Method of jettisoning an external load carried by an aircraft, and an associated device
AssigneeEurocopter
InventorBernard CERTAIN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and an associated device for automatically jettisoning an external load (4) that is reversibly suspended from a release-hook (12) of an aircraft fuselage (2) by a sling (13), which method comprises: measuring the angle (θ) between said sling (13) and a vertical axis in elevation of the aircraft; and activating automatic jettisoning when firstly said angle (θ) exceeds an upper limit (LSUP), and secondly said sling (13) is directed towards the rear (4′) of the aircraft, thereby making it possible, optionally, to proceed with jettisoning said external load (4).
Claims16
A method of automatically jettisoning an external load (4) suspended reversibly from a release-hook (12) of an aircraft fuselage (2) by means of a sling (13) liable to extend at an angle (θ) of varying magnitude relative to a vertical axis in elevation (AX) of the aircraft (1) parallel to the yaw axis (Z) of the aircraft (1) and passing via a connection point (100) connecting support means (11) for the release-hook (12) to the fuselage (2) of the aircraft (1), the method comprising:
- measuring said angle (θ);
- and
- activating automatic jettisoning when firstly said angle (θ) exceeds an upper bound (BSUP), and secondly said sling (13) is directed towards the rear (4′) of the aircraft thereby making it possible, optionally, to proceed with jettisoning said external load (4).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.