Aircraft

Details Aircraft Aircraft

1999-11-22

2001-09-25

Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)

Aeronautics and astronautics

Aircraft, heavier-than-air

Airplane sustained

C244S900000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06293490

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an aircraft, in particular a hang-glider with a flexible wing, and a space for a pilot, preferably arranged beneath it, from which space the aircraft can be controlled.
Such aircraft, or respectively hang-gliders (Rogallo wing) have been used for a long time. Normally, a wing made from flexible material stretches rearwards from a rigid wing nose, said wing being braced to a tubular frame of the hang-glider by means of cables. The controlling, or respectively steering of such an aircraft or respectively hang-glider is done by shifting the weight of the pilot, who hangs beneath the wing.
The object of the invention is to provide improved control for an aircraft, in particular a hang-glider of the type described in the introduction.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, this is solved in that in the pilot's position there is provided at least one controlling element which the pilot can actuate, for controlling the aircraft, wherein the trailing edge of the flexible wing can be locally raised and/or lowered by means of a transmission means leading from the controlling element(s) to the trailing edge.
Cables are also provided in DE 36 02 407, which engage with the trailing edge of the aircraft. These cables, however, are only joined to one another, and only the tension of the connecting cables can be adjusted by the pilot (even during the flight). Active steering of the hang-glider disclosed therein is therefore not possible as the cables are not carried to any steering control elements. Steering is done in this case by means of weight shifting.
By means of the transmission means which—as will be described hereinafter—can include control cables and/or control rods, it is possible for the pilot to locally raise or respectively lower the trailing edge of the flexible wing from the pilot's position, and thereby to obtain a rudder steering effect. In a manner different to what is normal with aircraft, the rudders do not have to be configured from special components which are mounted in an articulated manner. Rather, it is sufficient to “deform” or respectively to warp the flexible wing by means of the transmission means (control cables and/or control rods) in order to obtain the desired rudder steering effect.
A further aspect of the invention relates to the reinforcement of the trailing edge of the wing by means of at least a stiffened elongate element, in particular a spar. This spar contributes on the one hand to the stability of the trailing edge of the aircraft, and thereby to improvement of the flying characteristics, and can, on the other hand, serve as a point of engagement for the controlling transmission means.
With hang-gliders, the height control and respectively control of the air speed is generally done by shifting weight forwards or respectively rearwards, wherein a weight shift forwards leads to an increase in speed (rapid flight), and a weight shift to the rear to a decrease in speed (slow flight). The transmission means according to the invention can be used not only for curving flight (rudder effect), but also virtually as an elevator, when the trailing edges are moved substantially in the same direction upwards or respectively downwards, in order to obtain upwards or respectively downwards control.
A variation is particularly advantageous which has a single control column, which can advantageously be movable in the manner of a joystick. For increasing speed, the control column is moved forwards, which, via the transmission means causes the two areas of the trailing edges of the flexible wing, to the left and right of the longitudinal central plane, to be pushed downwards. For decreasing speed, the control column is pulled back, whereby these areas of the trailing edges to the left and right move in the same direction upwards. For curving flight, the control column is moved to the left or respectively to the right, whereby the trailing edges are moved unevenly, which initiates curving flight.
Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the following description of the drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5252068 (1993-10-01), Gryder
patent: 36 02 407 (1986-11-01), None
patent: WO 88/06550 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 2535285 A1 (1984-05-01), None

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