System to accelerate and decelerate aircraft for take-off and landing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016229558-A1
Application number	US-201414547826-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 19, 2014
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for controlling movement of an aircraft includes a platform for supporting an aircraft. A clamp mechanism coupled to the platform to releasably couple the aircraft to the platform. The system further includes a conveying system coupled to the platform and configured to move the platform to accelerate or decelerate the aircraft coupled to the platform.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A system for controlling movement of an aircraft, the system comprising:
a platform for supporting the aircraft; a clamp mechanism coupled to the platform to releasably couple the aircraft onto the platform; and a conveying system coupled to the platform and configured to move the platform to accelerate or decelerate the aircraft coupled to the platform.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform is positioned within and above a floor of a recess, wherein the recess is defined in a surface of a taxiway.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the conveying system comprises:
at least one rail positioned in a direction along a length of the floor of the recess; and an electrical power supply electrically connected to the at least one rail.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a frame positioned above a runway and extending across a width of the runway, the frame coupled to the platform and to the conveying system, wherein the conveying system further comprises:
wheels coupled to rotate relative to the platform; a first rail positioned on a first side of the runway; a second rail positioned on a second side of the runway; and an electrical power supply electrically connected to the first rail and the second rail.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises two spaced apart components.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the clamp comprises at least one clamp mechanism coupled to each component of the two components.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the conveying system comprises a propulsion driving mechanism coupled to each of the two components.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises three components spaced apart from each other.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the clamp mechanism comprises at least one clamp mechanism coupled to each component of the three components.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the conveying system comprises a propulsion driving mechanism coupled to each of the three components.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the conveying system comprises a propulsion driving mechanism coupled to the platform.

12 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller in communication with the clamp mechanism and the conveying system.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises at least a portion of a top surface positioned in angular relationship relative to a surface on which the platform is positioned.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the clamp mechanism is coupled to at least one landing gear of the aircraft during acceleration or deceleration of the platform and decoupled from the landing gear to permit aircraft to lift off of the platform at take-off or for the aircraft to taxi off of the platform.

15 . A system for controlling movement of an aircraft, the system comprising:
a frame positioned above a runway and extending across a width of the runway; an attachment mechanism secured to the frame and releasably coupled to at least one landing gear of an aircraft; and a conveying system positioned on opposing sides of the runway and extending in a direction along a length of the runway, wherein the frame is coupled to the conveying system to accelerate the aircraft.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the conveying system further comprises:
a first rail positioned on a first side of a runway; a second rail positioned on a second side of the runway; and an electrical power supply electrically connected to the first rail and the second rail.

17 . A runway system for controlling movement of an aircraft, the system comprising:
a recess defined in a surface of a taxiway; and a barrier positioned at at least one of a first end portion of the recess and a second end portion of the recess.

18 . The runway system of claim 17 , wherein a first barrier is positioned at the first end portion of the recess and a second barrier is positioned at the second end portion of the recess.

19 . The runway system of claim 17 , further comprising a conveying system comprising:
at least two rails extending in a direction along a length and along a floor of the recess; and an electrical power supply electrically connected to the at least two rails.

20 . The runway system of claim 17 , further comprising a platform positioned within the recess, a top surface of the platform positioned substantially aligned parallel with the surface of the taxiway.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hoffstadt Brett M
• Harkness William A
• Meservy Royal E

Classifications

• B64F1/06 Primary

  using catapults · CPC title

• B64F1/02

  for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables · CPC title

• B64F1/22

  for handling aircraft · CPC title

• B64F1/025

  using decelerating or arresting beds · CPC title

• Y02T50/80

  Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management · CPC title