HOOK SYSTEM

• US 20190308750A1
• Filed: 04/10/2018
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Duval, Sebastien, Ouellet, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 11,091,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/04 Helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/22 Taking-up articles from earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/34 Crane hooks
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/36 with means, e.g. spring-biased detents, for preventing inadvertent disengagement of loads

Abstract

A hook system has a mount that includes a first sidewall comprising a concave profile on a longitudinal end of the first sidewall, a second sidewall laterally offset in a fixed location relative to the first sidewall and defining a channel therebetween, the second sidewall having a second concave profile on a longitudinal end of the second sidewall. The hook system also has a first pin structure extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and a connector. The connector has a third concave profile, the third concave profile being configured to receive the first pin structure therein. The hook system also includes a second pin structure extending through the connector, wherein each of the first concave profile and the second concave profile are configured to receive the second pin structure therein. The connector is configured to be at least partially received within the channel.

Claims

1. A hook system, comprising:

a mount, comprising;

a first sidewall comprising a first concave profile on a longitudinal end of the first sidewall;

a second sidewall laterally offset in a fixed location relative to the first sidewall and defining a channel therebetween, the second sidewall comprising a second concave profile on a longitudinal end of the second sidewall;

a first pin structure extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;

a connector, comprising;

a third concave profile, the third concave profile being configured to receive the first pin structure therein; and

a second pin structure extending through the connector, wherein each of the first concave profile and the second concave profile are configured to receive the second pin structure therein;

wherein the connector is configured to be at least partially received within the channel.

2. The hook system of claim 1, further comprising:

an upper wall from which each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall extend.

3. The hook system of claim 1, further comprising:

a release control system (RCS), comprising a third pin structure that is selectively movable relative to the connector.

4. The hook system of claim 3, wherein the connector comprises a hole for selectively receiving the third pin structure.

5. The hook system of claim 4, wherein the third pin structure is selectively movable so that the third pin structure can be completely removed from the hole of the connector and from the channel.

6. The hook system of claim 3, wherein the RCS further comprises an actuator configured to move the third pin structure.

7. The hook system of claim 6, wherein the RCS further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator.

8. The hook system of claim 7, wherein the controller comprises an electric switch or a softkey.

9. The hook system of claim 3, wherein the RCS further comprises a push-pull type cable configured to move the third pin structure.

10. The hook system of claim 1, further comprising a destructive charge configured to selectively destroy at least one component of the hook system.

11. A helicopter, comprising:

a fuselage; and

a hook system disposed below a majority of the fuselage, comprising;

a mount, comprising;

a first sidewall comprising a first concave profile on a longitudinal end of the first sidewall;

a second sidewall laterally offset in a fixed location relative to the first sidewall and defining a channel therebetween, the second sidewall comprising a second concave profile on a longitudinal end of the second sidewall;

a first pin structure extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;

a connector, comprising;

a third concave profile, the third concave profile being configured to receive the first pin structure therein; and

a second pin structure extending through the connector, wherein each of the first concave profile and the second concave profile are configured to receive the second pin structure therein;

wherein the connector is configured to be at least partially received within the channel.

12. The helicopter of claim 11, further comprising:

an upper wall from which each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall extend.

13. The helicopter of claim 11, further comprising:

a release control system (RCS), comprising a third pin structure that is selectively movable relative to the connector.

14. The helicopter of claim 13, wherein the connector comprises a hole for selectively receiving the third pin structure.

15. The helicopter of claim 14, wherein the third pin structure is selectively movable so that the third pin structure can be completely removed from the hole of the connector and from the channel.

16. The helicopter of claim 13, wherein the RCS further comprises an actuator configured to move the third pin structure.

17. The helicopter of claim 16, wherein the RCS further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator.

18. The helicopter of claim 17, wherein the controller comprises an electric switch or a softkey.

19. The helicopter of claim 13, wherein the RCS further comprises a push-pull type cable configured to move the third pin structure.

20. The helicopter of claim 11, further comprising a destructive charge configured to selectively destroy at least one component of the hook system.