GB2348383A

GB2348383A - Spray boom for aircraft

Info

Publication number: GB2348383A
Application number: GB0007931A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Archibald Fernie
Original assignee: AYLES FERNIE INTERNATIONAL LIM
Current assignee: AYLES FERNIE INTERNATIONAL LIM
Priority date: 1999-04-01
Filing date: 2000-03-31
Publication date: 2000-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-31
Also published as: GB0007931D0; GB2348383B; GB9907671D0

Abstract

A demountable spraying apparatus stored within an aircraft and deployed (eg: <I>via</I> the rear cargo ramp 12) only at the point of use. The apparatus comprises pump module 14, spray arm module 15 and storage tank modules 13 (containing the material to be sprayed) each comprising a tank 16 mounted on standard cargo pallets 18 for securing inside the cargo hold of the aircraft. The spray boom 54 is detachably secured to the cargo door or ramp 12, and the boom 54 is moved from a storage position when the door is closed to a laterally deployed position when the door is open. The apparatus is suitable for use when applying chemicals to disperse oil slicks at sea, and has the advantage that the apparatus is mounted within the aircraft, and therefore does not contribute any drag to the aircraft except at the time of deployment.

Description

Airborne Spraying Equipment This invention relates to airborne spraying equipment. It is particularly suitable for spraying oil-dispersant liquid on to marine oil spills, but also may be used for delivering other sprayed media, for example for crop spraying, pest control or disease control after natural disasters such as widespread flooding.

It is known to spray marine oil spills with dispersant from (generally elderly) aircraft permanently fitted with spray equipment, in which the spray equipment is carried span-wise under the wings, the tanks and pumps for the dispersant being housed permanently in the aircraft fuselage. The aircraft thus is effectively dedicated for its oil-dispersant role and spends much of its life idle. It also suffers increased drag when in use due to the externallymounted spraying equipment, resulting in impaired aerodynamic performance and increased operating costs.

It also is known from GB 2107267A to modify a transport aircraft having a rear cargo ramp so as to contain spraying structure which is movably mounted within the aircraft hold. In use this structure is extended rearwardly through the open rear cargo door and then deployed.

This however is a complicated arrangement which fails to take advantage of the aircraft's capabilities.

Another known system is that of FR 2648428. In this system, a spraying device is deployed behind the aircraft on a long hose, in the manner of in-flight refuelling equipment. However it is difficult to control this sizeable device during deployment and retrieval, which could be hazardous. Also the fact that the dispersant or other sprayed medium is discharged from equipment towed a considerable distance behind the aircraft leads to further complications in achieving accurate spraying.

It is an object of at least the preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a demountable and preferably modular airborne spraying system which can readily be installed in a cargo aircraft when required and then removed.

It is a further such object to provide a system which is safe to deploy and retract in flight.

It is another such object that the aircraft can be flown"clean"when proceeding to and from the spraying location, that is to say it has no external drag-inducing equipment, and its cargo ramp is closed.

It is a further such object to make efficient use of the aircraft load-space so that the quantity of dispersant or other sprayable payload is increased.

According to the invention, there is provided a spraying apparatus for demountable installation in a transport aircraft having a cargo ramp or door openable in flight, the apparatus comprising: at least one spray arm, means for detachably securing the spray arm to the ramp or door, means for moving the arm between a stowed position in which the ramp or door can be closed, and an operative position such that after the ramp or door is opened in flight the arm is deployed laterally of the aircraft for spraying; storage means for storing a medium to be sprayed, and delivery means for delivering the medium to the spray arm for spraying; and means for detachably securing the storage means and the delivery means to a load-bearing floor of the aircraft.

Preferably the at least one spray arm is mounted on a pallet or other support structure having a said detachable securing means for securing the pallet or other structure to the floor of the ramp.

Preferably the storage means comprises at least one tank on a pallet or other support structure having means for detachably securing said pallet or structure to the floor of the aircraft hold.

The delivery means may comprise at least one pump mounted on a pallet or other support structure having a said detachable securing means.

The said pump pallet or supporting structure may be configured to be detachably secured to the floor of the said ramp, or to the floor of the aircraft hold.

The pump may be mounted on the same pallet or support structure as the spray arm.

Preferably the said pallet is a standard cargo pallet.

In particular at least one pump and the pallet mounted spray arm may together fit on to a standard cargo pallet.

Preferably the height of the storage means and/or the other parts of the apparatus when mounted on a said standard cargo pallet, is such that it can be accommodated in the (RTM) underfloor cargo space of a Boeing 747/or other wide-body civil passenger aircraft. When so configured the apparatus can quickly be transported over long distances without the need for a specialised cargo aircraft.

The detachable securing means may be configured to engage a cargo roller structure of the aircraft.

The or each spray arm may be guided by rollers so as to be moveable in one direction to deploy the arm and in the opposite direction to stow it.

There may be flexible hose for connecting between parts of the apparatus to be secured to the floor of the aircraft hold and the remainder of the apparatus.

There may be means for controlling the relative discharge from a plurality of tanks comprised in the storage means whereby to maintain the centre of gravity of the aircraft within predetermined limits.

The invention also comprises an aircraft equipped with apparatus as set forth above; preferably the spray arm is detachably secured to the rear cargo ramp floor.

The invention now will be described merely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a section through the rear fuselage of a transport aircraft equipped with apparatus of the invention; Figures 2A and 2B show respectively side and end elevations of a tank module of the apparatus; Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show respectively side, plan and end views of a pump module of the apparatus; Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show respectively side and two plan views of a spray arm module of the apparatus; and Figure 5 is a schematic flow diagram of the apparatus.

Referring to figure 1, the rear position of the fuselage of a heavy transport aircraft such as (RTM) a LockheedlL-100 Hercules is shown at 10. The aircraft has a rear cargo aperture which is closed by a ramp 12 which can be lowered to the ground to permit loading of the aircraft with a heavy or bulky payload. The ramp can also be partially lowered in flight to an approximately horizontal position to permit air-dropping of stores. When so deployed the floor of the cargo ramp forms an extension of the floor of the cargo hold, as shown in dotted lines in the figure at 12'.

The main cargo floor and the floor of the cargo ramp are provided with securing points or "hold-downs"in a pattern which inter alia can accommodate the ISO or other standard aircraft cargo pallets, which typically have base dimensions of 108 inches x 88 inches and which have a prescribed length and cross-sectional profile. As here particularly described, the present invention takes advantage of the aircraft hold-downs and the standard pallet base to provide a demountable spraying installation which not only quickly can be installed in or removed from the spraying aircraft, but which also presents itself as a series of modular units which are of a size such that they conform to the base of the standard cargo pallets. They thus can be transported in conventional side-loading cargo aircraft. The apparatus comprises at least one (here four) tank modules 13, a pump module 14 and a spray arm module 15. Each tank module 13 has a tank 16 of capacity 3 tonnes (about 3000 litres) for containing dispersant. Each tank is mounted on a standard pallet base 18 and is provided with appropriate venting and inspection facilities 20. An outlet pipe 22 is provided for connection to a pump module, and has a motorised control valve 24.

The pump module (figure 3) also is built on a standard pallet base, and comprises an inlet 26, to which connection is made from a manifold 28 (figure 5) fed by all of the tanks 16. The manifold is made up of flexible hose sections 28 which interconnect the double-ended outlets 22 of the tank module in series to the inlet 26.

The inlet 26 feeds two pumps 30 via flow control valves 32. The pumps 30 are driven by motors 34 powered from the aircraft electrical supply. The output of the pumps is delivered to an outlet manifold 36 via a spray control valve 38. The pressure and flow of the dispersant liquid is monitored by pressure and flow sensors 40,42. Depending on the output required, one or both pumps are employed, the valves 32 being partially or fully opened as appropriate. Isolating valves 44 permit a pump to be isolated in the event of failure, and a recirculation valve 46 permits ground running and testing of the system without discharge of the dispersant.

The system is filled after installation in the aircraft via an inlet connection 48 and pressure fill valve 50. All separable connections such as 50, and the connections between flexible hoses and other parts of the system are of the drip-free (dry break) type as known per se for aircraft applications.

The pump module outlet manifold 36 is connecte by a flexible hose 52 (figure 5) to the spray arm module 15. This module is mounted on a standard pallet base which is carried solely on the cargo ramp floor. Because the ramp floor is inclined steeply when the ramp is closed, particular care is taken to secure it immovably to the ramp floor.

Referring to figure 4, the spray arm module comprises at the aft end of the pallet a pair of arms 54 (sometimes called"booms") the inner end of each of which is carried mounted in two sets of rollers 56,58 mounted on the frame 59 of the module. The rollers permit each arm to be moved laterally of the aircraft centre line between an inboard (stowed) position shown in figure 4B and a deployed or operational position (figure 4C) in which it extends beyond the module and the edge of the cargo ramp by about 2 metres. The outer ends of the arms are provided with an array of nozzles 61, as known per se, and of a size and profile appropriate for the medium being sprayed, the objective being to dispense droplets of the optimum size and concentration for that medium over the maximum deposition width (swath).

The arms are moved between their stowed and deployed positions by a continuous loop cable 62 operated by a hand winch or capstan 66. Alternatively the winch may be motorised, or motors provided on the tracks to move the carriages eg. by a chain drive or lead screw.

The arms are connected to an module inlet manifold 68 having a stop valve 69 via flexible hoses 70 of sufficient length to accommodate the inward and outward movement of the arms.

A dump valve and drain 72,73 permits the dispersant to be jettisoned in an emergency. Electrical interlocks are provided to prevent inadvertent discharge of the medium whilst the arms are retracted.

In operation, the aircraft after loading with dispersant is flown"clean"to the spraying area, and the cargo ramp is then opened. The arms are deployed and the aircraft then traverses the area of interest at (for a Hercules) an air speed of about 140kt, 100 feet altitude and 5 to 10 degrees nose-up attitude, depositing a swath of dispersant on the oil slick.

Care must be taken to control the rate at which dispersant is taken from each tank 16, in order to avoid disturbing the aircraft's centre of gravity and trim. Conveniently the valves 24 can be controlled automatically by the systems control logic for this purpose with the objective of withdrawing dispersant approximately equally from each tank after allowing for the weight of the ramp and spray arm modules, if significant. This can be achieved by incorporating a flow sensor in the output of each tank, the outputs of these sensors being provided to a microprocessor programmed to control the valves 24 accordingly. Alternatively, if the discharge rates of the tanks are the same, or are known, balanced discharge can be achieved by opening the valves 24 in a timed sequence. When empty each tank is isolated to prevent flow-back from other tanks still containing dispersant, or loss of suction from the pumps 30.

On completion of spraying, the arms are retracted, the cargo ramp closed and the aircraft can return to its base.

Typical performance parameters of the apparatus as configured for a Hercules are: Dispersant capacity 12000 litres Flow rate up to 1500 litres/min Operating air speed 140 knots Swath width about 50m Dosage (for oil dispersant) up to 115 litres/hectare Droplet size (for oil dispersant) 300-700 microns Although described in the context of a Hercules, another similarly-configured aircraft could be used as a platform. Also, an aircraft with a door which can be opened outwardly in flight may be adapted to support a retractable spray arm on the inside of such a door in a manner analogous to that described. However the cargo ramp configuration is presently preferred.

The modules 13,14,15 may be adapted by the use of chock links (as known per se) to be secured to a cargo roller floor structure as is sometimes fitted to Hercules and similar aircraft; rapid loading and unloading thereby is facilitated.

As illustrated the pump module 14 and the spray arm module 15 are of a height enabling (RTM) hem to be carried in the underfloor cargo hold of a Boeing 747#. The tank modules 13 as illustrated would not fit that underfloor hold, but bhis can be achieved if the tanks are made of a shallower rectangular shape, rather than cylindrical.

In an alternative embodiment, the pump module 14 is made more compact and is mounted on the load-bearing floor of the ramp immediately forward of the spray arm module 15, by releasable fixings as already described. This enables even more effective use of the cargo hold space; in particular it may be possible to accommodate an additional tank.

Further improvement in utilisation of the space within the aircraft can be achieved by integrating the pump module and the spray arm module on a single pallet secured to the floor of the ramp, so that they become a single module.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims) and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of other disclosed and/or illustrated features.

Statements in this specification of the"objects of the invention"relate to preferred embodiments of the invention, but not necessarily to all embodiments of the invention falling within the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A spraying apparatus for demountable installation in a transport aircraft having a cargo ramp or door openable in flight, the apparatus comprising: at least one spray arm, means for detachably securing the spray arm to the ramp or door, means for moving the arm between a stowed position in which the ramp or door can be closed, and an operative position such that after the ramp or door is opened in flight the arm is deployed laterally of the aircraft for spraying; storage means for storing a medium to be sprayed, and delivery means for delivering the medium to the spray arm for spraying; and means for detachably securing the storage means and the delivery means to a load-bearing floor of the aircraft.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one spray arm is mounted on a pallet or other support structure having a said detachable securing means for securing the pallet or other structure to the floor of the ramp.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the storage means comprises at least one tank on a pallet or other support structure having means for detachably securing said pallet or structure to the floor of the aircraft hold.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the delivery means comprises at least one pump mounted on a pallet or other support structure having a said detachable fastening means.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pump pallet or support structure is configured to be detachably secured to the floor of the said ramp, or to the floor of the aircraft hold.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pump is mounted on the same pallet or support structure as the spray arm.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a said detachable securing means are configured to engage a cargo roller structure of the aircraft.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each spray arm is guided by rollers so as to be moveable in one direction to deploy the arm and in the opposite direction to stow it.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the arm is moved by cables operated by a winch or capstan.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a flexible hose for connecting the storage means and the delivery means to the at least one spray arm.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2,3 or 4 wherein the said pallet is a standard cargo pallet.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the pump and the pallet-mounted spray arm together fit on to a standard cargo pallet.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising means for controlling the relative discharge from a plurality of tanks composed in the storage and delivery means whereby to maintain the centre of gravity of the aircraft within predetermined limits.
14. An aircraft equipped with spraying apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.
15. An aircraft as claimed in claim 14, having a downwardly opening cargo ramp, the at least one spray arm being detachably secured to the floor of the ramp.
16. Spraying apparatus or an aircraft equipped therewith, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

16. Spraying apparatus or an aircraft equipped therewith, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A spraying apparatus for demountable installation in a transport aircraft having a cargo ramp or door openable in flight, the apparatus comprising: at least one spray arm; means for detachably securing the spray arm to the ramp or door; means for moving the arm between a stowed position in which the ramp or door can be closed, and an operative position such that after the ramp or door is opened in flight the arm is deployed laterally of the aircraft for spraying; storage means for storing a medium to be sprayed; delivery means for delivering the medium to the spray arm for spraying; and means for detachably securing the storage means and the delivery means to a load-bearing floor of the aircraft.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one spray arm is mounted on a pallet or other support structure having a said detachable securing means for securing the pallet or other structure to the floor of the ramp.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the storage means comprises at least one tank on a pallet or other support structure having means for detachably securing said pallet or structure to the floor of the aircraft hold.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the delivery means comprises at least one pump mounted on a pallet or other support structure having a said detachable fastening means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pump pallet or support structure is configured to be detachably secured to the floor of the said ramp, or to the floor of the aircraft hold.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pump is mounted on the same pallet or support structure as the spray arm.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a said detachable securing means are configured to engage a cargo roller structure of the aircraft.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each spray arm is guided by rollers so as to be moveable in one direction to deploy the arm and in the opposite direction to stow it.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the arm is moved by cables operated by a winch or capstan.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a flexible hose for connecting the delivery means to the at least one spray arm.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2,3 or 4 wherein the said pallet is a standard cargo pallet.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the pump and the pallet-mounted spray arm together fit on to a standard cargo pallet.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising means for controlling the relative discharge from a plurality of tanks composed in the storage and delivery means whereby to maintain the centre of gravity of the aircraft within predetermined limits.

14. An aircraft equipped with spraying apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.

15. An aircraft as claimed in claim 14, having a downwardly opening cargo ramp, the at least one spray arm being detachably secured to the floor of the ramp.