Process for intervention on overhead cables by means of helicopter-carried fork and nacelle
First Claim
1. A helicopter-carried fork (20) comprising securing means (12) adapted to be secured to slings (25) of a rope (11), and at least two gripping ends (22) extending horizontally when the fork (20) is suspended from said rope, so as to be able to penetrate corresponding fixing means of an object (2) to be seized and carried, characterized in that said fork comprises a metal structure (21) connected to an upper bar (32) by several pyrotechnic bolts (46) each connected by a pyrotechnic cord (49) to control means (50), so as to jettison the metal structure (21) and any on-board equipment in the case of an emergency;
- means (34) for securing operators (3) to the upper bar (32); and
a hole (63) made in one of the gripping ends 22 for receiving a locking pin (13) on the object (2) to be seized.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The nacelle (2) and the fork (20) permit rapid interventions by helicopter on bundle-type overhead cables (1). The metal nacelle (2) carrying operators and equipment has on its sides (16) fixing hooks (14). The nacelle (2) can be fixed to overhead cables (1) by fixing bars (7) equipped with notches (8). The fork (20) has gripping ends (22) able to grasp the nacelle (2) beneath hooks (14). It is equipped with pyrotechnic bolts allowing jettisoning to take place if it is urgently necessary to lighten the load of the helicopter. Application to the repair and maintenance of overhead cables of the public power distribution network and in particular to the replacement of coupling sleeves.
15 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A helicopter-carried fork (20) comprising securing means (12) adapted to be secured to slings (25) of a rope (11), and at least two gripping ends (22) extending horizontally when the fork (20) is suspended from said rope, so as to be able to penetrate corresponding fixing means of an object (2) to be seized and carried, characterized in that said fork comprises a metal structure (21) connected to an upper bar (32) by several pyrotechnic bolts (46) each connected by a pyrotechnic cord (49) to control means (50), so as to jettison the metal structure (21) and any on-board equipment in the case of an emergency;
- means (34) for securing operators (3) to the upper bar (32); and
a hole (63) made in one of the gripping ends 22 for receiving a locking pin (13) on the object (2) to be seized.
- means (34) for securing operators (3) to the upper bar (32); and
- 2. A helicopter-carried fork (20) and a nacelle (2) to be seized and carried by said fork, said fork comprising securing means (12) for connecting said fork to slings (25) of a rope (11), at least two gripping ends (22) extending horizontally when the fork (20) is suspended from said rope, so as to be able to penetrate corresponding fork engaging fixing means of the nacelle (2) to be seized and carried, said nacelle (2) further comprising a metal structure (10) having two lateral end walls (16) and sized and configured for carrying operators (3) and equipment, said structure including fixing means for enabling said nacelle (2) to be fixed to at least one overhead cable (1), said fork engaging fixing means being disposed outside the end walls (16).
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8. A helicopter-carried fork (20) comprising securing means (12) for connecting said fork to slings (25) of a rope (11), and at least two gripping ends (22) extending horizontally when the fork (20) is suspended from said rope, so as to be able to penetrate corresponding fixing means of an object (2) to be seized and carried, characterized in that said fork is constituted by a metal structure (21) connected to an upper bar (32) by several pyrotechnic bolts (46) each connected by a pyrotechnic cord (49) to control means (50), so as to jettison the metal structure (21) and any on-board equipment in the case of an emergency and comprising means (34) for securing operators (3) to the upper bar (32).
Specification