Extendible sway brace for an airborne payload rack and a rack containing same
An extendable sway brace for a rack for an airborne payload. The sway brace is extendable. A mechanism for extending the sway brace includes means for preventing extension of the sway brace when the pressure exerted by the brace on a payload reaches a predetermined pressure. The means for preventing extension of the brace may include, for example, one or more pre-loaded springs. In this case, extension of the brace is prevented when the springs are compressed by a predetermined amount. The invention also provides a rack for an airborne payload comprising a sway brace of the invention.
1. An extendable sway brace for a rack for an airborne payload, the sway brace being extendable and comprising:
a first mechanism for extending the sway brace so as to apply pressure to the payload in at least two directions; and
a second mechanism for preventing extension of the sway brace when the pressure exerted by the brace on the payload reaches a predetermined positive pressure.
2. The sway brace according to claim 1 wherein the second mechanism for preventing extension of the sway brace includes one or more pre-loaded springs and extension of the sway brace is prevented when the springs are compressed by a predetermined amount.
3. A rack for an airborne payload comprising an extendable sway brace according to claim 1 .
4. The rack according to claim 3 further comprising one or more fixed sway braces.
5. The rack according to claim 3 further comprising a payload ejector.
6. The rack according to claim 5 wherein the payload ejector includes a piston activated by a pressurized gas.
7. The rack according to claim 6 wherein the gas is nitrogen.
8. The rack according to claim 3 having one hook for attachment of a payload.
9. An extendable sway brace for a rack for an airborne payload, the sway brace comprising:
a first mechanism for extending the sway brace so as to apply pressure to the payload in at least two directions; and
a second mechanism for preventing over pressure of the sway braces on the payload, so the pressure of sway brace pads of the sway brace does not exceed a predetermined positive limit.