Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft structure – Fuselage and body construction
Patent
1987-02-11
1988-04-12
Barefoot, Galen
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft structure
Fuselage and body construction
2441182, B64C 100
Patent
active
047369108
ABSTRACT:
An aircraft is set forth having a fuselage (22) which terminates at a forward bulkhead (38). Secured to the fuselage (22) to complete the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft is one or a number of interchangeable, mission specific nose modules (46). A plurality of sleeves (66) is disposed on the fuselage (22) at the forward bulkhead (38) and a like number of corresponding pins (106) are positioned at the nose module (46), reception of the pins (106) into the sleeves (66) as the nose module (46) is mated to the fuselage (22) providing for first gross positional alignment and, as the pins (106) approach full insertion into the sleeves (66), fine positional alignment for interconnection. Couplers (68, 70) are included to provide connection between any electronics in the nose module (46) and monitoring/control electronics disposed on the fuselage (22) and its cockpit (26). The couplers can accommodate six degrees of malalignment to receive the other fixed portion of the coupling for interconnection thereof. Upon mating of the nose module (46) to the fuselage (22), connectors such as over center clamps (112) afix the nose module (46) to its fuselage (22). If desired, the aircraft may also be provided with interchangeable tail modules (126) which include pins (106) and couplers (68, 70) like the nose modules (46) to facilitate their interconnection to and interchange between aircraft. The interchangeability of the tail and nose modules (126, 46) between aircraft gives a small contingent of such aircraft a wide variety of mission capabilities.
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patent: 2504422 (1950-04-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 3017137 (1962-01-01), Helmke et al.
patent: 3094364 (1963-06-01), Lingg
patent: 3116896 (1964-01-01), Sigler et al.
patent: 3171620 (1965-03-01), Walley et al.
patent: 3640492 (1972-02-01), Star
patent: 3703265 (1972-11-01), Troitiwo
patent: 3881671 (1975-05-01), Bouchnik
patent: 3947080 (1976-03-01), Ege
patent: 4447025 (1984-05-01), Bock et al.
patent: 4449679 (1984-05-01), McComas
Culver Irven H.
O'Quinn Russell P.
Barefoot Galen
Flight Concepts Limited Partnership
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