An airborne ultra-long metal cable launch and recovery guidance system

Abstract

The application provides an airborne super-long metal cable winding and unwinding guide system. The application belongs to the technical field of aviation and relates to the design and installation of an airborne super-long metal cable winding and unwinding guide system. The application can effectively solve the problem that the super-long metal cable moves in the closed metal conduit in the fuselage, ensures that the metal cable is not stuck during winding and unwinding, and guarantees the operation safety of the metal cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of aerospace structural design technology and relates to an airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system. Background Technology

[0002] Extra-long metal cables are commonly used in civilian applications, such as elevator cables and winches used in oil extraction. However, these cables do not require guiding devices to limit their travel during deployment; they are simply controlled by the deployment device within a specific space, moving up and down in the direction of gravity. Of course, in civilian applications, there are also mountain climbing cableways where the powerful motor drives an extra-long cable along a fixed track.

[0003] Metal cables (steel cables) are also commonly used on aircraft, primarily for aircraft control systems and parachute jumps. Aircraft control system cables connect to control sticks, flaps, rudder, and other moving parts. Several fixed pulleys are installed along the path of the control system cable, allowing it to reciprocate along a predetermined spatial distance. This causes the rudder to deflect left and right or the flaps to retract. Control system cables have a short travel distance, slow speed, and low force. Parachute jump cables are fixed above the rear door of medium-sized military transport vehicles to hold parachutes and allow parachutists to glide and jump. These cables are short, stationary, and in a fixed position.

[0004] However, a key technical challenge lies in how to deploy ultra-long metal cables (effective release length not less than 200m) for a specific purpose, using a long-stroke (not less than 15m) metal cable guide device designed inside the aircraft cabin. This allows for the release of the ultra-long metal cable (including the stabilizing cone) from inside the cabin to the outside for a special mission, followed by retrieval after the mission is completed. This is because ultra-long metal cables have large loads, high deployment and retrieval speeds, and long deployment and retrieval times. If guided by ordinary pulleys, the pulleys are prone to instability, and the metal cable could easily detach from them. Furthermore, if the metal cable breaks accidentally inside the cabin, the whiplash effect could damage cabin equipment, posing a safety hazard. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides an airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system, which can unimpededly release ultra-long metal cables that need to be released outside the aircraft cabin, and simultaneously, with the help of the in-cabin deployment and retrieval device, can unimpededly retrieve the ultra-long metal cables released outside the aircraft cabin back into the cabin.

[0006] This invention provides an airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system, comprising: a deployment and retrieval device, a guidance device, and a positioning device;

[0007] The take-up and deployment device includes a housing and a winch installed inside the housing. The take-up and deployment device is located in an airtight compartment. The first end of the landing device is cylindrical and the second end is flared. The landing device is located on the lower wall panel of the tail section of the aircraft in a non-airtight compartment.

[0008] The guiding device includes: multiple circular tubes, pulley load-bearing components, and metal clamp fasteners; the multiple circular tubes are arranged in sequence, with the first end connected to the outlet of the shell, the middle part passing through the airtight and non-airtight compartments of the fuselage, and the last end connected to the first end of the positioning device;

[0009] The pulley load-bearing components are installed inside the circular tube and are arranged in a grid pattern; metal clamp fasteners are used to connect the segmented circular tubes.

[0010] The first end of the metal cable is connected to the winch, and the second end passes through the grid-shaped central through hole of each pulley load-bearing component, leads out of the machine body, and is connected to the stabilizing cone;

[0011] The shape of the stabilizing cone matches the shape of the flared mouth of the positioning device.

[0012] Optionally, the guiding device may also include: a fixed pulley;

[0013] Fixed pulleys are installed at the bends of the guide device and are connected to two sections of circular pipe respectively;

[0014] The metal cable passes through the outer circumferential groove of the fixed pulley.

[0015] Optionally, the pulley load-bearing components include two first bearings and two second bearings;

[0016] Two first bearings are arranged in parallel, and two second bearings are arranged in parallel.

[0017] The first bearing and the second bearing are perpendicular to each other.

[0018] Optionally, the inner diameter of the first end cylinder of the positioning device is larger than the inner diameter of the circular tube.

[0019] Optionally, a positioning sensor is installed inside the positioning device;

[0020] The positioning sensor is used to detect whether the stabilizing cone has been positioned correctly.

[0021] Optionally, the inner surface of the flared end of the positioning device has a smooth transition.

[0022] Optionally, the tube penetrating the compartment is a one-piece tube, with a cover plate with a central hole at the end of the tube located in the non-airtight compartment.

[0023] Optionally, a reinforcing connecting ring is provided on the outer wall of the round tube for connecting to the machine body via a retaining ring.

[0024] This invention provides an airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system. The guidance device effectively solves the problem of ultra-long metal cables being deployed and retrieval within a closed metal conduit inside the fuselage, ensuring that the metal cable deployment and retrieval process is not jammed and guaranteeing the safe operation of the metal cable. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 Diagram of a metal cable take-up and deployment guide system;

[0026] Figure 2 It is a pulley load-bearing component;

[0027] Figure 3 For pulley load bearing;

[0028] Figure 4 It is a metal round tube (semi-circular part);

[0029] Figure 5 Metal clamps;

[0030] Figure 6 For positioning device;

[0031] Figure 7 This diagram illustrates the installation of a pulley-supported component within a metal through-tube. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system provided by the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] like Figure 1-7 As shown, the present invention provides an airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes: a take-up and release device, a guide device, and a placement device.

[0034] The deployment and recovery device is located inside the airtight compartment, while the positioning device is located on the lower bulkhead of the aircraft's tail section, which is not in an airtight compartment.

[0035] The guiding device is mainly a metal round tube (semi-circle), with one end connected to the take-up and release device, running through the inside of the machine body, and the other end connected to the positioning device.

[0036] The take-up and take-down device includes: a metal housing, a winch, a controller, and a cable take-up roller device.

[0037] The objects to be deployed and retrieved: antenna cable, stabilizing cone.

[0038] The guidance device is an important component of the metal cable deployment and retrieval system. It consists of several metal round tubes (semicircles), metal through-cabin round tubes, pulley load-bearing components, and fixed pulleys. Its main function is to guide a set of ultra-long metal cables placed in the deployment and retrieval device inside the aircraft's airtight cabin through the rear of the aircraft's airtight frame along the long-stroke bidirectional guidance device to the aircraft's outlet to lead out the metal cable. The metal cable is connected to the stabilizing cone.

[0039] After the aircraft ascends to cruising altitude, the in-cabin retraction device is powered on, and the "release" and "speed selection" operations are performed through the controller to start the motor of the retraction device. Under the drag of the stabilizing cone (by the aerodynamic load on the windward side of the stabilizing cone), the metal cable is released at the set speed. After being released to the required length, the "stop release" button on the controller is pressed, allowing the aircraft to fly in a straight line or circle with the metal cable. When the mission is completed, the "recovery" button and the "speed selection" button on the controller are pressed, allowing the metal cable to be retrieved into the in-cabin retraction device through the guidance device at the set speed.

[0040] To solve the technical problems of deployment and retrieval of metal cable cabins, this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0041] a) The guidance device can be simplified to a single pipe, with the starting end at the outlet of the retraction device and the ending end at the lower panel of the aircraft tail section; the centerline of the pipe is the theoretical position for the retraction and deployment of the metal cable.

[0042] b) Considering the balance of aerodynamic loads on the aircraft during the deployment and retrieval of metal cables, the center axis of the cable outlet of the deployment and retrieval device, the center axis of the cable outlet at the lower panel of the aircraft tail section, or the tail cone of the aircraft should be within the plane of symmetry of the aircraft.

[0043] c) The centerline of the pipeline is composed of multiple broken lines, all of which are within the plane of symmetry of the aircraft; the angle between adjacent broken lines is obtuse and as large as possible to reduce the load on each stress point and ensure smooth winding and unwinding of the metal cable.

[0044] d) The guiding device consists of several pulley load-bearing components, fixed pulleys, metal round tubes, positioning tubes, and metal clamp fasteners. See [link to pulley load-bearing components] for details. Figure 2 Pulley bearings Figure 3 Metal round tube (semi-circle) see Figure 4 Metal clamps are seen Figure 5 See the positioning device. Figure 6 For the installation of pulley load-bearing components, see Figure 7 ;

[0045] e) The pulley load-bearing component is equipped with a fixed limiting pulley group, which consists of 4 pulleys forming a "well" shape. The metal cable passes through the middle of the "well" shape and can transfer the load force of the cable to the metal structure of the pulley load-bearing component through any pulley.

[0046] f) The positioning tube also functions as a guide device. It consists of a metal tube and a pulley with a guide metal cable inside. The end of the metal tube is designed with a positioning port to ensure that the stabilizing cone is fastened in the flared mouth of the guide positioning tube under the traction of the metal cable. At the same time, a positioning detection circuit is set in the positioning tube to transmit the detected positioning signal to the controller.

[0047] Combination Figure 1 A detailed description of this guidance system is provided below:

[0048] Figure 1 This is a metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system, consisting of a deployment and retrieval device, a guidance device (including fixed pulleys), and a positioning device. The deployment and retrieval device comprises a metal housing, a winch, a controller, and a cable storage roller assembly. The guidance device consists of several metal tubes (semi-circles), metal through-cabin tubes, pulley support components, and fixed pulleys, all fixed together by metal clamps to form a deployment and retrieval guidance path for the metal cable within the cabin. This path can be bent according to the cabin space, with the metal cable passing through the middle of the pulley support components, guiding the cable through the metal tubes. A positioning device is installed at the end of the path to guide the deployed and retrieved metal cable. A stabilizing cone is connected to the end of the metal cable to ensure free deployment and retrieval positioning.

[0049] A set of airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance devices includes several metal round tubes (semi-circles), metal through-cabin round tubes, pulley load-bearing components, fixed pulleys, and metal clamps. A guidance and placement device is installed at the end of the guidance device.

[0050] Fixed pulleys are installed at the bends of the guide device to reduce the resistance to cable movement.

[0051] Each section of metal tube (semicircle) consists of two symmetrical semicircular tubes, which are connected and clamped together by metal clamps to form a complete metal tube. This design facilitates disassembly and maintenance.

[0052] The metal through-chamber tube is an integral round tube with guide holes on the end face, which can control the airflow within a certain range.

[0053] The pulley load-bearing component consists of four pulleys forming a "well" shape and a metal component. The two ends of the metal component are used to connect with a metal round tube (semicircle).

[0054] Meanwhile, the metal components are designed with a transition strip for connection with the aircraft's metal clasp (attachment point), which facilitates the fastening of the metal guidance device to the aircraft fuselage via the attachment point.

[0055] Metal clamps are used to connect metal round tubes (semicircles) to pulley load-bearing components.

Claims

1. An airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system, characterized in that, include: Retrieval and deployment device, guiding device, and positioning device; The take-up and release device includes a housing and a winch installed inside the housing, and the take-up and release device is installed in an airtight chamber; The first end of the positioning device is cylindrical and the second end is flared. The positioning device is located on the lower wall panel of the tail section of the aircraft in a non-airtight cabin. The guiding device includes: multiple sections of circular tube, pulley load-bearing components, and metal clamp fasteners; Multiple circular tubes are arranged in sequence, with the first end connected to the outlet of the shell, the middle part passing through the airtight and non-airtight compartments of the fuselage, and the last end connected to the first end of the positioning device. The pulley load-bearing components are installed inside the circular tube and are arranged in a grid pattern; metal clamp fasteners are used to connect the segmented circular tubes. The first end of the metal cable is connected to the winch, and the second end passes through the grid-shaped central through hole of each pulley load-bearing component, leads out of the machine body, and is connected to the stabilizing cone; The shape of the stabilizing cone matches the shape of the flared mouth of the positioning device.

2. The airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guiding device also includes: a fixed pulley; Fixed pulleys are installed at the bends of the guide device and are connected to two sections of circular pipe respectively; The metal cable passes through the outer circumferential groove of the fixed pulley.

3. The airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pulley load-bearing components include two first bearings and two second bearings; Two first bearings are arranged in parallel, and two second bearings are arranged in parallel. The first bearing and the second bearing are perpendicular to each other.

4. The airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the first end cylinder of the positioning device is larger than the inner diameter of the circular tube.

5. The airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning device is equipped with a positioning sensor; The positioning sensor is used to detect whether the stabilizing cone has been positioned correctly.

6. The airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner surface of the flared mouth of the positioning device has a smooth transition.

7. The airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tube penetrating the compartment is a single piece, and the end of the tube located in the non-airtight compartment is equipped with a cover plate with a central hole.

8. The airborne ultra-long metal cable deployment and retrieval guidance system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A reinforcing connecting ring is provided on the outer wall of the round tube for connecting to the machine body via a retaining ring.

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