March 22, 1938.

c. D. YOUNG'
STREAMER ADAPTED FOR TOWING BY AIRCRAFT

2,112,204

Filed May 11, 1933

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Patented Mar. 22, 1938

2,112,204
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UNITED STATES PATENT

2,112,204
STREAMER ADAPTED FOR TOWING BY AIRCRAFT

Charles D. Young, Haverford, Pa., assignor to

Kellett Autogiro Corporation, Philadelphia,

Pa., a corporation of Delaware

Application May 11, 1933, Serial No. 670,391 6 Claims. (Cl. 40-127)
This invention relates to streamers adapted

'for towing, by aircraft, and more particularly to streamers bearing words or symbols displayed
thereon in such manner as to constitute a sign
5

tion not being concerned with the mode of at tachment of the display sign to the framework.
At the forward or leading end of the streamer I employ a loop bridle 6 joining the upper and lower ends of the foremost vertical member I and forming therewith a triangular connection between the tow line i and the framework of the streamer. The tow line i terminates in an eye or thimble 8 surrounding the bridle 6 and

jclearly legible from the ground and therefore

useful for the purpose of advertising. The streamer of this invention may also be used to advantage in aerial signalling, as an aerial target for anti-aircraft ?re, and for other pur

10 poses, wherever it is desired to- make an an

nouncement to the ground quickly over a large

area.

Generally stated the object of my invention is to provide a streamer of simple and inexpen
' sive construction so designed that when towed

slidable thereon. In order to give adequate 10 strength to the foremost vertical member i with out unduly increasing its weight, a strut 9 is positioned behind the member bracing it at its medial portion. The strut 9 is held in place by
a stay wire l0 including a turnbuckle H by means of which the wire may be tautened to the

behind an aeroplane or other aircraft it will assume a position in a substantially vertical plane

desired degree.
While the streamer is illustrated in the draw ing with a longitudinal axis assuming a horizon tal position, it is to be understood that under

with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel ing level ground. More speci?cally the streamer .is characterized by a particular form of bridle
at its leading edge and a flexible connection

between the tow line and bridle, whereby under different conditions of ?ying speed and wind the streamer has capacity for self-adjustment iand' tends to maintain the desired position of
?ight. _

actual ?ying conditions the longitudinal axis may be inclined to an angle of twenty degrees or thereabouts with the horizontal, and the words horizontal and vertical are therefore used
herein in a general sense. Moreover, the streamer may be of considerably greater length in pro portion to height than represented in the par ticular illustrated embodiment of the invention. Throughout the framework of the streamer I preferably employ diagonal members l2, one for
each panel of the framework, the diagonals join~

Other objects and advantages characterizing

my present invention will become more fully apparent from the description of certain ex~

amples or embodiments thereof which are here

inafterset forth with reference to the accom panying drawing. Of the drawing:
Fig. I represents a side elevation of a streamer of my invention with the tow line substantially
taut. .

ling the upper end of veach vertical member I with the lower end of the next vertical member
to the rear thereof. At the rear end of the streamer there is pro

Fig. 11 represents a similar view of the same, with slack in the tow line showing how the

vided a trailing loop M in the form of a line joining the upper and lower ends of the rear

streamer adapts itself to changed. conditions; and,

40

most vertical member I.

The trailing loop I 4

Fig. III represents a side elevation of a por tion of a. modi?ed streamer in which the bridle

is differently constructed. With reference to the streamer illustrated in

Figs. I and II, it will be observed that the same 45 comprises a rectangular skeleton framework in~

constitutes a counterpart of the bridle 6 at the forward end of the streamer. To the trailing loop hi there is slidably connected a drag ele ment I5 which may take the form of the well

eluding rigid vertical members I disposed in spaced parallel relation and longitudinal non rigid members 2, 3 and 4, disposed at right angles to the vertical members I and parallel to each
other. Preferably the vertical members I may take the form of bamboo poles, whereas the upper and lower longitudinal members 2, 3 are. desirably made of stout cord, and the intermediate longi cu Li tudinal members 4 of ?ner cord; The letters or symbols 5 to be displayed on the framework of the streamer are secured by any suitable means to the intermediate longitudinal members 4, or they may extend from the upper longitudinal 2

known wind sock, and which offers su?icient resistance to maintain the stability of the streamer during flight. The drag element l5 preferably is attached to the trailing loop [4
by means of an eye or thimble it, or alterna

tively ?xed wind socks are attached to the ends of the rearmost vertical member 5.

to the lower longitudinal 3, the present inven

By the construction described above, the framework of the streamer is in effect pivoted for revolution about a longitudinal towing axis :c-a: which varies in its position according to the speed of the towing vehicle, wind conditions and other factors. In order to maintain the streamer in substantially vertical plane and With out causing it to sag intermediate its forward and rear ends, the framework is weighted at. the two lower corners, the weights being at tached to the foremost and rearmost vertical 60

2,112,204.
departing from the spirit of the invention as de?ned in the annexed claims. Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A streamer adapted for towing by aircraft comprising a. substantially rectangular skeleton

member as indicated at l1, l8, thus placing the center of gravity of the framework near its lower edge and well below the lowest position of the towing axis.
In Fig. III there is represented a modi?ed form of streamer of my invention in which the loop bridle 6a includes stays 2i,- extending diago nally upward and downward from the center of the leading vertical member l and joining
10 the loop bridle So at points designated at 2| and

framework including vertical and longitudinal members, the vertical members being rigid and
the framework having a center of gravity nearer

22. With this construction the stays 28 reinforce

the leading vertical member I against bending at its medial portion and thus perform a func

its lower edge, a loop bridle joining the upper and lower ends of the foremost vertical member, a tow 10 line slidably connected to said loop bridle, and
a drag element connected to the rear end of said

tion equivalent to that of the strut 9 described with reference to the structure of Figs. I and II. The tow line i is slidably connected to the loop bridle (id, but its movement is con?ned within that portion of the bridle in advance of the

points 2!, 22.

It is to be especially noted that in both forms of my invention the tow line i is'not fastened to any particular point of the bridle 6, but is free to move therealong. Heretofore it has been

framework. 2. A streamer adapted for towing by aircraft comprising a substantially rectangular skeleton framework including vertical and longitudinal members, the vertical members being rigid and the framework having a center of gravity nearer its lower edge, a loop bridle joining the upper and lower ends of the foremost vertical member,

said foremost vertical member being reinforced

against bending at its medial portion, a tow line slidably connected to said loop bridle, and a drag element connected to the rear end-of said frame IO $1 work. 3. A streamer adapted for towing by aircraft comprising a substantially rectangular skeleton

proposed to employ a ?xed connection between

the tow line and bridle and to utilize a number

of auxiliary bridle lines leading from the inner section of the tow line and bridle to the medial portion of the foremost vertical member of the streamer. An example of such practice is illus 30 trated in the patent to M. S. DuPont No. 1,901, 855, issued March 14, 1933. By the provision of a loop bridle and flexible connection between the tow line and the same, the framework of the streamer has capacity for self-adjustment with respect to the tow line and hence tends to assume a position in which its longitudinal axis is sub

framework including vertical and longitudinal members, the vertical members being rigid and
the framework having a center of gravity near its lower edge, a loop bridle joining the upper and lower ends of the foremost vertical member, a strut reinforcing said foremost vertical mem ber against bending at its medial portion, a tow line terminating in a thimble slidably mounted on said loop bridle, and a drag element connected to the rear end of said framework.

stantially level irrespective of the degree of taut

ness of the tow line 1. This ?exibility or capacity for adjustment is likewise characteristic of the 40 drag element 15. In effect the streamer is sup

4. A streamer adapted for towing by aircraft comprising a substantially rectangular skeleton framework including vertical and longitudinal 40

ported ?exibly between two movable points, and incident to changes in the speed of the towing
vehicle or other conditions will tend to maintain

members, the vertical members being rigid and

the framework having a center of gravity near its lower edge, a loop bridle joining the upper and lower ends of the foremost vertical member,

the desired position. Moreover, the ?exibility or capacity for self-adjustment is obtained in such
manner as not to place undue strain. upon the

stays extending diagonally upward-and downward

from the center of said foremost vertical mem

45

leading vertical member of the streamer, this member being adequately reinforced against bending at its medial portion. In Fig. I the streamer is represented with the tow line I relatively taut. When the speed of
the towing vehicle is decreased momentarily or when for other reason the tow line 1 becomes slackened, as represented with some exagggera tion in Fig. II, the towing axis will assume a position more near the center line of the stream er. Under this condition the weights l1, ill will maintain the streamer in a substantially vertical plane and the towing bridle 6 will assume a dif ferently shaped triangle. With a ?xed connec tion between the tow line and bridle there is

ber, stays extending diagonally upward and

downward from the center of said foremost ver

tical member and joining said loop bridle there by reinforcing the same against bending, a tow line slidably connected. to the bight of the bridle
between said stays, and a drag element con nected to the rear end of said framework.

5. A streamer adapted for towing by aircraft comprising a substantially rectangular skeleton framework including vertical and longitudinal members, the vertical members being rigid and the framework having a center of gravity near its lower edge, a loop bridle joining the upper
and lower ends of the foremost vertical mem ber, a tow line slidably connected to said loop bridle, a line joining the upper and lower ends of the rearmost vertical member, and a drag ele

necessarily a tendency for the leading vertical

member to assume a position substantially at right angles to the tow line. With the streamer constructed in the manner of my invention, the leading vertical member will tend to retain its

vertical position with relation to the ground, ir respective of whether the tow line is relatively taut or relatively slack. While I have described certain speci?c exam ples of the practice of my invention, it will be apparent, especially to those skilled in the art, that various changes may be made in the par ticular form of the streamer, its framework, 75 bridle lines and reinforcing elements, all without

ment slidably connected to said line. 6. A streamer adapted for towing by aircraft comprising a substantially rectangular skeleton framework including vertical and longitudinal members, the vertical members being rigid and the framework being weighted at its two lower corners, a loop bridle joining the upper and 70 lower ends of the foremost vertical member, a tow line slidably connected to said loop bridle,
and a drag element connected to the rear of said

framework.
CHARLES D. YOUNG.