WO2007036645A1

WO2007036645A1 - Model airplane

Info

Publication number: WO2007036645A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/002212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Chavand
Original assignee: Paul Chavand
Priority date: 2005-09-29
Filing date: 2006-09-29
Publication date: 2007-04-05
Also published as: FR2891157B1; EP1960073A1; FR2891157A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for presenting a model airplane (2) at take-off, in flight and at landing, above a model runway (1) proportional to the reduction ratio of said model airplane (2). The invention is characterized in that it consists in flying the model airplane (2) at a slow speed homothetic to the actual speeds of the real plane, proportional to said reduction ratio, using a combination of means for increasing the lift/weight ratio, means for protection against external disturbances and means for moving along a desired path. The invention also concerns an installation for implementing the method.

Description

MODEL REDUCED AIRPLANE

The present invention relates to a method of presenting models of planes taking off from a runway, flying over the runway or landing thereon, said runway having a reduced scale proportional to the reduction scale of the model reduced in relation to the actual size of the aircraft. The invention will notably find its application in the aeronautical field such as aeronautical museums and aeronautical exhibitions, or to perform simulations of small scale flight. For example, it will be implemented by designers, aeronauts and architects of the building.

Aeronautical Museums or Permanent Aeronautical Exhibitions feature full-size or model aircraft. For reasons of cost, these models are exposed and remain static almost permanently, the flying demonstrations being reserved for occasional events, such as air meetings, fairs or air shows, or various public events of which they often constitute a highlight .

In the case of model aircraft presented in flight, their actual speed is greater than the apparent speed of the actual aircraft, which does not give the impression of seeing the real aircraft in flight by far.

For this reason, model aircraft fighters have sought to make their model aircraft fly at reduced speeds, sometimes taking into account the additional constraint of cornering compliance and acceleration printing. However, the problems of lift and instability become even more insurmountable that the scale of reduction is small. In any case, no one has ever made these models of planes fly at the ideal speed, that which makes it possible to give to model flights the appearance of a real plane flight seen from a distance, it is to say at a speed reduced linearly to the reduction scale.

It is known patents US 4,037,358, US 2,793,860, US 5,102,126 and GB 1,405,938 which relate to toys for simulating an aircraft during flight, or an aircraft landing and taking off from a runway , making it evolve at a reduced speed. In these patents, the model airplane is suspended by a wire, the facilities implemented only to simulate a take-off, a flight or a landing of a model airplane, without actually reproducing it.

The model aircraft fly in ranges of speeds compatible with those of the usual outside winds, being of the order of 30 km / h, in a phase of approach or take-off, at 200 km / h, in progress. flight and for the fastest models. These ranges of speed remain true during flights practiced in enclosures protecting external winds. Although the average speeds are rather close to 30 km / h, it follows that the models designed must withstand significant aerodynamic and mechanical constraints and they must have a consequent motorization. These models are relatively heavy, and in the case of airliners already demonstrated in flight, the models weigh about 30 kg and fly at least 80 km / h.

Patent FR 2,850,586 discloses a device improving the lift problems of aircraft for flying said aircraft in an external environment. The device comprises a set of wings of particular shape ensuring the lift and one or more gas tanks lighter than air, fixed on or in the aircraft, each wingtip being provided with a vertical structure intended for avoid a loss of lift, said vertical structure may itself be a gas tank lighter than air. The design of the aircraft as described in this document has the disadvantage of adding apparent complementary means which considerably modify the appearance of the aircraft. the aircraft in relation to the aircraft actually flying in order to reduce the flight speed of the aircraft. Consequently, it is difficult to reproduce a model airplane actually flying from the device described in patent FR 2,850,586.

The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method of presenting a model airplane at take-off, during flight and at landing, said reduced model of airplane flying at a reduced speed, while retaining the appearance of a real airplane so as to reproduce a vision of a real airplane flying over a runway, or approaching or taking off from it.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a method for presenting a model of airplane at take-off, during flight and at landing, above a reduced track proportional to the reduction scale of said reduced model. of a remarkable aircraft in that the model airplane is flown at a homothetic slow speed relative to the actual speed of the aircraft, proportional to said reduction scale, by implementing a combination of means of increase of the lift / weight ratio, means of protection against external disturbances and means of displacement according to a desired trajectory.

The invention also relates to an installation for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises: at least one model airplane equipped with means for increasing the ratio of the weight / weight ratio an enclosure provided with means of protection against external disturbances, said enclosure comprising at least one track for the take-off and landing of the reduced model, and over which flies said reduced model, means for moving the reduced model in the pregnant, fans or control gates to create a flow of air in the opposite direction from the flight of masking means of the displacement of the reduced model upstream of the runway before its takeoff or downstream of the runway after landing.

Other advantages will become apparent from the following description which is based on FIG. 1, schematizing a model airplane flying in an enclosure according to the method of the invention.

The method according to the invention consists in flying, over a reduced runway 1, a reduced airplane model 2 at a homothetic speed at the speed of the actual airplane, said homothety respecting the reduction scale of the aircraft. model compared to the actual plane. This homothetic speed is respected both during take-off and overflight of runway 1, as well as during landing. This homothetic speed flight of the reduced model 2 is obtained by implementing a combination of means for increasing the weight / lift ratio, means of protection against the wind or external weather, and displacement means of the reduced model 2 according to the desired trajectory.

The present invention has the advantage of taking advantage of what is called "the phenomenon of scale", related to the radical change in the flight speed range of the reduced models. Indeed, the reduced models, of the order of ^{1/20 th} to ^1/40 ^th , fly according to the method of the invention at speeds of the order of 5 km / h to 20 km / h maximum, c ie speeds five times lower than the prior art models. This "scale phenomenon" is reflected in the conjunction of several remarkable features that have a strong impact on the design of the reduced models, namely: aerodynamic constraints, particularly related to lift and drag, which exert reduced forces on the structure of the model reduces, because of the reduction of speed, which allows the use of materials of lower strength and rigidity, resulting in a lighter structure of the model, the drag is low, allowing to reduce the power required, and therefore use a smaller engine, consuming less energy, the complementary use of an air flow in the opposite direction of the flight, but with a speed of the same order as that of the reduced model, this air circulation having a considerable relative effect on the lift, which is multiplied by four, without creating any inconvenience for the spectators. .

The installation for carrying out the method according to the invention, represented in FIG. 1, comprises a model airplane 2 equipped with means for increasing the weight bearing ratio, an enclosure 3 provided with means of protection against disturbances. external, said enclosure comprising at least one track 1 for the flight and landing of the reduced model 2, and above which flies said reduced model 2, displacement means of the reduced model 2 in the chamber 3, fans and control sluices to create ^an air flow in the opposite direction of flight, and masking means the movement of the scale model 2 upstream of the track 1, before taking off, or downstream of the track 1, after his landing.

The means of increasing the weight / lift ratio are, in part, in the maximum relief of the structure of the aircraft model 2, to a level made possible by the strong attenuation of aerodynamic stresses in very slow flight. This attenuation of the constraints advantageously allows the use of a structure much more fragile and light than in conventional flight of the reduced models.

It is also possible to compensate for a part of the weight by filling the interior volume of the reduced model 1 with a gas lighter than air, such as helium, or by adding an internal vertical lift engine.

These means of increase are also related to the improvement of the lift itself, by optimization. the geometry of the wings, within the limit of an appearance sufficiently close to that of the aircraft in full size, flaps out to the maximum. This optimization concerns in particular a modification of the incidence of the wings of the reduced model, their profile and their surface.

It is also advantageous to take advantage of air circulation means along the track, at low speed, in a direction opposite to that of the flight, which makes it possible to increase the relative speed of the reduced model with respect to the 'ambiant air. This increases its lift, without increasing its speed to scale relative to the ground. These means consist of regulated fans or control gates, that is to say valves regulating the opening of leaves giving on the outside, all ensuring a stabilized flow of downstream air upstream of the track.

The means of protection reside in an enclosure 3 insulating winds and rain track 1 and its adjacent volume. This enclosure 3 may be made of glass / metal structure, in whole or in part. It may possibly be partial and include removable or permanent openings. The enclosure 3 advantageously incorporates a partial or total reconfiguration mechanism, to leave the track 1 outside when the weather conditions allow it.

The displacement means of the reduced model 2 according to the desired trajectory, consist, according to a preferential mode, of on-board driving equipment, such as motorization, and of trajectory control, such as a device for controlling This equipment is preferably controlled by manual or automated radio control from the ground, and make the best use of the current level of miniaturization in model aircraft. In order to completely overcome the overloading of these drive and trajectory control equipment, and to simplify the implementation of the method, these means advantageously consist of a control device. winching 5, the pulling son being sufficiently thin to be virtually invisible, and the winches 5 being hidden in view of the spectators. This design also has the advantage of securing the trajectories vis-à-vis the people present around the track, and the devices themselves.

According to one embodiment of the installation shown in FIG. 1, the 1 / 20th scale reduction makes it possible to benefit from a landing or take-off runway 1, preferably having a length of approximately 100 meters. , on which take off or pose actually flying in the air models 2 of a size of the order of 4 meters long and 4 meters wide, flying a real speed between 8 and 13 km / h , this speed of the reduced model is similar to a real speed of the real plane between 160 and 260 Km / h. The reduced track 1 is placed inside, in a chamber 3, to overcome the weather and climatic hazards . In order to allow a good circulation of the public, as well as approach and flight paths of sufficient duration of the order of one minute, the interior space surrounding the track 1, which is for example glazed, has dimensions about 400 meters long by 50 meters wide, and 35 meters high at the highest points upstream and downstream of track 1. The structure of the enclosure 3 to be designed is, for example, the same type as a shopping center.

Models 2 are ultra light and weigh in the range of 300 to 800 grams. It is preferable to use a structure made of thin sheets of thermo-molded polymers for their design, to which are added additional parts and decorations such as, for example, a landing gear with operational wheels, flaps, fires, signaling, micro-servomotors, micro-batteries, portholes and doors ... Downstream air circulation upstream, and along track 1, is obtained by ventilation 7 regulated downstream and upstream of runway 1.

According to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the training of the reduced models 2 is obtained by a winching device 5, such as, for example, silent electric motors concealed at the end of the runway for landings, and downstream and at runway height. 1 for takeoffs. These winches 5 are preferably provided with a nylon thread of very small section so as to make it almost invisible, said nylon thread being mounted in a closed loop 9 so as to define the entire flight path of the model Reduced 2. Indeed, the wire arranged in a closed loop 9 has the function of towing and guiding the reduced model 2 by providing its flight homothetic speed, said homothetic speed being one of the factors to create the lift of said model and to reproduce a real flight in the air. Advantageously, an additional wire 11 is provided for connection to the closed loop 9, which allows the model to leave its necessary margin of vertical autonomy with respect to the winching device 5.

According to a preferred design, there is provided an interlocking automaton 13, modeled in FIG. 1, making it possible to fix the apparatus to the nylon wire of the winching device, at the beginning of the runway, for take-off. Similarly, there is provided a disengagement automation 15, modeled in Figure 1, to release the reduced model 1 of the end of the runway wire and the end of landing.

According to one embodiment, the enclosure 3 is equipped with means for displaying the reduced model 2, upstream 17 of track 1, when the apparatus is in the approach phase, and to make disappear the reduced model 2, in downstream 19 of runway 1, when the aircraft is in the take-off phase. These means are implemented thanks to a placement equipment 21 in the approach phase, arranged in height, and recovery equipment 23 at takeoff. These equipment 21, 23 are preferably masked to the public, for example by means of a set of mirrors 25, 27 reflecting the exterior glazing or by means of an imaging system, such as screens on which images are projected, virtually extending the flight path.

In a preferred mode of design, end-of-run support after landing, and positioning at the start of the runway for take-off, are automatically managed by an automated ground-pull system. This automated traction system makes it possible to move the aircraft that landed by rolling them one after the other, from the end of the runway 1 to the beginning of said runway 1.

This automated traction system is preferably performed by means of a conveyor belt 29 which is also masked from the public view, for example by concealing it below the ground. This treadmill 29 allows repatriate models 1 of aircraft after takeoff and recovery downstream of track 1, to the upstream placement system 17 of track 1, to prepare said reduced models 2 to a new approach.

In order to perfect the illusion of real planes taking off or landing on a runway, the method can advantageously be completed by sound equipment embedded on the reduced model or placed on the ground in the enclosure, these equipment simulating, for example, noise real aircraft engines. Similarly, one can provide odor diffusion devices reminiscent of kerosene and combustion effluents, usually present at the edge of a track.

This method and this installation according to the invention may for example be used as a basis for the implementation of an amusement park open to the public with a high level of safety due to the reduced speeds of the model 2 in progress flight in a closed enclosure.

Claims

1 - A method of presenting a model airplane (2) at take-off, during flight and landing, over a reduced track (1) proportional to the reduction scale of said reduced model of aircraft (2) characterized in that the aircraft model (2) is flown at a homothetic slow speed with respect to the real speed of the actual aircraft, proportional to said reduction scale, by a combination of means for increasing the weight / lift ratio, means for protecting against external disturbances and means for moving along a desired trajectory.

2 - Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for increasing the weight / lift ratio of the reduced model is to minimize the weight of the structure of the reduced model (2) by exploiting the strong attenuation of aerodynamic stresses in flight to slow homothetic speed.

3 - Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for increasing the weight / lift ratio of the reduced model (2) consist in compensating a part of the weight of the structure of the reduced model (2) by filling of the interior volume of the reduced model by a gas lighter than air.

4 - Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for increasing the weight / lift ratio of the reduced model (2) consist in compensating a part of the weight of its structure by adding an internal engine of vertical lift.

5 - Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for increasing the weight / lift ratio of the model reduced (2) consist in increasing the lift in flight by changing its geometry.

6 - Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for increasing the weight / lift ratio of the reduced model (2) consist in increasing the lift in flight by a regulated air flow in the opposite direction of the flight to produce a steady stream at low speed along the runway (1).

7 - Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means of protection against external disturbances consist of an enclosure (3) for insulating wind and rain protection the track and its adjacent volume.

8 - Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the protective enclosure incorporates a partial or total reconfiguration mechanism of said enclosure (3) to leave the track open to the outside when the weather conditions allow.

9 - Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement means of the reduced model (2) according to the desired trajectory reside in onboard equipment motorization and control of the control surfaces of the reduced model (2), controlled by manual or automated radio control from the ground.

10 - Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement means of the reduced model (2) according to the desired path consist of a winching device (5) whose traction son are thin enough to be invisible , the winches (5) being masked in view of the spectators. 11 - Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is provided means for masking the displacement of the reduced models (2) upstream (17) or downstream (19) of the track (1).

12 - Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the masking means are sets of mirrors (25, 27) reflecting the outside or an outer glazing.

13 - Process according to claim 11, characterized in that the masking means are screens on which are projected virtual extensions of the flight path of the reduced model.

14 - Installation for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises: at least one model airplane (2) provided with weight / weight ratio reduction means, a enclosure (3) provided with protection means against external disturbances, said enclosure (3) comprising at least one track (1) for the take-off and landing of the reduced model (2), and above which steals said reduced model (2), means for moving the reduced model in the enclosure, fans or control gates (7) for creating a flow of air in the opposite direction of the flight of the masking means of the displacement of the reduced model (2) upstream (17) of the runway (1) before its take-off or downstream (19) of the runway (1) after landing.