a b l y a v o i di n g d i r e c t h i t s t o v i s u a l augmenter 2 2 and t h e o t h e rc o m p o n e n t s o f v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r 2 2 . S c o r i n g i s a c h i e v e de l e c t r o n i c a l l y b y d e t e r m i n i n g t h e p o s i t i o n a n d n u m b e ro f s h o t s p a s s i n g t h r o u g h t h e r a d a r z o n e R . Radar d e v i c e34 i s a t t a c h e d a t i t s forward end t o t ow l i n e 36 which i sa t t a c h e d t o r e e l i n g mechanism 3 8 . Tow i n e 3 6 u s u a l l ye x t e n d s t o a b o u t 2 , 0 0 0 f e e t b e h i n d t h e t o w i n g a i r c r a f t .During t a k e - o f f , a e r i a l gunnery t a r g e t 2 2 i s s t o r e d i nc a n i s t e r 4 0 a n d a t some p o i n t d u r i n g ? i g h t c a n i s t e r 4 0 i so p e n e d a n d a e r i a l g u n n e r y t a r g e t 2 2 i s d e p l o y e d .

FIG. 2 shows a p r e f e r r e d embodiment o f t h e p r e s e n ti n v e n t i o n which i n c l u d e s a e r i a l gunnery t a r g e t 42 co mp r i s i n g a v i s u a l augmenter 4 4 , v e n t e d i n f l a t e r 5 6 , e x t e ns i o n d e v i c e 4 6 a n d f o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y 4 8 . V i s u a l a u gm e n t e r 4 4 i s p r e f e r a b l y c y l i n d r i c a l i n s h a p e h a v i n g a nopen forward en d 5 0 and a c o m p l e t e l y open o r p a r t i a l l yopen a f t end 5 2 . A e n g t h o f a b o u t 1 6 f e e t and a n e x t e rn a l d i a m e t e r o f 3 0 i n c h e s h a s p r o v e n s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r t h ep u r p o s e s o f t h i s i n v e n t i o n . V i s u a l a u g m e n t e r 4 4 i s p r e fe r a b l y f o r m e d o f m e s h e d n e t t i n g 5 4 , t h e d e t a i l s o f w h i c ha r e d i s c u s s e d h e r e a f t e r .

At t h e f o r e f r o n t o f v i s u a l augmenter 44 i s connectedv e n t e d i n ? a t e r 5 6 which i n c l u d e s a p l u r a l i t y o f s p a c e d? e x i b l e p a n e l s 5 8 a t t a c he d b e t w e e n f o r w a r d hoop 6 2and a f t hoop 6 0 . S u s p e n s i o n l i n e s 6 4 a r e a t t a c h e d a t on eend t o forward hoop 6 2 and a t t h e i r o t h e r end t o r i s e rl i n e s 6 6 . S u s p e n s i o n l i n e s 6 4 p r e f e r a b l y a r e i n s e t s o ff o u r t h a t d i v e r g e o u t w a r d l y f r o m f i x a t i o n p o i n t 6 8which c o i n c i d e s w i t h t h e rearward end o f e a c h o f t h er i s e r l i n e s 6 6 . The rearwardmost e n d s o f s u s p e n s i o nl i n e s 6 4 a r e s p a c e d r a d i a l l y a r o u n d f o r w a r d hoop 6 2 a n di n b e t w e e n p a n e l s 5 8 . The c o n n e c t i o n o f t h e s u s p e n s i o nl i n e s 6 4 t o hoop 6 2 i s p r e f e r a b l y s u c h t h a t s u s p e n s i o nl i n e s 6 4 r e t a i n t h e i r p o s i t i o n w i t h o u t s l i d i n g a l o n g h o o p6 2 . T he forward end of each of r i s e r l i n e s 66 a r e co nn e c t e d t o t h e e x t r e m i t i e s o f b r a n c h e s 7 0 f o r m i n g p a r t o fframe 7 2 . S h a f t 74 i s a t t a c h e d a t t h e l o c u s o f f r a m e 7 2and t o t h e r e a r end o f forebody a s s e m b l y 4 8 . F or added


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5 , 0 2 6 , 0 7 35s t a b i l i t y , b r a c i n g members 7 6 e x t e n d b e t w e e n b r a n c h e s7 0 a n d t h e r e a r end o f f o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y 4 8 .

Forebody a s s e m b l y 4 8 i n c l u d e s tow i n e c o n n e c t o r 7 8t o which tow l i n e 8 0 c o n n e c t s . T he o p p o s i t e end o f towl i n e 8 0 i s a t t a c h e d t o r e e l i n g d e v i c e 8 2 p o s i t i o n e d e i t h e ron t h e wing o r t h e f u s e l a g e o f towing a i r c r a f t 2 4 .

FIG. 3 s h o w s a n o t h e r p r i o r a r t a e r i a l g u n n e r y t a r g e th a v i n g v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r 8 4 c o m p r i s e d o f i n d i v i d u a ls t r a n d s 8 6 s i m i l a r t o t h o s e f o u n d i n FIG. 1 . Forebodyassembly 88 i n c l u d e s frame 90 and b r a c e s 92 which a r ei n d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h t h e forward end o f v i s u a l augmenter 8 4 . F r a m e 90 a c t s t o m a i n t a i n t h e forward end o fv i s u a l a u g m e n t e r 8 4 i n a n open p o s i t i o n .FIGS. 4 and 5 f u r t h e r i l l u s t r a t e t h e v i s u a l augmentero f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n shown b e i n g towed i n FIG. 2 .F o r e b o d y a s s e m b l y 4 8 i n c l u d e s r a d a r c a p a b i l i t y w h i c ha l l o w s f o r r a d a r zone R 2 ( p a r t i a l l y shown) t o b e s e t upf o r s c o r i n g p u r p o s e s .V i s u a l a u g m e n t e r 44 i n c l u d e s mesh n e t t i n g M, o n l y ap o r t i o n o f which i s shown i n d e t a i l f o r d r a f t m a n s co nv e n i e n c e . FIG. 6 shows i n g r e a t e r d e t a i l t h e a r r a n g ement o f mesh n e t t i n g M . M e sh n e t t i n g M s formed o f ap l u r a l i t y o f i n t e r c o n n e c t i n g s t r a n d s 9 4 . Each o f t h es t r a n d s 9 4 a r e formed o f a p l u r a l i t y o f k n i t t e d t h r e a d sp r e f e r a b l y c o m p r i s e d o f n y l o n a l t h o u g h o t h e r m a t e r i a l ss u c h a s , b u t n o t l i m i t e d t o , c o t t o n , p o l y p r o p y l e n e , p o l ye t h y l e n e , o r r a y o n m i g h t a l s o b e r e l i e d u p o n . At t h ep o i n t s o f i n t e r s e c t i o n 9 6 o f p a i r s o f s t r a n d s 9 4 , t h e i n d iv i d u a l s t r a n d s 9 4 a r e c o n n e c t e d t o g e t h e r by wa y o f ak n i t t i n g p r o c e s s which k n i t s c e r t a i n o f t h e t h r e a d s maki n g up one o f t h e two i n t e r s e c t i n g s t r a n d s 94 with c e rt a i n t h r e a d s o f t h e o t h e r i n t e r c o n n e c t e d s t r a n d 9 4 . T hei n d i v i d u a l t h r e a d s which a r e k n i t t e d t o g e t h e r t o forms t r a n d s 9 4 a r e p r e f e r a b l y made f r o m 1 8 9 0 d e n i e r n y l o nt h r e a d . Various o t h e r ways o f j o i n i n g s t r a n d s 94 t og e t h e r a r e a l s o c o n t e m p l a t e d . For e x a m p l e , s t r a n d s 9 4c a n b e j o i n e d t o g e t h e r by k n o t t i n g on e s t r a n d t o t h eo t h e r a t t h e i r p o i n t o f i n t e r s e c t i o n . A n i t t e d c o n n e c t i o ni s , however, more p r e f e r a b l e a s i t p l a c e s l e s s s t r e s s ont h e i n d i v i d u a l t h r e a d s .

S t r a n d s 9 4 f o r m i n g mesh n e t t i n g M n t e r s e c t onea n o t h e r a t a n g l e B which s p r e f e r a b l y a b o u t 3 0 s o a s t oc r e a t e a p l u r a l i t y o f diamond s h a p e d o p e n i n g s 9 8 . Thel o n g i t u d i n a l a p e x - t o - a p e x l e n g t h L o f e a c h diamond i sp r e f e r a b l y w i t h i n a range of about 1 . 2 2 t o 1 . 2 8 i n c h e s o ra b o u t l l i n c h e s when mesh n e t t i n g M s i n a c o l l a p s e ds t a t e ( i . e . , when l e n g t h X n d l e n g t h Y r e e s s e n t i a l l yp l a n a r ) . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e l a t e r a l a p e x - t o - a p e x l e n g t h l o feach diamond when m esh n e t t i n g M s i n an u n t e ns i o n e d s t a t e i s p r e f e r a b l y w i t h i n a r a n g e o f a b o u t 0 . 3 2 0t o 0 . 3 4 0 o f an i n c h a nd m or e p r e f e r a b l y about A o f ani n c h . Nylon d i a m o n d mesh n e t t i n g s u i t a b l e f o r t h e p u rp o s e s o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i s a p r o d u c t o f B l u eMountain I n d u s t r i e s l o c a t e d i n B l u e M o u n t a i n , A l a .The n e t t i n g s o l d by B l u e Mountain I n d u s t r i e s i s r ef e r r e d t o a s 1 } i n c h s t r e n g t h N o . 1 8 9 k n o t l e s s n y l o nn e t t i n g .T he u s e o f a p l u r a l i t y o f k n i t t e d t h r e a d s t o - f o r m t h ei n d i v i d u a l s t r a n d s a n d t h e j o i n i n g o f t h e s t r a n d s by ak n i t t i n g p r o c e s s t o f o r m m e s h n e t t i n g M, a l s o p r o v i d e sa a d v a n t a g e w i t h r e s p e c t t o r e d u c i n g d r a g . A i r f l o w i n ga l o n g t h e l e n g t h o f t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r c a u s e s t h ea u g m e n t e r t o a ssume a tensioned or s t r e t c h e d s t a t e .While i n a t e n s i o n e d s t a t e t h e i n d i v i d u a l t h r e a d s o fs t r a n d s 9 4 c o m p r e s s t o g e t h e r , t h u s d e c r e a s i n g t h e s u rf a c e a r e a i n c o n t a c t with t h e on r u s h i n g a i r s t r e a m . I na d d i t i o n , t h e a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h e i n t e r c o n n e c t e d s t r a n d so f m e s h n e t t i n g M , w i t h t h e d i a m o n d s h a p e d o p e n i n g s ,

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6l e a d s t o one s t r a n d drawing an a d j a c e n t s t r a n d bothr e a r w a r d l y and c l o s e r t o i t s e l f . T h i s a r r a n g e m e n t t e n d st o c o m p r e s s t h e e n t i r e body o f a u g m e n t e r 4 4 i n w a r d l yt h e r e b y l e s s e n i n g t h e d e g r e e o f d r a g c a u s e d b y t h ev i s u a l a u g m e n t e r . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e a n g u l a r o r i e n t a t i o no f t h e r e a r w a r d l y e x t e n d i n g s t r a n d s , w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h eon r u s h i n g a i r s t r e a m , i s s u c h t h a t a s t h e augmenters t r e t c h e s f u r t h e r r e a r w a r d l y a t i n c r e a s e d s p e e d s t h ei n d i v i d u a l s t r a n d s 9 4 tend t o a ssume a p o s i t i o n m o r e a ndmore i n l i n e with t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e on r u s h i n g a i r .T h i s f e a t u r e e n a b l e s t h e a u g m e n t e r t o i n h e r e n t l y a d j u s tt h e d e g r e e o f d r a g w i t h i n c r e a s e s i n tow s p e e d . D i r e ct i o n arrow 1 0 0 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e a i r a s i tp a s s e a l o n g t h e l e n g t h o f v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r 4 4 .

FIG. 5 shows vented in?ater 5 6 i n an i n f l a t e d condi-t i o n . I n t h i s c o n d i t i o n , v e n t e d i n ? a t e r 5 6 p r o v i d e s t h en e c e s s a r y t e n s i o n i n hoops 6 0 , 6 2 t o form a n i n l e t f o r ah i g h l y p o r o u s v i s u a l body s u c h a s v i s u a l body 4 5

' formed o f m esh n e t t i n g M . Vented i n ? a t e r 5 6 a l s o p e rf o r m s t h e f u n c t i o n o f o b t a i n i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g a c y l i nd r i c a l s h a p e i n t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r b y u t i l i z i n g t h el o c a l airstream a s t h e energy s o u r c e .As more f u l l y i l l u s t r a t e d i n FIGS. 5 A and 5 B , v e n t e di n ? a t e r 5 6 i n c l u d e s a number o f p a n e l s 5 8 a t t a c h e d t of o r w a r d hoop 6 2 a n d a f t hoop 6 0 . Hoops 6 0 a n d 6 2 a r ep r e f e r a b l y formed o f a f l e x i b l e c a b l e comprised o f am a t e r i a l s u c h a s n y l o n . I n a p r e f e r r e d embodiment t h ec a b l e i s made u p o f a p l u r a l i t y o f b r a i d e d n y l o n ? b e r swhich when combined p r o v i d e a c a b l e having a c r o s ss e c t i o n a l diameter between about 3/16 of an i n c h t o l of _an i n c h . A i a m e t e r f o r hoops 6 0 and 6 2 which i s s u i ta b l e f o r t h e purpose o f t h e i n v e n t i o n i s a b o u t 3 2 . 6 : 0 5a n d 3 0 . 0 i 0 . 5 i n c h e s , r e s p e c t i v e l y . Hoops 0 , 6 2 a r e a l s op r e f e r a b l y formed i n c i r c u l a r o r r i n g - l i k e f a s h i o n . Thed i a m e t e r o f f o r w a r d hoop 6 2 i s l a r g e r t h a n t h e d i a m e t e ro f a f t hoop 6 0 by a n amount which c a u s e s p a n e l s 5 8 t oassume a n a n g l e o f a t t a c k t h a t p r e f e r a b l y f a l l s w i t h i n ar a n g e o f a b o u t 1 2 t o 1 8 d e g r e e s and more p r e f e r a b l y i sa p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 5 ' r e l a t i v e t o t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e l o c a la i r ? o w . V a r i o u s o t h e r a n g l e s would a l s o b e p o s s i b l edepending on t h e v a r i a b l e s i n v o l v e d s u c h a s a n t i c i p a t e dt o w i n g s p e e d s , hoop d i m e n s i o n s , e t c . I n a c h i e v i n g a 1 5 a n g l e o f t t a c k , f o r w a r d h o o p 6 2 w o u l d p r e f e r a b l y h a v ea d i a m e t e r which i s l a r g e r t h a n t h a t o f a f t hoop 6 0 by ar a t i o of about 1 . 0 8 7 t o 1 . 0 .T he p o s i t i o n i n g o f p a n e l s 5 8 a t a n a n g l e o f a t t a c k o fa b o u t 1 5 ( s e e F I G . 1 1 ) p r o v i d e s s u f f i c i e n t h o o p t e n s i o n( b r o u g h t a b o u t b y a e r o d y n a m i c f o r c e s a c t i n g o n t h ep a n e l s ) t o k e e p t h e f o r w a r d e n d o f a c y l i n d r i c a l v i s u a laugmenter open and t h u s e n a b l e t h e v i s u a l augmenter t oremain i n an i n f l a t e d c o n d i t i o n . Furthermore, a 1 5 ' a n g l e o f a t t a c k p r o v i d e s s u f f i c i e n t a e r o d y n a m i c l o a d i n gt o p r o v i d e t h e r e q u i r e d hoop t e n s i o n w h i l e a t t h e samet i m e m i n i m i z i n g t h e d r a g o r f o r c e i n t h e a c t u a l d i r e c t i o no f t h e v i s u a l a u g m e n t e r .

I n a p r e f e r r e d embodiment v e n t e d i n ? a t e r 5 6 i n c l u d e s1 6 t r u n c a t e d t r i a n g u l a r s h a p e d p a n e l s 5 8 . P a n e l s 5 8 a r eu n i f o r m l y p o s i t i o n e d w i t h s p a c e b e t w e e n e a c h p a n e la n d a t t a c h e d t o hoops 6 0 , 6 2 t o p r o v i d e a p o r o s i t y r a t i o( p a n e l a r e a / t o t a l a r e a ) o f a b o u t 0 . 5 f o r t h e i n ? a t e r a n dmore p r e f e r a b l y a b o u t 0 . 4 8 4 .

F I G . 7 shows t h e f i n i s h e d f l a t p a t t e r n f o r l a p r e f e r r e dembodiment, a s w e l l a s t h e s p a t i a l l o c a t i o n r e l a t i v e t ol _ / l 6 o f t h e a r e a o f v e n t e d i n ? a t e r 5 6 , which s e q u i v al e n t t o a 2 2 . 5 degree segment o f t h e i n f l a t e r . Each t r u nc a t e d p a n e l 5 8 h a s i t s f o r w a r d e d g e l o o p e d o v e r a n dsewn o r f a s t e n e d t o form a passageway f o r acceptingf o r w a r d hoop c a b l e 6 2 . A f t e r c a b l e 6 2 h a s b e e n i n s e r t e d


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cloth tow target sleeve (1991)

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