WO2018014973A1

WO2018014973A1 - Mobile shelter for an aircraft

Info

Publication number: WO2018014973A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/067555
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erwin SCHÄRZ
Original assignee: Schärz Erwin
Priority date: 2016-07-22
Filing date: 2016-07-22
Publication date: 2018-01-25

Abstract

The mobile shelter for an aircraft with a fuselage and lifting components for generating a lifting force, in particular for a helicopter with rotor blades and/or for a fixed-wing aircraft with wings, comprises an inflatable structure including a roof (10e) and sides (10a). The structure defines in the inflated state a space for receiving at least the front part of the fuselage. The structure comprises at least one protruding arm (13, 14), which is configured to receive a lifting component of the aircraft.

Description

Mobile shelter for an aircraft

The invention relates to a mobile shelter for an aircraft with a fuselage and lifting components for generating a lifting force. Such an aircraft is for instance a helicopter with rotor blades or a fixed-wing aircraft with wings as lifting components.

An aircraft, which in field operations cannot be hangared in a building, is exposed to weathering such as cold, heat, rain, etc. Thus, some kind of protection is desirable. It is known to use covers which are fitted tightly against the aircraft body. However, this kind of protection is complicated and mounting and demounting are time-consuming.

The patent application GB 2 370 548 A discloses a retractable shelter which includes support members forming a scissors-like arrangement. The shelter is not designed for a mobile use. In addition, it does not include a roof such that protection against weathering is limited.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide for a shelter which can be assembled and dissembled in a simplified manner.

This aim is achieved by the shelter as defined in claim 1 . The further claims specify preferred embodiments of the shelter.

The provision of an inflatable structure comprising at least one protruding arm for receiving a lifting component of the aircraft allows a simplified assembling and dissembling of the shelter.

The at least one arm may be an integral part of an inflatable structure which serves for receiving at least the front part of the fuselage. Preferably, the arm comprises an inflatable tube portion, which extends when being inflated. This makes it particular simple to provide the lifting component with a protection cover. The arm may comprise two lateral flaps for enclosing the lifting component.

Preferably, the shelter comprises an inflatable tube construction which serves for sustaining flat material attached thereto such as fabric.

Additional possible features and their advantages will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings, where Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an inflated shelter in a side view together with a helicopter; Fig. 2 shows a similar view as in Fig. 1 with the sides and roof of the shelter being shown partly transparent;

Fig. 3 shows the shelter of Fig. 1 in a front view; Fig. 4 shows the shelter of Fig. 1 and the helicopter in a top view;

Fig. 5 to 7 shows the tube construction of the shelter of Fig. 1 together with the

helicopter in a side view, top view and front view, respectively; Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the arms of the shelter of Fig. 1 arranged on the rotor blades of the helicopter;

Fig. 9 shows the shelter and a blade of the helicopter sectioned along the line IX-

IX in Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a tube portion for forming the tube construction of Fig. 5 to 7;

Fig. 1 1 shows the tube portion of Fig. 10 in a cross-section;

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of a tube construction for forming a tail shelter for enclosing the tail part of the helicopter;

Fig. 13 shows the tube construction of Fig. 12 in a topview;

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of the complete tail shelter; and

Fig. 15 shows the tail shelter of Fig. 14, wherein the material attached to the tube construction is shown partly transparent or is not shown at all.

The shelter 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 and 2 is an inflatable structure, which is configured to define, in the inflated state, a space for receiving the front part 1 of a helicopter, i.e. the fuselage, and its rotor blades 3-5. In the present example, the dimension of said space is chosen such that the tail part 2 of the helicopter is arranged outside the shelter 10. The latter comprises a main body, which is formed by sides 10a-10d and a roof 10e, and arms 13-15 laterally protruding from the sides 10a-10c, see also Fig. 3 and 4. As indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1 , an arm 13-15 includes an arm opening 13c, 14c formed as a slit, which extends along the arm 13-15 and which may be opened and closed by a suitable fastening such as a zipper or Velcro fastening.

The side 10a-10c, on which a protruding arm 13-15 is arranged, includes a side opening 1 1 a, 1 1 b. which extends from the lower edge of the side 10a-10c up to the arm opening 13c, 14c, so that a rotor blade 3-5 can pass through the corresponding side 10a-10c. Provision of the openings 1 1 a, 1 1 b, 13c, 14c simplifies putting the shelter 10 over the helicopter so that the arms 13-15 can cover the rotor blades 3-5. In the present example, the opening 1 1 b in the rear side 10b is configured such that the tail part 2 can pass therethrough. Preferably, each side 10a-10c comprises a fastening appliance for opening and closing the side openings 1 1 a, 1 1 b, for instance a zipper or Velcro fastening.

Optionally, the shelter 10 may be provided with ropes 12a-12d for increasing the stability of the shelter 10. A rope may be configured to connect a side of the shelter 10 with the ground such as rope 12a, 12c in Fig 1 ., to connect an end of an arm 13. 15 with a side 10a, 10c such as rope 12b or to connect an end of an arm 14 with the tail part 2 such as rope 12d. Anchoring of the shelter 10 to the ground may be achieved by attaching the ropes 12a, 12c e.g. to ground-pegs and/or to barrels and/or to other heavy objects that are placed around the shelter 10.

The sides 10a-10d and the roof 10e form a self-supporting structure. Thereby, the shelter 10 can be arranged with respect to the fuselage 1 such that there is a gap therebetween. This avoids damage of the helicopter, in particular a scratching of the windows and abrasion of paint as would be the case with covers tightly fitted to the aircraft body.

To form this self-supporting structure, the shelter 10 comprises a tube construction. In the example shown in Fig. 5 to 7 the tube construction rests on a first rest location 20a arranged at the front and a second and third rest location 20b, 20c arranged at the rear and includes the following components:

- a left tube portion 21 a, which is formed as an arc and which extends from the first rest location 20a to the second rest location 20b,

- a rear tube portion 21 b, which is formed as an arc and which extends from the

second rest location 20b to the third rest location 20c, - a right tube portion 21 c, which is formed as an arc and which extends from the first rest location 20a to the third rest location 20c,

- a middle tube portion 21 d , which is formed as an arc and which extends from the first rest location 20a to the top of the rear tube portion 21 b,

- a left intermediate tube portion 22a, which is straight and which extends from the top of the middle tube portion 21 d to the top of the left tube portion 21 a,

- a right intermediate tube portion 22b, which is straight and which extends from the top of the middle tube portion 21 d to the top of the right tube portion 21 c,

- a left arm tube portion 23, which is straight and which protrudes laterally from the top of the left tube portion 21 a,

- a rear arm tube portion 24, which is straight and which protrudes laterally from the top of the rear tube portion 21 b, and

- a right arm tube portion 25, which is straight and which protrudes laterally from the top of the right tube portion 21 c.

To form the sides 10a-10d and the roof 10e of the shelter 10 of Fig. 1 , flat material is attached to the tube portions 21 a-21 d, 22a, 22b.

One or more of the sides 10a-10 and/or the roof 10e may be releasably attached to the tube construction e.g. by a suitable fastening such as zippers and/or Velcro fastenings. This modular design simplifies an exchange of damaged parts.

To form an arm 13-15 two lateral flaps 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b which are made of flat material are attached to a respective tube portion 23-25, see Fig. 4 and 9. Thereby, an arm opening between the lateral flaps 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b is given, which may be fastened to each other by means of a fastening, see e.g. the flaps 13a, 13b and the arm opening 13c with a fastening in Fig. 9 and the arm openings 13c, 14c with a fastening in Fig 1 . In the inflated state of the shelter 10, an arm tube portion 23-25 may rest on the corresponding rotor blade 3-5, whereas the lateral flaps 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b, which hang down laterally from the respective arm tube portion 23-25, are connected to each other so that the rotor blade 3-5 is enclosed by the arm 13-15.

The tube portions 21 a-21 d, 22a, 22b, 23-25 are configured to be inflatable. Fig. 10 illustrates a possible structure suitable to form such tube portions. As is also apparent from Fig. 1 1 , the structure includes an inner tubular membrane 30, which is stretchable and air-tight, and an outer tube 31 , which encloses the membrane 30 and which is non- stretchable and relatively stiff to give the tube construction the necessary rigidity to be self-supporting. The membrane 30 is made of plastic such as thermoplastic

polyurethane. The outer tube 31 is made e.g. of a fabric.

Preferably, the membrane 30 is introduced into the outer tube 31 in a removable fashion. Thus, the membrane 30, when damaged, can be pulled out of the outer tube 31 and replaced by introducing a new membrane 30 into the outer tube 31 .

To pump air into the tube construction one or more air connectors are provided, which may be in the form of a valve, see valve 32 in Fig. 10. To avoid an overpressure in the membrane 30 when pumping air thereinto, an outlet in form of a pressure-relief valve 33 may be provided. Depending on the design , not all of the tube portions 21 a-21 d, 22a, 22b, 23-25 may be fluidically connected with each other, but may form several fluidically separated sections. The locations of the air connectors 32 and outlet 33, if present, are chosen such that each section can be inflated.

In one embodiment a tube portion 23-25 of an arm 13-15 is configured to form a section, which is fluidically separated from the tube portions 21 a-21 d, 22a, 22b of the main body. Thus, when installing the shelter 10 one may leave the tube portions 23-25 uninflated and can use the inflated main body of the shelter 10 for another purpose than for enclosing a helicopter, e.g. as a tent for a stay or as a room for an exhibition .

For inflating the shelter 10 a suitable pumping device is used. This may be for instance an electrical air pump or a man powered pump (e.g. operated manually and/or by foot). It is also conceivable to use an internal facility of the helicopter, if available, to produce the necessary compressed air.

The flat material attached to the tube construction 21 a-21 d, 22a, 22b, 23-25 is flexible so that the shelter 10 can be folded together to form a compact package which facilitates the transportation. The flat material is for instance made of fabric and preferably water- repellent or watertight. Corresponding panels of flat material are sawn between the inflatable tube portions 21 a-21 d, 22a, 22b, 23-25. It is also conceivable to attach fabric parts not permanently, but in a releasable manner by using e.g. zippers, Velcro fastening or similar bonding aids. The shelter 10 shown in Fig. 1 does not enclose the tail part 2 of the helicopter.

Optionally, a tail shelter may be provided to enclose the tail part 2. The tail shelter may again be designed as a tube construction with flat material attached thereto. Fig. 12 and 13 show an example of such a tube construction 41 which has a form adapted to the form of the tail part 2 and which rests on the ground on a left and right front rest location 40a, 40b and on the tail part 2, e.g. on the horizontal stabilizer 6 and/or on the tail fin 7. In the present example, the tube construction 41 includes the following components:

- a front tube portion 41 a, which is formed as an arc and which extends from the left front rest location 40a to the right front rest location 40b,

- a left tube portion 41 b, which extends in a curved fashion from the left front rest

location 40a over the horizontal stabilizer 6 towards the end of the helicopter,

- a right tube portion 41 c, which extends in a curved fashion from the right front rest location 40b over the horizontal stabilizer 6 towards the end of the helicopter, and - a middle tube portion 41 d, which extends in a straight way from the top of front tube portion 41 a along the tail boom 8 and then in a curved fashion up to the top of the tail fin 7.

The tube portions 41 a-41 d may be constructed such as explained above with respect to Fig. 10 and 1 1 , whereas one or more air connectors 32 are provided for inflating the tube construction and optionally one or more pressure-relief valves 33.

Flat material is attached to the tube portions 41 a-41 d to define a space for receiving the tail part 2. Fig. 14 shows the complete tail shelter 40 with a flat material portion 42a, which covers an upper part of the tail boom 8 and of the tail fin 7, a flat material portion

42b, which covers the horizontal stabilizer 6, and a flat material portion 42c, which covers a lower part of the tail boom 8 and of the tail fin 7. As is apparent from Fig. 15 the flat material portions 42a, 42b, 42c may be at least partially spaced away from the helicopter.

Preferably, the tail shelter 40 is a piece separate from the shelter 10 to facilitate the mounting and demounting.

From the preceding description, many modifications are available to the skilled person without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims. Among others, the following embodiments are possible:

The shelter 10 shown in the figures is configured to receive three rotor blades 3-5. Its design is adaptable to the number of blades which the specific helicopter has. This number may be less than three or more than three. In correspondence to the number of blades and their peripheral arrangement around the rotor axis, protruding arms in the form of arms 13-15 are provided and arranged circumferentially around the shelter to receive the blades. Usually, the latter are disposed uniformly around the rotor axis, so that the angle between neighboring protruding arms is equal.

In another embodiment, the shelter is configured to receive at least the front part and the main wings of a fixed-wing aircraft. Such an aircraft has e.g. two wings for supporting it in the air. To enclose this kind of aircraft, the shelter includes two protruding arms each being in the form of an arm 13-15 and arranged on the main body of the shelter in a fashion to receive the wings. The shelter may be a one or multiple piece structure. For instance, the protruding arms 13-15 may be separate pieces which are attachable to the main body of the shelter 10. In an analogous manner, the tail shelter of Fig. 12 may be a one or multiple piece structure.

Furthermore, the shelter 10 of Fig. 1 and the tail shelter 40 of Fig. 14 may form a single piece structure.

Multiple pieces of the shelter may be connected with each other in a releasable manner by using e.g. zippers, Velcro fastening or other suitable bonding aids. Separate shelter pieces may be used to cover e.g. the tail-section, walls and/or other elements that are in the circumference of the aircraft, e.g. an antenna.

It is conceivable to design the complete shelter in a modular way, so that it comprises multiple parts, which are connected to each other in a releasable manner. This allows an easy exchange of damaged parts.

The shelter may be designed to provide for protection for aircraft against the various effects of the weather such as cold, heat, wind, rain, snow, etc.

Apart from protecting and sheltering an aircraft, it may be adapted for climatizing the space defined by the shelter. Climatisation is a desirable feature in particular for operations that take place in extreme cold or hot temperatures. To this end, a floor-pad may be provided whose edges are attachable to the edges of the main body of the shelter in order to form a closed space, so that the escape of the climatized air is minimized or at least reduced.

Optionally, a specific fabric may be used to cover the tube construction . This may be a hightech fabric which is adapted to produce a desired effect such as isolating, heating, cooling, or even energy producing. ln summary, the shelter may be configured to have the following advantages over conventional aircraft covers: - Optimized protection with a reduced number of parts

- Simple and quick to deploy

- Multi usage (among others usable as a shelter for the mechanics, emergency, eye- catcher/advertisement at an exhibition, etc.)

- Climatisation may be provided.

- Camouflage may be provided as used in military operations.

Claims

1 . A mobile shelter for an aircraft with a fuselage (1 ) and lifting components (3-5) for generating a lifting force, in particular for a helicopter with rotor blades and/or for a fixed-wing aircraft with wings, the shelter comprising an inflatable structure including a roof (10e) and sides (10a-10d), the structure defining in the inflated state a space for receiving at least the front part of the fuselage (1 ), wherein the structure comprises at least one protruding arm (13-15), which is configured to receive a lifting component (3-5) of the aircraft.

2. The shelter according to claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a tube construction to which flat material is attached, preferably the flat material being water- repellent, most preferably the flat material being watertight.

3. The shelter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one protruding arm (13-15) comprises one or more of the following elements:

- a tube portion (23-25), which is inflatable,

- two lateral flaps (13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) for enclosing a lifting component (3- 5), a lateral flap extending along the arm,

- an arm opening (13c. 14c) extending along the arm (13-15),

- a fastening appliance for opening and closing the arm opening (13c, 14c), preferably the fastening appliance being one of a zipper and a Velcro fastening.

4. The shelter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one protruding arm (13-15) is arranged on a side (10a-10d) of the structure, the side comprising a side opening (1 1 a, 1 1 b), which extends from the lower edge of the side to the at least one protruding arm (13-15), preferably the side further comprises a fastening appliance for opening and closing the side opening (1 1 a, 1 1 b).

5. The shelter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of protruding arms (13-15) are provided, preferably the protruding arms (13-15) are arranged uniformly around a central axis.

6. The shelter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure is configured to stand, in the inflated state, on the ground on discretely arranged rest locations (20a-20c), preferably the number of rest locations being at least three.

7. The shelter according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the tube construction comprises at least one inflatable tube portion (21 a-21 d), which, in the inflated state, forms an arc, preferably the ends of the arc (21 a-21 c) are adapted to stand on the ground.

8. The shelter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising at least three inflatable tube portions (21 a-21 c), which, in the inflated state, form arcs, which are adapted to stand on the ground on three or more rest locations (20a-20c).

9. The shelter according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a floor sheet which is attachable to the inflatable structure for forming a closed space, which is suitable to be climatized.

10. The shelter according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tail shelter (40), which is inflatable to form, in the inflated state, a space for receiving the tail-part (2) of the aircraft, preferably the tail shelter and the structure are separate pieces, most preferably the tail shelter and the structure are configured to receive the whole aircraft.

1 1 . The shelter according to claim 10, wherein the tail shelter (40) is configured to stand, in the inflated state, on the ground on discretely arranged rest locations (40a, 40b), preferably the number of rest locations being at least two.

12. The shelter according to claim 10 or 1 1 , wherein the tail shelter (40) includes a rear portion which is configured to rest on the tail part (2) of the aircraft, in particular on a horizontal stabilizer (6) and/or on a tail fin (7).

13. The shelter according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the tail shelter (40) comprises a tube construction (41 ), to which flat material is attached, preferably the flat material being water-repellent, most preferably the flat material being watertight.

14. The shelter according to claim 13, wherein the tube construction (41 ) comprises at least one of the following elements:

- an inflatable tube portion (41 a), which, in the inflated state, forms an arc, preferably the ends of the arc are adapted to stand on the ground,

- at least one inflatable tube portion (41 b, 41 c), which, when arranged on the aircraft, extends from the ground over a horizontal stabilizer (6) of the aircraft towards the end thereof, - an inflatable tube portion (41 d), which, when arranged on the aircraft, extends along the tail part (2) of the aircraft up to the top of its tail fin (7).