GB137974A - Improvements in landing apparatus for aeroplanes - Google Patents

Abstract

137,974. Malsallez, P. M. J. R. C. C. G. April 22, 1919. Land-wheels and skids; shock of landing, deadening; landing-places and Launching-ways.- To facilitate the landing of aeroplanes, fluidpressure devices thereon can be operated to force up the nose of the aeroplane in order to prevent it from pitching forwards after contact with the ground, and magnetic landing-surfaces exert a braking effect on the landing-skids. The fluidpressure device comprises, at each side of the aeroplane, cylinders 10, 11, Fig. 6, containing pistons 14, 33, the former of which carries the front landing-skid 16, while the latter is connected by a bell-crank 8 and rod 9 to the nose of the aeroplane. The devices at the two sides are connected together by a spindle 6<a>, Fig. 12, on which are rotatably mounted sleeves 12 carrying casings 1 enclosing the cylinders, and connected to the fuselage by supports 2. When a landing is to be made, fluid pressure can be supplied from a reservoir to the cylinders 10 by a pipe 25, Fig. 6, so that the skids 16 are projected downwards against the pressure of springs 17. When the skids 16 contact with the ground, as shown in Fig. 1, the pistons 14 are forced up to the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby closing valves 19, Fig. 8, and opening valves 20 admitting fluid pressure to the cylinders 11 by pipes 27, whereupon the pistons 33 are forced out so as to raise the nose of the aeroplane. The landing-surface comprises (a) side portions 65, Fig. 14, pivoted at 72, normally raised by springs 77, and adapted for contact with the front skids 16, which, when they alight thereon, force the surfaces downwards so as to close switches 70, 71 and energize electro-magnets 66, and (b) a central portion similarly mounted but adapted for contact with the tail-skid, which, when it bears thereon, depresses the surface so as to break the energizing-circuit. The face of the landing- surface is divided up by strips of non-magnetic material to obtain a better diffusion of the field, the magnets 66 being connected in series by means of terminals 68, and the last terminal being connected to the contact 70. As the aeroplane reverts to its normal flight position at the conclusion of the landing process, the tilting of the aeroplane about the axis 6a opens valves 30, 28, Fig. 6, so as to vent the cylinders, by reason of connexions 29. 31 between these valves and arms 32 on the sleeves 12. The front, skids 16 are composed of a lower part 16<a> of steel or soft iron secured by nuts 16<d> to a backing 16b. The tailskid 42, Fig. 9, is mounted to move vertically against a spring in a sleeve 41 which is guided on a pair of rods 39 mounted in a casing 37 and fitted with springs 40 bearing against the sleeve 41. The land-wheels 5 are carried by arms 6 connected to the sleeves 12, and support the machine when the skids 16 are raised. Heating.-Combustion gases from the motors may be supplied to the casings 1 to ensure working of the apparatus at low temperatures. Signals and indicators, applications of.-For night landing, lamps may be arranged to be lighted by contact of the skids with the ground; for example, there may be a red and a green lamp for the two front skids and' a white lamp for the tail-skid, so that the pilot may know both the time and the nature of his contact with the ground. The front-skid lamps may be actuated by switches 43, 48, Fig. 8, and the tail-skid lamp by a contact made by the sliding of the skid 42 in the sleeve 41.