Patent Application
20140353431
The present invention relates to a soft landing system for a load in free fall, in particular for a vehicle, such as a piloted vehicle without a driver on board.
Soft landing systems are known to be used in this field for loads in free fall.
In order to ensure a soft landing of free falling loads, air cushions are generally used which are made of an air-impermeable material and inflated with a fluid under pressure. Such air cushions are mounted under the loads to be launched in free fall, and perform the function of damping the impact of the load against the ground.
However, the structure of known air cushions is not optimal and has some drawbacks.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a soft landing system for a load in free fall which is of an improved type while at the same time being produced in a simple and economical manner, thus overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the present invention, this and other objects are achieved through a system as specified above, having the features set out in the appended claim 1.
It is understood that the appended claims are an integral part of the technical teachings provided in the present description of the invention.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:
With reference to
In these drawings, the system 10 is shown together with the load, indicated as a whole as V. In the illustrated example of embodiment, the load is a vehicle V, shown schematically in the drawings. Preferably, the vehicle V is a piloted vehicle without a driver on board (also known as “unmanned vehicle”, abbreviated with the acronym UV). More preferably, the vehicle V is a piloted terrestrial vehicle without a driver on board (known as “unmanned ground vehicle, abbreviated with the acronym UGV). By way of non-limiting example, the vehicle V is a military tracked robot equipped with a main body B supported by a pair of side tracks CT1, CT2, and containing an ammunition payload P.
The system 10 comprises an air cushion structure, indicated as a whole as 12, on which the vehicle V must be laid, and which is adapted to be inflated with a fluid under pressure, so as to protect the vehicle V when it hits the ground after having been launched in free fall. In particular, as the structure 12 hits the ground, the kinetic energy accumulated by the free falling vehicle V is transferred from the latter to the structure 12, which is thus subjected to deformation, whereupon said fluid is compressed and is vented out of the structure in a gradual manner.
In
The structure 12 comprises a housing portion 14, adapted to house the vehicle V, and a support portion 15, which comprises a plurality of tubular elements 16 inflatable with fluid under pressure (e.g. pressurized air), thus taking an outstretched configuration in which they support the housing portion 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the outstretched configuration corresponds to a prevalently horizontal arrangement of the tubular elements.
In addition, the structure 12 comprises a breather apparatus 17 (visible in
In the first embodiment, when the tubular elements 16 are in the outstretched configuration, they are laterally spaced from and preferably parallel to one another.
Preferably, when the tubular elements 16 are in the outstretched configuration, they have a curved shape in their main extension direction and tend to bend in order to support the overlying housing portion 14, which in turn supports the vehicle V. Advantageously, the curved shapes defined by the tubular elements 16 lie in planes substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the housing portion 14.
In this first embodiment, when the tubular elements 16 are in the outstretched configuration, their concavity faces the housing portion 14, i.e. upwards with the system 10 in its operating condition. Preferably, the ends of the tubular elements 16 end into the housing portion 14.
Preferably, the support portion 15 comprises a plurality of additional tubular elements 16 which are inflatable with fluid under pressure (e.g. pressurized air), thus taking an outstretched configuration in which they support the housing portion 14, and which are arranged in a direction substantially transversal to the tubular elements 16.
Advantageously, the curved shapes defined by the additional tubular elements 18 lie in planes parallel to one another and perpendicular to the planes defined by the tubular elements 16 and to the plane defined by the housing portion 14.
Preferably, the additional tubular elements 18 have the same technical characteristics as those previously described with reference to the tubular elements 16. For simplicity, such technical characteristics will not be repeated below, and reference should be made to the above description.
Preferably, the tubular elements 16 and the additional tubular elements 18 are interconnected and in fluidic communication with one another. More preferably, each tubular element 16 intersects all the additional tubular elements 18, and vice versa. In the first embodiment, the tubular elements 16 and the additional tubular elements 18 are in fluidic communication with one another, thus creating a single “reticular” chamber for the inflating fluid. The support portion 15 creates a substantially hull-shaped (or “keel-shaped”) concave framework or frame. Such a geometry is particularly advantageous for absorbing impacts in directions other than perpendicular to the ground.
In the front elevation view shown in
Likewise, in the side elevation view shown in
Advantageously, but not necessarily, the housing portion 14 can be inflated with fluid under pressure into an extended configuration (
In the first embodiment shown herein, when the housing portion 14 is in its extended configuration, it comprises a central floor 14a (visible in
Preferably, the tubular elements 16 and possibly also the additional tubular elements 18 end into the peripheral edge 14b and are in fluidic communication with the latter, thus forming as a whole a single air chamber for the inflating fluid, shared by the housing portion 14 and the support portion 15.
Preferably, the structure 12 comprises grip members 20 (visible in
Preferably, the structure 12 has an inlet 22 (visible in
The breather apparatus optionally comprises a plurality of breather valves 17 communicating with the support portion 15 and adapted to gradually deflate it. Preferably, the breather valves 17 are provided on the tubular elements 16 and/or on the additional tubular elements 18, e.g. distributed over the surface thereof. In further variants, if the housing portion 14 is in fluidic communication with the support portion 15, then breather valves 17 may be located on the housing portion 14, e.g. distributed along the peripheral edge 14b, as an alternative to or in combination with breather valves 17 provided on the support portion 15. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the breather valves 17 may be arranged in different positions of the structure 12. The function of the breather valves 17 is to open when the pressure of the fluid contained in the support portion exceeds a predetermined threshold value, typically during the impact of the support portion 15 against the ground.
Preferably, the system 10 further comprises a releasable fixing device (not shown), adapted to hold the vehicle V in position on the housing portion 14. The fixing device may comprise one or more belts adapted to secure the vehicle V against the housing portion 14, which belts are fitted with respective releasable fastening mechanisms.
For example, the belts may be adapted to surround and secure the side tracks CT1, CT2 through manual activation of the fastening mechanisms. More preferably, the fixing device comprises a plurality of actuators adapted to remotely disable, in a controlled manner, the respective fastening mechanisms, thus removing the constraint created by the belts on the housing portion.
With reference to this first embodiment, the system 10 may possibly have one or more of the following optional features, which are mentioned below merely by way of non-limiting example:
The following will briefly describe the operation of the first embodiment of the system 10.
Initially, the structure 12 is deflated and folded for comfortable transportation, e.g. in a knapsack.
When it is necessary to use the system 10, e.g. while flying on an aircraft containing the vehicle V, in order to ensure a soft landing of the latter, the structure 12 is preliminarily unfolded.
The vehicle V is then placed on the housing portion 14.
A tank of pressurized fluid, e.g. compressed air contained in a cylinder, is connected to the inlet 22, and the support portion 15 is then inflated. At this stage, the tubular elements 16, the additional tubular elements 18 and the peripheral edge 14b are brought into the respective outstretched configurations and the respective extended configuration, thus also lifting the vehicle V.
Subsequently, the belts of the fixing device are positioned around the side tracks CT1, CT2 and firmly tightened by manually activating the associated fastening mechanisms.
The system 10 and the overlying vehicle V are then transported, by gripping the structure 12 through the handles 20, and launched in free fall.
When the structure 12 hits the ground, the impact causes the support portion 15 to deform, thus compressing the fluid contained therein, which reaches the threshold value for opening the breather valves 17. In this manner, through proper adjustment of the breather valves 17, the flow of fluid coming out of the support portion 15 ensures a gradual deflation of the tubular elements 16, of the additional tubular elements 18 and of the peripheral edge 14b, until the vehicle V rests on the ground.
Afterwards, the belt fastening mechanisms are remotely opened, thereby disabling the fixing device and releasing the vehicle V from the housing portion 14.
The soft landing is thus completed, and the vehicle V can be remotely controlled in a per se known manner, while the system 10 is ready to be folded again and carried away for further use.
With reference to
Parts and elements similar to, or performing the same function as, those of the previously illustrated embodiment are indicated by means of the same alphanumeric references. For simplicity, the description of such parts and elements will not be repeated below, and reference should be made to the information provided in the description of the first embodiment.
As concerns those parts and elements with substantial differences from the structural and/or functional viewpoint with respect to the first embodiment, they will be indicated by means of the same alphanumeric references with the addition of the value 100.
Unlike the first embodiment, the tubular elements 116, preferably provided in pair, have their concavity facing away from the housing portion 14.
Unlike the first embodiment, the arcs defined by the tubular elements 116 have substantially the same maximum height Y (
Unlike the first embodiment, the additional tubular elements 118 are substantially straight.
Unlike the first embodiment, the housing portion 14 comprises a pair of rails 114a, each one of them lying on a tubular element 116 and being adapted to house a specific portion of the Vehicle V. Preferably, each rail 114a has a groove or seat 114b, into which one of the side tracks CT1, CT2 can be coupled.
Similarly to the first embodiment, the system 110 may comprise an inlet (previously designated 22), grip handles (previously designated 20) and/or a fixing device. For simplicity, the technical specifications of said elements will not be described again, and reference should be made to the description of the first embodiment.
This second embodiment has the advantage of simplifying the production process for manufacturing the system 110.
In addition, with reference to this second embodiment, the system 110 may possibly have one or more of the following optional features, which are mentioned below merely by way of non-limiting example:
The operation of the second embodiment of the system 110 is substantially the same as described with reference to the first embodiment. Therefore, for simplicity said operation will not be described again below, and reference should be made to the description of the first embodiment.
The technical characteristics that differentiate the various variants and embodiments described and illustrated herein are freely interchangeable, when compatible.
Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of embodiments and the implementation details may be amply varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated herein by way of non-limiting example, without however departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| TO2011A001165 | Dec 2011 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2012/056634 | 11/22/2012 | WO | 00 | 6/16/2014 |
