This application claims priority to European Patent Application EP 17382385.7 filed Jun. 21, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.
The invention is related to a protective system against hailstone damage specially indicated to protect aircrafts but also applicable for other kind of objects to be protected.
Different solutions exist to protect objects against hailstones damages. There are known inflatable protectors that cover vehicles and thus can be used to protect the vehicles from hailstones. For example, a hail net supported by beams creates a roof over a vehicle that shields the vehicle from hailstones. Inflatable hangars have been used to shield aircrafts from hailstones. It is also known place pads on exposed surfaces of stationary aircraft to protect those surfaces and the aircraft from hailstones.
Although the above known solutions protect vehicles from hailstones, they can take too long to setup and often become permanent installations. Also current solutions tend to required excessive human resources to set up, tend to be complex in their setup and require wide spaces to store the protectors.
A protective system has been invented and is disclosed herein that may be used to shield aircraft and other vehicles from hailstones. The invention may be embodied as having the following elements:
(a) a protective sheet adapted to receive and stop the hailstones before they reach a vehicle,
(b) a reel which rolls up the protective sheet, wherein the reel is configured to allow the deployment and retraction of the protective sheet from the reel,
(c) a deployment element configured to unfurl the protective sheet from the reel. The deployment element has a first end configured to be joined to the protective sheet and a second fixed end. The first end is pivotably movable around the fixed end between a first position in which the protective sheet is configured to be stored wound on the reel and a second position in which the protective sheet is deployed from the reel, and
(d) a support structure configured to support the protective sheet in its deployed position. The support structure is between the fixed end of the deployment element and the reel.
The protective system, once deployed, is able to cover the whole vehicle, such as an aircraft. Alternatively, the protective system may be deployed to cover just a part of an aircraft or vehicle, such as covering a wing. The deployed protective system includes: a protective sheet that is deployed, a pivoting structure that extends the protective sheet over the vehicle to be protected, a support structure that prevents the protector from being entangled with the vehicle being protected and collaborates in the extension of the protective sheet in an approximately horizontal position, and a reel that stores the protector when not in use.
The protective system may be quickly and easily retracted onto the reel after a storm is finished. Turing the reel rolls up the protective sheet. The structures of the protection system return to initial positions when the protective sheet is rolled up.
As the protective sheet, the deployment element and the support structure could be located in a stored position when they are not being used, there is no need to move and install big structures. Another advantage is that it has no impact in the surrounding area when the system is not deployed.
The protective system may be controlled hydraulically, which allows the system to be retracted quickly and with few human resources.
To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. The drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. The drawings comprise the following figures.
(a) A protective sheet (1) that will cover and protect a vehicle, such as a wing of an aircraft against. The protective sheet shields the vehicle from damages produced by the hailstone. The protective sheet may be formed by a net, a canvas, web of plastic or woven fiber, or other suitable sheet materials.
(b) A reel (2) allows deployment and retraction of the protective sheet (1). The width of the reel (2) should be suitable for the width of the vehicle, or portion of a vehicle, to be covered.
(c) A support structure (4) is located between the pivot point of the deployment element (3) and the reel (2). The support structure maintains the protective sheet (1) in an elevated position so as to create a space underneath of it suitable for an object to be located.
(d) A deployment element (3) of the protective sheet (2). The deployment element (3) has two ends, a first end (11) joined to a free end of said protective sheet (2) and a second end (12) that is fixed, such that the deployment element (3) is able to pivot around said second end (12).
In shown embodiments, both the support structure (4) and the deployment element (3) have an inverted U shape. The deployment element (3) and the support structure (4) can be manufactured with a fixed dimension or can be made of different parts that can modify their size.
In
For instance, the reel (2) could have the length of the aircraft in order to protect totally its right or left part.
Another possibility not shown in the figures is the deployment element (3) being also telescopic thus having the possibility to be deployed from a stored position.
Finally,
The system may include a processing unit (illustrated by the dotted control lines shown in
While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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17382385.7 | Jun 2017 | EP | regional |