Ground-based apparatus for the take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft

• US 8,485,468 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jan Binnebesel
• Original Assignee: Jan Binnebesel
• Inventors: Binnebesel, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldemaryam, Assres H
• Application Number:
  US12/991,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20110204180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 244/63, 244/114.R, 244/115, 244/116, 244/110.E, 244/110.F, 244/110.G
• US Class Current: 244/63
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/002 Taxiing aids
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/22 for handling aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/227 for direct connection to aircraft, e.g. tow tractors without towing bars
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/228 remotely controlled; operating autonomously
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

An apparatus for the take-off, landing and taxiing of an aircraft without undercarriage system or with retracted undercarriage, wherein the apparatus comprises a ground-based undercarriage, the speed of which can be matched to the speed of the aircraft when landing, the ground-based undercarriage (10) is releasably connected to a slide system, which can be driven in a direction of movement, the ground-based undercarriage (10) has at least two coupling means, which enable interfaces of the aircraft (4) on the ground-based undercarriage (10) to be coupled, the ground-based undercarriage (10) can be moved along the slide system transversally to the direction of movement of the slide system to match the ground-based undercarriage (10) to the position of the aircraft (4).

Claims

1. An apparatus for take-off, landing and taxiing of an aircraft without an undercarriage system or with retracted undercarriage, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a ground-based undercarriage (10), the speed of which can be matched to the speed of the aircraft when landing,

a slide system comprising a driven slide (7) including a trolley (9) to which a ground-based undercarriage (10) may be releasably connected;

wherein

the ground-based undercarriage (10) is releasably connected to the slide system, which can be driven in a direction of movement of the driven slide,

the ground-based undercarriage (10) has at least two coupling means, which are configured to couple with the aircraft (4) on the ground-based undercarriage (10),

the ground-based undercarriage (10) is configured to move along the slide system transversally to the direction of movement of the slide system to match the ground-based undercarriage (10) to the position of the aircraft (4) for coupling.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground-based undercarriage (10) can be adjusted about the vertical axis at an angle relative to the direction of movement of the slide system to match the ground-based undercarriage (10) to an angle of yaw of the aircraft (4) relative to the direction of movement of the slide system.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide system comprises a driven slide (7) and a trolley (9) which is releasably connected to the ground-based undercarriage (10) and can be moved along the slide (7).

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide system and the ground-based undercarriage (10) has a braking system.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide system or the ground-based undercarriage (10) has a braking system that enables the braking force to be controlled so that the aircraft (4) which is connected to the ground-based undercarriage (10) comes to a standstill immediately by an outgoing taxiway from the runway (1).

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground-based undercarriage (10) additionally has its own drive and systems which are necessary for taxiing without the use of the main engines of the aircraft (4) and replace a push-back vehicle.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy on braking is stored and transformed into usable heat or electrical energy.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acceleration when aircraft (4) take off is supported by the drive (8) of the slide system.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide system is driven by an electromagnetic linear drive.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more damper elements are integrated into the slide system and the ground-based undercarriage (10).

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more damper elements are integrated into the aircraft (4).

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the damper elements can be adapted to different aircraft masses.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angle of pitch of the aircraft (4) can be changed, particularly on take-off and landing.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide or slides (7) are not taken back to the ready-to-land and take-off position via the runway (1).

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide system and the ground-based undercarriage (10) additionally has emergency systems with which the braking force can be increased.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling means (13) of the ground-based undercarriage consist of protruding pin-like docking devices and the non-protruding interfaces on the aircraft are designed in the form of funnels.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground-based undercarriage (10) has a braking system.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy on braking is transformed into usable heat or electrical energy.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more damper elements are integrated into the ground-based undercarriage (10).

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide or slides (7) are not taken back to the ready-to-land or take-off position via the runway (1).