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WO1994013531A1 - Construction d'avion - Google Patents

Construction d'avion Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1994013531A1
WO1994013531A1 PCT/GB1993/002487 GB9302487W WO9413531A1 WO 1994013531 A1 WO1994013531 A1 WO 1994013531A1 GB 9302487 W GB9302487 W GB 9302487W WO 9413531 A1 WO9413531 A1 WO 9413531A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
aircraft
vane
landing
water
wheel arrangement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1993/002487
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hugh Edward Fisher
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO1994013531A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994013531A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
    • B64C25/00—Alighting gear
    • B64C25/32—Alighting gear characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface 
    • B64C25/54—Floats
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
    • B64C25/00—Alighting gear
    • B64C25/32—Alighting gear characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface 
    • B64C25/52—Skis or runners

Definitions

  • the invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to aircraft construction.
  • the invention relates to aircraft having the capability of landing and take-off from both water and land.
  • Amphibious aircraft have conventionally been designed either as flying boats or as float-equipped aircraft. Such craft suffer drag and weight penalties compared with similar land-based aircraft, teither from the configuration of the hull together with the reinforcement necessary for withstanding the force of water or from the presence of the floats and the struts and bracing of their mounting means.
  • the present invention provides an aircraft having a fuselage portion, within which is mounted a retractable/extendable undercarriage assembly comprising vane means adapted to contact the surface of a body of water during a take-off or landing operation, said vane means being adapted to present a lower vane surface to said body of water, wherein the vane means is movable between a first condition in which said means act as a cladding panel arrangement forming part of an aerodynamically shaped underneath surface of said fuselage portion and lying flush therewith, and a second condition in which said means are spaced from the fuselage portion to form a ski foil means comprising said lower vane surface.
  • ski foil means is meant a device adapted to skim over water in the manner of a water-ski or hydrofoil.
  • means may be provided to adjust the angle of presentation of said lower vane surface to the water to an oblique angle, a leading end of the surface being at a relatively high level with respect to a trailing end.
  • leading end may be elevated to said high level, or, if preferred, said trailing end may be lowered to a level below said high level.
  • said vane means may comprise two elongate, parallel vane panels extending lengthwise of the fuselage portion and adapted to be movable into a third condition in which each panel lies in an at least substantially vertical plane to form a keel means when the aircraft is manoeuvring on water.
  • a further vane panel may be provided in the region of the nose wheel of the aircraft.
  • the vane panels may abut along lengthwise edges thereof when the aircraft is in flight and may pivot apart from one another separating at a longitudinal centre line of the vane means.
  • said undercarriage assembly further comprises a landing wheel arrangement.
  • the undercarriage assembly includes a main landing wheel or an arrangement of two landing wheels in tandem.
  • the wheel or the two wheels may be positioned directly above and aligned with said centre line of the vane means so that, when the vane panels separate, the wheel(s) may then come into contact with the ground.
  • the invention is not limited to applications in which a tandem wheel arrangement is provided beneath the fuselage, but may also apply to a conventional arrangement in which a nose wheel arrangement is provided on the fuselage forward of two wheel assemblies comprising the main undercarriage.
  • the two main wheel assemblies may be received in a main undercarriage or may be spaced apart and each stowable in one of two bays provided beneath the main aircraft body.
  • wheel assemblies mounted on the wings may be suitable for a high-wing multi-engine aircraft and may be adapted to take advantage of the present invention.
  • outrigger means may be found advantageous, both as float members and as auxiliary ski foil means.
  • the present invention may be used not only on light aircraft but also with suitable larger aircraft, such as transport aircraft.
  • Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an aircraft according to the invention.
  • Figures 2 and 3 are front view and underneath view respectively of the aircraft of Figure 1;
  • Figures 4 to 10 are side and front views illustrating the steps in a landing procedure by the aircraft on to a body of water;
  • Figures 11 to 14 illustrate the steps in a landing procedure on land
  • Figures 15 and 16 are side views partly in section of landing wheels and ski foil mounting means in non-extended and extended conditions respectively;
  • Figure 17 shows the landing wheels on Figures 15 and 16 in a stowed condition
  • FIGS 18 and 19 are sectional views showing the operation of means to separate vane portions of the ski foil means
  • Figure 20 is an exploded sequence of views including a bow-shaped member and the separating means of Figures 18 and 19;
  • Figure 21 is a perspective view of a plurality of vane portions arranged on an aircraft of medium to large size.
  • An aircraft indicated at 2 in the drawings comprises two wings 4, each having an aerodynamic cross-section, a fuselage portion 6 within which is mounted an undercarriage assembly, indicated at 8, and a tail portion, 10.
  • An engine 12 is mounted centrally of the fuselage portion 6 and linkage 14 is provided to drive an air screw 16 set in the nacelle 18 of the tail portion 10 and operating about a longitudinal, horizontal axis.
  • An air in-take to the engine 12 is provided at 20.
  • the fuselage portion 6 includes vane means in the form of two panels 22,24 which lie flush with the general contours of the fuselage, acting as cladding panels to preserve the aerodynamically designed configuration.
  • the panels 22,24 also act to close recesses from which the undercarriage assembly 8 may be lowered or retracted. Leading end portions of the panels 22,24 taper to a tip portion 26 similar to that of a water-ski.
  • the panels 22,24 are mounted on the undercarriage assembly 8 which further comprises two wheels 28,30 arranged in tandem on mounting legs 32,34 to move between a first condition in which they are received within the fuselage portion and a second position in which they are extended from the fuselage portion for take-off or landing.
  • Figure 1 illustrates the wheels in their retracted condition in broken lines and in their extended condition in full lines.
  • the wheel 28 is further mounted to enable the overall length of its mounting leg 34 to be increased as will be explained below.
  • an outrigger means which comprises a float 36 which, in its retracted condition, lies substantially parallel to the underside of the respective wing but may be lowered about a forward end tnereof to a position in which an under surface 38 forms a ski-like or planing surface.
  • Figures 4 to 10 describe a landing manoeuvre of the aircraft in which it alights on the surface of a body of water.
  • Figure 4 shows the aircraft 2 in flight, the panels 22,24 lying flush with the fuselage portion 6 and the wheels 28 and 30 of the undercarriage assembly 8 in a retracted condition within the fuselage portion 6.
  • Figures 5 and 6 show the undercarriage portion 8 lowered, so as to space the panels 22,24 downwardly away from the fuselage 6, by pivoting the mounting legs 32,34 and bringing the wheels 28,30 into the position shown.
  • the outriggers 36 are also lowered about a forward pivot • line 40 to the position shown.
  • Figure 7 shows the lengthening of the mounting leg 34 to cause the panels 22,24 which are still in mutual abutment to present an inclined lower surface to a body of water 42 so that, on contact being made the panels acts as a vane member in the manner of a water-ski or hydrofoil.
  • Figure 8 is a front view of Figure 7.
  • the outriggers 36 then contact the water as the aircraft decelerates and settles in the water as shown in Figures 9 and 10, so that they act as buoyancy ,floats under the wings 4.
  • the two panels 22,24 may then be swung apart about lengthwise extending axes so as to lie substantially in a vertical plane, forming a keel arrangement, see Figure 10.
  • the presence of the keel arrangement is advantageous when the aircraft is required to taxi or otherwise manoeuvre on the surface of the water, since the aerodynamic contours of the fuselage offer little keel surface.
  • Figures 11 to 14 describes a landing manoeuvre of the aircraft upon a runway or other suitable area of flat ground.
  • Figure 11 is similar to Figure 4 described above.
  • the wheels 28,30 and panels 22,24 are shown in a lowered condition similar to that shown in Figure 5, but for a ground landing the outriggers 36 are lowered to a position which brings auxiliary wheels 42 to the same level as the main wheels 28,30 for a four-point contact with the ground when landing is complete as shown in Figures 13 and 14.
  • the panels 22 and 24 are pivoted into the previously described keel-forming position in order to expose the wheels 28,30.
  • the construction of the mounting leg 34 is shown in greater detail in Figures 15 and 16, in its normal and lengthened condition respectively.
  • the leg comprises a sleeve 44 pivotally mounted at 46 to an undercarriage frame portion (not shown) .
  • a lower leg portion 48 adapted to provide shock-absorbing means is further provided with an external screw threaded member 50 so as to permit its axial movement through a rotary collar and bearing arrangement 52 provided at the lower end of the sleeve 44 and driven by a level gear 54 from an auxiliary hydraulic motor 56.
  • a scissor-like brace 58 prevents relative rotation between the leg portion 48 and the sleeve 44.
  • a further auxiliary hydraulic motor 60 is mounted at the lower end of the leg portion 48 so as to operate the pivotal movement of the panels 22 and 24 as will be described below.
  • This motor and its associated gearing is protected by a stream-lined, bow-shaped shield member 62 which comprises three portions, an upper semi-domed portion 64 and two side portions 66 and 68.
  • the shield member 62 also protects mounting struts 70,72 for the panels 22,24 respectively.
  • the gearing of the separation mechanism is shown in Figures 18 and 19, comprises two quadrant gears 76,78 secured to the struts 70,72 respectively, upper ends of which are rotatably mounted at 80 in the bracket 74.
  • a worn gear drive member 82 operates from the motor 60 to cause the two panels 22,24 to separate, either to form a keel arrangement as explained above or simply to clear any obstruction to the wheels 28 and 30.
  • Figure 21 shows a larger size aircraft than those illustrated above, which is provided with three vane portions comprising the vane means.
  • Such an aircraft has a housing 84 for a landing wheel arrangement and two vane portions 86 and 88 are provided in the housing. These portions are lowered when required to act as ski foils.
  • a third vane portion 90 is provided at the nose portion 92 of the aircraft which is lowered to act as a forward ski foil.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une construction d'avion dans lequel l'agencement du train d'atterrissage (8) pouvant sortir et se replier du fuselage (6) comprend des aubes (22, 24) qui en vol normal épousent le contour du fuselage à la manière de panneaux de revêtement. Les aubes (22, 24) ont des extrémités effilées (26) similaires à celles de skis nautiques. Les aubes (22, 24) peuvent être déplacées de la position où elles épousent le contour du fuselage en une position de skis nautiques pour permettre à l'avion d'amerrir ou de décoller et en outre, en une position latérale dégagée, pour que les roues d'atterrissage (28, 30) puissent descendre vers une position où elles peuvent se poser sur une piste ou, en cas d'amerrissage, pour améliorer la manoeuvrabilité de l'avion se déplaçant sur l'eau, en servant de quilles.
PCT/GB1993/002487 1992-12-05 1993-12-03 Construction d'avion Ceased WO1994013531A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB929225467A GB9225467D0 (en) 1992-12-05 1992-12-05 Aircraft construction

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994013531A1 true WO1994013531A1 (fr) 1994-06-23

Family

ID=10726180

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1993/002487 Ceased WO1994013531A1 (fr) 1992-12-05 1993-12-03 Construction d'avion

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB9225467D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1994013531A1 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1995005974A3 (fr) * 1993-08-26 1995-06-08 David E Gevers Avion polyvalent
ES2255780A1 (es) * 2003-04-23 2006-07-01 Rafael Lauro Presa Ijeño Hidroplaneador, vehiculo maritimo para el transporte de viajeros, que se desliza sobre un esqui por la superficie del agua, dotado de alas para su manejo.
US7093796B2 (en) * 2002-01-24 2006-08-22 Mark Chak Aircraft
WO2007141425A1 (fr) * 2006-06-09 2007-12-13 Lisa Airplanes Avion motorisé a structure mixte hydrodynamique et aérodynamique pour le décollage et l'atterrissage sur l'eau, le sol ou la neige
RU2326789C2 (ru) * 2005-12-07 2008-06-20 Юрий Владимирович Половников Демпфирующая скользящая гидролыжа половникова
WO2012175756A1 (fr) 2011-06-20 2012-12-27 Aerovision Vehiculos Aereos, S.L. Dispositif d'amerrissage pour aéronef
US11254421B2 (en) * 2018-09-04 2022-02-22 Delano Christian Deployable aircraft flotation system
US20220204156A1 (en) * 2019-04-17 2022-06-30 Northern Flight Service Ab Surfing arrangement for mounting to an aircraft, and an aircraft comprising such an arrangement

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2646235A (en) * 1951-05-29 1953-07-21 Sr John R Dawson Buoyant aircraft with hydroskis
US2753135A (en) * 1950-12-13 1956-07-03 Saunders Roe Ltd Retractable floats for aircraft
US2793827A (en) * 1949-11-18 1957-05-28 Edo Corp Amphibious aircraft and elements thereof
US3526374A (en) * 1968-08-12 1970-09-01 William B Risken Combination hydrofoil and wheel apparatus for amphibious aircraft

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2793827A (en) * 1949-11-18 1957-05-28 Edo Corp Amphibious aircraft and elements thereof
US2753135A (en) * 1950-12-13 1956-07-03 Saunders Roe Ltd Retractable floats for aircraft
US2646235A (en) * 1951-05-29 1953-07-21 Sr John R Dawson Buoyant aircraft with hydroskis
US3526374A (en) * 1968-08-12 1970-09-01 William B Risken Combination hydrofoil and wheel apparatus for amphibious aircraft

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5645250A (en) * 1993-08-26 1997-07-08 Gevers; David E. Multi-purpose aircraft
AU687466B2 (en) * 1993-08-26 1998-02-26 David E. Gevers Multi-purpose aircraft
US5850990A (en) * 1993-08-26 1998-12-22 Gevers; David E. Multi-purpose aircraft
US6098927A (en) * 1993-08-26 2000-08-08 Gevers; David E. Multi-purpose aircraft
WO1995005974A3 (fr) * 1993-08-26 1995-06-08 David E Gevers Avion polyvalent
US7093796B2 (en) * 2002-01-24 2006-08-22 Mark Chak Aircraft
ES2255780A1 (es) * 2003-04-23 2006-07-01 Rafael Lauro Presa Ijeño Hidroplaneador, vehiculo maritimo para el transporte de viajeros, que se desliza sobre un esqui por la superficie del agua, dotado de alas para su manejo.
ES2255780B1 (es) * 2003-04-23 2007-07-16 Rafael Lauro Presa Ijeño Hidroplaneador, vehiculo maritimo para el transporte de viajeros, que se desliza sobre un esqui por la superficie del agua, dotado de alas para su manejo.
RU2326789C2 (ru) * 2005-12-07 2008-06-20 Юрий Владимирович Половников Демпфирующая скользящая гидролыжа половникова
WO2007141425A1 (fr) * 2006-06-09 2007-12-13 Lisa Airplanes Avion motorisé a structure mixte hydrodynamique et aérodynamique pour le décollage et l'atterrissage sur l'eau, le sol ou la neige
FR2902079A1 (fr) * 2006-06-09 2007-12-14 Lisa Airplanes Soc Par Actions Avion motorise a structure mixte hydrodynamique et aerodynamique pour le decollage et l'atterrissage sur l'eau, le sol ou la neige
US8038095B2 (en) 2006-06-09 2011-10-18 Lisa Airplanes Motorised airplane with mixed hydrodynamic and aerodynamic structure for take-off and landing on water, ground or snow
WO2012175756A1 (fr) 2011-06-20 2012-12-27 Aerovision Vehiculos Aereos, S.L. Dispositif d'amerrissage pour aéronef
US11254421B2 (en) * 2018-09-04 2022-02-22 Delano Christian Deployable aircraft flotation system
US20220204156A1 (en) * 2019-04-17 2022-06-30 Northern Flight Service Ab Surfing arrangement for mounting to an aircraft, and an aircraft comprising such an arrangement
EP3956217A4 (fr) * 2019-04-17 2023-08-23 Northern Flight Service AB Agencement de surf destiné au montage sur un aéronef, et aéronef comprenant un tel agencement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9225467D0 (en) 1993-01-27

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