GB2186247A

GB2186247A - Improvements in or relating to bang gliders

Info

Publication number: GB2186247A
Application number: GB08702824A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Luther Hudson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-02-08
Filing date: 1987-02-09
Publication date: 1987-08-12
Also published as: GB8702824D0

Abstract

A pilot suspension system for use particularly but not exclusively with weight shift controlled hang gliders provides a main member 1 adapted to be suspended from the airframe of the hang glider and provided with a pivotally mounted seat support arm 2 and a seat 4 formed in or supported on the seat support arm. The seat is preferably in the form of a flexible sheet seat extending between the main member and the seat support arm. In a further aspect the invention provides for the mounting of an engine and propeller assembly on the main member to power the hang glider. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to hang gliders This invention relates to a pilot suspension system for use with a hang glider and which may also be used to convert a hang glider to a powered microlight aircraft.

The form of hang glider to which this invention particularly (but not exclusively) relates is that which relies upon the pilot shifting his position relative to the airframe to achieve a weight shift in order to control the flight of the aircraft.

Attempts have been made to fit an engine and propeller to such hang gliders to make them into powered microlight aircraft. This has usually involved mounting the engine high up above the pilot immediately beneath the wing of the craft, an arrangement which has not found favour as it provides a high thrust line relative to the centre of gravity of the craft with a pilot. This tends to cause the craft to tuck, that is to say rotate forwards about the pilot, under power.

A more popular arrangement for such a powered hang glider has been one with a tubular metal structure arranged to be suspended from the basic hang glider airframe and having three ground wheels, a seat arrangement while providing a mounting for an engine and propeller lower down more in line with the pilot.

However such arrangements have been relatively complicated, heavy and expensive; while their size has ment that they are not easily transportable by road on the top of a car in the manner that hang gliders are.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a suspension or seat system for a simple weight shift hang glider which on will allow the pilot to sit aboard his craft in a comfortable seated attitude instead of the more normal hanging prone position for such craft. It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangement by which an engine and propeller may be mounted on such a hang glider in a more simple and effective manner.

Accordingly the present invention provides a pilot suspension system for a hang glider, comprising a main member arranged to be pivotally supported on the airframe of the hang glider and hang generally downwards from the airframe in use, a seat support arm pivotally mounted on the main member towards the bottom thereof and arranged to extend forwards in use, and a pilot's seat formed in or supported on the seat support arm.

The seat may preferably be in the form of a sheet of flexible material suspended between the main member and the seat support arm.

Preferably means is provided to limit the downwards pivotal movement of the seat support arm, a preferred means being webbing straps extending between an outer part of the seat arm and a point on the main member above the mounting of the seat arm.

In a further aspect of the invention an engine and propeller are mounted on the a main member at a position behind the pilot in use to convert the craft into a powered hang glider.

Preferably in such an arrangement a single ground wheel is provided at the bottom of or on an extension from the main member to support the main member with the propeller clear of the ground prior to take off or launching of the hang glider.

In order to promote a fuller understanding of the above and other aspects of the present invention, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the invention for attachment to a hang glider, Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1 in use on a hang glider.

Figure 3 shows in schematic form the embodiment of Fig. 1 attached to a hang glider with an engine and propeller attached, ready to take off, Figure 4 shows the arrangement of Fig. 3 in flight with optional fairings fitted, and Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of the invention.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings comprise a main member 1 in the form of a light alloy tube, adapted to be pivotally supported on the airframe of a hang glider (not shown in Fig. 1).

A seat support arm in the form of two tubular members 2 is pivotally mounted on the main member 1 towards the bottom of it, an is arranged to extend forwards in use to support a pilots seat edge member 6. The downward movement of the seat support arm is limited by means of webbing straps 3 extending between a point on the main menber 1 above the mounting of the seat support arm, and the seat support arm, while the seat support arm is free to pivot upwards when not in use to a closed position lying along the main member 1 for compact transportation and stowage. A pilot's seat 4 in the form of a sheet of flexible material such as canvas, is suspended between the seat edge member 6 and the main member in the manner of a hammock.The upper edge of the seat 4 is preferably attached to the main member 1, as shown, through the intermediary of the webs 3 and a spreader bar 5 positioned between them adjacent the main member 1. The seat edge member 6 is pivotally mounted on the arm members 2 and a seat belt 7 for the pilot is also mounted on the members 2.

As can be seen from Fig. 2 the embodiment of Fig. 1 provides for the comfortable seating of a pilot below an otherwise conventional weight shift controlled hang glider. A stirrup 8 may be provided, suspended on a wire from the main member 1, and connected by a wire or wires to the front of the seat support arm, to support the feet of the pilot thus completing his comfort.

It should be understood that because of the pivotal mounting of the seat support arm on the main member, the embodiment does not interfere with the normal launching techniques used for hang gliders of this general type.

Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1 provided with an engine and propeller to make a powered hang glider. An engine and propeller assembly 9 is mounted together with a fuel tank 10 on the main member 1 so that the line of thrust from the propeller in use is substantially through the mass of the pilot. In order to assist launching or take off of the craft, a single ground wheel 11 is attached to the bottom of the main member or to an extension of it.

In use it can be seen that the single ground wheel will support the main member with the propeller clear of the ground prior to and during take off or launching offering considerable assistance in such operations and allowing the use of a lower propeller thrust line without the danger of the propeller striking the ground.

At the same time the arrangement may be readily folded to a compact form when not in use, for transportation and stowage.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of Fig. 3 in flight, and also illustrates how optional aerodynamic fairings may be added to the embodiment without detracting from its general principles.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a further embodiment of the invention in which the main member and the seat support arm are made as glas fibre reinforced plastics material mouldings. The various components perform the same functions as those in the previous embodiment and are given the same reference numbers.

The seat 4 may again be in the form of a sheet of flexible material in hammock configuration, or may be formed as a rigid seat shape within the moulding forming the seat support arm.

The various components of the embodiments may be made of any suitable material, and attached together in known manner per se. The engine assembly may if desired be made to be easily disassembled form the main member for transportation, and the single ground wheel and its extension if fitted may be disassembled from the main member to the same purpose.

Claims

1. A pilbt suspension system for a hang glider, comprising a main member arranged to be pivotally supported on the airframe of the hang glider and hang generally downwards from the airframe in use, a seat support arm pivotally mounted on the main member towards the bottom thereof and arranged to extend forwards in use, and a pilot's seat formed in or supported on the seat support arm.

2. A suspension system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the seat is in the form of a sheet of flexible material suspended between the main member and the seat support arm.

3. A suspension system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which means is provided to limit the downwards pivotal movement of the seat support arm in use.

4. A suspension system as claimed in Claim 3, in which the limiting means comprises webbing straps extending between an outer part of the seat support arm and a point on the main member above the mounting of te seat support arm.

5. A suspension system as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, in in which the seat support arm comprises two members each pivotally mounted by one end on the main member and spaced apart at their outer ends to support the seat

6. A suspension system as claimed in Claim 5, including a seat edge member pivotally mounted between the outer ends of the seat support arm members to form a rigid edge part for the seat.

7. A suspension system as claimed in any preceding Claim as dependent on Claim 4, in which the seat is attached to the main member throught the intermediary of the webbing straps and a spacer bar disposed between the straps adjacent the main member.

8. A suspension system as claimed in any preceding claim, including an engine and propeller assembly mounted on the main member at a position behind the pilot in use.

9. A suspension system as claimed in Claim 8, in which the engine assembly is mounted on the main member so that in operation the thrust line of the propeller passes substantially through the mass of the pilot

10. A suspension system as claimed in Claim 9 including a single ground wheel mounted on the main member to support it from the ground with the propeller clear of the ground during launching and/or take off of the hang glider.

10. A suspension system as claimed in any preceding claim, including a stirrup for the pilot's feet suspended from an upper part of the main member and from the forward part of the seat support arm.

11. A pilot suspension system for a hang glider substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 of the accompanying drawings.