PROGRAMMED AIRCRAFT ARRESTING SYSTEM

Abstract: An arresting system which is adaptable to arrest a wide range of aircraft weights and speeds. A variable K factor energy absorber (40) for an aircraft arresting system has a movable control element (32) which is moved into different positions to adjust the K factor. The movement of the control element (32) is programmed during payout of the arresting system in accordance with the speed of the arrested aircraft. The speed is sensed by a pump (17) driven by the arresting gear (40) tape reel. The program is provided by a cam (12, 12A). The control element (32) is moved by a hydraulic drive (15, 16) actuated by an electrical shifting switch (107), which is triggered when the detected speed of the arrested aircraft exceeds the predetermined speed established by a cam (12) during initial and final phases of payout. The control element (32) is thereby moved from an initial low K (A) to an intermediate K (B) position during the initial phase of payout if the predetermined speed established by the cam (12) is exceeded. During the final phase of payout, the switch (10) shifts the control (32) to the high K position (C), if the predetermined speed is exceeded. The cam (12A, 28) also causes the control element (32) to be driven to a high K position (C) at the end of payout if it is not already there. Rewind (35) is accomplished by actuating the drive system (15, 16) to set the control element (32) in the low K position (A) to minimize the required rewind force.

Description: PROGRAMMED AIRCRAFT ARRESTING SYSTEM Background of the Invention Various programmed arrangements have been pro¬ posed for aircraft arresting systems for equalizing the arresting forces applied during payout. In other words, light restraints are initially applied while the aircraft is still travelling at a high speed and greater restraints are applied as the speed of the aircraft decreases. Examples of such programmed systems are described in U.S. 10 Patents 2,843,288 and 3,142,458. Such systems are not as efficient as desired and are not readily adaptable to a wide range of aircraft weights and landing speeds . An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a pro¬ grammed control system which efficiently arrests a wide • j c range of aircraft weights and speeds. Another object is to provide a simple, economical and dependable type of such a system. A programmed aircraft arresting control system for a variable K factor energy absorber having a movable control s lement which is movable into a number of positions, each causing the energy absorber to operate at a different K factor, utilizes a programming means establishing a predetermined speed parameter for an arrested aircraft. The speed parameter has different phases of arrestment, for example, an initial and a final phase. A speed-sensing means, for example, a pump driven from the arresting tape reel, determines the instantaneous speed of the arrested aircraft. A comparison means, for example, a linkage driven by the pump, compares* the in¬ stantaneous speed with the corresponding portion of the speed parameter of the program (for example cam and follower.) whereby aircraft speeds in excess of the para¬ meter are detected. An actuating means including, for _. • example a switch between the linkage and cam follower and associated solenoid valves and electrical circuitry, causes the control shrotid to move to a predetermined higher K position if the speed parameter is exceeded in a correspond¬ ing phase of arrestment. In other words, the cam has a contour which defines an initial arresting phase and a final arresting phase. The switch on the cam follower and additional follower switches, solenoid valves and cir- cuitry are constructed and arranged to actuate the drive means to set the control element in the low K position at the beginning of the initial phase, in an intermediate position if the speed parameter is exceeded during the initial phase, and in a high K position if the speed parameter is exceeded during the final phase. The control element is moved to the high K position at the end of the final phase if it is not already there. The actuating means also includes, for example, a limit switch which defines the intermediate position and a disabling switch connected to the limit switch, which may be actuated dur¬ ing the final phase. The drive system has a slower and faster >rates of movement with the slower rate only pro¬ vided during the final phase of arrestment. The drive means also, for example, may include a movable cylinder shell and a fixed piston. A rewind control causes the control element to be set in its low K position to vacilitate rewind. Brief Description of the Drawings Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a programmed aircraft arresting system, which is one embodiment of this invention in conjunction with the variable K energy ab¬ sorber; and Fig. 2 is a chart of rpm vs. payout for three different aircraft relative to a trigger rpm curve utilized on the cam shown in Fig. 1. Description of the Preferred Embodiment The control device shown in Fig. 1 may for example, be positioned in a housing (not shown) installed on top of the energy .absorber 40 and may be anchored to its foundation by means of an unillustrated pipe bracket which also functions as a conduit for electric connectors between the control device and shroud control cylinder 15. As shown in Fig. 1, connected to the shaft 42 of energy absorber 40 by belt transmission 44 is hydraulic pump 1 with its inlet port via filter 14 connected to -. * reservoir 2 and with its outlet port connected to spring- returned cylinder 3. The inlet port and the outlet port of the pump 1 are connected via a fixed restriction 4 and a pressure relief valve. Piston rod 6 is attached to lever 7 which pivots in fixed bracket 8. Cam follower 9 carrying micro- switch 10 is pivoted around fixed bracket 11 and held against cam 12 by spring 13. O PI Dual cams 12 and 12A are rotated by shaft 42 of energy absorber 40 via a gear and timing belt trans¬ mission 30 so that cam 12 rotates less than 360° for abou 80 revolutions of absorber shaf 42. 7Two* more follower switches 24. and: . 28 are installed in contact with a smaller cam 12A. Energy absorber 40 is, for example, of the type described in U.S. Patent Re. 28,736. The shroud mechanism disposed inside the housing of energy absorber 40 includes shroud 32 with three positioning rods 33 operated by cam ring 17. Cam ring 17 is rotated by cylinder 15. Cylinder rod 16 is fixed to the absorber housing at each end of cylinder shell 15' which is con¬ nected to cam ring 17 via bracket 22. The two ports of cylinder 15 are solenoid valve 18 and solenoid valve 19, connected to pressure line 20 and reservoir 21. Another solenoid valve 23 is connected to one of the ports via restrictor 25 and a restrictor 26. The position of lever 7 is a function of. shaft rpm as a consequence of the flow-dependent pressure drop across orifice 4. The positions of cam follower 9 and switch 10 are a function of the purchase tape payout (number of revolutions of absorber shaft 42) for a given cam 12 profile. The orifice 4 size and cams 12 and 12A profiles are matched so that switch 10 is activated when shaft rpm exceeds the trigger curve in Fig. 2 for a given payout. The status of switch 24 is a function of the purchase tape payout (number of revolutions of the absorbe shaft 42) . During stand by the positions of the solenoid valves are as follows : Valve No. 18 - Position 1 - No Flow Valve No. 19 - Position 1 - No Flow Valve No. 23 - Position 1 - High Flow Ra Cylinder 15 is in its right-hand or "A" position which provides an almost closed "A" position of shroud 32 re¬ sulting in the lowest of three K-positions. When engaging a light low-speed aircraft (Alpha-Jet) , the rpm vs. payout curve as shown in Fig. 2 results in no status change of shroud 32 until a pay¬ out of 735 ft. is reached. Solenoid valve 23 will, as a result of cam 12A actuating switch 24, shift to low flow rate position 2 at 250 ft. payout and back .agian to high flow rate position 1 at 735 ft. payout. However, as a result of the position of valve 18 (no flow) , this has no effect on cylinder 15 before 735 ft. payout. When reaching 735 ft. payout, cam 12 actuates solenoid valve 18 via switch 10 causing a flow through liquid orifice 25 to the left-hand* chamber of cylinder 15 moving shell 15' to the left, fully opening shroud 32 to the "C" (maximum K) position. Switch 28 is actuated by cam 12A overriding switch 29, which already has been actuated by shell 15' . This allows shroud 32 to open com¬ pletely resulting in the maximum K-factor at the end of the runout. Restrictions 25 and 26 provide different cylinder 15 velocities and cam 12A is designed to activate solenoid 23 via switch 24 at 250 ft. payout and deactivate solenoid 23 at 735 ft. payout. When engaging a medium weight high speed air¬ craft (F-104) , the rpm vs. payout curve shown in Fig. 2 results in an early (before 250 ft. payout) crossover of the trigger rpm curve. Solenoid valve 23 is consequently ' in position 1 when switch 10 shifts solenoid valve 18 to flow. This results in a high rate K-increase (through restrictor 25) . When the intermediate K-factor is reached, switch 29 is activated to shift valve 18 back to "no flow" and stop cylinder shell 15'. OMPI /* k IPO When a payout of 735 ft. is reached, switch ' 28 through cam 12A overrides switch 29 to shift a valve 18 to flow, thus moving cylinder shell 15' and shroud 32 to their "C" positions and increasing the K-factor to its highest value. When engaging with a heavy weight high speed aircraft (F-4) the rpm vs . payout curve shown in Fig. 2, results in an early crossover (before 250 ft. payout) followed by a late (after 250 ft. payout) crossover of th trigger rpm curve. Before 250 ft. payout, solenoid valve 23 is in position 1 when switch 10 shifts solenoid valve 18- to flow. This results in a fast K-increase (through re¬ strictor 25) . When the intermediate K-factor is reached, switch 29 is activated to shift valve 18 back to "no flow" and stop cylinder shell .15' . * hen a payout of 735 ft. is reached, switch 28 through cam 12A overrides switch 29 to shift valve 18 to flow, thus moving cylinder shell 15' and shroud 32 to their "C" positions and increasing the K-factor to its highest value. When engaging with a heavy weight high speed aircraft (F-4) the rpm vs. payout curve shown in Fig. 2, results in an early crossover (before 250 ft. payout) followed by a late (after 250 ft. payout) crossover of th trigger rpm curve. Before 250 ft. payout, solenoid valve 23 is in position 1 when switch 10 shifts solenoid valve 18 to flow. This results in a fast K-increase (through re- strictor 25) . When the intermediate K-factor or "B" position is reached, switch 29 is activated, by contact with projection 29a on cylinder 16, shifting valve 18 back to no flow to stop cylinder shell 15' in the "B" position. Reaching a payout of 250 ft. cam 12A actuates switch 24 shifting valve 23 to position 2 resulting in a lower rate of K-increase (through orifice 26) when switch 10 at the second crossover overrides, switch 29 changing valve 18 to flow causing shell 15' and shroud 32 to move their "C" positions. The K-factor increases to its maximum value and consequently no reaction occurs at the third crossover (after 735 ft. payout) except that switch 24 shifts valve 23 back to position 1. During rewinding after an arrest, a switch in rewind control handle 35 actuates valves 18 and 19 to positions 2 resulting in a closing of shroud 32 to the "A" (low K) position. After completing rewinding and pre- tensioning, all valves are automatically reset to their standby position. Fig. 2 shows four curves. Peaked trigger rpm curve 50 represents the contours of dual cams 12 and 12A. It accordingly establishes speed limits for the arrested aircraft through payout expressed in rpm of the tape reel. The maximum speed of approximately 1100 rpm is established at 250 ft. of payout. The contours of curve 50 are developed to accommodate an engagement made at the velocity of 170 knots with a constant deceleration of 1.5 G maximum with no dynamic peaks for the heaviest air¬ craft and a landing speed of 138 knots of 1.0 G decelera- tion maximum for the lightest aircraft.. Decelerations are maintained below 1.5 G for all other aircraft. The landing speed of the lightest aircraft is represented in Fig. 2 by a curve 52 which represents the landing speed of an Alpha et weighing- 13,400 lbs. and landing at approximately 115 knots . It crosses over trigger curve 50 only at the end of the payout when shroud 32 is shifted into the "C" or high K position. ISU EATT OMPI . WIFO V2 RNATI0$ Curve 54 represents the landing speed of an intermediate weight F 104 weighing 17,500 lbs. landing at 180 knots . This curve crosses over trigger curve 50 at about 10 feet of payout when cylinder shell 15' and shroud 32 are moved into their intermediate "B" positions to pro¬ vide an intermediate K factor for the energy absorber throughout the remainder of payout when the final cross¬ over provides the high K position. Curve 56 on Fig. 2 represents a heavy weight F-4 aircraft weighing 59,000 lbs. and landing at 160 knots. It crosses over trigger curve 50 at about 20 feet of pay¬ out to shift shroud 32 into the "B" intermediate K positio It again crosses over trigger curve 50 at about 320 ft. to cause cylinder shell 15' shroud 32 and energy absorber 40 to move into the extreme high K position throughout the remainder of the arrestment. The G forces applied to light, intermediate and heavy aircraft are thus maintained approximately between 1.0 and 1.5 G throughout their arrestment utiliz¬ ing a single program or cam contour" -***£U ' ■

Claims: WHAT: IS CLAIMED: 1. A programmed aircraft arresting control system for a variable K factor energy absorber having a movable control element which is movable into a number of positions each causing the energy absorber to operate at •a different K factor, comprising a drive means connected to the control element for moving it into the number of positions, a programming means establishing a predeter¬ mined number of positions, a programming means establish¬ ing a predetermined speed parameter for an aircraft being arrested by the aircraft arresting system, the speed para¬ meter having different phases of arrestment, speed sensing means for determining the instantaneous speed of the arrested aircraft, comparison means for comparing the in¬ stantaneous speed with the corresponding portion of the speed parameter of the program whereby aircraft speeds in excess of the parameter are detected, actuating means connected between the comparison means and the drive means, and the actuating means being constructed and arranged and operatively associated with the programming means to cause the control element to move to a predetermined higher K position if the speed parameter is exceeded in a corres¬ ponding phase of arrestment. 2. A system as set forth in claim 1, whe-rein the program includes an initial phase and a final phase, the actuating means being constructed and arranged to actuate the drive means to set the control element in a low K position at the beginning of the initial phase, in an intermediate K position if the speed parameter is exceeded during the initial phase and in a high K position if the speed parameter is exceeded during the final phase. 3. A system as set forth in claim 2, where¬ in the actuating means is also constructed and arranged to cause the control element to be moved to the high K position at the end of the final phase if it is not al¬ ready there. 4. A system as set forth in claim 3, where¬ in the drive means has a low K, an intermediate K and a high K position, a limit switch being disposed in the path of the drive means for determining the intermediate K position whereby it terminates movement of the drive means at the intermediate K position if the speed para¬ meter is exceeded in the initial phase, the programming means has a disabling means connected to the limit switch whereby the limit switch is disabled during the final phase whereby the control element is caused to move to the high K position if the speed parameter is exceeded during the final phase. 5. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive means is constructed and arranged to have a faster rate of movement in the initial phase and a slower r-ate of movement during the final phase. 6. A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the drive means is constructed and arranged to provide the faster rate of movement at the completion of the arrestment. 7. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the programming means comprises a cam having a contour, and the contour corresponding to the speed parameter required to substantially equalize the "G" force applied to the aircraft by the system throughout an arrestment. ___ 8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein programming means comprises a cam and follower means, the speed sensing means comprises a linkage connected to the energy absorber whose position is adjusted to correspond to the instantaneous speed of the energy absorber and air¬ craft which it is arresting, a trigger switch on the follower • means, and the linkage being operatively associated with the trigger switch whereby it contacts it to operate when the instantaneous speed of the landing aircraft exceeds the speed parameter established by the cam and follower means. 9. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the cam and follower, means includes an auxiliary follower switch which is connected to the limit switch to disable it when the corresponding phase of the speed parameter is completed. 10. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive means comprises a piston and cylinder means, and a limit switch being disposed in the path of movement of the piston and cylinder means for establishing the intermediate K position thereof. 11. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the piston and cylinder means comprises a fixed piston and a movable cylinder shell, and the movable cylinder shell being connected to the control element. 12. A system as set forth in claim ' 1, wherein a rewind control is connected to the actuating means, and the rewind control being constructed and arranged to cause the control element to be set in a low K position to facilitate rewind. 13. A system as set forth in claim 1 in conjunction with a variable K factor energy absorber having a movable control element. OMPI 14. A system as set forth in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the programming means comprises a cam and a follower * means, the speed sensing means 5' comprises a linkage connected to the energy absorber whose position is adjusted to correspond to the in¬ stantaneous speed of the energy absorber and aircraft which it is arresting, a trigger switch on the follower 10 means, and the linkage being operatively associated with the trigger switch whereby it operatively contacts it when the instantaneous speed of the landing air¬ craft exceeds the speed parameter established by the cam and followex means. , c 15. A system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the cam and following means includes an auxiliary follower switch which is connected to the limit switch to disable it when the corresponding phase of the speed parameter is completed. 16. A system as set forth in any one- of 20 claims 1, 5 and 6, wherein the drive means comprises a piston and cylinder means, and a limit switch is disposed in the path of movement of the piston and cylinder means for establishing the intermediate K position thereof. 25 17. A system as set forth in claim 16, wherei the piston and cylinder means comprises a fixed piston and a movable cylinder shell, and the movable cylinder shell being connected to the control element, 18. A system as set forth in claim 17,. wherei « n the drive means comprises a hydraulic drive system. OMP

Inventors: MYHR L
Applicants: ALL AMERICAN ENG CO
Application year: 1979
Main classification: B64F1
IPC codes: B64F1