Landing shock absorber

• US 5,944,282 A
• Filed: 09/15/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STN Atlas Elektronik GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Original Assignee: STN Atlas Elektronik GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Inventors: Schweren, Johann, Clausnitzer, Hans-Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/913,292
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 244/100 A, 244/138 R, 244/101, 244/107
• US Class Current: 244/100.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/14 Absorbing landing shocks
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/22 Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/62 Systems for re-entry into the earth's atmosphere; Retarding or landing devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/049 multi-chamber units F16F9/0472, F16F9/05 take precedence

Abstract

A landing shock absorber for aircraft including brake parachutes and comprising a landing cushion for creating damping upon impact of the aircraft, the landing cushion having an inflatable inner bag including a pressure-tight, plastically deformable sheet. The inner bag defines a plurality of inflatable air chambers, and at least one opening between the chambers for establishing communication between the chambers. The landing cushion further includes an outer bag enclosing the inner bag and having a greater internal volume that an internal volume of the inflatable air chambers of the inner bag when the chambers are inflated, the outer bag including a tear-resistant fabric defining a plurality of throttle openings therein.

Claims

1. A landing shock absorber for aircraft including brake parachutes and comprising a landing cushion for creating damping upon impact of the aircraft, the landing cushion having:

an inflatable inner bag including a pressure-tight, plastically deformable sheet and defining;

a plurality of inflatable air chambers; and

at least one opening between the chambers for establishing communication between the chambers, said sheet having tearing regions adapted to rupture when pressure peaks occur in the inflatable air chambers; and

an outer bag enclosing the inner bag and having a greater internal volume than an internal volume of the inflatable air chambers of the inner bag when the chambers are inflated, the outer bag including a tear-resistant fabric defining a plurality of throttle openings therein.

2. The landing shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises polyamide.

3. The landing shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable air chambers are inflated with filling pressure which is above atmospheric pressure by an order to tenths of a unit.

4. The landing shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the landing cushion has a central fastening device defining an inflation opening therein for fastening the inner bag to an underside of the aircraft.

5. The landing shock absorber according to claim 1, further comprising one of a compressed-gas tank and a gas generator, wherein the inner bag is inflated with compressed gas from the one of the compressed gas tank and the gas generator.

6. A landing shock absorber for air loads which are dropped from transport airplanes including a brake parachute and comprising a landing cushion for creating damping upon impact of the air load, the landing cushion having:

an inflatable inner bag including a pressure-tight, plastically deformable sheet and defining;

a plurality of inflatable air chambers; and

at least one opening between the chambers for establishing communication between the chambers, said sheet having tearing regions adapted to rupture when pressure peaks occur in the inflatable air chambers; and

an outer bag enclosing the inner bag and having a greater internal volume than an internal volume of the inflatable air chambers of the inner bag when the chambers are inflated, the outer bag including a tear-resistant fabric defining a plurality of throttle openings therein.