Emergency draining mechanism for the centrifugal spreader of an airplane

An aircraft mounted system for dispensing granular or powdered material including:

• a container for holding granular or powdered material, said container having a lower downwardly facing discharge opening;
• pivotal support means mounted on a pivot fixedly positioned with respect to said container for pivotal movement between a first position in which an outer end of said pivotal support means is positioned immediately adjacent and beneath said discharge opening of said container and a second position spaced away from said discharge opening;
• a centrifugal dispensing wheel mounted on said outer end of said pivotal support means so as to adjacently face said discharge opening to receive granular or powdered material therefrom when said pivotal support means is positioned in said first position;
• motor means supported on said pivotal support means for drivingly rotating said centrifugal dispensing wheel;
• and
• power means for moving said pivotal support means to its second position so as to move said centrifugal dispensing wheel to a position remote from said discharge opening to permit a rapid emergency release discharge of substantially all granular or powdered material in said container.