Storage and transport containers for radomes

Abstract

In order to allow the storage and transport of aircraft radomes (2), containers (1) are provided, but the dimensions of these containers are not optimized with respect to the form of the aircraft cargo compartment (6) of most known types. The invention proposes a storage and transport container (1) for radomes (2), comprising a top wall (34) and a bottom wall (36) that are planar and parallel to each other, and a peripheral wall (38), the group of which forms an enclosure. The top wall (34) has a closed curved profile and a surface whose dimensions are greater than those of the bottom wall (36) whose profile forms a parallelogram, thus making it possible to receive the radome nose-down: the geometry of the container is matched to the form of the radar and cargo compartment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of storage and transport containers for radomes, and in particular aircraft radomes. Background Art

[0002] Most aircraft, and especially commercial transport aircraft, include a radome located at the nose cone. The main function of the radome is to protect the radar, and has a structure made of a material transparent to electromagnetic waves (and for example a composite material).

[0003] The structure of a radome may be damaged by a number of different types of incidents (such as bird strikes or hail), and may show dents, nicks, scratches or any other damage that requires replacement of the radome. Replacement radomes are usually provided from stock: where required, replacement radomes are routed to the relevant aircraft in a storage container.

[0004] Patent EP 1728735 shows an example of a storage container. As shown in this patent, the storage container is routed into the cargo hold of an aircraft. If the specific geometry of the cargo hold (and in particular the cargo hold width) is not sufficient to accommodate the base of the container, it is necessary to raise the container by providing it with support blocks. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to improve the form of the container and in particular to avoid reliance on support blocks, so as to optimize the volume of the container and to provide a form that is simple and inexpensive to produce and use.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a storage and transportation container for a radar cover, which includes a top wall and a bottom wall that are planar and parallel to each other, and a peripheral wall, the group of which forms a shell, characterized in that the closed curved contour and surface size of the top wall are larger than the size of the bottom wall whose contour forms a parallelogram.

[0007] The invention makes it possible to provide a form of container capable of storing the radome nose-down so as to allow the upwardly flared profile to be matched to the geometry of the cargo hold, thereby respecting the contours of the cargo hold.

[0008] The container may have at least one of the following optional features, alone or in combination.

[0009] The container includes a double peripheral wall, namely, an inner wall in the form of a dome and an outer wall at least partially inclined inwardly from the top wall to the bottom wall.

[0010] The top wall is removable to form a cover.

[0011] The top wall has a vertical flange at the periphery, and the peripheral wall has a vertical top edge of corresponding size, so that the vertical flange of the top wall surrounds the edge of the peripheral wall.

[0012] The bottom wall has a rectangular form.

[0013] The top wall has a disc form.

[0014] The peripheral wall is composed of four panels whose bottom edges are straight and whose top edges are curved.

[0015] The container includes a one-piece parallelogram base. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Other objects, advantages and characteristics of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description of the container according to the invention, which description is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings associated therewith, in which:

[0017] ● Figure 1 a simplified schematic diagram representing a cross section of an aircraft, which diagram shows the geometry of the container according to the invention in relation to the geometry of the aircraft cargo compartment and in which the radome is represented in perspective and the free peripheral edge of the radome is represented by a dashed line as being contained in a plane P, which itself is represented in cross section;

[0018] ● Figure 2 A simplified perspective schematic diagram showing a container according to the invention in which a radome is present, the container being divided in its middle by a vertical median plane and in which only half of the container is shown in order to reveal both its interior and exterior;

[0019] ● Figure 3 A simplified schematic perspective view of a container according to the invention is shown in which a radome is present and whose cover is separated from the rest of the container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the invention relates to a storage container 1 for a radome 2 and, in the example described below, more specifically to a storage container for a radome 2 of an aircraft 4. As described above, the storage container 1 is routed into the cargo hold 6 of the aircraft 4.

[0021] In the following description it will be assumed that the aircraft 4 with the container 1 according to the invention in its cargo hold 6 is on level ground and that any plane parallel to the ground is horizontal and any plane at right angles to the ground is vertical.

[0022] The free space in the cargo hold 6 in most known types of commercial transport aircraft, like the cargo hold of the "A320" (registered trademark) aircraft, is defined by a base horizontal floor 8, a ceiling 10 parallel to the floor 8 of the cargo hold and corresponding to the floor 12 of the cabin 14, and two walls 16, 18 longitudinally to the aircraft 4 and having two parts, namely a vertical first part 16a, 18a extending from the ceiling 10 to near the fuselage 20 of the aircraft 4 and a second part 16b, 18b comprising two consecutive planar flat plates (16'b, 16"b), (18'b, 18"b), which are inclined relative to the vertical direction extending from the first part 16a, 18a to the floor 8 of the cargo hold 6 in a manner so as to follow the curved contour of the fuselage 20 in the bottom area of ​​the cargo hold 6.

[0023] The radome 2 comprises a panel 22 made of a material transparent to electromagnetic waves (and for example made of a composite material). The panel 22 has a double curvature so as to form a concave portion in the form of a dome. The free peripheral edge 24 of the radome 2 is usually connected in an articulated manner to the rest of the fuselage 20 of the aircraft by means of any known type (and for example by a hinge system 26). In the following description, as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, it is assumed that the radome 2 has been disassembled and removed from the aircraft. The panel 22 has an inner face 28 and an outer face 30. The inner face 28 of the panel 22 is hollow. Figures 1 to 3 In the form shown in FIG. 1 , the free peripheral edge 24 or at least a portion of the edge is in the plane P ( Figure 1 ): The radome can thus rest against a planar surface and in particular rest on the ground with its peripheral edge or its portion lying in plane P, the relevant portion of the edge having dimensions that are large enough for this.

[0024] The radome 2 will not be described in more detail: it may comprise other components, such as lightning protection strips 32 etc., the description of which is not necessary for presenting the container 1 .

[0025] The container 1 for the radome 2 comprises a top wall 34 and a bottom wall 36, planar and parallel to each other, and a peripheral wall 38, the set of which forms an enclosure around the radome 2 and allows the protection and transportation of the radome. The top wall 34 is planar so as to be able to be positioned parallel to and facing the ceiling 10 of the cargo hold. The bottom wall 36 is planar so as to rest on the floor 8 of the cargo hold. Thus, the flatness and parallelism of the top wall 34 and the bottom wall 36 of the container 1 make it possible to optimize the possible internal volume of the container.

[0026] Compared to existing containers, the container 1 according to the invention has a geometry that matches a radome arranged vertically inverted in the container. In other words, the nose 40 of the radome points downwards, which means that the free peripheral edge 24 of the radome is located on one side of the top wall 34 of the container.

[0027] The top wall 34 has a closed curved profile and a surface with dimensions greater than the dimensions of the bottom wall 36 whose profile forms a parallelogram. The form of the top wall 34 matches the form of the free peripheral edge 24 of the radome 2. According to the embodiment shown, the peripheral edge 24 of the top wall 34 is parallel to the free peripheral edge 24 of the radome. In this way, the volume of the top wall 34 of the container is optimized, since the top wall can thus be positioned as close as possible to the radome 2 arranged inside. The parallelogram-shaped profile of the bottom wall 36 of the container contrasts with the curved profile of the top wall 34. This makes it possible to provide a stable base on which the container rests. In addition, the dimensions of the surface of the bottom wall 36 are smaller than those of the surface of the top wall 34, and the container follows the form of the radome 2 arranged inverted in the container, while optimally matching the specific geometry of the cargo hold 6.

[0028] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the container 1 comprises a double peripheral wall 38, namely an inner wall 38a in the form of a dome and an outer wall 38b at least partially inclined inwardly relative to the vertical direction from the top wall 34 to the bottom wall 36. The inner wall 38a has a form that matches the dome form of the radome. According to the embodiment shown, the form of the inner wall 38a corresponds to the form of the radome. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide specific means to install the radome inside the container. The radome rests in the inner wall 38a and cannot be moved. The radome is held by the inner wall 38a of the corresponding form. The outer wall 38b makes it possible to link the form of the closed curved profile of the top wall 34 of the container to the parallelogram form of the bottom wall 36 to enclose the inner wall 38a in which the radome is held. The outer peripheral wall 38b on the outside follows the form of the inner wall 38a of the container and the longitudinal walls 16, 18 of the cargo hold, which have vertically reduced dimensions, due to its inward inclination. Therefore, the geometry of the container 1 is optimized relative to the geometry of the cargo hold 6.

[0029] like Figure 3 As clearly shown, the top wall 34 can be removed to form the cover. In this way, it is very simple to remove the top wall without risk of damaging the radome.

[0030] The top wall 34 of the container has a vertical flange 42 at the periphery. The peripheral wall 38 of the container has a vertical top edge 44 of a size corresponding to the vertical flange 42 of the top wall 34. The size of the flange 42 of the top wall 34 relative to the top edge 44 of the peripheral wall is such that the vertical flange 42 of the top wall surrounds the edge 44 of the peripheral wall. The flange 42 of the top wall thus makes it possible to align the top wall relative to the peripheral wall 38 and to hold the cover on the container. Any known type of mounting means may be provided to secure the top wall 34 to the peripheral wall 38.

[0031] according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment shown in the figure, the bottom wall 36 of the container has a rectangular form and thus perfectly matches the geometry of the floor of the cargo hold. The bottom wall can also be a square form or any other form.

[0032] Still based on Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the top wall 34 of the container has the form of a disc. As seen previously, the top wall thus has a circular peripheral edge matching the circular free peripheral edge 24 of most radomes.

[0033] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the peripheral wall 38 is composed of four panels. Figure 3 Only two panels 38' and 38" are visible. The bottom edge 48 of each of these panels is straight, while the top edge 50 is curved, which provides each panel with a specific geometry.

[0034] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment shown in , the container comprises an integral parallelogram base 52, the top face of which is contoured by the bottom edge 48 of the panel of the peripheral wall 38 and the bottom face forming the bottom wall 36 of the container. The base allows handling by means of a handling fork but maintains a much lower height than the lifting blocks of the prior art, since its function is not to lift the container. In view of the form of the container, which matches the form of the cargo hold, lifting is not necessary.

Claims

1. A storage container (1) for a radome (2), the storage container comprising a top wall (34) and a bottom wall (36) which are planar and parallel to each other, and a peripheral wall (38), the combination of which forms a shell, characterized in that: The top wall (34) has a closed curved profile, the bottom wall (36) has a parallelogram profile, and the size of the surface of the top wall (34) is larger than the size of the bottom wall (36), and the container includes a double-layer peripheral wall (38), namely an inner wall (38a) in the form of a dome and an outer wall (38b) at least partially inclined inwardly from the top wall (34) to the bottom wall (36).

2. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that The top wall (34) is removable to form a cover.

3. The container according to claim 2, characterized in that The top wall (34) has a vertical flange (42) at the periphery, and the peripheral wall (38) has a vertical top edge (44) of corresponding size, so that the vertical flange (42) of the top wall surrounds the edge (44) of the peripheral wall.

4. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The bottom wall (36) has a rectangular form.

5. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The top wall (34) has a disc form.

6. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The peripheral wall (38) is composed of four panels (38', 38") whose bottom edges (48) are straight and whose top edges (50) are curved.

7. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The container includes a unitary parallelogram-shaped base (52).

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