HELICOPTER HAUL-DOWN AND SECURING SYSTEM

• US 3,801,050 A
• Filed: 02/23/1973
• Issued: 04/02/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter N. Stone
• Original Assignee: Walter N. Stone
• Inventors: Stone, Walter N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Halvosa, George E. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sauberer, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US05/335,110
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 244/115,116,114R,17.17,17.11 114/43.5
• US Class Current: 244/115
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/125 Mooring or ground handling devices for helicopters

Abstract

A system for hauling down and securing a helicopter or the like with a haul down cable loop which attaches at one point to the helicopter and at another point to a deck winch. The cable loop passes through the deck at two separated locations via swivel sheaves so that while the helicopter is being hauled down, the cable acts like a single cable, exerting a downward force and, after the helicopter is on the deck, exerts both vertical and lateral forces to secure the helicopter on the deck. The cable loops over a draw sheave below deck, which is connected to the winch by a draw line so that the haul down cable is free to run over the draw sheave to equalize tension during haul down. After landing, the sheaves and cables would be locked by suitable braking means so that the two cables from the helicopter to the deck-mounted sheaves can restrain the helicopter.

Claims

1. A system for hauling down and securing a helicopter or the like on a deck comprising:

a haul down cable loop, means for attaching said loop at one point to said helicopter, means for exerting a force on said loop so that the cable portions on both sides of the point of attachment of said loop to said helicopter exert a force on said helicopter to haul down said helicopter including a winch, means for connecting said force exerting means to said loop at a second point thereof including a draw sheave mounted with said loop running about said sheave freely to equalize the forces exerted by said cable portions on both sides of said point of attachment of said loop to said helicoper and a draw line connecting said draw sheave to said winch, and means for guiding the loop as said helicopter is hauled down so that said cable portions exert a substantially downward force while said helicopter is being hauled down and a force having a substantial horizontal component while said helicopter is on said deck.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said winch and draw sheave are mounted below said deck.

3. A system as in claim 1 further including said deck.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said deck has separated openings through which pass said portions of said cable on both sides of said point of attachment of said loop to said helicopter and wherein said guiding means includes first and second swivel sheaves mounted below said deck for each receiving and guiding a loop portion passing through one of said separated openings so that said loop portions extend substantially horizontally below said deck.

5. A system as in claim 4 wherein the ratio of the horizontal separation between said separated openings and the vertical distance between said deck and said point of attachment of said loop to said helicopter is between 4:

1 and 6;

1.

6. A system system as in claim 4 further including first and second cable actuators below said deck for locking said cable loop.