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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
WEAPONS BAY
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/081579
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a weapons bay in an aircraft (4), comprising an aperture (6) in an aircraft fuselage (8); a platform (2) movable between a first position in which the platform (2) is retracted from the aperture (6) and a second position in which the platform (2) substantially coincides with the aperture (6); suspension means (16) for suspending stores (18) from the platform (2). At least one door (20) is arranged to close the aperture (6) when the platform (2) is in the first, retracted position, so that the stores (18) are arranged to be totally accommodated within the aircraft fuselage (8).

Inventors:
LINDBERG ANDERS (SE)
Application Number:
PCT/SE2009/051510
Publication Date:
July 07, 2011
Filing Date:
December 29, 2009
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SAAB AB (SE)
LINDBERG ANDERS (SE)
International Classes:
B64D1/06
Foreign References:
US3006253A1961-10-31
US5257758A1993-11-02
US2856181A1958-10-14
US4697764A1987-10-06
US4637292A1987-01-20
GB744609A1956-02-08
US4520975A1985-06-04
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ALBIHNS ZACCO AB (P.O. Box 5581, STOCKHOLM, SE)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A weapons bay in an aircraft (4), comprising an aperture (6) in an aircraft fuselage (8); a platform (2) movable between a first position in which the platform (2) is retracted from the aperture (6) and a second position in which the platform (2) substantially coincides with the aperture (6); suspension means (16) for suspending stores (18) from the platform (2), characterized in that at least one door (20) is arranged to close the aperture (6) when the platform (2) is in the first, retracted position, so that the stores (18) are arranged to be totally accommodated within the aircraft fuselage (8).

2. A bay according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one door (20) has a form that coincide with the form of the outer skin (32) of the fuselage (8) of the aircraft (4), so that the radar signature is minimized.

3. A bay according to any of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one door (20) is arranged to be positioned within the aircraft fuselage (8) and away from the aperture (6) when the platform (2) is moved towards the aperture (6). 4. A bay according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one door (20) is slidable in guide means (24) within the aircraft fuselage (8).

5. A bay according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control system (30) is arranged to synchronize the movement of the platform (2) and the at least one door (20).

6. A bay according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that two doors (20) are arranged to close the aperture (6). 7. A bay according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stores (18) is at least one weapon, at least one fuel tank and/or at least one camera.

Description:
Weapons bay

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a weapons bay according to the preamble of claim 1.

Weapons bays are used in aircrafts to accommodate stores, such as weapons, fuel tanks and cameras. The weapons and fuel tanks may be dropped from the aircraft during flight. Such stores is often carried entirely or partly within the aircraft fuselage or suspended from the underside of the aircraft fuselage.

BACKGROUND ART

Document GB-A-744609 discloses an arrangement to carry a weapon partly within an aperture of an aircraft fuselage. The main object of this known arrangement is to save the aerodynamic drag which may be achieved when at least the part of the weapon which remains outside the aircraft is of streamline form. However, the part of the weapon which remains outside the aircraft contributes to the radar signature of the whole aircraft, witch results in that the aircraft is easy to detect by enemy radar.

One objective problem to be solved by the present invention is to minimize the radar signature of an aircraft.

Another objective problem to be solved by the present invention is to avoid

turbulence induced by a weapons bay when releasing the stores.

Another objective problem to be solved by the present invention is to drop unstable or substantially unstable weapons from an aircraft, so that the weapons will maintain their orientation after being released from the aircraft.

A further objective problem to be solved by the present invention is to protect stores on an aircraft from ambient debris which may affect the stores, especially during take of and landing of the aircraft. A further objective problem to be solved by the present invention is to reduce the air drag of an aircraft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objective problems are solved by a weapons bay in an aircraft according to claim 1.

Since the at least one door is arranged to close the aperture when the platform is in the first, retracted position, so that the stores is arranged to be totally accommodated within the aircraft fuselage, the radar signature of the aircraft is minimized.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one door has a form that coincide with the form of the outer skin of the fuselage of the aircraft. As a result the radar signature is even more minimized.

According to a further embodiment the at least one door is arranged to be positioned within the aircraft fuselage and away from the aperture when the platform is moved towards the aperture. Since the door is positioned within the aircraft fuselage in the opened position the door will not influence on the overall siluette of the aircraft and therefore the radar signature is minimized also when the door is in the opened position.

According to a further embodiment the at least one door is slidable in guide means within the aircraft fuselage. Thereby the door may be moved to the opened position and back to the closed position along the inner wall of the aircraft fuselage without conflicting with other equipment within the aircraft.

According to a further embodiment a control system is arranged to synchronize the movement of the platform and the at least one door. Thereby the aperture may be closed or covered by the at least one door as long as possible until the platform is in the second position and covers the aperture. Thus, the radar signature is minimized. According to a further embodiment two doors are arranged to close the aperture. Thereby the aperture may be closed or covered by the doors as long as possible until the platform is in the second position and covers the aperture. Thus, the radar signature is minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features of the invention can be derived from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a weapons bay according to the invention with a platform in a first position, Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through a weapons bay according to the invention with the platform in a second position,

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section along line I - I in fig. 1 , and Fig. 4 shows a cross-section along line II - II in fig. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a weapons bay 1 according to the invention with a platform 2 in a first position. The weapons bay 1 is arranged in an aircraft 4 and comprising an aperture 6 in an aircraft fuselage 8 of the aircraft 4. The weapons bay 1 constitutes a space 10 within the fuselage 8, which is defined by side walls 12 and a top wall 14. The platform 2 is movable between a first position, disclosed in fig. 1 , in which the platform 2 is retracted from the aperture 6 and a second position, disclosed in fig. 2 in which the platform 2 substantially coincides with and covers the aperture 6. Suspension means 16 is arranged on the platform 2 for suspending stores 18 from the platform 2. In fig. 1 the stores 18 is a bomb, but it is also possible to suspend fuel tanks, cameras and arrangements for countermeasures, for example, from the platform 2. Also, it is possible to combined different types of stores 18 on the platform 2. At least one door 20 is arranged to close the aperture 6 when the platform 2 is in the first, retracted position, so that the stores 18 are arranged to be totally accommodated within the weapons bay 1 and thereby within the aircraft fuselage 8. Preferably, two doors 20 are arranged to close the aperture 6. As a result, the aperture 6 may be closed or covered by the doors 20 as long as possible until the platform 2 is in the second position and covers the aperture 6, so that the radar signature of the aircraft 4 is minimized.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through a weapons bay 1 according to the invention with the platform 2 in the second position. Actuation means 22, such as hydraulic cylinders, moves the platform 2 between the first and second positions. The doors 20 are arranged to slide in guide means 24 within the aircraft fuselage 8. Thereby the doors 20 may be moved to the opened position and back to the closed position along the inner wall 26 of the aircraft fuselage 8 without conflicting with other equipment within the aircraft 4. Preferably, a belt or a chain within the guide means 24, actuated by drive means 28, moves the doors 20 between an opened and closed position.

When the platform 2 is in the second position and the platform 2 covers the aperture 6 of the weapons bay 1 , turbulence induced by the weapons bay 1 is avoided. When releasing stores 18, such as unstable or substantially unstable weapons from the aircraft 4 it is important that the weapons will maintain their orientation after being released from the aircraft 4. Otherwise, the risk for a tumbling store trajectory is very high and the weapons may miss their target.. Therefore, when the platform 2 is in the second position and the aperture 6 is covered by the platform 2 a substantially laminar air stream is achieved in the area of the weapons and as a result the weapons will maintain their orientation after being released from the aircraft 4. Also, the released stores 18 will not hit the rear part of the aircraft 4 due to turbulence induced by the weapons bay 1. A control system 30 is arranged to synchronize the movement of the platform 2 and the doors 20. The control system 30 comprises a control unit 31 which is connected to the actuation means 22 for the platform 2 and to the drive means 28 for the doors 20. Thereby the aperture 6 may be closed or covered by the doors 20 as long as possible until the platform 2 is in the second position and covers the aperture 6, so that the radar signature is minimized. When the doors 20 are in an intermediate position between the closed position and the full opened position, the platform 2 may be lowered such that the stores 18 are positioned between the doors 20 and outside the aircraft fuselage 8. When the doors 20 are in the full opened position the platform 2 is lowered to the second position, so that it covers the aperture 6.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section along line I - 1 in fig. 1. It is evident from fig. 3 that the doors 20 have a form that coincides with the form of the outer skin 32 of the fuselage 8 of the aircraft 4. As a result the radar signature of the whole aircraft 4 is minimized. In fig. 3 the cross-section of the aircraft 4 is substantially circular. However, another form of the cross-section is possible, such as a square form or an elliptical form.

Since the stores 18 are totally accommodated within the weapons bay 1 , the stores 18 are protected from ambient debris which may affect the stores 18, especially during take of and landing of the aircraft 4.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-section along line II - II in fig. 2. The platform 2 covers the aperture 6 and has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the outer skin 32 of the aircraft fuselage 8. The doors 20 are arranged to be positioned within the aircraft fuselage 8 and away from the aperture 6 when the platform 2 is moved towards the aperture 6. Since the doors 20 are positioned within the aircraft fuselage 8 in the opened position the doors 20 will not influence on the overall shape of the aircraft 4 and therefore the radar signature is minimized also when the doors 20 are in the opened position.

The air drag emanating from an open weapons bay 1 is reduced both in the first position of the platform 2 when the doors 20 are closed and cover the aperture 6 and also in the second position of the platform 2 when the platform 2 covers the aperture