Device for the acceleration of bodies, especially a mobile catapult for flying bodies

• US 4,909,458 A
• Filed: 11/21/1988
• Issued: 03/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SCHWEIZERISCHE EIDGENOSSENSCHAFT VERTRETEN DURCH DAS, EIDGENOSSISCHE FLUGZEUGWERK DER GRUPPE FUR RUTUNGSDIENSTE, CH-6032, EMMEN, SWITZERLAND
• Original Assignee: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Vertreten Durch Das Eidgenossische Flugzeugwerk
• Inventors: Martin, Monkewitz
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sartelle, Anne
• Application Number:
  US07/273,769
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 244/63, 244/111, 244/110 C, 244/110 A, 254/361, 254/362, 254/323, 254/328, 254/387
• US Class Current: 244/63
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/06 using catapults

Abstract

For acceleration of bodies along a track, a traction rope was wound onto a drum at the end of the track. During disengagement, the rope and the vicinity within range of the rotating rope were liable to suffer damage.

The device according to the invention serves in particular for the catapult-launching of flying bodies. A winding drum driven by hydraulic motors is arranged below the point of maximum track velocity of the flying body and moves the latter along the longitudinal track until it reaches lift-off velocity. A flat traction ribbon connected to a carriage causes the winding drum to reverse its sense of rotation, so that the carriage is braked along a short stretch.

The device can be mounted on a light truck and is electrohydraulically operated by the vehicle battery.

Claims

1. A device for accelerating bodies on a longitudinal track, especially aircraft for purpose of takeoff, wherein said body is directly or indirectly accelerated along said longitudinal track via a windable drive rope by means of at least one stationary motor, and wherein the acceleration stretch has a first, positive, and a second, negative, acceleration zone, characterized in that the rope winding drum is arranged at a position below the longitudinal track and at least in proximity of the point of maximum track velocity of said body, and that the rope end, after the transition thereof from the zone of increasing track velocity to the zone of decreasing track velocity, brakes said winding drum and said motor counter to their original sense of rotation until the arrest thereof and, subsequently accelerates them in the opposite sense of rotation, whereby a portion of said rope unwinds from said winding drum.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the winding drum is arranged on the shaft of the motor, and that at least one deflection roller is provided for said rope on the side of the positive track acceleration.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said rope is in the form of a flat ribbon made of polyester.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that said motor consists of two hydraulic machines.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, for transport of said body, a carriage is attached to the end of said rope, the kinetic energy of which carriage is at least partly recovered in said motor in the zone of decreasing velocity, after reversal of the sense of rotation thereof.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the oil supply of said hydraulic drives takes place via an intermediate gas-pressure accumulator.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that charging of said intermediate gas-pressure accumulator is effected by a high-pressure pump working on the piston principle.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said high-pressure pump is driven by an electric motor.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said electric motor is a d.c. motor energized by a vehicle battery.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal track is assembled of separate elements which are joined to one another at coupling points.

11. The use of the device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 as a mobile catapult for flying bodies on vehicles.