Unmanned craft

• US 4,410,151 A
• Filed: 08/28/1980
• Issued: 10/18/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke-Fokker GmbH
• Inventors: Kramer, Ulrich, Hoppner, Heinz-Jochen, Sgarz, Hugo, Sadowski, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US06/182,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 244/2, 244/49, 244/45 R, 244/120, 244/124, 244/73-74, 244/63, 244/65, 244/67, 244/69, 244/58, 244/3.1, 244/3.22-3.23, 244/3.24-3.28, 244/14, 102/374-381, 89/1.801-1.819
• US Class Current: 244/63
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/40 Empennages, e.g. V-tails foldable or collapsible UAVs B64U20/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/50 Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/70 Launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails launching from storage containers B64U70/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/80 Vertical take-off or landing, e.g. using rockets rotorcrafts B64U10/10; VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/14 using fins spread or deployed after launch, e.g. after leaving the barrel

Abstract

A vehicle or craft is provided for propeller propulsion with start assist by a releasable rocket engine. The craft is launched from a silo of square-shaped cross-section containing the starter motor for the propeller, whose engine is started while the craft is still in the silo. Diagonally opposed corners of the silo are provided with rails, in which run guides on rudder fins of the craft. The wings are pivoted to the fuselage for deployment whereby the wing tips do not move forward. The rocket engine is jettisoned shortly after take-off by simple disengagement. Parts of the wings and/or the rear of the fuselage may be jettisoned shortly before the craft reaches the target area.

Claims

1. A combination, comprising:

a launch silo of rectangular cross section having an open or openable front and rail means along two oppositely located corners;

a vehicle in the silo having a fuselage and means for extending laterally from the fuselage for supporting guide means to run on said rail means;

propeller-driven engine means on the vehicle and having a propeller which can freely rotate when the vehicle is in the silo, said laterally extending means, extending well beyond a circle delineated by the propeller when rotating;

rocket engine means releasably connected to the vehicle to be disposed aft of the propeller means to impart launching, thrust upon the vehicle; and

wing means, deployably attached to the fuselage and prior to launch being retracted towards the fuselage into a position in which the respective wing tips are not more rearward in relation to the fuselage than in a deployed position, said wing means being capable of deployment as soon as the vehicle has left the silo.

2. The combination as in claim 1, the silo including a starter motor and releasable drive-connecting means, the vehicle including means for connection to the releasable drive-connecting means so that the propeller drive engine can be started while the vehicle is in the silo, the drive-connecting means disengaging from the means for connection following launching the vehicle through ignition of the rocket engine means.

3. The combination as in claim 1, the silo having an openable rear wall.

4. The combination as in claim 1, the silo including cam means to initiate wing deployment.

5. The combination as in claim 1, the means for supporting being a pair of rudder support fins.

6. The combination as in claim 1, the wings having portions attached to the fuselage, the deployable portions being hinged to the attached portions about axes running parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the fuselage, the attached wing portions extending, respectively, towards remaining corners of the silo.

12. A craft or vehice as in claim 1, or 8, the wings each having a first portion affixed to the fuselage, and a second, outer deployable portion pivotable respectively on parallel axes running parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage.

13. A craft or vehicle as in claim 12, the first portions of the wings having rearward extensions also being releasably connected to the rocket engine means.

14. A craft or vehicle as in claim 13, the rocket engine means being connected to the fuselage in a cross-pattern-like configuration, of which the first portions of the wings form a first bar, and rudder means for the craft or vehicle form a second transverse bar.

15. A craft or vehicle as in claim 1 or 8, the wings being pivoted on the fuselage about axes extending oblique to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage out of a plane defined by the said longitudinal axis and a transverse axis through the wings when fully deployed.

16. A craft or vehicle as in claim 15, said pivot axes being at 45°

angle to the longitudinal axes and 45°

to said transverse axis.

17. A craft or vehicle as in claim 1, 7, or 8, the wings each being biparted, a respective outer portion of each wing being releasably connected to a respective inner portion for being jettisoned.

18. A craft or vehicle as in claim 17, the wings being of sweep-forward configuration.

19. A craft or vehicle as in claim 1, 7, or 8, the fuselage being biparted, the wings being connected to a rearward portion of the fuselage, the rearward portion of the fuselage being provided with aerodynamic guide means.

20. A craft or vehicle as in claim 19, a forward portion of the fuselage being provided with further aerodynamic guide means, the latter guide means being independent from any aerodynamic guide means on the rearward portion of the fuselage.

21. A craft or vehicle as in claim 19, the forward portion of the fuselage including second rocket engine means.

7. An unmanned craft provided for rocket engine and propeller-type of propulsion, and to be launched from a silo, comprising:

an enlongated fuselage;

a pair of wings, each having a first portion affixed to the fuselage and having a second, outer deployable portion for being folded forward against the fuselage for deployment following launching from a silo and by means of pivoting about axes running parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage;

a propeller engine driving a propeller;

rocket engine means releasably connected to the fuselage, aft of the propeller; and

guide means for guiding the vehicle upon being launched from the silo, the guide means extending from the fuselage in radial directions, from different azimuthal locations of the fuselage, and at distances therefrom to extend beyond a circle as described by the propeller when rotating.

9. A craft as in claim 7 or 8, the guide means being constructed to have rearward portions to which the rocket engine means are releasably connected to be thereby connected to the fuselage.

10. An unmanned aircraft as in claim 7 and having rudder means constructed as two fin means extending oppositely from the fuselage, the wings and the fins establishing a cross-configuration.

11. An unmanned aircraft as in claim 10 or 8 the fin means being integrated with and supporting the guide means on the fuselage.

8. An unmanned aircraft to be launched from a silo having two parallel running, diametrically opposed rails, comprising:

a fuselage;

a pair of fins with rudders extending oppositely from the fuselage and having guide means for running in the rail means;

wing means, deployably attached to the fuselage and prior to launch being retracted towards the fuselage into a position in which the respective wing tips are not more rearward in relation to the fuselage than in a deployed position;

the fuselage containing an engine, there being a propeller for being driven by the engine, the propeller having dimensions to inscribe a circle upon rotation whose diameter multiplied by the square root of two is less than a total extension of the fins; and

rocket engine means releasably connected to the fuselage aft of the propeller.

22. A unmanned craft provided for rocket engine and propeller-type of propulsion and to launched from a silo, comprising:

an elongated fuselage;

a pair of wings being pivoted on the fuselage about axes extending oblique to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage and out of a plane defined by the said longitudinal axis and a transverse axis through the wings when fully deployed;

a propeller engine driving a propeller;

rocket engine means releasably connect to the fuselage, aft of the propeller; and

guide means for guiding the vehicle along said longitudinal axis upon being launched, the guide means extending from the fuselage in radial directions, from different azimuthal locations of the fuselage, and at distances therefrom to extend beyond a circle as described by the propeller when rotating.