Search

EP-4271611-B1 - AN AIR VEHICLE

EP4271611B1EP 4271611 B1EP4271611 B1EP 4271611B1EP-4271611-B1

Inventors

  • AKCAY, Ali
  • AKMAN, Hasan
  • ALTINBAG, Oner
  • KUCUK, Sinan
  • ALTAY, Ozkan

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20210526

Claims (11)

  1. An air vehicle (1) comprising a body (2); a canopy (3) disposed on the body (2) so as to be able to move relatively to the body (2), enabling access and providing protection to the cockpit; more than one hook (4) provided on the canopy (3); more than one pin (5) provided on the body (2), enabling the canopy (3) to be fixed to the body (2) by engaging to the hook (4); an open position (A) enabling access to the cockpit so as to leave a gap between the canopy (3) and the body (2); a closed position (K) in which the canopy contacts the body (2) so that there is almost no gap left between the body (2) and the canopy (3); and a locked position (L) in which the canopy (3) is fixed to the body (2) by locking the pin (5) to the hook (4); at least one canopy mechanism (6) that enables the canopy (3) to switch from the closed position (K) to the open position (A) or from the open position (A) to the closed position (K); characterized by a J-shaped transmission element (7) located between the canopy (3) and the canopy mechanism (6) so as to extend outward from the canopy (3), thereby transferring the movement it receives from the canopy mechanism (6) to the canopy (3); more than one rolling element (10) disposed on the canopy mechanism (6) so as to be in contact with the transmission element (7); a recess (11) provided on the transmission element (7), having a form that is compatible with the rolling element (10), wherein the at least one canopy mechanism (6) enables the canopy (3) to switch from the closed position (K) to the open position (A) or from the open position (A) to the closed position (K) by performing a rotational motion when the rolling element (10) and the recess (11) contact each other and enables the canopy (3) in the closed position (K) to be brought to the locked position (L) by performing a sliding motion on the body (2); an inclined surface (12) provided on the transmission element (7), enabling the transmission element (7) to be positioned between the two rolling elements (101, 102), wherein the at more than one rolling element (10) comprises the two rolling elements (101, 102) so as to contact the recess (11) by moving on the rolling element (10); and a curved surface (13) enabling the transmission element (7) to perform a rotational motion between the two rolling elements (101, 102).
  2. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one actuator (8) providing power required to actuating the transmission element (7) and/or the canopy mechanism (6) according to commands received from a user.
  3. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 2, comprising a first canopy mechanism (601) placed in connection with the actuator (8) and the transmission element (7) to transfer the actuator's (8) movement to the transmission element (7), and a second canopy mechanism (602) that enables the canopy (3) to switch between rotational and/or sliding motions, the transmission element (7) being provided so as to be connected with one end thereof to the first canopy mechanism (601) and with the other thereof to the second canopy mechanism (602).
  4. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one limiter (9) disposed between the second canopy mechanism (602) and the transmission element (7), said limiter almost completely preventing the canopy (3) from moving by applying force onto the second canopy mechanism (602) while the canopy is in the closed position (K), thereby allowing the canopy (3) in the closed position (3) to perform a rotational motion by limiting its sliding motion.
  5. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in any one of the above claims, comprising a mount (14) with an inclined form on the hook (4), enabling the canopy (3) in the locked position (L) to perform a sliding motion by limiting its rotational motion while the canopy (3) is brought to the closed position (K), thereby enabling the canopy (3) to be brought from the locked position (L) to the closed position (K).
  6. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in any one of the above claims, comprising at least one tail hook (15) that is positioned so as to contact the body (2) when the canopy (3) is in the locked position (L), enabling the canopy (3) to be removed from the body (2) toward the tail part of the air vehicle (1) by performing a controlled rotational motion around the axis to which it is connected by means of air flow force in the event of an emergency ejection.
  7. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein in the event of an emergency ejection, the canopy (3) is configured to move away from the body (2) by opening in the opposite direction to the direction it when being moved from the closed position (K) to the open position (A).
  8. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in any one of the above claims, comprising at least one beam (16) located on the canopy (3) so as to extend lengthwise thereon, said beam having hooks (4) on itself that provide the connection of the canopy (3) to the body (2), wherein the beam remains on the body (2) when the canopy (3) is removed from the body (2) in the event of an emergency ejection, thereby facilitating the removal of the canopy (3) from the body (2) as a result decreasing the weight of the canopy.
  9. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 8, comprising at least one explosive (17) disposed between the canopy (3) and the beam (16), activated in an emergency, thereby enabling the canopy (3) to be disconnected in one piece from the beam (16) and hooks (4) and preventing at least partially the injuries caused by the parts of the canopy (3).
  10. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein the canopy mechanism (6) has a geometric structure and dimensional properties, enabling the canopy (3) to be held stationary at a desired position between the open position (A) and the closed position (K).
  11. An air vehicle (1) as claimed in any one of the claims 2 to 10, wherein the canopy mechanism (6) is disposed in the cockpit, enabling the canopy (3) to be triggered and actuated by a single actuator (8), thereby reducing the pressurized volume and the need for a position sensor.

Description

This invention relates to canopies and canopy actuating mechanisms in air and/or space vehicles. In air and/or space vehicles, cockpits are surrounded by transparent structures called canopies and it is intended to isolate noise and meteorological effects, to enhance the visibility and to reduce the friction caused by air flow. By creating a pressurized area within the canopy, it is aimed to protect pilots from atmospheric effects in high-speed flights. Having said this, canopies are considered as a component of pilot rescue systems used to evacuate pilots from air vehicles in emergencies. Canopies are produced from acrylic plastic or polycarbonate materials, which require expertise, by making transparent shaping in order to provide pilots with a good angle of view. The ability of canopies in providing sealing and its lightness are important factors affecting the health of pilots and the performance of air vehicles. The opening and closing of canopies during the access of pilots to the cockpit and the (jettison) of canopies in emergencies are carried out by actuating mechanisms on the air vehicle. In addition to canopy actuating mechanisms, various systems that enable pilots to be safely ejected out of the air vehicle are also provided in air vehicles and they need to be operated in line with the actuating mechanisms. Today, the opening and closing operations of a canopy are performed by a mechanism, while the process of locking the canopy onto the air vehicle body to ensure sealing is performed by a different mechanism. While the necessary power is provided to the mechanisms by various motors and actuators, the closed and locked states of a canopy are controlled by means of sensors. Since the use of multiple mechanisms and actuators will increase the area occupied within the canopy, it leads to the need to larger cockpit volumes and to an increase in the weight of air vehicles. The United States patent document US2478714A, which is included in the known state of the art, discloses a canopy mechanism for performing the opening and closing of canopy in order to provide access to the cockpit. It is mentioned that the fixing of the canopy onto the body is carried out by a second mechanism that is different from the mechanism described above. It is described that the canopy locks are released by said second mechanism to ensure an emergency ejection. Another United States patent document US2832553A, which is included in the known state of the art, relates to aircraft canopies or cockpit enclosures and more particularly to improvements in the actuating, ejecting and locking mechanisms therefor. The present invention is directed to the provision of a light weight, simplified mechanism for actuating an aircraft canopy or enclosure which is positive and foolproof to insure its efficient and effective operation and use for maximum protection of the life of the pilot. The air vehicle developed by this invention enables the actuation of the canopy mechanism to be carried out in a more practical, efficient and reliable manner. Another object of this invention is to realize the actuation of canopies in air and/or space vehicles using a lighter system. A further object of this invention is to realize an air vehicle that performs the canopy ejection and evacuation operations safer and faster in emergencies. An air vehicle is developed to achieve the object of the invention, as defined in the first claim and in the claims dependent thereon. The air vehicle comprises a J-shaped transmission element, one end of which being connected to the canopy and the other end to the canopy mechanism, triggered by the canopy mechanism, and enabling the canopy to be moved between the open position, the closed position and the locked position by transmitting the force or moment acting on it to the canopy. In an embodiment of the invention, the air vehicle comprises at least one actuator enabling the actuation of the transmission element and/or canopy mechanism by transmitting the appropriate power according to the commands received from a user. The canopy mechanism or transmission element is disposed in connection with the actuator. A canopy mechanism can be used to transfer the power transmitted by the actuator to the canopy, or the transmission element can be triggered directly. The actuator is also used to overcome the force applied to the mechanism by a limiter while the canopy is brought from the closed position to the open position and to disconnect the contact of a rolling element with a recess. In an embodiment of the invention, the air vehicle comprises a first canopy mechanism between the actuator and the transmission element to transfer the actuator's motion to the transmission element, a second canopy mechanism that enables the canopy to switch between rotational motion and/or sliding motion, and a transmission element, one end of being connected to the first canopy mechanism and the other end thereof to the second canopy mechan