Patentamt a i s c h e Patent s Office J E u r o p European Office europeen des brevets @ Publication number: 0 1 3 8 5 0 9

EUROPEAN

PATENT A P P L I C A T I O N Int. CI.4: H 01 Q 1/28, H 01 Q 1 / 0 8 , H01 Q 1 / 1 2

@ Application number: 84306736.4 ^ @ Date of filing: 03.10.84

@ Priority: 10.10.83 GB 8327075

@ Applicant: GEC AVIONICS LIMITED, Airport Works, Rochester Kent ME1 2XX (GB)

() Date of publication of application : 24.04.85 Bulletin 85/17

Inventor: Fitzpatrlck, Roger Sean, 5 Broughton Close, Upper Holway Near Taunton Somerset (GB)

@ Designated Contracting States : DE FR IT

@ Representative : Keppler, William Patrick, Central Patent Department Wembley Office The General Electric Company, p.l.c. Hirst Research Centre East Lane, Wembley Middlesex HA9 7PP (GB)

@ Airborne radar scanner arrangement. A retractable airborne radar pod (1) housing a radar scanner (30) is provided with inflatable fairings (32) which when deflated allow the pod to be retracted into an aircraft fuselage (3) and when inflated form an aerodynamic shape. The pod (1) may be a rotodome, in which case the fairings (32) are suitably crescent-shaped and mounted on exterior flattened walls (25) of the rotodome. Alternatively the pod may be non-rotating and the fairings may be in the form of flexible membranes mounted on apertures in the pod and arranged to distend when the pod is pressurised so as to create an internal space in which a radar scanner can rotate.

The radar

present in

invention aircraft than be it they

relates

to

airborne as

scanning the longer such it as is to rear in a and/ wide. the

systems. Apertures fuselages (such are wide. from be in typically A body such radar It in to is an are doors pod It of sense can into aircraft) extended desirable with as such is an the aperture). aerial possible a radar the

loading radar or

cargo

fore-and-aft retracted is a

which

aperture

may

similarly

longer than attainable then when from with by this large of

sometimes aerial (known rotate it

engineering

provide tal desirable ation.

radar to

maximum

horizonin the an the

dimension

sometimes operfuseexit if body and so

azimuth deploy aerial is wide,

Whereas lage ture is of an of this which is

hence in it than

aircraft larger to to aligning would

flight

aper-I

fuselage it through

pedient doing with

fore-and-aft rotate an

during

process, angles flight

undesirable reference unusual According

then create the to

aerodynamically direction invention within pod from forces.

asymmetric

aircraft's present for

generate scanner radar means said said said of said

aerodynamic the

an airborne radar pod, in and pod, said

radar a and that

arrangement scanner provided for an

comprises an rotation said deploying at pod being least is

aerodynamic

mounted

retracting

pod pod

into means and

aircraft

fuselage, one for of said one wall

characterised exterior internally to for pod or the

incorporates being the when thereby and on pod means

inflatable pressurising said shape

portion, portion the

provided define part of

portion pod

deployed

inflate

aerodynamic into more the

provided

depressurising aircraft

portion The

retraction

fuselage. may incorporate on wall, its and outer membranes inflatable may over bulge incorporate respective out when the fairings one pod or is apertures supported more in flexible its or to it

stretched

arranged

pressurised.

The inflatable rotodome, a

pod

may

be

rotodome on a

provided flattened giving

with the

an of the rotodome be of

fairing the

supported when

wall

fairing,

inflated, or

substantially The

rotationally fairings as such be

symmetrical "Hypalon" or in

shape. may neoprenewhich in case its the of the is it

inflatable terylene. pod may and located such bulge when that out the

membranes

plastics

materials The

impregnated may on outer be

non-rotating, two pod transverse when the

elongate wall, and The

incorporate

flexible is

membranes

oppositely

apertures the the on

pressurised rotation pod. a unit

membranes scanner

and pod may may into be a

accommodate is be be an within supported aircraft on be

depressurised a helicopter or a

the scanner

accommodated aircraft. to be bodily The to aircraft. application by Two described to 6 of the Figure a retractable in a Figure mounted

longitudinally aircraft The pod loaded pod The

fixed-wing arranged via a

fuselage and

cargo-loading be deployed

aperture. may from is mounted a pylon arranged of U.K. the patent cargo-loading may to our is aperture

aircraft

a helicopter. copending hereby incorporated will to which: elevation the of with invention in now be 1

Attention reference.

drawn

No.8323615, embodiments by way of a accompanying 1 is Shorts 2 is a rotodome

which of the

invention of

example

with

reference sectional

Figures

drawings, in accordance

transverse 3M s k y v a n . section

elevation

showing

more of of of

detail

the

deploument 3 is 4 is of 5 is a rear of a a of Figure plan plan

mechanism elevation, 1, view, 1 to view,

of

Figure

1, in section,

Figure the the the Figure rotodome Figure rotodome, able for and pod and Figure aerodynamic Figures the pod. are by retracted which

partially in cut

arrangement

partially 3, partially 3,

section, away, the stowed inflat-

Figures

arrangement

Figures

1 to

showing partially the in

6 shows pod I The and in

a non-rotating accordance the pod in 1 is 1, 2 show in

with

invention. mechanism its deployed of the being pro1 and 2) parts their

deployment shown those in in of

rotodome

positions referenced dashed

Figure their

deployed Rotodome shown the pod by a

position pod 1 is

indicated esponding vided These pipes which The The ing feed radar guide shown) pylon shaped in to turn pylon fuselage Pylon craft drive 2 greater pod a with on 26) can bags mounted

reference positions. bags

numerals

corr-

retracted inflatable opposite may to be be give of its

(not when 1 an 360

Figures the is

flattened inflated rotodome about rotodome a

faces

rotodome. deployed shape mechanism is 6. considerably compris(via

aerodynamic drive when central to 8, of deployed aerial a connected

rotated the

diameter than flat horn

when

transverse reflector Feed 5 by horn rigid 31

dimension 30 is and

retracted. microwave a microwave wave(not to 2 is

incorporates plate 31.

Cassegrain

system

receiver portion in the (which hinged about 2 about be

waveguide lengths Pod of an an

flexible hinged

11 is to

and in a axis

further structure. the fin) 23. 7 by form about Pod a into

waveguide

pylon

1 is

aerodynamically 7 and in lead 23 10. in rotated from pylon the aircraft relative 17. the a i r to

longitudinal axis

axis be

supporting

framework 1 can and secondary axis screw

screw

2 can exerted

retracted by by a rotation primary

deployed

fuselage

about lead

response

A pivotally

mounted and to

torque shaft as as may

motor 14, it be

25 the

drives drives the

leadscrew 17 in or lines is used of its being pod from

10 via

directly an articulated ganged into the

simultaneously substantially

drives maintain is by

leadscrew

coupling

mechanically retracted 16. A manual

aerodynamic Alternatively drive

orientation fuselage, the (not to to of drives shown the the retract

deployed

indicated

dashed 2) be event 15 heat is extra this

ganged electrically. 1 and can the duct Since is deployed pivotal linkage 2 at 18 the

in' Figures the pod motor inlet 25. an unit in

coupled failure in and only the pylon

leadscrews and torque An a i r feeds 25.

incorporated exchanger power 24 is

2 and bine when

air-liquid

a turneeded avoids

power the

rotodome drag. The

arrangement of The one pylon toggle and end. is as

unnecessary limited is hinged by a to

downward toggle to a the of and as

travel 29. 31 at at the

2 is strut linkage the Prior broken 20 at In slightly door 3 shown 2. to by 27

comprising an end

upper

articulated pallet

lower.strut pylon pod,

support

structure the the

other linkage folded the The is

retraction (Figure 27' its from is up The The and dome The 2, and fully the hinged when rear 1) 29'

toggle is then the at at 1'. 9 and

a hydraulically-actuated linkage leadscrew as

toggle-breaking 10 retracts pod

mechanism pylon fuselage

retracted fuselage to the of the the by

position shown 1 is

1 protrudes

fuselage fuselage a bulkhead may In by a

rotodome

retracted. is 19. be the unit locked by former in the retracted hooks the 1, 12 pod radar 4 roto2). and locking linkage and

strengthened pod-pylon 13 deployed 1 is entire their

assembly

positions respectively. supported radar associated

respectively

position

secondary mechanisms

(Figure pylon

scanner drive

comprising

equipment

and

bulkhead via in the in which be

19 the

can

be of

loaded door a 3.

bodily If of

into

the

aircraft the of on the unit

fuselage can modules movement aircraft

cargo

necessary

form are

plurality with exerting the bag of a as

articulated freedom undue

provided to 3 and avoid

limited

order

pressure 1 in aerial more

fuselage. Figures 4 show rotodome fairings of the rigid detail. air-inflatable walls material constructed 32,32' are

Cresent-shaped mounted these composite selectively signals is (not by of be the dome 32,32' of a from connected shown) 32 on walls

opposite being plastic a

25,25' such

assembly, Wall which radar feed joint 25

lightweight

"NOMEX". polarised suitable with is 38,

incorporates

trans-reflecting 31. air-pipes in turn 33. ring of an radar opening the the pipe air coupling the air 42 and an linkages 32,32' 26 pipes ports stiff

sub-reflector

transmits feed to via which

appropriately A compressed 26 via The 37 a

air/suction rotary

communicate and

inflatable strengthened all 30 to

fairings

assembly panels

structural The

"NOMEX". elevation means of of an of the by screw 5 shows fairings 39 41 links via movable-plate elevation beam transducer by + 3, and 20. door 10 defla (Figure (not (not aerial heat the from 43 shown) a system reflector 34 so The by in 35 as may vary varied the is by aid actuator controlled rotofairings means plan

with

elevation

elevation and 25

retracted and

deflating assembly 17. rotodome ted. 4) shown) to in a

retracting

pod-pylon retracted

motor with

Figure view air a the coupling pump and the 5. 25 via Figure suitable

A detachable compression/ 2 and the microand pylon

suction pylon wave power

flexible 40 is ducts

between to radar 24 of the

fuselage. links Exhaust

Similarly from

detachable

coupling unit

receiver fuselage

exchanger bottom

exhausted 6 shows

respectively. embodiment of the

alternative

invention rotation radome covered 1 is 1, is so to 2, that sweep linkage 1.

in

which a sides a

a radar of the

dish axis

48 46

is in a

mounted cut

for and Radome of a Figures radome 6(c)) 46

about The on a 5. with 4 in

vertical

(non-rotating) away 44,45. by means in the

radome

1 are

flexible similar When to aerial volume

plastic 2 and manner deployed 48 may be

diaphragms deployed to that

mounted 4 and radar the 6(d).

pylon

shown 44,45 about lines

(Figure(6b)) rotated by dashed

pressurised

inflate

diaphragms

(Figure axis in

indicated

Figure

1. '

An

airborne radar within for an pod

scanner (1), a pod, said at said

arrangement radar and pod scanner means from

comprising (30) and

an

aerofor said said

dynamic rotation provided pod pod into (1)

mounted

(2,10,14,17,25) retracting in that for is part being of 1 an swept 1 wall the 2

deploying aircraft

fuselage, least said of

characterised one (26) exterior being and pod

incorporates

inflatable pod define (26)

portion deployed of said 2. wherein portion aperture when out 3. wherein portion of 4. wherein of the said greater the rotodome by the provided pod

(32,32',44,45),means pressurising to for into said in inflate said shape aircraft (1) is a is

provided

internally

portion the said

when the thereby and means on

portion

aerodynamic the pod an

depressurising scanner

portion

retraction to Claim over

fuselage. according and pod, said inflatable membrane,

A radar (44,45)

arrangement flexible wall out to radar is a a

non-rotating of said

membrane accommodate scanner.

stretched which the

exterior bulges of the scanner

inflated, rotation A radar said

volume to Claim

arrangement rotodome fairing fairing, arrangement of the volume in the (30) radar

according and said on a

pod

(1) is

inflatable flattened gives Claim (1) is of long-

(32,32') rotodome, a the radar than A radar

supported when

which

inflated, to by pod

substantially scanner diameter scanner the and within (1'). scanner largest the said said

rotationally

symmetrical out

shape. rotation

according swept deployed transverse is when said

largest

interior scanner fuselage

dimension is Claim (1) is 3

fuselage

accommodated pod to

itudinally retracted 5. wherein greater said 6. wherein a the

A radar than A radar said the

arrangement diameter of interior

according said rotodome transverse

largest

dimension Claim and 1

of

fuselage. scanner means pod unit for into arrangement deploying the 2) according to the pod can (l)from be bodily fuselage

retracting supporting

aircraft which

comprises loaded

(Figure

into 7.

said

fuselage A radar said A radar two (46).of in the A radar two shapes of said and the said transverse

via

cargo-loading arrangement is (44, a arrangement 45) fuselage scanner, arrangement (32, 32')

apertur.e according

(3) to to axis (1) to Claim Claim of being Claim to the axis 3 1 2

thereof. scanner scanner to the radar wherein 8. comprising disposed rotation elongage 9. comprising crescent of rotation aircraft fuselage membranes helicopter according about said the pod fuselage.

diametrically

said

longitudinal scanner fairings rotodome.

direction. according inflatable about

diametrically

disposed