# US 4,395,002 A · Emergency draining mechanism for the centrifugal spreader of an airplane

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- Number: US 4,395,002 A
- Document ID: US4395002A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/285,512
- Filed: 1981-07-21
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1980-08-04
- Inventors: Jouni Kantojarvi; Pertti Lahti; Veikko Lindholm
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395002A

## CPC

- B64D 1/16: Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting (jettisoning fuel B64D37/26)
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT

## Abstract

A powdered material hopper or container is mounted in an airplane with a downwardly facing discharge opening positioned immediately above a centrifugal material discharge wheel driven by a hydraulic motor positioned in the outer end of a pivotal support in the form of a pivotal hollow housing. The pivotal hollow housing can be pivoted between a first position in which the centrifugal material discharge wheel is adjacently facing the discharge opening of the container and a second position remote therefrom for permitting a rapid emergency dumping of all material from the container. Movement of the pivotal support means is effected by a hydraulic cylinder connected to the pivotal support means and a lug extending from the lower end of the container which also provides pivotal support for the pivotal support means.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said motor means is a hydraulic motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein said power means is a hydraulic cylinder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein said pivotal support means comprises a hollow curved housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4 wherein said motor is fully enclosed in said housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5 additionally including pivotal control flaps mounted inside said container for varying the rate at which material can be discharged from said container.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 wherein said pivotal support means is mounted on an outer end of lug means connected and supported at an opposite end to a lower portion of said container.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein said hydraulic cylinder is pivotally supported on said lug means and has its rod end connected to said pivotal support means.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said motor means is a hydraulic motor, said pivotal support means is a hollow housing and said motor is enclosed in said hollow housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein said pivotal support means is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis positioned forwardly of said container.