flying boat

Abstract

To provide a boat seaplane which can reduce wave resistance during navigation on water with simpler configuration, and can efficiently accelerate to a syneresis speed.SOLUTION: A shell 2 is formed into a tabular shape when viewed from a vertical direction, and is formed into a streamline shape such that a midship part 22 thereof is expanded when viewed from a longitudinal direction. Side plates 5, 5 extending in a cross direction of the shell 2 are respectively erected on a left end part and a right end part of the shell 2 so as to project downward with respect to an undersurface of the shell 2. Between the side plate 5 erected on the left end part and the side plate 5 erected on the right end part, a horizontal tail plane is swingably supported at a rear end part 23 of the shell 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flying boat whose fuselage has a streamlined shape similar to that used in airplane wings. When the flying boat is stationary on the water, buoyancy acts on the fuselage, allowing it to float on the water's surface, and when the flying boat is moving forward on the water, lift acts on the fuselage and main wings, allowing the fuselage to rise and take off. [Background technology]

[0002] Amphibians have been known for some time, capable of taking off by floating on the water surface due to buoyancy acting on the fuselage when stationary on the water, and by lift acting on the fuselage and main wings when moving forward on the water. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an amphibian equipped with hydrofoils at the front and rear of the bottom of the boat to generate upward lift when taking off, thereby lifting the aircraft above the water surface using this lift, thereby reducing wave-making resistance when taking off. However, the amphibian disclosed in Patent Document 1 has hydrofoils at the front and rear of the bottom of the boat, which makes its structure complex and increases its manufacturing costs.

[0003] In response to these problems, the inventors conducted extensive research to develop a simple flying boat that would reduce propulsion resistance during takeoff. As a result, they discovered that by creating an airflow passage on the underside of the aircraft, and increasing the pressure of this airflow to generate lift for the aircraft, the aircraft would rise above the water surface, thereby reducing wave resistance during takeoff. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-167792 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention is based on this finding, and its technical objective is to provide a flying boat with a simpler configuration that reduces wave-making resistance when traveling on water and can efficiently accelerate to takeoff speed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the flying boat of the present invention has a fuselage, main wings attached to the fuselage, and a propulsion unit attached to the upper surface of the fuselage, and the fuselage floats on the water surface when stationary on the water, and rises above the water surface when moving forward on the water due to lift. The fuselage is formed like a streamlined plate with a bulging center in a cross section along the longitudinal direction, and side plates extending in the longitudinal direction of the fuselage are erected at the left and right ends of the fuselage so as to protrude below the underside of the fuselage, a pair of vertical stabilizers are supported in a swingable manner on the upper surface of the rear end of the fuselage, and both the main wings and the propulsion unit are attached in the longitudinal center of the fuselage, and a horizontal stabilizer is supported in a swingable manner at the rear end of the fuselage between the side plate erected at the left end and the side plate erected at the right end. The body is provided in the center with a water storage tank for storing water, a water supply and drainage port for supplying and draining water to and from the water storage tank, an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the water supply and drainage port, and an air vent that communicates with the water storage tank and discharges gas from the water storage tank to the outside of the body, the air vent being provided on the top surface of the water storage tank, and the water supply and drainage port being provided on the bottom surface of the body, and the opening / closing mechanism has a cylinder with a drive rod that reciprocates in the opening direction of the water supply and drainage port, a valve body provided on the tip side of the drive rod, and a valve seat formed on the peripheral wall of the water supply and drainage port, and the water supply and drainage port is opened and closed by the contact and separation of the valve body and the valve seat. It is characterized by the following.

[0007] In this case, it is preferable that the rear end of the side plate extends further rearward than the rear end of the fuselage. The main wings may be provided on the left and right sides of the center of the fuselage, respectively, and may have a main wing body disposed above the upper surface of the fuselage and extending in the left-right direction, and a main wing base formed on the base end side of the main wing body and erected on the upper surface of the center of the fuselage.

[0008] It is also preferable that the water storage tank is formed so that the cross-sectional area in the planar direction increases toward the bottom surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The flying boat of the present invention has side panels erected at both the left and right ends of the fuselage, so that when it moves forward on the water, air is forced into the space surrounded by the water surface, the fuselage, and the side panels, forming an airflow passage. The air passing through this airflow passage generates lift on the fuselage, allowing it to rise above the water surface. Furthermore, when the flying boat of the present invention is raised to takeoff speed with the fuselage above the water surface, the horizontal stabilizer swings downward, increasing the pressure in the airflow passage and thereby increasing the lift applied to the fuselage. This allows the fuselage to rise stably above the water surface and reduces the wave-making resistance generated by the side panels. Then, by raising the horizontal stabilizer while the fuselage is stably above the water surface, the fuselage faces upward, and the fuselage and main wings receive lift, allowing the flying boat to take off. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a flying boat that has a simpler configuration than conventional ones, reduces wave-making resistance when traveling on water, and can be efficiently taken off the water. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a flying boat according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a side view of a flying boat according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a front view of a flying boat according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the flying boat according to the present invention is floating on water. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state in which the flying boat shown in FIG. 4 is rising above the water surface. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state in which the flying boat shown in FIG. 4 is taking off from the water. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state in which the flying boat shown in FIG. 4 is ascending in the air. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state in which the flying boat shown in FIG. 4 is flying horizontally. [Figure 9] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state in which the flying boat shown in FIG. 4 has landed on water. [Figure 10]1 is a plan view of a firefighting flying boat according to the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a side view of a firefighting flying boat according to the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a front view of a firefighting flying boat according to the present invention. [Figure 13] This is a diagram showing the water supply and drainage ports of a firefighting flying boat closed. [Figure 14] This is a diagram showing the water supply and drainage ports of a firefighting flying boat open. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of a flying boat according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the flying boat 1 of this embodiment has a fuselage 2, a pair of main wings 3, 3 provided in a central section 22 located near the center of the fuselage 2 in the longitudinal direction, a propulsion unit 4 provided in the central section 22 of the fuselage 2, and a pair of side panels 5, 5 provided at the left and right ends of the fuselage 2. In addition, a pair of vertical tails 6, 6 and a horizontal tail (flap) 7 are provided at the aft end 23 of the fuselage 2.

[0012] The fuselage 2 is formed in the shape of a streamlined plate with a bulging central portion 22 in a cross section along the longitudinal direction. More specifically, the fuselage 2 has a front end portion 21 that is formed to become thinner toward the front end, an aft end portion 23 that is formed to become thinner toward the aft end of the fuselage 2, and a central portion 22 that is located between the front end portion 21 and the aft end portion 23 and is thicker than the front end portion 21 and the aft end portion 23. The upper surface 24 of the fuselage 2 bulges upward from the front end portion 21 and the aft end portion 23 toward the central portion 22 and is formed to be approximately horizontal at the central portion 22. On the other hand, the lower surface 25 of the fuselage 2 is formed to be horizontal from the front end portion 21 to the aft end portion 23.

[0013] The main wings 3 are provided on the left and right sides of the central section 22 of the fuselage 2, and each main wing 3 is formed to extend generally parallel to the fuselage 2 in the left-right direction. These main wings 3 each have a main wing body 31 that is provided parallel to the upper surface 24 of the fuselage 2, and a main wing base 32 that is formed at the base end of the main wing body 31 and stands obliquely upward from the upper surface 24 of the central section 22 of the fuselage 2. The main wing bodies 31 are located above the central section 22 and slightly higher than the tops of the vertical stabilizers 6. Ailerons 33, which control the left-right tilt of the flying boat 1, are supported on the main wing bodies 31 in a swingable manner.

[0014] A propulsion unit 4 for propelling the flying boat 1 is disposed between the left and right main wings 3. This propulsion unit 4 is located on the upper surface 24 of the central section 22, near the center of gravity of the flying boat 1. In this embodiment, a propeller is used as the propulsion unit 4, but a jet engine may be used instead of a propeller.

[0015] The side plates 5, 5 are formed in a boat shape and are erected at the left and right ends of the underside 25 of the fuselage 2. These side plates 5, 5 extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the fuselage 2, and their length is approximately the same as the length of the fuselage 2 in the fore-and-aft direction. These side plates 5, 5 have a generally parallelogram shape with their lower sides positioned slightly rearward of their upper sides in a side view. In other words, the lower parts of the rear ends of these side plates 5, 5 are formed so that they protrude rearward beyond the rear end of the fuselage 2.

[0016] The vertical tails 6, 6 are located on the left and right ends of the aft end 23 of the fuselage 2, slightly inboard of the side panels 5, 5 when viewed from the top-bottom direction. Rudders 61, 61 are supported by these vertical tails 6, 6 so that they can swing freely, and they direct the nose of the flying boat 1 (the forward end 21 of the fuselage 2) left and right. Furthermore, a horizontal tail 7 is supported between the vertical tails 6, 6 at the aft end 23 so that it can swing freely, and they direct the nose of the flying boat 1 up and down.

[0017] Next, the process from takeoff to landing of the flying boat 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to Figures 4 through 9. As shown in Figure 4, when the flying boat 1 is stopped or flying at a low speed, the fuselage 2 remains afloat on the water, just like a normal boat. When the forward speed is increased from this state by the thrust of the propulsion units 4, air is forced between the underside of the streamlined fuselage 2 and the water surface S. An airflow path is formed between the underside 25 of the fuselage 2, the side panels 5, 5, and the water surface S, generating lift on the fuselage 2. This causes the fuselage 2 to rise above the water surface, as shown in Figure 5. When the horizontal stabilizer 7 is moved downward at a predetermined speed, the lift acting on the fuselage 2 and main wings 3, 3 can raise the fuselage 2 further above the water surface S. Therefore, by raising the fuselage 2 above the water surface S, wave-making resistance during running on water can be reduced. Then, while maintaining the fuselage 2 above the water surface S, the forward speed is further increased, and when the takeoff speed (200 to 250 kilometers per hour) is reached, the horizontal stabilizer 7 is moved upward, causing the fuselage 2 to face upward as shown in Figures 6 and 7, and the underside 25 of the fuselage 2 to receive the airflow from the front, generating a large lift on the fuselage 2 and allowing the flying boat 1 to take off from the water.

[0018] After takeoff, when the flying boat 1 reaches a predetermined altitude, the horizontal stabilizer 7 is returned to a horizontal position, pushing up the rear end 23 of the fuselage 2 and transitioning to horizontal flight, as shown in Figure 8. In horizontal flight, the horizontal stabilizer 7 is swung up and down to control the elevation and lowering of the nose, the ailerons 33, 33 are swung up and down to control the rotational movement of the fuselage 2, and the vertical stabilizers 6, 6 are swung left and right to control the left and right direction of the nose.

[0019] Next, when landing on water from horizontal flight, the propulsion force of the propulsion units 4 is reduced to slow the flying speed of the flying boat 1, and the flying boat 1's altitude is lowered while maintaining the fuselage 2 horizontal. Once the flying boat 1's altitude has been lowered to near the water surface S, the horizontal stabilizer 7 is swung upward to point the nose upward, as shown in Figure 9, and the flying boat 1 lands on water with the nose facing upward. Then, when the rear ends of the side panels 5, 5 touch down on the water, the horizontal stabilizer 7 is returned to a horizontal position, and the fuselage is returned to a horizontal orientation. After landing on water, the power output of the propulsion units 4 is reduced to gradually slow the flying boat 1 down and bring it to a stop.

[0020] Thus, with the flying boat 1 of this embodiment, by raising the fuselage 2 above the water surface S when traveling on the water, the flying boat can travel on the water with only the side panels 5, 5 in contact with the water surface S, thereby reducing wave resistance and enabling more efficient acceleration up to takeoff speed when traveling on the water.

[0021] Next, a firefighting flying boat, which is another embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 14. In describing this firefighting flying boat, components common to the above-described flying boat 1 will be given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. Similar to the above-described flying boat 1, the firefighting flying boat 1A of this embodiment has a fuselage 2, a pair of main wings 3, 3, a propulsion unit 4, a pair of side panels 5, 5, a pair of vertical tails 6, 6, and a horizontal tail 7. A water tank 8 for storing water is provided in the center section 22 of the fuselage 2.

[0022] The water storage tank 8 is formed inside the central portion 22, and the underside 25 of the body 2 forms part of the storage wall. The water storage tank 8 is formed in a generally trapezoidal shape when viewed from the left and right, and in a semi-cylindrical shape when viewed from the front and back, so that the cross-sectional area in the planar direction increases toward the underside 25. An air vent 9 is provided at the top of the water storage tank 8, which communicates with the water storage tank 8 and allows gas within the water storage tank 8 to be discharged to the outside of the body 2.

[0023] A water supply and drainage port 10 for supplying and draining water to and from the water tank 8 is provided on the underside 25 of the fuselage 2, which constitutes the housing wall for the water tank 8. This water supply and drainage port 10 is provided behind the water tank 8, slightly behind the propulsion unit 4 and the main wings 3, 3. In addition, an opening and closing mechanism 11 for opening and closing this water supply and drainage port 10 is provided behind the water tank 8. This opening and closing mechanism 11 is arranged outside the water tank 8 and has a hydraulic cylinder 13 with a drive rod 12 that reciprocates in the direction of opening the water supply and drainage port 10, a valve element 14 provided at the tip side of the drive rod 12, and a valve seat 15 formed on the peripheral wall of the water supply and drainage port 10, and is a mechanism that makes it possible to open and close the water supply and drainage port 10 by moving the valve element 14 and the valve seat 15 closer to and farther from each other.

[0024] The drive rod 12 is inserted through an insertion hole 16 provided in the upper wall portion 8a of the water storage tank 8, and is capable of reciprocating within the water storage tank 8. Drive A gland packing 17 is inserted to seal the gap between the rod 12 and the insertion hole 16. The water supply / drain port 10 and the valve body 14 are formed in a rectangular shape extending in the left-right direction, and the drive rod 12 is attached to the center of the valve body 14 when viewed from the top and bottom.

[0025] Next, we will explain the takeoff and landing of this firefighting flying boat 1A. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, when flying boat 1A is stopped on water, the underside of fuselage 2 is submerged so that the top of water tank 8 is roughly flush with the water surface S, and the flying boat floats on the water. That is, because water supply and drainage ports 10 of flying boat 1A are located underwater, opening water supply and drainage ports 10 while the flying boat is stopped on water allows water to be supplied to water tank 8. After water supply to water tank 8 has been completed, closing water supply and drainage ports 10 allows water to be stored in water tank 8. Furthermore, the flying boat's operation on water, takeoff, flight, and landing are the same as those of the flying boat 1 described above, but by opening the water supply and drainage port 10 during flight, it is possible to spray water stored in the water storage tank 8.

[0026] Next, we will explain the water supply and drainage of the water tank 8. As shown in Figure 14, water is supplied to the water tank 8 by raising (retracting) the drive rod 12 while the water supply and drainage port 10 is located underwater, thereby separating the valve body 14 from the valve seat 15 and opening the water supply and drainage port 10. At this time, the air inside the water tank 8 is discharged to the outside through the vent 9, allowing the air pressure inside the water tank 8 to be released and making it possible to supply water to the water tank 8 without using a water supply pump. Water stored in water tank 8 can be sprayed by removing valve body 14 from valve seat 15 and opening water supply / drain outlet 10 above the target area, such as a fire scene. As the amount of water stored in water tank 8 decreases, the air pressure inside water tank 8 decreases. However, air is drawn into water tank 8 through vent 9, which keeps the air pressure inside water tank 8 constant and allows for smooth water spraying.

[0027] Thus, when flying boat 1A of this embodiment is stopped on water, the underside of fuselage 2 is submerged and floats on the water, so that the top surface of water tank 8 is nearly flush with water surface S. This allows water to be supplied to water tank 8 in a short time without using a water supply pump. Furthermore, when flying, flying boat 1A of this embodiment can open water supply and drainage port 10 by separating valve element 14 from valve seat 15, thereby shortening the time from water supply to watering at the destination.

[0028] In this embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder 13 is used to move the valve element 14 and the valve seat 15 closer to and farther from each other, but a pneumatic system may be used instead of a hydraulic system. Also, this opening / closing mechanism 11 may be one that can be opened and closed remotely from the cockpit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1,1A flying boat 2. Torso 3. Main wing 4 Propulsion machine 5 Side Panel 6 Vertical stabilizer 7 Horizontal stabilizer (flap) 8. Water storage tank 9 Ventilation holes 10 Water supply and drainage outlet 11 Opening and closing mechanism 12 Drive rod 13 cylinders 14 Valve body 15 Valve seat 21 Front end 22 Central part 23 Rear end 24 Top side 25 Bottom side 31 Main wing body 32 Wing base 33 Aileron 61 Rudder S water surface

Claims

1. The torso and A main wing provided on the fuselage; a propulsion unit provided on an upper surface of the fuselage, In a flying boat, the fuselage floats on the water surface when stationary on the water, and the fuselage receives lift and rises above the water surface when moving forward on the water, The fuselage is formed in a streamlined plate shape with a bulging central portion in a cross section along the front-to-rear direction, side plates extending in the front-rear direction of the fuselage are erected at the left end and the right end of the fuselage so as to protrude downward from the underside of the fuselage, A pair of vertical tails are supported on the upper surface of the rear end of the fuselage so as to be able to swing freely, the main wing and the propulsion unit are both provided in the central portion in the front-to-rear direction of the fuselage, a horizontal stabilizer is supported so as to be able to swing freely at the rear end of the fuselage between a side plate erected at the left end and a side plate erected at the right end; a water tank for storing water, a water supply and drainage port for supplying and draining water to and from the water tank, an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the water supply and drainage port, and an air vent communicating with the water tank and for discharging gas within the water tank to the outside of the body, provided in the center of the body; the vent is provided on the top surface of the water storage tank, The water supply and drainage port is provided on the underside of the body, The opening and closing mechanism has a cylinder with a drive rod that reciprocates in the opening direction of the water supply and drainage port, a valve body provided at the tip of the drive rod, and a valve seat formed on the peripheral wall of the water supply and drainage port, and the water supply and drainage port is opened and closed by the contact and separation of the valve body and the valve seat.

2. 2. The flying boat according to claim 1, wherein the rear end of the side panel extends further rearward than the rear end of the fuselage.

3. 3. The flying boat according to claim 1, wherein the main wings are provided on the left and right sides of the center of the fuselage, respectively, and comprise a main wing body disposed above the upper surface of the fuselage and extending in the left-right direction, and a main wing base formed at the base end of the main wing body and erected on the upper surface of the center of the fuselage.

4. 2. The flying boat according to claim 1, wherein the water storage tank is formed so that the cross-sectional area in the planar direction increases toward the bottom surface.

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