JPH0466398A - In-flight supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform safe and positive in-flight supply by stretching a guide wire between two aircrafts after performing positioning of both aircrafts, and drawing out a suspension wire along this guide wire to transfer crew members and goods between both aircrafts. CONSTITUTION:At the time of transferring crew members or goods between a first and a second aircrafts, 1, 41, the detection of obstructions and wind shear is performed by a radar 4 in a device on the first aircraft 1 side. On the basis of this result, a wire controller 20 judges whether there is any obstacle in performing supply work. Meanwhile, in a second aircraft 41, a trim controller 68 judges whether there is any obstacle in performing supply work from the altitude data 43 obtained by a radio altimeter 42. Afterwards, the wire controller 20 is operated to pull down a guide wire 24 from the first aircraft 1, and the tip 76 of the guide wire 24 is connected to the receiving side tip 75. Suspension wire delivery mechanism 27 is then driven to deliver a wire 28, and a crew member 31 (or goods) rigidly fastened to a guide 29 at the tip of the suspension wire 28 is guided by the guide wire 24 to be sent to the aircraft 41 side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an aerial replenishment system for performing aerial replenishment of personnel and materials between two aircraft.

[Prior Art] In an aircraft, an emergency situation may occur during flight, and it may be necessary to replenish emergency personnel, such as a replacement pilot, repair engineer, explosive ordnance disposal agent, police officer, etc., and related supplies in the air.

However, conventionally, there is no device for replenishing personnel and materials between two aircraft in the air, and similar technologies include: (1) ejecting personnel or materials from the aircraft using a parachute;

■ Aerial refueling of fuel between two aircraft.

There is.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] As mentioned above, conventionally, when an emergency occurs during flight,
There was a problem in that emergency personnel such as replacement pilots, repair engineers, explosive ordnance disposal equipment, police officers, and related supplies could not be resupplied in the air, making it impossible to respond to emergencies.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an aerial replenishment system that can safely and reliably replenish personnel and supplies between two aircraft.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an aerial replenishment system in which a first and a second aircraft fly at a fixed distance vertically and transfer personnel or supplies between the two aircraft. a determination means for determining the safety state of the aircraft by detecting obstacles and wind shear, detecting the airspeed of the aircraft using an air data computer, and detecting the ground altitude using radio wave altitude H; and a distance between the two aircraft. a means for measuring the replenishment distance and confirming the replenishment distance; a mutual communication means for wirelessly communicating the replenishment operation status between the two aircraft; a trim control means for positioning the two aircraft; a wire feeding mechanism for feeding a guide wire and a suspension wire from one aircraft to a second aircraft; a wire fixing means for receiving and fixing the tip of the guide wire from the first aircraft on the second aircraft side; After the aircraft is fixed, a suspension wire is let out along the guide wire to transport personnel and supplies between the aircraft.

[Operation] The pilots of both aircraft keep the first and second aircraft at a constant distance vertically, and reduce the speed of the aircraft as slow as possible.
Also keep the altitude as low as possible. Then, the equipment on the first aircraft 1 side uses radar to detect obstacles and wind shear, determines that there is no problem with replenishment operations, and calculates the aircraft's airspeed using an air data computer. do.

On the other hand, on the second aircraft side, the flight altitude is measured using a radio altimeter, and the measurement result is input to the trim controller. When the trim controller determines that there is no problem in carrying out replenishment work based on the input signal, it transmits a message to that effect via the radio.
Communicate to aircraft.

The first aircraft uses the signals sent from the second aircraft to make a final confirmation that there are no obstacles to the replenishment operation, switches both aircraft to autopilot, and begins the replenishment operation.

First, both aircraft open their respective doors, and the guide wire is lowered from the first aircraft to the second aircraft. and,
When the tip of the guide wire approaches the second aircraft, the second aircraft adjusts the position of the opening/closing port as necessary to take the guide wire into the aircraft, and connects the tip to the tip of the guide wire. When the connection of the guide wire is completed, personnel or supplies are then supplied using the hanging wire.

As described above, it becomes possible to safely and reliably perform aerial replenishment of personnel and supplies between two aircraft.

[Example code] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration when two aircraft transport personnel or supplies in the air.

As shown in FIG. 1, when transferring personnel or goods between the first aircraft 1 and the second aircraft 41, the first aircraft 1 is located above and the second aircraft 41 is located below, with a certain altitude difference. Fly at the same speed while maintaining the same speed.

The first aircraft 1 has an air data computer 2.
, radar 4, transponder 6, radio 11, wire controller 20, guide wire motor 22, guide wire feeding mechanism 23, guide wire 24, hanging wire motor 26
, a suspension wire feeding mechanism 27, a suspension wire 28, an inertial navigation device 32, an autopilot device 34, a flight control computer 36, and an opening/closing door 40,
A wire operator 19 is placed in front of the wire controller 20. The opening/closing door 40 is provided on the lower side of the aircraft body. Further, antennas 9 and 16 are arranged on the underside of the fuselage of the first aircraft 1, the antenna 9 is connected to the transponder 6 via the antenna cable 8, and the antenna 16 is connected to the radio device 11 via the antenna cable 15. be done.

On the other hand, the second aircraft 41 includes a radio altimeter 42, an inertial navigation device 48, an autopilot device 50, a flight control computer 52, a transponder 57, a radio 60, a trim controller 68, a cushion 70, an explosion bolt 74, and a receiver on the side. 72, an opening/closing door 77 is provided, and a trim operator 67 is placed in front of the trim controller 68. The opening/closing door 77 is provided on the upper side of the aircraft body. Further, an antenna 59 and an antenna 62 are arranged on the upper side of the fuselage, the antenna 59 is connected to the transponder 57 via the antenna cable 58, and the antenna 62 is connected to the radio device 6o via the antenna cable 61. Furthermore, an antenna 45 is arranged on the underside of the aircraft body, and is connected to a radio altimeter 42 via an antenna cable 44.

Next, the operation when transferring personnel or materials between the first aircraft ALL and the second aircraft 41 will be explained. It is assumed that the first aircraft 1 and the second aircraft 41 that perform aerial replenishment meet at a predetermined meeting point in the air.

The pilots of both aircraft will position their aircraft in the approximate relative position shown in Figure 1, and will keep the aircraft as slow as possible and at the lowest possible altitude. And the first aircraft 1
In the side device, obstacles and wind shear are detected using a radar 4, and the results are transmitted as a detection signal 5 to a wire controller 20. The wire controller 20 determines whether or not there is a problem with replenishment work based on the human power signal, and notifies the wire operator 19 of the determination result by means of a display or the like.

Thereafter, the wire controller 20 enters a continuous monitoring state, and if there is an abnormality, it displays the result and outputs an audio signal 14 to alert one wire operator via the headset 18. Furthermore, the airspeed detected via the pitot tube is accurately calculated by the air data computer 2 and inputted to the wire controller 20 as an airspeed signal 3, and thereafter, the determination is made in the same manner as for the detection signal 5 of the radar 4 described above. will be processed.

On the other hand, in the second aircraft 41, the transmitted radio waves from the radio altimeter 42 are radiated to the ground 47 as radio waves 46 from the antenna 45 via the antenna cable 44. This radiated radio wave is reflected by the ground 47 and returns to the radio altimeter 42 via a path opposite to that of the radiation described above. Therefore, the radio altimeter 42
The flight altitude can be measured from the time difference between the emission and reflection of the radio waves, and the measurement result is input to the trim controller 68 as altitude data 43. The trim controller 68 determines whether or not there is a problem in performing replenishment work based on the input signal,
The determination result is notified to the trim operator 67 by display or the like. Thereafter, the trim controller 68 enters a continuous monitoring state,
If there is an abnormality, the result is displayed and an audio signal 64 is output to warn the headset 66 trim operator 67. Furthermore, when the trim operator 67 is at a good altitude and ready to begin replenishment operations, the trim operator 67 will notify the headset 66 by voice to that effect.
The signal is then supplied as an audio signal 63 to the radio device 6o.

Thereby, the radio device 60 radiates radio waves 17 to the first aircraft 1 via the antenna cable 61 and the antenna 62.

On the first aircraft 1 side, the antenna 16 receives the radio waves 17 sent from the second aircraft 41, and the antenna cable 1
5 to the radio device 11.

The radio device 11 converts the received signal into an audio signal 13, sends it to the headset 18, and transmits it to the wire operator 19. Thereupon, the wire operator 19 makes a final confirmation that there is no obstacle as described above, and declares that replenishment work will begin.

The notification of this declaration is made to the trim operator 67 and other persons, but the notification to the trim operator 67 is made through the reverse route to the above-mentioned altitude communication. That is, from the wire operator 19, the headset 18-audio signal 12→
The signal is communicated to the trim operator 67 along the route of radio 11 -> antenna cable 15 -> antenna 16 -> radio wave 17 -> antenna 62 -> antenna cable 61 -> radio 6o -> audio signal 65 - headset 66 .

Next, using the transponder 6, the first aircraft 1 and the second aircraft
The relative distance between the aircraft 41 is controlled to be maintained at a sufficiently safe value within the length of the wire and greater than the vibration of the aircraft. First, radio waves 10 are transmitted from the transponder 6 of the first aircraft 1 to the second aircraft 4 via the antenna cable 8 and antenna 9.
Radiates to the 1st side.

On the second aircraft 41 side, the antenna 59 receives the radio waves sent from the co-aircraft 1 and inputs them to the transhonda 57 via the antenna cable 58. The transponder 57 identifies the received radio waves, and if the radio waves are appropriate, the transponder 57 transmits the 1st Aircraft I! Reply to the 1st side. This reply is sent to the transponder 6 of the first aircraft 1 via the reverse route to the above case and is transmitted as a distance signal 7 to the wire controller 20.

As a result, the wire controller 20 determines whether or not there is any problem in performing the replenishment work, and notifies the wire operator 19 of the determination result by means of a display or the like. As a result of the above judgment, the wire operator 19 determines whether fine adjustment is necessary or not.
The trim operator 67 is contacted by voice via the radio 11 and the radio 60.

Upon receiving this notification, the trim operator 67 of the second aircraft 41 moves the second aircraft 4 to the first aircraft while visually observing the first aircraft 1.
approach or move away from the aircraft 1. In this case, the wire operator 19 communicates the result of the fine adjustment by voice via the radio 11 and the radio 60.

To adjust the position of the second aircraft 4] by the trim operator 67, first, when the trim operator 67 or the trim controller 68 is operated, a trim control signal 69 or the trim controller 68 is applied to the flight control computer 52; The flight control computer 52 issues an engine trim signal 53 for engine thrust fine adjustment, an aileron trim signal 54 for aileron fine adjustment, an elevator trim signal 55 for elevator fine adjustment, and a rudder trim signal 56 for rudder fine adjustment. Relative distances are fine-tuned.

When the relative distance between the aircraft is good, wire operator 9 will contact both pilots to autopilot both planes. As a function related to autopilot, a command signal 35 is output from the autopilot device 34 of the first aircraft 1 to the flight control computer 36. On the other hand, inertial navigation device 3
Since the attitude and speed signals 33 are applied from 2, the flight control computer 36 generates an aileron control signal 37, an elevator control signal 38, and a rudder control signal 39 from these signals, and performs automatic piloting.

Regarding the autopilot in the 4 second aircraft, the command signal 51 is sent from the autopilot device 50, and the inertial navigation device 48
The attitude and speed signal 49 is then applied to the flight control computer 52, and within this computer 52, control signals for aileron, elevator, and rudder are created and superimposed on the respective trim signals 54 to 56. .

After that, both panels open their respective doors 40.77, or while the doors 40.77 are open in the air, the wind flows into the cabin and the noise caused by the wind is intense, so all operators should go to the soundproofing area. Rad sets and lifelines shall be used.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the rooms for bringing in and taking out personnel and materials for both boards be independent soundproof rooms. Furthermore, if the altitude at which air replenishment is carried out is sufficiently low and the external pressure and the cabin pressure are equal, the doors 40 and 77 can be opened and closed without any particular problem, or if the altitude is high, the cabin pressure will be higher than the train pressure and depressurization will occur. If you do not do this, you will not be able to open the opening/closing door 40.77, so you need to be careful. When depressurizing, it is preferable to depressurize only the room where work will be performed, rather than depressurizing the entire cabin.

Next, the wire operator [9] of the first aircraft 1 operates the wire controller 20 to lower the guide wire 24 from the first aircraft 1 to the second aircraft 41. However, a dummy weight is connected to the tip of the guide wire 24 to prevent it from being swept away by wind pressure. When lowering the guide wire 24, first, the wire controller 20 outputs a motor control signal 21, which is applied to the guide wire motor 22. This causes the guide wire motor 22 to rotate,
The guide wire 24 is fed out by the guide wire feeding mechanism 23 . Then, when the tip of the guide wire 24, that is, the dummy weight, approaches the second aircraft 41, the second
On the aircraft 41 side, the position of the opening/closing port is adjusted as necessary to receive the dummy weight inside the aircraft. Second aircraft 4 in this case
The position adjustment No. 1 is similar to the inter-plate distance trim adjustment described above. The timing for receiving the dummy weights is determined by the radio 11.0 between the wire operator 19 and the trim operator 67.
60 to make a decision. The wire operator 19 monitors this timing, checks the distance between the plates from the transponder 6.57 and the length of the guided wire 24, and determines that there is no problem. The wire controller 20 issues a visual and audio warning to the wire operator 19 if the guide wire 24 is paid out abnormally with respect to the distance between the plates.

The above-mentioned dummy weight is received and removed on the cushion 70 inside the second aircraft 4. And the guide wire 24
Remove the dummy weight from the tip 7 of the guide wire 24.
6 is connected to the side tip 75. The receiver side 72 is mechanically attached to the receiver side tip 75 via an explosive bolt 74. The explosion bolt 74 is used to immediately open the connection between the guide wire 24 and the second aircraft #141 in an emergency, and the receiver automatically activates when the tension detector installed in the side 72 indicates excessive tension. There are cases where the automatic cutoff signal 73 is generated automatically, and cases where the trim operator 67 manually issues the manual cutoff signal 71 depending on the situation.

When the connection of the guide wire 24 is completed, personnel or supplies are then supplied using the hanging wire 28.

That is, the wire operator 19 on the side of the first aircraft 1 operates the wire controller 20 and applies the motor control signal 25 to the suspension wire motor 26 to drive the suspension wire payout mechanism 27 and pay out the suspension wire 28. . At this time, personnel 31 (or materials) are tied down with a lashing belt 30 and connected through a guide 29 at the tip. In addition, the operators on both boards communicate the status of people and supplies to be supplied and the timing of loading and unloading using radio equipment 11.60. Once replenishment is completed through the above operations, evacuation work will be carried out. This removal work involves storing wires and closing doors, and these operations can be performed in the same manner as in the case of replenishment.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when an emergency occurs during an aircraft flight and emergency personnel are required, replacement pilots, repair engineers, explosive ordnance disposal personnel, police officers, etc. emergency personnel and related supplies can be resupplied by air. In addition, when it is necessary to make a body landing or water landing due to a landing gear failure, etc., everyone other than the pilot who will be landing or water landing can evacuate in advance. Furthermore, there is no need to interrupt aerial missions due to personnel or material issues, and missions can be carried out for as long as necessary.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of an aerial replenishment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1... First aircraft, 2... Air data computer, 3... Air speed signal, 4... Radar, 5...
・Detection signal, 6... Transponder, 7... Distance signal, 8° 15.44, 58.61... Antenna cable, 9° 16.45.59.62... Antenna, 11
．． 60... Radio, 12.13, 14.6B, 64.
65...Audio signal, 17.46...Radio wave, 18.6
6...Headset, 19...Wire operator, 20
... wire controller, 21 ... motor control signal, 22
... Guide wire motor, 23... Guide wire feeding mechanism, 24... Guide wire, 25... Motor control signal, 26... Hanging wire motor, 27... Hanging wire feeding mechanism, 28...・Two hanging wires...
Guide, 30... Lashing belt, 31... Personnel, 32
Inertial navigation device, 33.49... Attitude and speed signal, 3
4... Autopilot device, 35... Command signal, 3
6...Flight control computer, 37...
- Aileron control signal, 38... elevator control signal,
39... Rudder control signal, 40.77... Opening/closing door, 41... Second aircraft, 42... Radio altimeter, 43...
... Altitude data, 47... Ground, 48... Inertial navigation device, 50... Autopilot device, 51... Command signal, 52... Flight control computer, 53... Engine trim signal, 54... Aileron trim signal, 55... Elevator trim signal, 56...
・Rudder trim signal, 57...Transponder, 67・
...Trim operator, 68...Trim controller, 69...
- Trim control signal, 701. cushion, 71...manual cutoff signal, 72...receiver is on the side, 73...automatic cutoff signal, 74...explosion bolt, 75...receiver is on the side light end.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an aerial replenishment system in which the first and second aircraft fly at a fixed distance vertically and transfer personnel or supplies between the two aircraft, radar detects obstacles and wind shear, and air data computers detect aircraft. a means for determining the safety status of the aircraft by detecting the airspeed of the aircraft and ground altitude using a radio altimeter; a means for determining the replenishment distance by measuring the distance between the two aircraft; mutual communication means for wirelessly communicating replenishment operation status between aircraft;
a trim control means that performs positioning between the two aircraft; a wire feeding mechanism that feeds out a guide wire and a suspension wire from the first aircraft located above to the second aircraft side;
wire fixing means for receiving and fixing the tip of the guide wire from the first aircraft on the second aircraft side; and after the guide wire is fixed by this means, a suspension wire is paid out along the guide wire, and the wire is fixed between the aircraft; An aerial replenishment device characterized by being equipped with a means of transporting personnel and supplies.