JPH07172397A - Recovery device for vertical taking-off and landing aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recovery device to safely recover a tail sitter type jet aircraft without damaging a machine body and a recovery device. CONSTITUTION:A recovery stand 10 is rockably supported to the end part of the base bed 9 of a recovery device 8 by means of a hinge. A pair of right and left support arms 15 are erected on the upper part of the recovery surface of the recovery stand 10 and four wires 16 for suspension are vertically stretched between the support arms 15. A comparatively small capacity air bag 17 for supporting a nose expanded during contact with a tail sitter type aircraft 1 and an air bag 18 for constraining the nose are attached in a superposed state in a position above the support arms 15. A comparatively large capacity air bag 19 for supporting a fuselage expanded after recovery of the tail sitter aircraft 1 and an air bag 20 for constraining the fuselage are attached in a superposed state below the support arms 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recovery device for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and more particularly to a technique for absorbing a shock when recovering a tailsitter type jet aircraft and preventing damage to the airframe and the recovery device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (hereinafter referred to as VTOL) capable of taking off and landing without gliding has also been developed in the field of jet aircraft. The VTOL was equipped with a hovering jet engine dedicated to generating lift at the bottom of the fuselage, one that changes the angle of the jet engine with respect to the fuselage and the jet angle of the jet flow, and was set upright with the nose facing up. A tailsitter type jet machine (hereinafter abbreviated as tailsitter machine) that starts and recovers in a state is known.

In general, since VTOL does not require a runway, it can be started and recovered even on the roof of a building like a helicopter. However, unlike other types of tailsitter aircraft, it jets a jet flow from the tail, so it is difficult to land directly on the ground surface, etc., and a dedicated recovery device is used for landing, that is, recovery. Many. The collecting device is provided with a vertically arranged collecting stand, and a suspending wire is horizontally stretched over the collecting surface. The tailsitter-type machine approaches the recovery table in a vertical hovering posture, contacts the landing gear with the recovery surface, and then engages the hook at the lower part of the fuselage with the suspension wire. After that, when the jet engine output is reduced or stopped, the horizontal component of the aircraft weight caused by the offset between the suspension part and the center of gravity of the aircraft causes the landing gear to be pressed against the recovery surface and restrain the aircraft. Of.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-139798, VT
An offshore landing gear for OL has been proposed. This is to collect VTOL on a swaying ship or offshore structure.
It has a structure in which a wire with a trapping device is attached to the tip of the boom of the jib crane. With this landing gear, V
When the TOL approaches in a horizontal hovering posture, the boom of the jib crane is expanded and contracted, and the wire is pulled,
The capture device is moved to capture the VTOL. At the time of capture, there is relative movement between the VTOL and the landing gear, but this relative movement is absorbed by the bending of the wire. The guide wire is unloaded from the VTOL after the hovering is stopped, and the guide wire is taken up by the winch on the side of the landing stage, so that stable landing is performed.

[0005]

The recovery device for the tailsitter machine described above has the following problems. In other words, in order to absorb the shock when it comes into contact with the recovery table, it is necessary to give the landing gear provided on the aircraft side a sufficient cushioning capacity, and the aircraft must also be provided with a reinforcing member at the attachment part of the landing gear. I have to. As a result, the weight of the aircraft has increased, resulting in reduced flight performance and increased fuel consumption. In addition, the method of pressing the landing gear against the recovery surface by the horizontal component of the weight of the airframe due to suspension cannot reliably restrain the airframe.

On the other hand, although the landing gear disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-139798 can be applied to a VTOL which is hovering in a horizontal state, it is similar to the above-mentioned collecting apparatus for a tailsitter machine which is hovering in a vertical state. There was a problem and it was difficult to apply due to safety concerns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a recovery device that can safely recover a tailsitter type jet aircraft without damaging the body or the recovery device. .

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the recovery device for a vertical take-off and landing aircraft of the present invention comprises a body (2).
Recovery device for retrieving a vertical take-off and landing aircraft (1) equipped with a hook (5) for suspension at the lower part of the vehicle and a latch (6) that operates after the suspension wire (16) engages with this hook (5) In (8), a recovery table (10) rotatably supported on the end of the base (9), an actuator (13) for rotating the recovery table (10), and the recovery table (10). )
Of the pair of left and right support arms (15) projectingly formed on the recovery surface (14) of the same, the suspension wire (16) suspended between the both support arms (15), and the support arm (15). A nose support airbag (17) provided above, a body support airbag (19) provided below the support arm (15), and a high pressure gas source (22) for supplying compressed gas.
And a first flow path (26) interposed between the high pressure gas source (22) and the supporting airbags (17, 19) to open and close the flow path (26). Shut-off valve (23)
It is characterized by having and.

[0009]

According to the recovery apparatus of the present invention, when the tailsitter machine approaches in the vertical hovering posture, the first shutoff valve is opened and compressed gas is supplied to supply the nose support air bag and the fuselage support air. Inflate the bag and a predetermined amount. Then, since the airframe comes into contact with the collection surface via both airbags, sufficient cushioning is performed even if the landing gear is not provided, and damage to the airframe is prevented. At the time of collection, the second shutoff valve is opened and compressed gas is supplied to inflate the nose restraint airbag and the body restraint airbag by a predetermined amount. Then, the machine body is restrained by the collecting surface, and the tailsitter machine can be collected safely and reliably.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a vertical take-off aircraft recovery apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, according to the tailsitter machine 1 of this embodiment, the flight control device 4 drives and controls the jet engine 3 and the like arranged at the tail of the machine body 2.
Performs horizontal flight and vertical hovering. At the lower part of the machine body 2, a hook 5 for suspension and a latch 6 for closing the rear part of the hook 5 are provided. The actuator 7 for swinging the latch 6 is drive-controlled together with the engine 3 and the like by the flight control device 4, and causes the latch 6 to project from the machine body 2 when the hook 5 engages with a suspending wire described later. .

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 indicates a collecting device, and a collecting table 10 is provided at an end of a base 9 fixed to the ground surface or the like.
Is swingably supported via a hinge 11. The recovery stand 10 is driven by an actuator 13 such as a hydraulic cylinder connected to a hydraulic power source 12 on the base 9, and can take an arbitrary angle. A pair of left and right support arms 15 are erected on the upper part of the recovery surface 14 of the recovery table 10, and a plurality of upper and lower support arms 15 (in this embodiment, 4
(Book) suspension wire 16 is hung. Above the support arm 15, a relatively small-capacity nose-supporting airbag 17 and a nose-constraining airbag 18 are attached in a stacked state. Also, below the support arm 15,
A relatively large-capacity body supporting airbag 19 and a body restraining airbag 20 are attached in a stacked state. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 is a tension sensor that detects the tension of the suspension wire 16, and reference numeral 22 is a high-pressure gas source that supplies compressed gas.

As shown in FIG. 3, the nose supporting airbag 17 and the fuselage supporting airbag 19 are connected to each other by the first shutoff valve 2
3 is connected to the high-pressure gas source 22 via a pipe 24 provided in the conduit. The nose restraint airbag 18 and the body restraint airbag 20 are in communication with the high-pressure gas source 22 via a pipe 26 having a second cutoff valve 25 in the pipeline and a bellows 27. Also, both supporting airbags 17,
19 and both restraining airbags 18 and 20 are respectively
It communicates with the atmosphere through the first exhaust valve 28 and the second exhaust valve 29. First and second shutoff valves 23 and 25 and first and second shutoff valves
The exhaust valves 28 and 29 are all drive-controlled by a command from the drive control device 30. The drive control device 30 is connected with the above-described tension sensor 21 in addition to a manual switch (not shown).

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, when the tailsitter machine 1 approaches the recovery device 8 in the vertical hovering posture, the actuator 13 is first actuated to raise the recovery table 10 vertically from the base 9, as shown in FIG. increase. At this stage, the compressed gas is not supplied, and the supporting airbags 17 and 19 and the restraining airbags 18 and 20 are not inflated.

When the tailsitter machine 1 further approaches, an opening command is output from the drive control device 30 to the first shutoff valve 23 by an input from a manual switch or an approach detection sensor. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the nose supporting airbag 17 and the body supporting airbag 19 are inflated.

In this state, the tailsitter machine 1 gradually approaches and descends while continuing vertical hovering, and
The hook 5 is engaged with the suspension wire 16 as shown in FIG. At this time, the tailsitter machine 1 contacts the inflated nose-supporting airbag 17 and the body-supporting airbag 19, so that the body 2 is prevented from being damaged. In addition, since a plurality of suspending wires 16 are vertically stretched, the possibility that the tailsitter machine 1 will fail to engage the hook 5 is low.

When the hook 5 is engaged with the suspension wire 16, as shown in FIG. 7, the actuator 7 causes the latch 6 to project to prevent the suspension wire 16 from slipping out in response to a command from the flight control device 4. At the same time, the jet engine 3 is stopped. Then, the weight of the machine body 2 acts to increase the tension of the suspension wire 16, and the tension sensor 2
A signal is sent from 1 to the drive control device 30. Then, the drive control device 30 outputs an opening command to the second shutoff valve 25, and the nose restraining airbag 18 and the body supporting airbag 20 are inflated. As a result, the machine body 2 of the tailsitter machine 1 is reliably restrained by the pressure from the restraining airbags 18 and 20 and the tension of the suspension wire 16.

When the body 2 of the tailsitter machine 1 becomes stable, as shown in FIG. 8, the actuator 13 is actuated to horizontally lower the recovery table 10. Next, the drive control device 30 outputs a closing command to the first and second shutoff valves 23 and 25, while outputting an opening command to the first and second exhaust valves 28 and 29. Then, the support airbags 17 and 19 and the restraint airbags 18 and 20 are evacuated, and the machine body 2 is gradually lowered and placed on the recovery surface 14.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and for example, the recovery device may be installed on a shaking absorption table and may be arranged on a ship or offshore structure. Further, instead of the nose restraint airbag and the body restraint airbag, the fuselage may be restrained by a mechanical restraint device.

[0020]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the air bag is interposed between the recovery stand and the machine body, so that the tailsitter can be carried out without damaging the machine body or the recovery device. The mold machine can be collected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a tailsitter machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a recovery device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a gas circuit of a recovery device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the recovery table is raised in the example.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state where the supporting airbag is inflated in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the tailsitter machine is recovered in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the tailsitter machine is restrained in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the recovery table is lowered in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tail-Sitter Aircraft 2 Aircraft 3 Jet Engine 4 Flight Control Device 5 Hook 6 Latch 8 Recovery Device 9 Base 10 Recovery Table 12 Hydraulic Source 13 Actuator 14 Recovery Surface 15 Support Arm 16 Suspension Wire 17 Airbag 18 Nose Support Body Supporting airbag 19 Nose restraining airbag 20 Body restraining airbag 21 Tension sensor 22 High pressure gas source 23 First shutoff valve 25 Second shutoff valve 28,29 Second shutoff valve 30 Drive control device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yutaka Sasaki 1-7-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Inside Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hook (5) for suspending a lower portion of an airframe (2).
A base (9) in a recovery device (8) for recovering a vertical take-off aircraft (1) including a hook (5) and a latch (6) that operates after the suspension wire (16) is engaged with the hook (5).
(10) which is rotatably supported at the end of the table, and an actuator (13) which rotates the recovery table (10).
And a pair of left and right support arms (15) projectingly formed on the recovery surface (14) of the recovery stand (10), and a suspension wire (16) suspended between the support arms (15). ,
A nose support airbag (17) provided above the support arm (15), a body support airbag (19) provided below the support arm (15), and compressed gas are supplied. The high-pressure gas source (22) and the passage (26) between the high-pressure gas source (22) and the supporting airbags (17, 19) are interposed to open the passage (26). A vertical desorption aircraft recovery device, comprising a first shutoff valve (23) for shutting off. 2. A nose restraint airbag (18) provided over the nose support airbag (17) and a fuselage restraint provided over the fuselage support airbag (19). An air bag (20) and a flow path (2) between the high-pressure gas source (22) and both restraining air bags (19, 20).
A second shutoff valve (25) interposed in 4) for opening and shutting off the flow path (24), and the suspension wire (16).
And a tension sensor (2) for detecting the engagement between the hook and the hook (5).
2. The vertical separation according to claim 1, further comprising: 1) and a drive control device (30) for driving the second shutoff valve (25) to open based on an output signal of the tension sensor (21). Landing aircraft recovery device. 3. The vertical take-off and landing aircraft recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the suspending wires (16) are stretched between the support arms (15).