Patent GB-739814-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in aircraft take-off carriages and to the method of utilising same
IPC: B64F1/10
Filed: 1953-04-27
Abstract: 739,814. Assisting take-off of aircraft. SOC. NATIONALE DE CONSTRUCTIONS AERONAUTIQUES DU SUD-EST. April 27, 1953 [May 2, 1952], No. 11635/53. Class 4. An assembly for manoeuvring and assisting the take-off of aircraft comprises a towing vehicle used except during take-off of the aircraft, a device whereby a carriage may be connected to said towing vehicle, said carriage having devices to enable the aircraft to be loaded directly on to the carriage, the aircraft being without an undercarriage or having its undercarriage retracted, a propelling device for use during the take-off and braking means to enable the combined carriage and aircraft to be manoeuvred on the ground and to enable the carriage to be retarded after the aircraft has taken off. The carriage comprises side frames 3, 3a and cross frames 1, 2 and 11 detachably connected in order to facilitate transportation, the front ends 4, 4a of the side frames forming pivots for a hinged flap 5 of aerofoil section biased to the position shown in Fig. 1 by spring-loading devices 80, movement of which is damped by a dashpot 79a, in order that the flap may assist in the retardation of the carriage after the aircraft has taken off. The frame 1 carries a vertical pivot for a swivelling forecarriage comprising wheels 18, 18a mounted on a shock absorber 17 and the rear ends of the frames 3, 3a carry pivoted arms 15, 15a for rear wheels 16, 16a. Posts 20, 20a carry pins 21, 21a which engage in apertures 22 in the wings of the aircraft, the frame 11 carries a pin and latching mechanism 12 for engagement with a connection 13 on the fuselage and the frame 1 carries a pin 7 to engage a connection 8 on the fuselage, which for the purpose has its undercarriage retracted or preferably is formed with a keel member as described in Specification 733,830 and a skid undercarriage as described in Specification 726,573. The frame 2 is formed with a roller 14 having a double helical thread on its surface arranged to centralize the keel 9 when in contact therewith and the flap 5 has arms 82 to pivotally support a veesection roller 6. The pillars 20, 20a carry rockets 26, 26a mounted on carriers 25, 25a to accelerate the carriage during take-off. To prepare the aircraft for take-off a towing vehicle 208 equipped with a towing dolly 209 and a winch 210 is coupled to the carriage 207 which is positioned in front of the aircraft 10 and the winch cable 211 is passed over the roller 6 and attached to the fuselage as shown in Fig. 22. Operation of the winch draws the carriage under the fuselage with the keel 9 riding over the rollers 14 and 6 with consequent depression of the flap 5, lateral stability of the aircraft being ensured by further rollers (not shown) mounted on pivoted arms attached to the posts 20, 20a. Control connections, automatically detachable on take-off, are made between the pilot's cockpit and the rockets and brakes on the wheels 16, 16a and the vehicle 208 and dolly 209 are removed as in Fig. 26. The aircraft accelerates under the power of its own engine and the rockets on the carriage and after take-off the brakes on the wheels 16, 16a are applied automatically and the flap 5 rises under the action of the devices 80 to retard the carriage. The brakes may be applied differentially to enable the carriage and aircraft to be manoeuvred on the ground before take-off.