Search

EP-4698431-B1 - GROUND MANOEUVRING DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES WITH LANDING GEAR SKIDS

EP4698431B1EP 4698431 B1EP4698431 B1EP 4698431B1EP-4698431-B1

Inventors

  • LLEDO, Gérard

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240620

Claims (14)

  1. A ground manoeuvring device (100) designed to lift a landing gear skid (10) of an apparatus with landing gear skid in order to manoeuvre it on the ground, the landing gear skid (10) being previously in contact with the ground and resistant to traction, the ground manoeuvring device (100) comprising, - a main body (110) which extends in a longitudinal direction, D, between a rear part (200) and a front part (300), and which is designed to be disposed on the landing gear skid (10), - at least one fastening element (120) which is connected to the main body (110) and designed to be releasably attached to the landing gear skid (10), - a first rotary shaft (130) which extends in a transverse direction of the main body (110) and which is designed to rotate in the transverse direction, - a pair of pivoting arms (140), each pivoting arm (140) having a proximal part (141) and a distal part (142), the pivoting arms (140) being connected to each other in parallel, in a rotationally fixed manner, by their proximal part (141), at the first rotary shaft (130), - a pair of axles (150), each axle (150) having a proximal end (151) and a distal end (152), • the proximal end (151) being integrally connected to the distal part (142) of a respective pivoting arm (140), and • the distal end (152) being connected to a respective wheel (50) so that the wheel (50) can rotate freely about the axle (150), - at least one device (160) for selective displacement of the pair of pivoting arms (140) relative to the main body (110), the selective displacement device (160) being disposed within the main body (110) and arranged to act on the pair of pivoting arms (140) in order to pivot it about the first rotary shaft (130) relative to the main body (110), so as to displace the pair of pivoting arms (140) between, • a transport position in which the distal part (142) of the pair of pivoting arms (140) substantially faces in the longitudinal direction, D, and • an operating position in which the distal part (142) of the pair of pivoting arms (140) substantially faces the ground, so that the wheels (50) come into contact with the ground and the landing gear skid (10) is lifted from the ground, - at least one control lever (170) which extends in the longitudinal direction, D, of the main body (110) and which is designed to be displaced in a repeated up and down reciprocating movement, M, in a vertical direction with respect to the longitudinal direction, D, of the main body (110), each cycle of the repeated vertical reciprocating movement, M, comprising a successive up phase and down phase, to actuate the selective displacement device (160), the ground manoeuvring device (100) being characterized in that it comprises - at least one return element coupled to the control lever (162) and designed to automatically return the control lever (162) either to a high point when the downward phase of the repeated vertical reciprocating movement, M, reaches a low point, or to the low point when the upward phase of the repeated vertical reciprocating movement, M, reaches the high point, so that the vertical reciprocating movement, M, of the control lever (170) is automatically repeated as long as an external force is applied to the control lever (170).
  2. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to claim 1 comprising at least one pedal (180), separate from the control lever (170), which is integrally connected to the control lever (170) and which is designed to be actuated by an operator so as to initiate and impart to the control lever (170) the repeated vertical reciprocating movement, M, which actuates the selective displacement device (160).
  3. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, further comprising a first locking device (194) which holds the pair of pivoting arms (140) in the operating position, the first locking device (194) being designed, - when moving from the transport position to the operating position, to be pushed out of a housing formed in the main body (110) by all or part of the distal part (142) of the pair of pivoting arms (140) against the force of a return spring, - then, when the pair of pivoting arms (140) is in the operating position, to be returned automatically by the return spring into the housing formed in the main body (110) in order to lock the pair of pivoting arms (140) in the operating position.
  4. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising, - a first rotation shaft (121) which extends in the longitudinal direction, D, of the main body (110) and which is connected to the fastening element (120) so that the fastening element can rotate about the first rotation shaft (121) within a predetermined angular range, and - at least one locking element (122) which is designed to releasably rotationally lock the fastening element (120) so that the fastening element (120) can change between, • an attachment position in which, ▪ the fastening element (120) is attached to the landing gear skid (10), and ▪ the locking element (122) locks the fastening element (120) against rotation, • a free position in which the locking element (122) leaves the fastening element (120) free.
  5. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the fastening element (120) comprises the first rotation shaft (121) and the locking element (122).
  6. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising, - a second rotation shaft (190) which extends in a transverse direction of the main body (110), and - a manually-operated rotary traction device (191) comprising at least one first traction handle (1911) and at least one longitudinal arm (1912), the longitudinal arm (1912) having a first end and a second end, the first traction handle (1911) being connected to the first end of the longitudinal arm (1912), the second rotation shaft (190) being connected to the second end of the longitudinal arm (1912), wherein, the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) is designed to be rotated between at least, • a folded position in which the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) is folded onto the main body (110), and • a deployed position in which, ▪ the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) moves away from the main body (110), projecting longitudinally from the main body (110), and ▪ the main body (110) can be inclined relative to the ground and can be pulled by the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) into an inclined rolling position, so as to enable the operator to roll the ground manoeuvring device (100) to a desired location by pushing or pulling the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) in a desired direction.
  7. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the angular difference in position of the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) between the folded position and the extended position is 180° or less.
  8. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) is further designed to be displaced into a stabilisation position, from the extended position or from the folded position, in which, - the main body (110) can be inclined relative to the ground, and - the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) comes into contact with the ground at its distal end and supports the main body (110).
  9. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the angular difference in position of the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) between the deployed position and the stabilisation position is 90° or less.
  10. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising a second locking device (195), which holds the manually-operated rotary traction device (191) in a folded position, a deployed position or a stabilisation position, the second locking device (195) being designed, - to engage in holes corresponding to said positions of the rotary traction device (191) and formed in the control lever (170), - to be pushed by a spring to be automatically inserted into one of said holes when the rotary traction device (191) reaches one of said positions, and - to be pulled by an operator to disengage from the hole and allow the rotary traction device (191) to rotate to another of said holes.
  11. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 10, further comprising a second traction handle (193) which is disposed and arranged on the main body (110) so that the operator can grasp, at the same time, the pedal (180) and the second traction handle (193) to transport the ground manoeuvring device (100) and/or position the ground manoeuvring device (100) on the landing gear skid (10).
  12. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the selective displacement device (160) comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder (161) which comprises, - at least one extendable piston which has an end which is designed to act on the pair of pivoting arms (140) so as to move the pair of pivoting arms (140) between the transport position and the operating position, - at least one cylinder rod connected to the extendable piston, - at least one hydraulic fluid reservoir (162), - a second rotary shaft (163) which extends in a transverse direction of the main body (110) and which is designed to rotate in the transverse direction, the second rotary shaft (163) being connected to the control lever (170) in a rotationally fixed manner, - a motion transmission system (164) which is connected to the second rotary shaft (163) and which is designed to transform the rotation of the second rotary shaft (163) into a linear motion, and - at least one hydraulic pump (165) which is connected to the motion transmission system (164) and to the hydraulic fluid reservoir (162), the hydraulic pump (165) being designed, • to supply the selective displacement device (160) with hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid reservoir (162), and • to be actuated by the motion transmission system (164), wherein, the motion transmission system (164) comprises, - at least one transmission lever (1641) which is connected to the second rotary shaft (163) in a rotationally fixed manner, and - a plurality of links (1642), of which at least one link (1642) connects the transmission lever (1641) to the hydraulic pump (165).
  13. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein each pivoting arm (140) is in the form of a plate which comprises at least one first weight-lightening aperture (143).
  14. The ground manoeuvring device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the control lever (170) is in the form of a plate which comprises at least one second weight-lightening aperture (171).

Description

technical field The invention relates to the field of ground maneuvering devices for landing gear skid-type aircraft, such as helicopters. The document US4600168 described similar devices. Previous technique We know of helicopters which generally include two parallel landing gear skids for stabilizing the helicopter on the ground. In this context, these helicopters require maneuvering devices to move them on the ground. In this respect, we are familiar with the document EP3517431B1 which describes a ground maneuvering device for helicopters that allows a landing gear skid to be lifted using a hydraulic unit. In practice, the ground maneuvering device of the document EP3517431B1 includes a housing with a fastening mechanism, a hydraulic unit with an extendable piston and a pivoting lever to transfer torque, and two horizontal wheels at each end of the housing. In particular, the hydraulic unit is mounted in the housing in such a way that it can lift the latter vertically when the piston is deployed. However, when equipment such as a side platform, work basket, or step is present above a landing gear skid, it may pose a problem during the installation of the ground handling device described in the document. EP3517431B1 because such equipment may prevent or hinder the ground maneuvering device of the document EP3517431B1 to be positioned vertically, as required. In this case, it may be necessary to dismantle the platforms or work baskets before installing the ground-based maneuvering device shown in the document. EP3517431B1 . However, this can take time and require additional tools, which can be costly and complex. Furthermore, this can increase the risk of damaging the gondolas, work baskets or the helicopter if this process is carried out incorrectly. In the case of a step positioned above a landing gear skid, it is not possible to use the ground maneuvering device described in the document. EP3517431B1 . Therefore, there is a need for a solution that avoids the situation described above. Summary of the invention The invention aims to solve, at least partially, this need. The invention relates in particular to a ground maneuvering device which is designed to lift a landing gear skid of a landing gear skid aircraft in order to maneuver it on the ground. In practice, the landing gear skid is previously in contact with the ground and resistant to traction. Furthermore, the ground maneuvering system includes, a main body extending along a longitudinal direction between a rear and a front section, and designed to be positioned on the landing gear skid, at least one fastening element that is connected to the main body and designed to be attached to the landing gear skid in a detachable manner, a first rotating axis which extends along a transverse direction of the main body and which is designed to rotate in the transverse direction, a pair of pivoting arms, each pivoting arm having a proximal and a distal part, the pivoting arms being connected to each other in parallel, in a fixed rotational manner, by their proximal part, to the first rotating axis, a pair of axles, each axle having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being securely connected to the part distal to a respective pivoting arm, and the distal end being connected to a respective wheel so that the wheel can rotate freely around the axle, at least one selective displacement device for the pair of pivoting arms relative to the main body, the selective displacement device being disposed inside the main body and designed to act on the pair of pivoting arms to rotate them about the first rotational axis relative to the main body, so as to move the pair of pivoting arms between, a transport position in which the distal part of the pair of pivoting arms is substantially oriented in the longitudinal direction, and an operating position in which the distal part of the pair of pivoting arms is substantially oriented towards the ground, so that the wheels come into contact with the ground and the landing gear skid is lifted off the ground, at least one control lever extending along the longitudinal direction of the main body and designed to move in a repeated vertical reciprocating motion, up and down, in a vertical direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the main body, each cycle of the repeated vertical reciprocating motion comprising a successive up and down phase, to actuate the selective displacement device, and at least one return element coupled to the control lever and designed to automatically return the control lever either to a high point when the downward phase of the repeated vertical reciprocating motion reaches a low point, or to the low point when the upward phase of the repeated vertical reciprocating motion reaches the high point, such that the vertical reciprocating motion of the control lever is automatically repeated by alternating application and release of an external force by an operator on the control lever,