Cargo lift system

• US 4,379,534 A
• Filed: 03/02/1981
• Issued: 04/12/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Miller, Ralph A., White, Randall F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US06/239,305
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 244/137 R, 244/138, 244/146, 244/147, 244/1 R, 244/148, 244/149, 244/DIG. 2, 441/1, 441/11, 441/2, 441/30 , 441/6, 441/31, 441/7, 441/32, 441/33, 367/3, 367/4, 102/387, 102/337, 102/348, 102/354
• US Class Current: 244/137.4
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/22 Taking-up articles from earth's surface

Abstract

A system for transferring cargo at sea by helicopter includes an automatily activated self inflatable apparatus for reducing the velocity of the cargo if jettisoned or inadvertently dropped into the sea and for keeping the cargo afloat until retrieval may be accomplished. The cargo is lifted by a support sling attachable to a helicopter suspension cargo hook and simultaneously connected to a second sling in parallel to the helicopter through the rapidly deployable retardation and floatation device. Release of the support sling causes the cargo to drop and initiate deployment and inflation of the ribs of the parachute thereby retarding the cargo'"'"'s descend and providing buoyancy for its floatation.

Claims

1. In a cargo lift system having a support bridle, support sling, and hook for transporting externally slung cargo by an elevated platform, an improved cargo recovery apparatus comprising, in combination:

a recovery bridle formed at one end to be connected to the cargo;

a streamlined container closed at one end;

pivot means connected between said ends of said container and formed to be secured to the platform for providing a 360°

rotation of said container about a vetical axis therethrough to permit alignment of said other end of said container with the cargo;

a hinged door releasably connected at said other end of said container and having a shear pin for releasably latching thereto;

a pendant means formed at one end to be connected to said recovery bridle and at said other end having a connector through which said shear pin releasably latch said door to said container;

uninflated parachute means deployably stowed in said container; and

inflator means connected within said uninflated parachute means having a compressed gas reservoir for inflating said uninflated parachute means.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said uninflated parachute means further comprises:

a canopy having an inflatable sphere connected at the center of said canopy having bulkheads within, forming a central airtight compartment and having a plurality of separate airtight radial compartments with inflatable ribs communicating with said sphere and radiating therefrom for supporting said canopy;

inflator means having a compressed gas reservoir connected within said bulkhead for inflating said sphere and ribs;

a rigid recovery attachment means connected to said inflator means and having air ducts thereto formed to be connected to a grappling hook for cargo retrieval;

shroud lines connected to said canopy and having a connector for supporting the cargo during free fall;

a bridle connected within said sphere between said inflator means and through a fitting to the opposed outside of said sphere;

a recovery cable connected between said fitting and said connector; and

a lanyard connected between said container and said inflator means for automatically activating said inflator means when said parachute means is deployed from said container.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said inflator means further comprises:

valve means at the output of said reservoir for permitting gas flow therefrom and connected to said lanyard; and

aspirator means connected inside said sphere to receive the gas from said valve means for creating a low pressure area therein inducing ambient air to mix with the gas and pass the air and gas into said sphere and ribs.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said aspirator means further comprises:

first passage means having a reduced area between said reservoir and said sphere and ribs for creating directly by gas flow said low pressure region therein when the gas flows therethrough; and

poppet means responsive to a predetermined pressure differential between the ambient air and said low pressure region for permitting the ambient air to flow into said sphere and ribs.

5. In a cargo lift system having a support bridle, support sling, and hook for transporting externally slung cargo by an elevated platform, an improved cargo recovery apparatus comprising, in combination:

a recovery bridle formed to be connected to the cargo;

pendant means formed to be connected to said recovery bridle;

a streamlined container secured to the platform closed at one end and including a hinged door at the other end and a door retaining shear pin for releasing said door upon application of tension on said pendant means;

pivot means connected to said container and formed to be secured to the platform for providing rotation of said container about an approximate vertical axis to permit azimuthal alignment of the other end of said container with the cargo;

a canopy stored in and container and deployable therefrom having an inflatable sphere connected at the center of said canopy including bulkheads positioned within to form a central airtight compartment and separate airtight radial compartments with said ribs and valve means formed in each of said bulkheads for permitting gas to flow from said central compartment to said radial compartments, a plurality of inflatable ribs communicating with said sphere and radiating therefrom for supporting said canopy in a deployed parachute configuration, a compressed gas reservoir, a valve means at the outlet of said reservoir for permitting gas flow therefrom and an aspirator connected to receive the gas from said valve means for inducing ambient air with the gas into said sphere and ribs having a reduced area between said reservoir and said sphere and ribs for forming a low pressure region therein when the gas flows therethrough, and poppet means responsive to a predetermined pressure differential between the ambient air and said low pressure region for permitting the ambient air to flow into said sphere and ribs;

shroud lines connected to said canopy and having a connector for supporting the cargo during free fall and being slack during cargo retrieval;

recovery attachment means connected to said canopy formed to be connected to a grappling hook for cargo retrieval;

a bridle connected between said aspirator and the opposed side of said sphere;

a recovery cable for supporting cargo retrieval connected between said bridle and said connector being slack during free fall; and

a lanyard connected between said container and said valve means for automatically activating said valve means when said canopy is deployed from said container.