GB655921A - Improvements in or relating to explosive line charges for fire-fighting and like purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

655,921. Emergency fittings for aircraft. PHILLIPS, E. W. J. Oct. 30,1948, No. 28216. [Class 4] [Also in Group XXI] An explosive device adapted to be attached to the fuselage of an aircraft or the like structure, to sunder the fuselage (Fig. 1), or to cut out a panel (Fig. 3), for salvage and rescue purposes in case of fire, comprises a flexible tube containing a continuous core 18 of explosive with a V-section groove 19 on one side. The tube 20 may have a circular cross-section (Fig. 4), in which case a line 21 is marked on the surface to allow the charge to be orientated with the groove directed towards the fuselage. Alternatively, the tube may be flat on the groove side. The tube may be coated with adhesive on one side, or provided with adhesive tabs to secure it to the structure. In Fig. 1 the flexible tube is passed round the fuselage, one end of the tube being pulled through a loop 2 at the other end by a wire 3. Leads from an electricallyoperated firing device in a connector 5 extend along the wire 3 to a firing control unit 4 containing a battery and switch. The unit 4 may accommodate the wire and leads before use. To cut out a panel, the flexible tube may be arranged in a closed loop around the edges of a flexible sheet, an electric firing device being placed at some point in the loop and connected by a flexible lead to a fire control unit. The flexible sheet may be attached to the structure by cords looped round the fuselage or the sheet may be fastened to a framework (Fig. 3). Secured to the sheet are four arms 16 hinged to a long arm 15 provided with a spike 17, which is driven into the ground to anchor the device.