Surface travel system for military aircraft

Abstract

A surface travel system for military aircraft is provided that enables efficient, quiet, and safe ground operations of one or more aircraft in a wide range of military missions and operations. The surface travel system includes controllable onboard drive means that effectively drives one or more of the aircraft's wheels to move the aircraft autonomously, efficiently, quietly, and safely on any travel surface required for a military mission. The present invention allows the rapid safe deployment of multiple aircraft from tight spaces and enhances the readiness and availability of aircraft for a wide range of military operations.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 675,808, filed Jul. 25, 2012, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates generally to systems for the ground of aircraft and specifically to a surface travel system for military aircraft that moves these aircraft independently, efficiently, and safely on a range of surfaces.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The ground operation of military aircraft is very similar to the operation of civilian commercial aircraft. The term “military aircraft,” as used herein, is intended to encompass and include any type of aircraft used in military operations or missions capable of travel on a ground or other surface, including, but not limited to, fixed wing jet and propeller driven aircraft, rotorcraft, such as helicopters and the like, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). There are significant differences that make the operation of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a surface travel system for military aircraft that allows them to move autonomously on different surfaces efficiently, safely, and quietly. The system minimizes foreign object damage and reduces hazards to ground personnel and equipment from jet intake, prop clearance, and rotor operation. Overall, the system promotes the effectiveness and success of the aircraft's mission.

Problems solved by technology

The use of thrust from an aircraft's engines to move an aircraft during ground surface travel presents many challenges to the efficient and safe operation of all aircraft and to military aircraft in particular.

The environment surrounding an operating aircraft engine is an acknowledged hazard zone because of the dangers to ground personnel and equipment and to the aircraft itself that can accompany jet blast and engine ingestion.

Engine ingestion, also referred to as jet intake, can damage engines and other aircraft structures when foreign object debris (FOD) is pulled into an operating aircraft engine, which causes foreign object damage to the engine, potentially compromising the safety of aircraft engine operation.

The safety of ground operations can also be significantly compromised by the jet blast from an aircraft jet engine when aircraft engines are kept in operation, even at idle speeds, especially in tight or congested areas with reduced maneuvering space.

Air currents caused by prop wash from aircraft equipped with propellers or the main and tail rotors of helicopters can also present ground safety challenges.

All of the foregoing risks may also be presented when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) type of aircraft taxis with operating engines.

Most of the reported jet blast damage incidents typically occur during pushback, power back, taxi-out, or taxi-in.

The position of the operating jet engines relative to ground equipment, people, and other aircraft can significantly influence the occurrence of jet blast damage incidents when breakaway power is applied.

Aircraft with engines powered and in the process of turning are frequently involved in jet blast damage incidents.

Using powered engines to maneuver an aircraft without assistance from a tractor or tug is highly likely to compromise ground safety.

The presence of a tractor or tug, however, is not likely to prevent jet blast damage if the aircraft's engines are running and the aircraft is in the process of making a sharp turn.

Damage to other aircraft and / or to ground vehicles or ground personnel remains a distinct possibility as long as an aircraft's engines are running.

Suggestions for preventing jet blast damage thus far have been limited to, for example, avoiding sharp turns on taxi-in or pushback with one or more engines running, and using tractors or tugs to move taxiing aircraft.

As long as engines are operating while aircraft are on the ground, however, jet blast continues to be a hazard.

Propeller driven military aircraft present their own safety challenges, and, while different, prop wash produced by operating engines and propellers still poses hazards to vehicles and personnel in the vicinity of the aircraft.

As noted above, operating military aircraft engines while the aircraft is on the ground may result in engine ingestion.

The operation of an aircraft engine, whether it is a jet engine or a gas or turbine engine with an attached propeller, creates a low pressure area in the engine inlet, which causes a large quantity of air from the area forward of the inlet cowl to move into the engine.

As a result, the amount of engine suction close to the inlet is significant and may be high enough to pull tools, equipment, and even people into the engine.

The extent of the engine ingestion hazard zone may be increased by wind or weather conditions.

Where the engine ingestion hazard zone ends in the vicinity of the engine cowl, the exhaust hazard area begins, and damage or injury from jet blast hazard is also possible.

The dangers associated with operating aircraft turbines, whether they are pure jet engines, turboprop engines, or helicopter rotors, cannot be overstated.

Foreign object damage to aircraft engines from foreign object debris (FOD) picked up from adjacent ground areas by engine ingestion is a major cause of reduced engine life.

Under-wing engines literally vacuum FOD from the ground, causing engine damage that can ground aircraft for expensive and time-consuming engine overhauls.

Since many military aircraft must land on surfaces that are rough and may be covered with or composed of dirt, rocks, and / or sand, the ingestion of FOD from these surfaces can pose significant challenges to the continued effective operation of the aircraft engines, to the aircraft, and, ultimately, to the mission.

An aircraft can be moved in reverse from a parked position by starting the aircraft's main engines and reversing them to drive the aircraft in a reverse direction during push back or at other times. However, this process, known as reverse thrust, is problematic and can be dangerous.

The potential for injury from FOD to ground personnel, ground vehicles, and airport or other structures where military aircraft are operating during this process can be significant.

Dependence on the use of an arriving or departing aircraft's main engines is neither a safe nor a reliable procedure.

In addition to the turbulence and noise created by an aircraft's engines operating in reverse thrust, as well as in idle thrust or taxi thrust, the adverse impact on air quality and fuel costs must be considered.

An aircraft's engines idling between push back and takeoff, even if only about 20 minutes a day, can increase fuel costs by millions of dollars over a fleet.

Currently, adjacent and simultaneous stand operations are often limited significantly when surface space for multiple aircraft is tight.

If tugs are used, this strains not only the available towing equipment, but also the available ground personnel.

When military aircraft require tugs for push back, departures may be delayed and turnaround times can be adversely affected when tow bars, adapters, tugs, or ground crews are not available when needed.

If an aircraft is damaged during roll in or roll out in a tight space or causes damage to another aircraft when multiple aircraft must simultaneously deploy from this space, and the damage is not detected prior to takeoff because ground crew were busy elsewhere, aircraft safety and the aircraft's mission could be compromised.

None of the foregoing patents, however, suggests a surface travel system specifically designed to move military aircraft quietly, efficiently, and safely on a wide range of travel surfaces.

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