Aircraft External Load Detachable Hook with Dual Support Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detachable connection arrangements for jettisonable external loads on aircraft, such as large and light empty tanks, fail to ensure safe separation due to buoyancy forces, which can cause the load to collide with the aircraft, especially when suspended under the fuselage or wings with low-lying elevators.
Innovation Solution
A detachable connection arrangement featuring a hook-like connecting element with a lower and upper support surface and a receiving element with counter-support surfaces, designed to support inertia forces away from the aircraft, ensuring the load separates safely by aerodynamic forces without risking collision, with a geometric configuration that prevents upward movement and rearward slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the external load is pushed away from the aircraft and set in rotation so that the nose moves downwards, then the external load is pushed further down away from the aircraft, but large and light external loads are subject to buoyancy forces that can cause the tail to be pushed downwards in the direction of the aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a counteracting force mechanism through the connection arrangement's geometric design. The support surfaces and counter-support surfaces are configured to provide an upward counter-force that balances the harmful buoyancy forces acting on large and light external loads, preventing the tail from being pushed downwards toward the aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection arrangement is designed to preemptively counteract buoyancy forces before they can cause harmful effects. The geometric configuration of support surfaces creates preliminary resistance against upward buoyancy forces, preventing the external load from moving in harmful directions before separation is complete.
2Reliability
If the hook-like connecting element is designed with support surfaces to counteract buoyancy forces, then the safety of separation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional geometric features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the geometric configuration of the support surfaces. The same surfaces that provide mechanical support also serve to counteract buoyancy forces and guide the separation motion, eliminating the need for separate counteracting mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surfaces and counter-support surfaces are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: supporting the external load during flight, guiding the separation motion, and counteracting buoyancy forces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components.
3Ease of operation
If the lower support surface and first counter-support surface are curved in the shape of a circular arc, then the connection element can be separated by a pivoting movement, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs circular arc curvature in the support surfaces to enable smooth pivoting motion during separation. This curved geometry naturally guides the connection element through the required arc-shaped movement path, making the separation operation simple and intuitive.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The connection arrangement effectively prevents buoyancy-related collisions by ensuring the external load separates safely downwards and rearwards, reducing the risk of aircraft damage during jettisoning, and is mechanically reliable with minimal additional components.
Implementation Method 1
The lower support surface and the first counter-support surface are designed to support inertia forces of the external load pointing away from the aircraft
Implementation Method 2
the upper support surface and the upper counter-support surface are designed to support inertial forces of the external load directed towards the aircraft
Implementation Method 3
the lower support surface and the first counter-support surface are disengaged by the aerodynamic forces acting on the external load
Implementation Method 4
Due to their relatively low weight, large and light external loads are subject to buoyancy forces that cannot be neglected, which can cause the tail of the external load to be pushed downwards by the buoyancy forces in the direction of the aircraft
Data Source
AI summary
A detachable connecting arrangement for fitting launchable external loads (3) to an aircraft, having at least one hook-like connecting element (1), which can be fitted to the external load (3), and having at least one holding element (2), which can be fitted to the aircraft (4), for the hook-like connecting element (1); distinguished in that the hook-like connecting element (1) is provided with at least one lower supporting surface (13) and at least one upper supporting surface (11); in that the holding element (2) is provided with at least one first opposing supporting surface (23), which is designed to interact with the at least one lower supporting surface (13), and with at least one second, upper opposing supporting surface (21), which is designed to interact with the at least one upper supporting surface (11), wherein the lower supporting surface (13) and the first opposing supporting surface (23) are designed to support mass forces of the external load (3) directed away from the aircraft, and wherein the upper supporting surface (11) and the upper opposing supporting surface (21) are designed to support mass forces of the external load (3) directed towards the aircraft.