,Jan. 27,1942.

F. G. MANSON
AERIAL TRAILER

2,270,884

Filed Nov. .12, 1940

INVENTOR.

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Manson
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mama Jan. 27, 1942' "

2,270,884

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,270,884 AERIAL minim

Frank G. Manson, Dayton, om Application November 12, 1940, Serial No. mars
11 Claims. (01. 273-1053) (Granted under the net of March 3, 1882, as amended April 30, 1928; 37. 0. 'G. 752)
The invention described herein may be manu factured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to
me of any royalty thereon.

is housed within a suitable seam i4, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. This spreader rod I!
has a small cross section, and extends normal

very appreciably shorter than the length of the adapted for use as a tow target, which is con structed so as to produce a minimum drag and 10 target body B; its function being mainly that of providing a stabilizing in?uence for the ?ag sec yet provide a large projected target area.
tion B and to insure that the ?ag section will not ?utter and disintegrate. The preferred form of sleeve construction, as shown in the drawing, which is relatively simple in construction, and is the provision of a plurality of small diameter which may be collapsed into a compact mass. 15 sleeves, some of which have their passageways A further object of this invention is the pro intersected by the plane of the body B at the vision of an improved aerial trailer which can be
A further object of this invention is the pro
vision of an improved tow vtarget or aerial trailer

This invention relates to improvements in aerial trailers. The primary object of this invention is the provision of an aerial trailer particularly well

to the upper and lower edges of the target body. It is the only rigid material in the ?ag or body section B.
The sleeve section C is of a length which is

used with high speed aircraft and is so con structed as to produce a minimum drag and yet

rear edge of the latter, and others of which are positioned at each side of the plane of the body B.
20 sleeves are provided. Upper and lower sleeves 20
. In the preferred construction eight small

give an unusually large target projection. Other objects and advantages of this inven

following detailed description.

tion will be apparent during the course of the

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this speci?cation, and wherein similar refer ence characters designate corresponding parts

and_2l respectively have their passageways at the entrance ends intersected by the plane of the ?ag portion B. Two side sleeves 23 and 24 are provided at the right side of the ?ag or body sec tion B, looking to the rear, and similarly two
other sleeves 25 and 26 are provided at the op posite side of the plane of the ?ag section B. As before mentioned, the sleeves 2026 are relatively small in diameter. They are all of the same length, and at their leading edges are pro

throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in sec

tion, showing the various parts of the improved

tow target.
aerial trailer or tow target. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the improved Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the improved

vided with steel ?oating rings, shown at 30 in

Figure 2 of the drawing, so that they are held tow target. open at their entrance ends. At their rear ends In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of 11 35 the sleeves 20-26 are each drawn to provide a constructed opening 3|, smaller than the pas lustration is shown only a preferred. embodiment sageway through the sleeve; the passageway of the invention, the letter A generally desig otherwise being uniform in diameter through nates the improved aerial trailer or tow target. out the length of the sleeve section. The con It may include a main body target section B of ?exible sheet material, such as fabric, which may 40 stricted rear opening 3| of each sleeve is pro vided by placing a ?oating ?exible draw string be conveniently referred to as a ?ag section; a stabilizing sleeve section C at the rear endrof the - or ring, shown at 35 in Figure 3 of the drawing, body B; stabilizing and air stream directing in a seam of the sleeve. This string or ring is vane structure D; a bridle section E, and a tow of rubber, textile or other ?exible material. cable F. 45 As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the rear The main body B of the target is preferably reinforced edge I201 the body section B is se rectangular in shape, It may be of any desired cured at 40 to each of the points where it crosses length, and its ?ag appearance is to insure that I the sleeves 20 and 2!. The sleeves 20-46 may be the entire target will slip-stream through the air
with a minimum drag. This body B may be re 50 any approved manner, if so-desired, and pref inforced at its upper and lower edges i0 and H, erably they are circumferentially held together and at its rear edge I2 where it is connected with by means of a webbing band 45, preferably of the sleeve section C. At its front or leading edge strong ?exible material, which may be stitched the ?ag or body section B is provided with a cross spreader rod l3 of steel or other material, which 55 or otherwise secured at, 46 to each of the'sleeves.

secured together at their _,;con'tacting edges, in

One or more of these bands may be provided, but

2,270,884
a narrow band such as shown in Figure 1 of the

throughout its length of joints, open tubular

sleeves or other passageways for receiving air so as to eliminate drag to the greatest possible

drawing is sufficient.
The vane section D is provided for stabilizing and slip-stream dividing purposes and to insure that air will be properly directed into each of the sleeves of the section C. It includes a long ta pered vane construction 60 extending the full

extent. 2. An aerial trailer comprising an elongated

main body section, and a short sleeve section at the rearpend thereof consisting of a plurality of air dividing sleevesprojecting at each side of lengthjof the'target body B. It has tapered vane the body section and opened at their front and portions at each side of the plane of the body B, and along the medial or axial line thereof. They 10 rear ends, said sleeves being of collapsible mate rial and having at their entrance ends rigid start at the leading edge of the body B and ter spreader rings, and having their rear ends drawn minate in diametrical intersection with the to provide constricted openings. sleeves 23 and 26 of the section C, as shown in 3. In an aerial trailer, a main body section of Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. These long ta pered vane portions are secured at 10, along the 15 elongated ?at ?exible non-tubular construction, a stabilizing sleeve section at the rear end there medial or longitudinal center line of the flag of which in overall length is short compared to section B, and their outer edges 1| may be re the overall length of the body section and in inforced. They are secured to the leading edges cludes a plurality of small diametered sleeves of the small sleeves 23 and 26, at I2 (see Figure 1). It is noted that the plane formed. by the 20 providing passageways open at their front and rear ends for receiving the slip-stream of air vane construction 60 is at an acute angle to the therethrough, and vane means connected with plane of the body section B extended. and extending along the main body of the trailer The vane construction D of the aerial trailer in planes transverse thereto and cooperatively B also includes a short vane 80. It comprises related to the entrance ends of said sleeves for vanes of a tapered nature at each side of the directing the slip-stream of air thereinto. plane of the body section B, starting at a point 4. In an aerial trailer, an elongated ?ag sec 8| close to the rear edge portion of the body sec tion of ?exible material, a rear shorter sleeve tion B and extending therefrom in tapered dia section comprising a plurality of small sleeves metrical intersection with the open ends of the sleeve portions, and 25, as shown in the draw 30 the passageways of which are open at their front and rear ends, a long flexible vane section pro ing. The edges of the portions of the vane 80 viding portions extending along and in intersec are reinforced and secured as at points 85 to tion relation with the plane of the ?ag section, the sleeve sections 24 and 25. The plane of the
vane 80 is at an acute angle to the plane of the
80, from the center line of the aerial trailer divide

and a shorter vane section likewise positioned

5. In an aerial trailer, an elongated ?ag sec

body section 3 extended. It is noted that planes 35 with respect to the body section and at the rear of intersection of the body B, vane 60 and vane end thereof.
the same into sectors of approximately 30 de
grees each. -

tion of ?exible material, a rear shorter sleeve

section comprising a plurality of small sleeves

Referring to the bridle construction E, the same 40 the passageways of which are open at their front and rear ends, a long ?exible vane section pro I may consist of rope or other ?exible members viding portions extending along and in inter 90 and 9| extending from the top and bottom secting relation with the plane of the flag sec edges of the body section B to a tow cable con tion, and a shorter vane section likewise posi I ,nection 92. If desired, fabric 93 may flu in the tioned with respect to the body section and at triangle formed by these ropes 90 and 9 I, and the the rear end thereof, the vane sections and body leading edge of the body B where the stiifener system at their rear edges diametrically inter rod I3 is positioned, but this fabric section is secting the passageways of the small sleeves at not necessary. Of course, the tow cable F is con ' the leading edges of the latter. nected to the loop 92 in any approved manner. 6. An aerial trailer comprising an elongated The proportioning of the various sections of 50 'main body section, and a very much shorter sta the aerial trailer is substantially correctly shown bilizing sleeve section at the rear end of the body in Figure 1 of the drawing. Due to the fact that section consisting of a plurality of parallel air the main body section of the trailer provides in dividing sleeves open at their front/and rear effect a plurality of intersecting vanes of plane the improved aerial trailer will ends, the rear ends of said sleeves having their ' construction, openings restricted so as to produce a drag dur have stability at high towing speeds over a long
period of time. There are no airpassageways or

ing towing of the target.

tubes throughout the length of the main body

section B or the vane construction D.

7. An aerial trailer comprising an elongated main body section, a very much shorter stabiliz All parts of the tow target are of collapsible 60 ing sleeve section at the rear end of the body section consisting of a plurality of parallel air and ?exible fabric or other materials except the dividing sleeves open .at their front and rear stiffener rod I3; the tow hook or loop, and the ends, and expansible means at the rear ends of stiiIener rings at the entrance ends of each of each of said sleeves normally tending to constrict the sleeves of the main sleeve section 0. Various changes may be made in the form of 65 the rear openings of the sleeves so as to produce a drag, but of a nature to expand under varying the invention herein shown and described, with out departing from the spirit thereof or the air pressure to vary the size of the drag open scope of the following claims. ings according to resistance of the air to pas I claim: sage thru said sleeves. ' 1. An aerial trailer comprising an integral 70 8. An aerial trailer comprising a ?at collapsible

elongated ?ag-like fabric body target .section,

means for towing it at its front end, and a short

rectangular-shaped main body target adapted to

be vertically positioned during ?ight, a short
sleeve section at the rear end of the target com

prising a plurality of sleeves having the passage said body target section being entirely free 76

overall length air receiving open sleeve section secured at the rear end of the target section,

2,270,884
ways thereof open at their fore and rear ends to passage of air therethru, and tapered vanes

' 3

connected at each side of said target body and disposed in planes transverse to the plane of the body and secured thereto and disposed in inter secting relation with the openings to said sleeves.
9. An aerial trailer comprising a ?at collapsi

open sleeves each of which is materially shorter than the length of the body section, at least one sleeve being disposed in its entirety at each side
of the plane of the body section for freely re ceivingr the slip stream of air at that side of
the body therethrough. , t

ble elongated non-tubular body section normally vertically positioned during towing, means at the
front end thereof for attaching it to an aircraft for towing purposes, and stabilizing means con nected at the rear end of said ?at vertically po

sleeve section at the rear end of the target com 10 vertically positioned during towing, means at the front end thereof for attaching it to an aircraft prising a plurality oi sleeves having the passage for towing purposes, and stabilizing means ccn- ways thereof open at their fore and rear ends nected at the rear end of said ?at vertically po to passage of air therethru, and tapered vanes sitioned body section comprising a plurality of connected at each side of said target body and, secured thereto and disposed in intersecting re 15 open sleeves each of which is materially shorter than the length of the body section, at least one lation with the openings to said sleeves, one of sleeve being disposed in its entirety at each side said tapered vanes at each side of the target of the plane of the body section for freely re body being shorter than the other of said tapered ceiving the slip stream of air at that side of the _ vanes. 10. An aerial tow trailer comprising a flat ?exi 20 body therethrough, and a vane at each side of

ble rectangular-shaped main body target adapted to be vertically positioned during ?ight, a short

11; An aerial tow trailer comprising a ?at ?exi

ble elongated non-tubular body section normally

the vertically positioned flat body section secured

sitioned body section comprising a plurality of

thereto and running therealong and disposed in a plane transverse to the plane of the body sec tion and diametrically intersecting the passage way of the sleeve at the respective side of the body section. FRANK G. MANSON.