FR2512775A1 - In-flight water scooping system for fire fighting aircraft - uses torpedo shaped scoop with motor and control surfaces controlled from aircraft for depth, direction and speed - Google Patents

Abstract

A torpedo shaped scoop is self propelled under water by a motor. The scoop is attached to the aeroplane by a towing cable and a tubular cable which passes over winches in the aircraft. The water is forced into the scoop inlet and is forced into the tubular cable to be pumped into water tanks in the aircraft by suction pumps. Two ailerons and a rudder on the tail section ensure that the scoop is maintained in the water during the trawling action by the aircraft. These controls are controlled by commands issued from the aircraft and transmitted along the towing cable. When the tanks are full the scoop is winched aboard the aircraft and the rudder and aerilons provide control to guide the scoop.

Description

 The present invention relates to aircraft for fighting forest fires allowing, after scooping, to discharge large quantities of water onto the incident.

 In known devices, a seaplane is used.

The latter allows, by an appropriate scooping device, to fill its tanks by hydraplaning on the surface of a lake or the sea.

 Such a device requires great skill on the part of the pilot and the mechanic. In fact, during the hydraplaning phase of copying on the surface of the water at a speed greater than 100 km / h, the slightest error in appreciation can be fatal to the machine and its occupants.

 In addition, taking off from a seaplane is much more difficult than taking off from an airplane from a hard runway because wind, current and waves must also be taken into account.

 Finally, the load transported, due to takeoff from a liquid and not solid surface, is less than the load that this dreary aircraft could transport if it took off from a hard runway and not from the surface of the water.

The in-flight scoping device according to this ir.ven- tion avoids these drawbacks - no ditching, - higher transport load, - risk of accidents during ditching and take-off eliminated - possibility for a conventional aircraft and not a seaplane from
scooping to fill the tanks at
water.

 The in-flight scooping device consists in dropping at low altitude, between 30 and 50 m from the surface of the water, a self-propelled underwater warhead, equipped with a djepage device and connected to the 'airplane by a towing cable as well as by a hose allowing water to go up in the tanks.

 This self-propelled submarine warhead is controlled from the edge of the aircraft for its direction, depth and speed.

 When the tanks are full, an underwater warhead is reassembled on board the aircraft using a winch.

Safety devices make it possible, in the event of dropping the ensble (warhead, table, pipe) of the aircraft
The present invention will be better understood using an embodiment of a flight scooping device shown schematically, by way of nonlimiting examples, in the accompanying drawings in which
Plate 1-4: Drawing allowing to understand that the scooping takes place while the plane (1) flies over the surface of the water (4) and is connected to the submarine warhead (2) by a cabal hose assembly (3) allowing the water to rise in the tanks of the aircraft (1).

Plate 2-4: Drawing representing an airplane (1) not amphibious, of the twin-girder type, with submarine warhead (2) reassembled after scooping with its supply pipe (3), its cable (6), the orifice water release (7) and the movable locking arm (5),
Plate 3-4: Drawing representing submarine warhead (2) with its hoisting point (8), its towing cable (3) with its fixing joint (9), its pipe (in), the connection cable ( 77) allowing orders to be sent both to the central control unit (12) and to propulsion (13 and 14).

This underwater warhead consists of a body (2) having a scooping inlet (15) bringing the water by a volute (76) to the inlet of the pipe (10). It is provided with a tail (17) comprising a steering flap (18), two fins (19) with flaps (20) ensuring the settings of immersion and lift in flight during the winching on board the aircraft . The engine (14) allows both underwater propulsion, and possibly the recovery of the warhead on board the aircraft.

 Plate 4-4: Drawing representing the devices on board the aircraft with the tank (21) and its water release orifice (7), its supply pipe (10), the winch (22), the emergency release device (23), the guide roller <24), the emergency release device (25) of the hoisting cable (6), the cable guide roller (26) on board the hold (27 ) from the plane.

 As shown on the boards, the in-flight scooping device, once dropped from the plane (1) into the water (4), behaves at the level of the submarine warhead (2) like a torpedo self-propelled by the engine (14). The water rushes into the opening of the scoop (15) passes through the volute (16) and rises through the pipe (10) to the tank (21). The fins (19) with their flaps (20) ensure the immersion of the log (2) according to the orders received by the control cable (11), this same cable sending the direction control orders by action on the flap (18 ) of the tail (17) as well as of the propulsion (14).

 When the tank (21) is filled, the scooping has been completed, the warhead (2) must be hoisted on board the aircraft.

The winch (22) is put into action and, using the cables (3 and 6), remounts the warhead on board. During the ascent, the fin (17) with its fin (18) as well as the fins (19) with their flaps (20), allow the guidance of the warhead for its recovery on board. The motor (14) being possibly cut by an electrical information transmitted by the cable (11). On a twin-girder aircraft, a mobile device (5) immobilizes the entire warhead (2).

 In the event of a technical incident, the emergency release devices (23 and 25) come into action, separating the aircraft from the warhead as well as from the pipe (10) and cables (11, 3 and 6).

 In order to facilitate filling, a first variant makes it possible, using a vacuum pump (28) placed on board the aircraft, to create a depression in the tank (21).

 According to a second variant, a hydraulic pump with very high flow rate (29) can be inserted in the supply circuit of the tank. This second version is particularly applicable in the case of the use of large cargo planes which cannot, for safety reasons, fly at altitudes of a few tens of meters.

 The device which is the subject of the invention finds its application in all cases where it is necessary to have means of fighting forest fires and thereby allows to equip cargo or military planes for civil protection purposes. , thereby eliminating ditching with seaplanes equipped for firefighting.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown, from which other variants can be provided, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N S  10) In-flight scooping device allowing a non-amphibious aircraft to fill its tanks without having to land and which can be adapted to large aircraft such as freighters of civil or military origin, thus enabling them to fight against the fire. Characterized by the fact that it includes - a self-propelled submarine warhead - a scooping plug - ailerons with immersion adjustment flaps - a fin with steering flap - an electric cable for transmitting orders - towing and hauling cables - a supply hose - a thruster - a winch recovery system - an emergency release device - a tank.  20) In-flight scooping device according to claim 1, characterized in that a self-propelled warhead (2) is released from an aircraft (1) in a lake or the sea (4).  30) In-flight scooping device according to claim 2, characterized in that a warhead propelled by a motor (14) under the effect of speed and via a scooping mouth (i5) and a pipe (10) fills a tank (21) on board an airplane (1) flying at low altitude.  4) In-flight scooping device according to claim 2, characterized in that a self-propelled warhead (2) is controlled from the edge of the aircraft (1) by a device for sending electrical orders by cable (11) to a system of control surfaces (18 and 20) as well as to the engine (14).  50) In-flight scooping device according to claim 1, characterized in that after scooping, the whole of the self-propelled warhead (2) can be hoisted on board the aircraft (1).  60) In-flight scooping device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the event of a technical incident, an emergency release device (23 and 25) makes it possible to separate the aircraft (1) from the device d scoop consisting of a warhead (2).  70) In-flight scooping device according to claim 1, characterized in that a vacuum pump (28) makes it possible to create a vacuum in the tank (21).  80) In-flight scooping device according to claim 1, characterized in that a united pump (29) placed on board the aircraft (1) allows the supply of a tank (21).