An airframe for an air vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018327072-A1
Application number	US-201615772376-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 8, 2016
Priority date	Nov 13, 2015
Publication date	Nov 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An airframe (10) for an air vehicle comprising an outer skin layer (12) and a support layer (13) defining a fuselage of said air vehicle, wherein said outer skin layer (12) is magnetically coupled to said support layer (13).

First claim

1 . An airframe for an air vehicle comprising an outer skin layer and a support layer defining a fuselage of said air vehicle, wherein said outer skin layer is magnetically coupled to said support layer
wherein one or more magnetic components is/are provided in or on said support layer; and wherein said one or more magnetic components comprise electromagnets.

2 . The airframe according to claim 1 , wherein said magnetic coupling is provided at least in part by magnetically susceptible material embedded in, or incorporated by, the outer skin layer.

3 . The airframe according to claim 2 , wherein the magnetically susceptible material comprises an array of ferromagnetic sheet material inserts embedded in or otherwise provided in or on said outer skin layer.

4 . The airframe according to claim 2 , wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises magnetically susceptible particles incorporated in or on the outer skin layer.

5 . The airframe according to claim 4 , wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises a distributed particulate array.

6 . The airframe according to claim 2 , wherein said magnetically susceptible material comprises permanently magnetic material.

7 . (canceled)

8 . (canceled)

9 . The airframe according to claim 1 , wherein said electromagnets comprise superconducting windings.

10 . The airframe according to claim 1 , further comprising means for supplying power to said one or more electromagnets to generate an attracting force relative to said magnetic components in or on said outer skin layer so as to couple said outer skin layer to said support layer.

11 . The airframe according to claim 10 , further comprising means for selectively suspending or reversing said power supplied to said one or more electromagnets so as to release said outer skin layer from said support layer.

12 . The airframe according to claim 1 , wherein said support layer is provided with a plurality of support columns extending outwardly from the support layer, the outer skin layer being both supported by the columns and magnetically coupled to the support layer thereby.

13 . The airframe according to claim 12 , wherein said support columns are provided with said electromagnets located in or on the support columns and said outer skin layer comprises a magnetically susceptible material, the outer skin layer being magnetically coupled to the support layer by the electromagnets and magnetically susceptible material.

14 . The airframe according to claim 10 , wherein the support columns comprise rigid elongate cylindrical or tubular members and the electromagnets are contained in the support columns.

15 . An air vehicle including an airframe according to claim 1 .

16 . A method of manufacturing an airframe for an air vehicle, the method comprising the steps of providing a support layer defining a fuselage of said air vehicle and including magnetic means therein, providing an outer skin layer including magnetic means, and magnetically coupling said outer skin layer over a surface of said support layer;
wherein one or more magnetic components is/are provided in or on said support layer; and wherein said one or more magnetic components comprise electromagnets.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Price Howard James

Classifications

• B64C1/12 Primary

  Construction or attachment of skin panels · CPC title

• B64C1/066

  Interior liners · CPC title

• B64C1/14

  Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens {accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipers}(fairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06) · CPC title

• B64C1/061 Primary

  Frames · CPC title

• B64C1/069

  Joining arrangements therefor · CPC title