US3790110A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air cushion type undercarriage
Assignee: Textron Inc
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Filing: 1972-05-25
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-05-25
Abstract
Abstract An improved ground-run deceleration and landing acquisition and temporary hold-down system for aircraft equipped with an air cushion type undercarriage. The invention employs means for the rapid withdrawal of air from the cushion cavity, whereby the time to decelerate the airplane is greatly decreased, and whereby an improved landing acquisition and temporary on-board hold-down facility is provided. The invention, therefore, has particular application to the problem in association with VTOL aircraft of ''''acquiring'''' and holding to a firm landing on pitching/rolling landing pads, and/or incidental to landings under adverse surface wind conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 T Earl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V3/00; B60V3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An undercarriage system for aircraft providing improved ground-run deceleration and landing acquisition and temporary hold-down operational characteristics, said system comprising in combination, an air inflatable trunk member attached to said aircraft and adapted to be inflated so as to balloon-out from thereunder to define an air cushion cavity for air cushion type support of the craft relative to a reaction surface, said trunk member being formed of flexible airtight sheet material adapted to extend in response to internal air pressure into a shape of prescribed form and dimensions, means for supplying pressurized air into said trunk member and into said air cushion cavity, and braking/hold-down means under control of the pilot system of said aircraft for positively exhausting air from said cavity at a rate greater than the rate of air supply thereinto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
An undercarriage system for aircraft providing improved ground-run deceleration and landing acquisition and temporary hold-down operational characteristics, said system comprising in combination, an air inflatable trunk member attached to said aircraft and adapted to be inflated so as to balloon-out from thereunder to define an air cushion cavity for air cushion type support of the craft relative to a reaction surface, said trunk member being formed of flexible airtight sheet material adapted to extend in response to internal air pressure into a shape of prescribed form and dimensions, means for supplying pressurized air into said trunk member and into said air cushion cavity, and braking/hold-down means under control of the pilot system of said aircraft for positively exhausting air from said cavity at a rate greater than the rate of air supply thereinto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
An aircraft having an undercarriage system of the air cushion type as set forth in claim 1, wherein said braking/hold-down means includes air escape conduit means leading through said aircraft to atmosphere from said air cushion cavity for escape of air from said cavity at a rate greater than the rate of air supply into said cavity, and means operable by the pilot system of said aircraft for controlling the rate of escape of air through said conduit means from said air cushion cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An aircraft as set forth in claim 2, wherein said braking/hold-down means includes an auxiliary air supply means under control of the pilot system of said aircraft to provide for exhausting air from said air cushion cavity at rates greater than the rate of supply of air thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
An aircraft having an undercarriage of the air cushion type as set forth in claim 1, wherein said trunk member is formed with apertures along lowermost surface portions thereof, and wherein a device formed of airtight flexible sheet material is disposed interiorly of said trunk member and is adapted to be displaced within said trunk member so as to seal off said apertures, and wherein means are provided for directing supplies of air at superatmospheric pressure into said trunk member and against said device, and wherein valve means are provided under control of the aircraft pilot system for independently and selectively regulating the rates of supplies of preSsured air into said trunk and against said device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An aircraft as set forth in claim 1, wherein said trunk member is formed of elastic airtight sheet material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
An aircraft as set forth in claim 1, wherein said aircraft includes a longitudinally extended fuselage structure and said undercarriage trunk member is structurally divided so as to provide at least two functionally separate trunk sections disposed to extend beneath opposite sides of the aircraft fuselage, and wherein the pilot system of said aircraft is operable to separately and selectively provide for supplies of pressurized air at various rates to the separate sections of said trunk member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An aircraft as set forth in claim 6, wherein said aircraft pilot system includes means for selectively modifying the rates of escape of air from said trunk sections respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An aircraft as set forth in claim 2, wherein said valve means regulating the rate of escape of air from said air cushion cavity are located relative to said conduit means so as to comprise weather-seal means therefor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
An aircraft having an undercarriage system as set forth in claim 1 wherein an air conduit is provided leading through said aircraft to atmosphere from said air cushion cavity for flow of air to and from said cavity, and air pump means are disposed in association with said conduit under control of the aircraft pilot control system for regulating the rates of air flow through said conduit to and from said air cushion cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |