ANCHOR FOR SECURING AN AIRCRAFT TO A LANDING GRID AND AIRCRAFT

Abstract

An anchor for an aircraft. The anchor comprises a jack comprising a housing and a head that is able to move in translation in relation to the housing along an elevation axis, the head having three degrees of rotational freedom respectively about a longitudinal axis as well as a transverse axis and the elevation axis, the anchor comprising a member for taking up forces surrounding the jack and provided with a fastening suitable for being secured to the aircraft.

Claims

1. An anchor for an aircraft, the anchor comprising a jack comprising a housing and a head that is able to move in translation in relation to the housing along an elevation axis, the head having three degrees of rotational freedom respectively about a longitudinal axis as well as a transverse axis and the elevation axis, the anchor comprising a member for taking up forces surrounding the jack and provided with a fastening suitable for being secured to the aircraft, wherein the head comprises a free end comprising two abutments configured to penetrate together into a same aperture of a landing grid, the two abutments being stationary in relation to each other and separated from each other by a space configured to receive a separator of the landing grid separating two apertures.

2. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a support carrying the jack, the jack being able to rotate in relation to the support about the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, the head being able to rotate in relation to the housing about the elevation axis.

3. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein the two abutments each comprise an end section that tapers away from the housing.

4. The anchor according to claim 3, wherein at least one tapered end section is rounded.

5. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein the two abutments are different.

6. The anchor according to claim 5, wherein one abutment of the two abutments extends parallel to the elevation axis over a first length and the other abutment extends parallel to the elevation axis over a second length greater than the first length.

7. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein the two abutments each comprise a concave rounded outer face with respect to the elevation axis.

8. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein the two abutments each comprise a convex rounded inner face with respect to the elevation axis.

9. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein one abutment of the two abutments comprises an oval shape in a plane orthogonal to the elevation axis and the other abutment has a truncated oval shape in the plane.

10. The anchor according to claim 1, wherein the member for taking up forces comprises a retaining ring surrounding a volume through which the housing passes, the housing being able to move in the volume.

11. An assembly comprising a landing grid provided with a plurality of apertures, each aperture being separated from an adjacent aperture by a separator of the landing grid, wherein the assembly comprises the anchor according to claim 1, the abutments together having a shape that can fit into each aperture, the space having a shape that can contain each separator.

12. An aircraft, wherein the aircraft comprises at least one anchor according to claim 1.

13. The aircraft according to claim 12, wherein the aircraft comprises a landing gear, the fastening of the member for taking up forces being secured to the landing gear or to a bracket rigidly connected to an airframe of the aircraft.

14. The aircraft according to claim 12, wherein, the anchor comprising a support carrying the jack and the aircraft comprising a landing gear, the support is fastened to the landing gear or to a bracket rigidly connected to an airframe of the aircraft.

15. The aircraft according to claim 14, wherein the aircraft comprises a landing gear, the fastening of the member for taking up forces being secured to the landing gear, and wherein the landing gear is a skid landing gear, the fastening and the support being fastened to a skid of the landing gear, the support having an articulation carrying the jack, the articulation being situated above the member for taking up forces when the aircraft is landed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The disclosure and its advantages appear in greater detail in the context of the following description of embodiments given by way of illustration and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0051] FIG. 1 is an example of an aircraft according to the disclosure having a wheel landing gear;

[0052] FIG. 2 is an example of an aircraft according to the disclosure having a skid landing gear;

[0053] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of an anchor according to the disclosure, when extended;

[0054] FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of an anchor having a head interfaced in a landing grid;

[0055] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section of a jack according to the disclosure;

[0056] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-section of a jack according to the disclosure;

[0057] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-section of a first abutment of a jack according to the disclosure;

[0058] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-section of a second abutment of a jack according to the disclosure;

[0059] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-section of the abutments of a jack according to the disclosure arranged in an aperture;

[0060] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-section of the abutments of a jack according to the disclosure arranged around a separator;

[0061] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the operation of an anchor;

[0062] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the positioning of a head of an anchor in an aperture; and

[0063] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the positioning of a head of an anchor between two apertures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] Elements that are present in more than one of the figures are given the same references in each of them.

[0065] FIGS. 1 and 2 show examples of aircraft 1 according to the present disclosure. Such an aircraft 1 may be an aircraft with or without a pilot on board.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 1, the aircraft 1 may comprise at least one rotary wing 5 carried by an airframe 2, the airframe 2 being able, for example, to extend from a nose 3 towards a tail 4.

[0067] Moreover, and regardless of the embodiment, the aircraft 1 may comprise one or more landing gears 6. According to FIG. 1, the aircraft 1 may comprise several landing gears each comprising at least one wheel 7. According to FIG. 2, the aircraft 1 may comprise a skid landing gear 8. Such a skid landing gear comprises, for example, at least two skids 8 and at least two crossbars 9.

[0068] Irrespective of the nature of the aircraft 1 and the type of landing gear it comprises, an aircraft 1 may comprise at least one anchor 20 configured to be able to be engaged in a landing grid 10 in an immobilisation position. An anchor 20 and a landing grid 10 may form an assembly 95. In a conventional manner, the landing grid 10 may comprise a structure delimiting apertures 11, the structure having separators 12 between the adjacent apertures 11. The apertures 11 are, for example, circular-cylindrical in shape.

[0069] Such an anchor 20 may be carried by a bracket 15. This bracket 15 may be secured to the airframe 2 or the like according to the example of FIG. 1, or directly to a landing gear according to the example of FIG. 2, in which an anchor 20 is fastened to a skid 8.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows an extended anchor 20 and FIG. 4 shows this same anchor 20 engaged in a landing grid 10. The anchor 20 is fastened, by way of illustration, to a skid 8, but the following explanations also apply when it is fixed to a bracket 15, unless otherwise stated.

[0071] In reference to FIG. 3, the anchor 20 comprises a jack 50. The jack 50 is provided with a housing 51 and a head 70 that is able to move in translation in relation to the housing 51 along an elevation axis AXALT in relation to the airframe or the skid.

[0072] Moreover, the head 70 has three degrees of rotational freedom ROT1, ROT2, ROT3 respectively about a longitudinal axis AXL as well as a transverse axis AXT and the elevation axis AXALT. The elevation axis may also be able to move in relation to the longitudinal axis AXL and the transverse axis AXT.

[0073] According to one example, the head 70 is only able to move in translation in relation to the housing 51, the housing 51 being able to rotate about the three abovementioned axes, possibly via a ball joint. In this case, the ball joint gives the jack freedom of movement about the longitudinal axis AXL, the transverse axis AXT and the elevation axis AXALT.

[0074] According to another example, the head 70 is for this purpose able to rotate ROT3 in relation to the housing 51 about the elevation axis AXALT, this elevation axis also being able to move in relation to the longitudinal axis AXL and the transverse axis AXT. The jack 50 may be articulated to a support 30 by an articulation that allows it to rotate in relation to the support 30 only about the longitudinal axis AXL and the transverse axis AXT. The support 30 is thus fastened, for example, to a landing gear 6 and, for example to a skid 8, or to a bracket 15.

[0075] According to the embodiment shown, the support 30 may comprise a frame 31 fastened to the landing gear 6 or to the bracket 15. Furthermore, the support 30 comprises an articulation 32 articulating the housing 51 to the frame 31 according to the longitudinal axis AXL and the transverse axis AXT. For example, the articulation 32 comprises a clevis 33 carried by a bearing or an equivalent of the frame 31 so as to be able to rotate about the transverse axis AXT, the jack 50 and, in particular, its housing 51, being articulated to the clevis 33 about the longitudinal axis AXL.

[0076] The jack 50 may be of different types in order to move the head 70 in relation to the aircraft 1 and may be controlled by a control interface 60. Such a control interface 60 may comprise a button, a touch panel, a voice command, an antenna receiving a control signal, etc. FIGS. 5 and 6 show non-limiting examples of jacks.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows an example of a hydraulic or pneumatic jack 50, suitable for moving the head 70 in translation along the elevation axis AXALT while allowing it a degree of rotational freedom about this elevation axis AXALT.

[0078] According to this example, a piston 52 may separate the internal volume of the housing 51 into two chambers in communication with a hydraulic or pneumatic circuit 54 controlled by the control interface 60. The piston 52 is rigidly connected to a piston rod 53 carrying the head 70. Moreover, the head 70 is able to rotate about the elevation axis AXALT in relation to the housing 51. For example, the piston 52, the piston rod 53 and the head 70 may be able to rotate about the elevation axis AXALT in relation to the housing 51.

[0079] FIG. 6 shows an example of an electrical jack. The housing 51 accommodates an electric motor 55, for example a linear electric motor provided with an output rod 56 that is able to move in translation along the elevation axis AXALT. The head 70 may be linked to this output rod 56 with a degree of rotational freedom about the elevation axis AXALT. For example, the head 70 comprises a plate arranged between a shoulder 57 of the output rod 56 and a nut 58 or the like.

[0080] Irrespective of the variant, each jack 50 may comprise conventional sensors, means for immobilising the head 70 and/or may communicate with an alerter capable of indicating the position of the head to an operator.

[0081] Regardless of how the head 70 is rendered movable in relation to the aircraft 1 and in reference once more to FIG. 3, the anchor 20 comprises a member for taking up forces 40 for limiting the movements of the aircraft 1 in relation to the jack 50 and transmitting the forces experienced by the anchor 20 to this aircraft 1.

[0082] The member for taking up forces 40 locally surrounds the jack 50, for example below the articulation 32. Moreover, the member for taking up forces 40 is provided with one or more fastenings 42 for being fastened to the support 30, or to the landing gear 6, for example to the skid 8, if applicable, or to the bracket 15.

[0083] To this end, the member for taking up forces 40 may comprise a retaining ring 41 provided with the fastening or fastenings 42. Such a fastening 42 may comprise a hole through which a screw or a rivet passes, for example. The retaining ring 41 surrounds a volume through which the housing 51 passes. The retaining ring comprises a wall that runs in a closed line around the volume, or indeed around an axis of symmetry of the wall. The housing 51 is able to move in said volume. The jack 50 therefore has a limited freedom of movement in relation to the member for taking up forces 40.

[0084] In order to be correctly engaged in the landing grid 10, the head 70 may comprise a free end 72 comprising two abutments 75, 76. For example, the head 70 comprises a base 71 that is extended along the elevation axis AXALT by the two abutments 75, 76. The two abutments may extend parallel to each other.

[0085] The two abutments 75, 76 are stationary in relation to each other. The two abutments 75, 76 may be arranged to either side of the elevation axis AXALT. Moreover, a space 90 may separate the two abutments perpendicular to the elevation axis AXALT.

[0086] The dimensions of the two abutments 75, 76 are additionally determined such that they are able to penetrate together into a same aperture 11 in an immobilisation position, for example fitting into a cylinder smaller in radius than each aperture 11. Moreover, the dimensions of the two abutments 75, 76 are determined such that they can be fitted around a separator 12 in such a way that one abutment 75 is then in one aperture 11 and the other abutment 76 is in another adjacent aperture 11 in an immobilisation position.

[0087] In order to help position the abutments 75, 76 in an immobilisation position, each abutment 75, 76 may comprise an end section 77, 78 that tapers away from the housing 51. At least one end section 77, 78 may also be rounded.

[0088] Additionally, or alternatively, the two abutments 75, 76 are different.

[0089] Specifically, according to FIG. 7, a first abutment 75 may extend along the elevation axis AXALT over a first length L1 from the base 71, for example. According to FIG. 8, a second abutment 76 may extend along the elevation axis AXALT from the base 71, for example, over a second length L2 greater than the first length L1. Moreover, the second abutment 76 may have a rounded end with a radius larger than that of the first abutment 75.

[0090] According to FIG. 9, the two abutments 75, 76 may each extend radially, with respect to the elevation axis AXALT, from a rounded inner face 83, 84 to a rounded outer face 81, 82. The two inner faces 83, 84 are opposite each other.

[0091] The two outer faces 81, 82 may each be concave with respect to the elevation axis AXALT. Conversely, the two inner faces 83, 84 may be convex with respect to the elevation axis AXALT.

[0092] In a plane 99 orthogonal to the elevation axis AXALT, one abutment may have a truncated oval cross-section whereas the other abutment may have an oval cross-section. According to the example shown, the first abutment 75 has a truncated oval cross-section whereas the second abutment 76 has an oval cross-section.

[0093] According to FIG. 9, the two abutments 75, 76 may then fit into one aperture 11. According to FIG. 10, the two abutments 75, 76 may be arranged respectively in two adjacent apertures 11.

[0094] FIGS. 11 to 13 show the operation of the anchor 20.

[0095] In reference to FIG. 11, when the aircraft 1 is landed, the jack 50 is extended, possibly at the command of the control interface 60. The head 70, shown schematically, moves towards the landing grid 10. The head 70 may then penetrate directly into an aperture 12 if such an aperture 11 is situated in line with the head 70.

[0096] However, if the head 70 touches the structure of the landing grid 10, the head 70 makes at least one rotational movement about one of the longitudinal AXL, transversal AXT or elevation AXALT axes, together with its movement in translation. The diagram shows various immobilisation positions that may be reached as a result of these movements.

[0097] FIGS. 12 and 13 show various situations.

[0098] According to FIG. 12, the first abutment 75 may touch the structure of the landing grid 10 whereas the second abutment 76 lies in an aperture 11, in an intermediate position POSINT. Extending the jack 50 then causes the head 70 to rotate, moving the first abutment 75 into a different aperture 11 to the second abutment 76 in the final immobilisation position POSF.

[0099] According to FIG. 13, the second abutment 76 may touch the structure of the landing grid 10, the first abutment 75, which is shorter, then lying over the landing grid 10. Extending the jack 50 then causes the head 70 to rotate, moving the first abutment 75 and the second abutment 76 into a same aperture 11 in the final immobilisation position POSF.

[0100] Naturally, the present disclosure is subject to numerous variations as regards its implementation. Although several embodiments are described above, it should readily be understood that it is not conceivable to identify exhaustively all the possible embodiments. It is naturally possible to envisage replacing any of the means described by equivalent means without going beyond the ambit of the present disclosure.