Reconfigurable payload systems (RPS) with operational load envelopes for aircraft and methods related thereto
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable payload system (RPS), comprising one or more external and interchangeable baseplates mechanically attached to extend across a given section of a fuselage of an aircraft in a position outside the fuselage, the one or more interchangeable baseplates being configured to be attached to external payload components, external fairings, or a combination thereof to transfer the aerodynamic loads and inertial loads of the external payload components and/or external fairings through the interchangeable baseplates to the aircraft fuselage;
- and where the one or more external interchangeable baseplates are configured with an available RPS loads envelope of total permissible aircraft load at given locations within the section, further comprising a RPS disconnect panel assembly mechanically attached to the interior of the aircraft fuselage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Reconfigurable payload systems (RPS) and methods of configuring and using the same with operational load envelopes are disclosed that may be employed to enable external aircraft payloads to be rapidly interchanged or swapped out together with associated internal equipment within a given aircraft so as to modify or change payload capability of the aircraft, e.g., to meet a particular mission and/or to enable use of future payload types as they are developed. The RPS and associated methods may be implemented to allow multiple different payload systems to be swapped in and out on a given aircraft as required based on needs for a given mission.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable payload system (RPS), comprising one or more external and interchangeable baseplates mechanically attached to extend across a given section of a fuselage of an aircraft in a position outside the fuselage, the one or more interchangeable baseplates being configured to be attached to external payload components, external fairings, or a combination thereof to transfer the aerodynamic loads and inertial loads of the external payload components and/or external fairings through the interchangeable baseplates to the aircraft fuselage;
- and where the one or more external interchangeable baseplates are configured with an available RPS loads envelope of total permissible aircraft load at given locations within the section, further comprising a RPS disconnect panel assembly mechanically attached to the interior of the aircraft fuselage.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of modifying the fuselage of an existing aircraft having an unmodified aircraft loads envelope, the method comprising:
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defining a baseline reconfigurable payload system (RPS) configuration configured to support a given survey of selected interchangeable external payload components, interchangeable internal payload components, and/or interchangeable external aerodynamic fairings; determining an RPS loads envelope of total permissible aircraft loads by fuselage locations for the baseline reconfigurable payload system (RPS) configuration, the total permissible aircraft loads including the sum of unmodified aircraft loads for the existing aircraft together with RPS aerodynamic loads, RPS internal payload loads, and RPS external payload component loads by fuselage location; providing a modified aircraft by modifying the aircraft fuselage with the baseline RPS configuration to accommodate the RPS loads envelope, the RPS loads envelope including aircraft load limits that are greater than the load limits of the unmodified aircraft loads envelope of the existing aircraft; defining new operational RPS load limits for the modified aircraft that are within the RPS loads envelope; and coupling a RPS disconnect panel assembly to the interior of the aircraft fuselage adjacent a location of the external interchangeable baseplates. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification