Airborne early warning system with retractable radome

• US 4,593,288 A
• Filed: 09/06/1983
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marconi Avionics Limited Airport Works
• Original Assignee: Marconi Avionics Ltd (Cornhill Corp. Holdings LLP)
• Inventors: Fitzpatrick, Roger S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Eli
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US06/529,650
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 343/705, 343/872, 343/757, 343/761, 343/762, 343/765, 343/766, 244/118.1, 244/118.2, 244/118.5, 244/102 R, 244/129.5, 244/137 A, 244/137 R
• US Class Current: 343/705
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/36 adapted to receive antennas or radomes
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/067 the energy being transmitted in only one line located on the axis of rotation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/428 Collapsible radomes; rotatable, tiltable radomes

Abstract

A radar scanner unit for an airborne early warning system comprises an aerodynamic radome pod (1) pivotally mounted on a pylon (2) which is in turn pivotally mounted on a framework (19). The pod (1) can be retracted towards the framework (19) and the unit can be bodily fitted via a standard cargo loading aperture into the fuselage of an aircraft. In flight, the pod (1) can be deployed from and retracted into the aircraft fuselage via the cargo-loading aperture, doors (3) being arranged to fit round the pylon (2) when the pod (1) is deployed.

Claims

1. A radar scanner unit mounted in an aircraft having an elongated fuselage including means defining a first enclosed volume and means defining a second enclosed volume, said second enclosed volume being rearward of said first enclosed volume and being provided with a cargo-loading-aperture, said radar scanner unit comprising:

(a) a supporting framework fixed to said means defining said second enclosed volume;

(b) an aerodynamic pylon pivotally mounted for rotatable movement on and relative to said supporting framework about a first axis transverse to the axis of elongation of said fuselage, said pylon being pivotal between a deployed position in which it projects downwardly from the bottom of the fuselage and a retracted position in which it is received in the second enclosed volume;

(c) first drive means connected between said supporting framework and said pylon for effecting pivotal deployment and retraction of said pylon out of and into the means defining the second volume, respectively, through the cargo-loading-aperture;

(d) an aerodynamic radome pod pivotally mounted for rotatable movement on and relative to said pylon, said pod being elongated in a direction generally parallel to the direction of elongation of the fuselage;

(e) second drive means connected between said pylon and said radome pod for effecting pivotal deployment and retraction of said radome pod relative to said pylon about a second axis transverse to said fuselage;

(f) ganging means coupling said first and second drive means for deploying and retracting said pylon and said radome pod in unison;

(g) said ganging means maintaining an approximately constant aerodynamic attitude of said radome pod as it is deployed through said cargo-loading-aperture out of said means defining said second enclosed volume and retracted through said cargo-loading-aperture into said means defining said second volume.

2. A radar scanner unit as claimed in claim 1, including an articulated linkage connected between said supporting framework and said pylon, said articulated linkage locking said pylon in the deployed position.

3. A radar scanner unit as claimed in claim 2, including a further articulated linkage connected between said pylon and said radome pod, said further articulated linkage consisting of an articulated waveguide.

4. A radar scanner unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting framework incorporates a pressure bulkhead for isolating the means defining the first volume and permitting the scanner unit to operate at atmospheric pressure.

5. A radar scanner unit according to claim 1, wherein said cargo-loading-aperture is provided with doors which mate with said pylon when said radome pod is deployed to form a continuous aerodynamic surface therewith.

6. An airborne early warning system comprising:

(i) A radar scanner unit, said radar scanner unit comprising;

(a) a supporting framework for fixing to a section of an elongated aircraft fuselage including a means defining a volume having a cargo-loading-aperture;

(b) an aerodynamic pylon pivotally mounted for rotatable movement on and relative to said supporting framework about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said fuselage for pivotal movement from a deployed position projecting from below the bottom of the fuselage to a retracted position within the means defining a volume;

(c) first drive means connected between said supporting framework and said pylon for effecting pivotal depolyment and retraction of said pylon out of and into the means defining a volume, respectively, through the cargo-loading-aperture;

(d) an aerodynamic radome pod pivotally mounted for rotatable movement on and relative to said pylon, said pod being elongated parallel to said fuselage;

(e) second drive means connected between said pylon and said radome pod for effecting pivotal deployment and retraction of said radome pod relative to said pylon; and

(f) ganging means coupling said first and second drive means for deploying and retracting said pylon and said radome pod in unison;

(g) said ganging means maintaining an approximately constant aerodynamic attitude of said radome pod as it is deployed and retracted out of and into said means defining said volume, respectively, through said cargo-loading-aperture;

(ii) said airborne early warning system further comprising a plurality of personnel and equipment housing modules for the energization of said radar scanner unit and the processing of information derived from it; and

(iii) means for coupling said modules and said radar scanner unit together as an integral unit for loading through the cargo-loading-aperture of an aircraft, fixing said supporting framework to the means defining a volume and deploying said radome pod through said cargo-loading-aperture selectively.

7. An airborne early warning system according to claim 6, wherein said means for coupling have limited flexibility to permit said integral unit to conform to the flexing of the fuselage in flight.