FR2856030A1 - Helicopter for transporting e.g. freight, has main module comprising flight components common to all configurations, and variable front module that is connected and disconnected from main module - Google Patents

Abstract

The helicopter has two parts of which a main module (1) has flight components common to all configurations. The components include a motorization unit, flight controlling units, a revolving aerofoil with controls of the aerofoil, a tail boom (22), anti couple rotor and control yaw, undercarriage device (8), and electric systems. A variable front module (2) is connected and disconnected from the main module.

Description

The present invention relates to a light helicopter of a new type.

  An object of the invention is to propose a light helicopter adaptable to different types of mission such as for example the transport of one or two people, the transport of light freight, etc. so as to reduce the investment costs To achieve To this end, the inventive idea consisted in designing a modular helicopter which can easily be transformed by a single person according to the mission to be accomplished.

  This object is achieved by the invention which consists of a helicopter, of the type conventionally comprising members for carrying out the essential technical functions of flight such as in particular: - engine, flight control elements, - rotary wing with wing controls , - tail beam, tail rotor and yaw control, 15 landing device, - electrical systems, characterized in that it is modular and configurable according to the mission to be carried out, and composed of two parts including a main module comprising the said flight components common to all the configurations, and a variable front module 20 which is connectable and disconnectable from the main module.

  The invention will be better understood using the description below made with reference to the following appended figures: - Figure 1: simplified view showing the concept of a modular helicopter according to the invention, - Figure 2: side view d a helicopter according to the invention, with the rear fairing removed, showing, by way of nonlimiting example, the dimensions of the aircraft, - Figure 3: top view of Figure 2.

  A modular helicopter according to the invention essentially consists of two parts: a main module (1) common to all the missions and a front module (2) connectable and disconnectable from the main module (1) and variable according to the mission to be carried out.

  The main module (1) is formed by a tubular support structure (3) for the attachment of all the common members, performing most of the technical flight functions 35 such as in particular: - engine (4), and all equipment associated including tanks and transmission of motive power, - flight control elements (6), - rotary wing (7) with wing controls, - tail boom (19), tail rotor and yaw control, (if applicable) if applicable), - landing device (8), electrical systems including one or more batteries.

  All these common members are of conventional design and easily calculable by a person skilled in the art, and protected by one or more fairings (9) fixed on the support structure (3).

  To allow the connection-disconnection of a front module on a main module, a set of connection interfaces is provided to achieve: a mechanical connection between the structures of the modules, - a mechanical connection of the directional, flight and engine controls, - an electrical connection.

  For the connection of the structures, provision is made, by way of nonlimiting example, of a tubular recovery or attachment frame integral with the carrying structure (3) and of substantially rectangular shape and arranged on the front face of the main module.

  The lower horizontal bar (10) of the frame serves as a pivot for hooking to one or more hook-shaped stirrups (11) provided on a front module to be connected.

  The lateral uprights (12) of the frame each comprise at least one barrel hole (13) intended to receive ball pins (14), preferably all identical.

  A ball pin is a fixing and articulation axis with automatic safety locking which can be manipulated with one hand, it replaces an indexing finger or a bolt. It is conventionally used in aviation and it is indicated here by way of nonlimiting example of a locking member.

  There are also provided, on the rear face (20) of the front module, cheek clips (21) positioned so that the distance between the cheeks is less than the distance between the lateral uprights (12) by a value capable of allow the presentation of said cheeks between said uprights and capable of aligning the bore (22) of a cheek with the barrel hole (13) of the opposite upright.

  For the electrical connection, at least one multipoint female electrical connector (15) is provided fixed on the front wall of the main module and intended to receive a complementary male multipoint electrical connector (16) of the front module.

  For the mechanical connection of the flight controls, there is generally provided a demountable coupling of the wheelhouses of general pitch on the one hand and of roll and pitch on the other hand, by means of yokes and connecting rods. According to an exemplary implementation, at least one female yoke (17) intended to receive a steering rod (18) provided in the front module is provided. This mechanical control makes it possible to act on the flight controls and on the wing by articulation of beat and 10 steps. There is also a link of the same type, not shown, for the yaw control controlled by a pedal or spreader, not shown, of the front module.

  According to another example of implementation, there is provided a sheath receiving a removable broom handle which is available in several versions adapted by their geometry and their functionalities for piloting in single or two-seater configuration.

  A removable mechanical link, not shown, also makes it possible to control the power of the engine in manual mode.

  We will now describe the particularity of the front module.

  Depending on the civil or military mission to be accomplished by the helicopter according to the invention, a front module (2) specifically designed for this mission is connected to the main module (1). Thus, with a single main module representing the main part of the cost price of the helicopter, combined with a set of different front modules (2), a variation of piloted, teleoperated or autonomous devices is obtained, each adapted to a specific mission, for a minimal investment thereby reducing the costs of flight hours. The main module and the front module are designed to obtain in each combination an optimized centering of the masses of the assembled helicopter and to maintain comparable qualities and / or flight performance. 30 By way of example, the front module (2) can be: - a passenger compartment for a pilot with possibilities of carrying cargo. In this case, for example, as in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is possible to provide a cockpit with canopy and door, a dashboard and its electrical equipment, a joystick, a collective handle provided with a rotary handle for control. engine speed, a pedal mechanism for yaw controls, a seat, an arrangement to receive cargo, - a cabin for two people with limited cargo, a drone module which is a remotely piloted or autonomous vehicle, designed to carry 5 control, data link and payload systems, - a module for two pilots for flight school use, with equipment different from that of the passenger compartment for two people and cargo limited and suitable for double piloting.

  The connection operation of a front module (2) takes place as follows: - the front module is presented so as to engage the bar (10) of the main module in the hooks of the stirrups (11), - then rotates the front module upwards around said bar (10) 15 until the cheeks of the stirrups (21) are opposite the barrel holes (13) of the lateral uprights (12), - the pins are put in place ball (14) so as to secure the cheeks with said uprights, the modules are then secured without any degree of freedom, - then the mechanical connections are assembled, for example from inside the passenger compartment by sliding the steering bar (18) in the female yoke (17) and by blocking them with a blocking means (19) for example a ball pin, - the electrical connection of the male and female connectors (15, 16) is also carried out .

  The disconnection operation takes place in reverse order.

  The transformation of a helicopter according to the invention is carried out with a reduced number of simple operations which do not require any special tools.

  It can therefore be easily carried out by a single person.

  As an indication, the mass of the front module (2) can be approximately 25 kg and the dimensions of an exemplary embodiment are shown in Figures 3 and 4 to illustrate the relatively small size of a modular helicopter.

Claims (8)

  1. Helicopter, of the type conventionally comprising members for performing the essential technical flight functions such as in particular: s engine (4), - flight control elements (6), - rotary wing (7) with wing controls, - tail beam (22), anti-torque rotor and yaw control, - landing device (8), - electrical systems, characterized in that it is modular and configurable according to the mission to be carried out, and composed of two parts including a main module (1) comprising the said flight components common to all the configurations, and a variable front module (2) which is connectable and disconnectable from the main module (1).   2. Helicopter according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a set of connection interfaces for producing: - a mechanical connection between the main module and the front module, - a mechanical connection of the directional controls, - a connection electric.   3. Helicopter according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the main module (1) is formed of a tubular support structure (3) for the attachment of all common flight components and a fairing ( 9) fixed on the supporting structure (3).   4. Helicopter according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a tubular attachment frame integral with the carrier structure (3) and of substantially rectangular shape and arranged on the front face of the main module.   5. Helicopter according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower horizontal bar (10) of the frame serves as a hanging pivot to one or more hook-shaped stirrups (11) provided on a front module to be connected, and in that the lateral uprights (12) of the frame each comprise at least one barrel hole (13) intended to receive ball pins (14) preferably all identical, and in that the rear face (20) of the front module comprises cheek bars (21) positioned so that the distance between the cheeks is less than the distance between the lateral uprights (12) by a value capable of allowing the presentation of said cheeks between said uprights and capable of aligning the bore (22 ) a cheek with the barrel hole (13) of the upright opposite.   6. Helicopter according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it 5 comprises an electrical connector (15) multipoint fixed on the front wall of the main module and intended to receive an additional multipoint electrical connector (16) of the module before.   7. Helicopter according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that for the connection of the mechanical controls there is provided at least one female yoke (17) intended to receive a steering bar (18) provided in the front module and in that a link of the same type is also provided for yaw control.   8. Helicopter according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the front module (2) is a module of the type chosen from the assembly (passenger compartment 15 for a pilot and freight transport, passenger compartment for two people with freight limited, drone module, module for two pilots).