Aircraft arresting system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling the rate of deceleration of a moving body comprising:
- engaging means operatively engageable with said moving body;
flexible means connected to said engaging means, said flexible means being wound onto a real means at the start of a deceleration and being unwindable from said reel during said deceleration so that unwinding said flexible means from said reel causes a corresponding rotation of said reel;
pumping means having an inlet and a discharge, said pumping means being operatively connected to said reel means so that rotation of said reel means causes pumping of a hydraulic fluid through said pumping means at a rate which increases as the rate of rotation of said reel increases;
control valve means operatively disposed across the discharge of said pumping means for varying pressure drop across said control valve;
braking means for applying a braking force to said reel;
means responsive to the pressure drop across said control valve for varying the braking force applied by said braking means;
means for, at frequent intervals during a deceleration, generating a signal which is representative of the total linear length L that said flexible means has been unwound from said reel from the start of said deceleration to a particular time;
means for, a frequent intervals during a deceleration, generating a signal which is representative of the linear velocity V at which said flexible means is being unwound from said reel at said particular time;
means for at frequent intervals during a deceleration, controlling actual flow rate FA through said control valve such that the value of FA divided by the value of V is approximately equal to the value of R at said particular time during a deceleration, where R is a numerical ratio the value of which varies with the linear length of the flexible means which has been unwound and providing a braking force which is optimal for the apparatus and the moving body engaged thereby.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling the rate of deceleration of a moving body. The apparatus has a cable or net for engaging a moving body and tape connected to the cable or net. The tape is wound onto a reel at the start of a deceleration and is unwindable from the reel during the deceleration so that unwinding the tape from the reel causes a corresponding rotation of the reel. A pump is operatively connected to the reel so that rotation of the reel causes pumping of a hydraulic fluid at a rate which increases as the rate of rotation of the reel increases. A control valve disposed across the discharge of the pump varies pressure drop across the control valve. A brake is provided for applying a braking force to the reel, and an actuator is provided for varying the braking force applied by the braking means in response to the pressure drop. A signal representative of the total linear length L that the tape has been unwound from the reel from the start of the deceleration to a particular time and the linear velocity V of the tape at that time are generated continuously or at frequent intervals during a deceleration. The actual flow rate FA through the control valve is also measured. A computer controls the actual flow rate FA through the control valve so that the value of FA divided by the value of V is approximately equal to a value R at the particular time during a deceleration, where R is a predetermined function of the linear length L the flexible means has been unwound.
146 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling the rate of deceleration of a moving body comprising:
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engaging means operatively engageable with said moving body; flexible means connected to said engaging means, said flexible means being wound onto a real means at the start of a deceleration and being unwindable from said reel during said deceleration so that unwinding said flexible means from said reel causes a corresponding rotation of said reel; pumping means having an inlet and a discharge, said pumping means being operatively connected to said reel means so that rotation of said reel means causes pumping of a hydraulic fluid through said pumping means at a rate which increases as the rate of rotation of said reel increases; control valve means operatively disposed across the discharge of said pumping means for varying pressure drop across said control valve; braking means for applying a braking force to said reel; means responsive to the pressure drop across said control valve for varying the braking force applied by said braking means; means for, at frequent intervals during a deceleration, generating a signal which is representative of the total linear length L that said flexible means has been unwound from said reel from the start of said deceleration to a particular time; means for, a frequent intervals during a deceleration, generating a signal which is representative of the linear velocity V at which said flexible means is being unwound from said reel at said particular time; means for at frequent intervals during a deceleration, controlling actual flow rate FA through said control valve such that the value of FA divided by the value of V is approximately equal to the value of R at said particular time during a deceleration, where R is a numerical ratio the value of which varies with the linear length of the flexible means which has been unwound and providing a braking force which is optimal for the apparatus and the moving body engaged thereby. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification