JPH03217400A - Leg device for space airship - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To absorb an impact when a space airship touches the airstrip and to perform its landing easily and safely, by installing a flexible bag inflatably sealed up in the underside of a machine body in this space airship, and inflating this bag when the airship is landed. CONSTITUTION:In a machine body 5 of a space airship whose flat form is a round shape, there are provided three balloonlike bags 2, by way of example, in and around the under surface at regular intervals. On the other hand, a gas accumulator 1 is installed in an inner part of the machine body 5, and it is connected to each bag 2 by a pipeline 7 with a valve 6. In an intermediate part of these adjacent bags 2 on the underside of the machine body 5, there are provided with three load supporting points 3 likewise. When the space airship is landed on the moon and so on, the valve 6 is opened and gas in the gas accumulator 1 is injected into each bag 2. With this constitution, each bag 2 is inflated whereby an impact at time of grounding of the machine body 5 is absorbed. Afterward, each of these bags is deflated, supporting the machine body 5 with the load supporting points 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a landing gear for a spacecraft such as a lunar lander or a planetary lander.

[Conventional technology]

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the legs of the conventional lunar module are metal legs 06 equipped with a buffer mechanism, which support the entire weight of the lunar module 05. In addition, o4 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is an earth return ship or an exploration rover.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The legs of the conventional lunar lander are required to support the entire weight of the lunar lander and absorb the impact upon landing.
The weight of the legs increases. In addition, it is difficult to store it during launch on Earth and during space flight.

The present invention seeks to provide a landing gear system for a spacecraft that can overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[Means to solve the problem]

The spacecraft bow leg system of the present invention includes an inflatable, sealed, flexible bag provided on the underside of the fuselage, and a device for injecting gas into the bag.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the bag is in a contracted state at the time of launch on earth and during space flight, making it easy to store inside the aircraft. When landing on the moon, spacecraft, etc., gas is injected into the bag from the gas injection device and the bag is inflated.The bag has a cushioning function and allows the spacecraft to land safely even if there is some unevenness. It is possible.

Furthermore, since a bag is used, it is lightweight, and the payload weight increases accordingly.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Reference numeral 5 denotes the body of a spaceship having a circular planar shape, and three balloon-shaped bags 2 are attached to the periphery of the lower surface of the body 5 at equal intervals. The bag is constructed from an inflatable, sealed, flexible material. Reference numeral 1 denotes an air storage device provided in the body s of the spacecraft, and the air storage device 1 is connected to each bag 2 by a pipe 7 having a valve 6. Three load support points 3 are provided between adjacent bags 2, 2 on the lower surface of the spacecraft body 5. Note that 4 is the Earth return ship mounted on the vehicle S or the exploration rover that has landed on the vehicle S. In this embodiment, since the bag 2 is used, it is lighter than conventional metal legs, etc., and is also useful during launch on earth and in space.
When the J flies, the bag 2 can be deflated and easily stored inside the aircraft S. When the spacecraft lands on the moon, a planet, etc., the valve 6 is opened to inject the gas in the gas accumulator 1 into the bag 2, causing the bag 2 to expand.

Since the bag 2 is flexible, the inflated bag 2 has a cushioning function, and even if the landing site is uneven, the spacecraft can be safely landed without using a special cushioning device. After the spacecraft lands, is the gas in bag 2? Gradually remove K and fix the aircraft 5 to the ground using the load support point 3. As a result, the height difference between the aircraft 5 and the ground is reduced, and the exploration roper 4
It also becomes easier to accrete. [Effects of the Invention] The present invention can have the following effects. (1) Since a bag is used and no special shock absorbing device is required, the weight of the leg system is reduced and the payload weight can be increased accordingly. (2) The mechanism is extremely simple,
Reliability is improved. (3) The inflated bag has a cushioning function, allowing the spacecraft to land safely.

(4) Easy to store in the aircraft.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a @ side view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same embodiment, Fig. 3 is a side view of a conventional lunar lander, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same. 1...Air accumulator, 2...Bag, 3...Load support point, 5...Aircraft body, 6...Valve, 7...Piping.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A landing gear device for a spacecraft, characterized by comprising an inflatable, sealed, flexible bag provided on the underside of the aircraft body, and a device for injecting gas into the bag.