Securing/releasing device, and related airdrop device

A device for securing/releasing a first member able to support a load up to several tons, and a second member able to support the first member and said load, the second member comprising a support onto which are secured:

• first means able to trigger release of said first and second members,
• a hook comprising a first fixed part secured to the support and a second part able to support a part of the load and movable with respect to the first part between i) a first position called raised position where said first and second parts form a hook, and ii) a second position where the first and second parts do not form said hook anymore, the second movable part comprising a first end secured to the first part, by a rotation shaft and supporting at least partially the weight of said load and of the first member when the device is in operation, and
• locking and unlocking means of the first position of said second movable part of the hook, the first means being able to control the unlocking of the first position of said second movable part of the hook,
• wherein the locking means comprise a ball spindle comprising a plunger and a main body provided concentrically directly or indirectly in a bore having an axis OX made in the support or in a member which is secured to the support, the first means being one of i) connected to the plunger of the spindle and able to control displacement of the plunger, and ii) connected to the plunger of the spindle and able to control the displacement of the plunger, and
• wherein, in operation, when the second movable part of the hook is locked in the first position called raised position and when the hook supports the first member and the load, the second movable part of the hook is able to exert, directly or indirectly, on the main body of the ball spindle and along the axis OX, a force F1 proportional to the mass of the first member and of the load.