Composite tape for arresting landing aircraft

Abstract

The tape for connecting a landing aircraft to a rotary energy absorber, which is arresting it includes at least two longitudinal sections, a leading section and a trailing section. The leading section absorbs the impact shock when the aircraft is first arrested. It, therefore, has longitudinal filaments with a relatively low modulus of elasticity and is, therefore, made of a material, such as nylon, which can absorb considerable impact stress without breaking. The trailing section of the tape is brought into action during the runout of the tape to gradually stop the aircraft. It has longitudinal filaments with a relatively high modulus of elasticity and extremely high tensile strength. Such modulus of elasticity is accordingly above 12.times.10.sup.6 PSI with a tensile strength of at least about 10 grams per denier of 400,000 PSI. A satisfactory trailing section material is, for example, an ultra-high tenacity synthetic fiber, such as Kevlar. Kevlar is the trademark of E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. Wilmington, Delaware, for an ultra-high strength fiber. It is described as an aramid fiber and is one of the polyamides aromatic family of fibers. It is described and compared with other materials in DuPont Bulletin K-1, December, 1974. Both ends of the tape are stitched together within a nylon braided cover which may also be coated with a wear-resistant substance such as polyurethane. Loops are provided on the leading and trailing ends of the tape for attachment to the cross runway pendant and energy absorber.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.