System and components useful in landing airborne craft

• US 5,687,930 A
• Filed: 04/10/1992
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Indal Technologies, Inc. (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Indal Technologies, Inc. (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Inventors: Wagner, Nicholas Liptay, Cunliffe, Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): ELDRED, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US07/867,311
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 244/116, 340/946, 340/948, 340/952, 359/723, 359/590
• US Class Current: 244/116
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/125 Mooring or ground handling devices for helicopters

Abstract

An improved system is provided suitable for use in landing an aircraft (for example, helicopter, RPV, VTOL) on shipboard comprising a support, base, platform or housing, reciprocal from remote a landing area on the deck of a ship to a position proximate the landing area, the housing carrying an upwardly directed light sensor comprising a lens system and a pair of band-pass filters, one filter before the lens system of the sensor and one after the lens system, the filters each passing the identical wavelength of light at its center but which each need not have the same band width as the other, a pulse detector in close proximity to the upwardly directed light sensor, and means for securing the aircraft to the support, housing, base or platform.

Claims

1. An improved securing and traversing system for assisting to land a helicopter and securing a helicopter carrying a probe upon landing on the deck of a ship for subsequently traversing it from its landing position, said system comprising a housing reciprocal from a position remote the landing area to a position adjacent the landing area of the helicopter, the housing carrying an upwardly directed radiation sensor for sensing radiation, a shock absorber and sensing means extending across the housing for contacting a probe or other projection extending from the helicopter on the exterior of the helicopter when the helicopter has landed on the deck of the ship and the housing is brought to engage the probe or other projection, the shock absorber and sensing means for slowing and stopping the movement of the housing when the probe or projection is engaged and for cushioning the engagement and for sensing the position of the probe or projection, means for reciprocating the housing towards and away from the landing area, a carrier on the housing extending across the housing and carrying securing means thereon for securing the housing to the probe or projection on the helicopter, the securing means being normally secured at one side of the housing on the carrier and being moved laterally along the carrier across the housing when the carrier is activated to capture the probe or projection, and means to operate the carrier whereby when the probe or projection engages the shock absorber and sensing means, the impact of the probe is cushioned and the position of the probe or projection is sensed relative to the mouth of the securing means whereby when the sensor receives signals from the emitters on the helicopter and the signals are used to locate the helicopter relative to the shipdeck, the signals are used to assist to determine the landing position of the helicopter, and position the securing and traversing system proximate such landing position whereby when the helicopter has landed the probe on the helicopter is sensed as positioned in line with the mouth of the securing means, the carrier moves the securing means to grasp and secure the probe or projection and when the probe is sensed not to be appropriately positioned, the system is activated to cause the helicopter rapid securing system to be appropriately positioned relative to the probe.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the shock absorber and sensing means are incorporated in one structure to stop the probe in a position along the centre line of the mouth when the housing is slowed up and stopped and permitting the carrier to move the securing means laterally across the housing to capture the probe.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the shock absorber and sensing means are different structures.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the carrier is a lead screw extending across the housing.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the carrier is a hydraulically driven or electrically driven chain drive.

4. A helicopter securing and traversing system for securing a helicopter upon landing on the deck of a ship and for subsequently traversing it from its landing position, said system comprising a housing reciprocal from a position remote the landing area to a position adjacent the landing area of the helicopter, the housing carrying an upwardly directed radiation sensor for sensing radiation from a helicopter and a shock absorbing bar extending across the housing from one side to the other normal to the direction of movement of the housing for contacting a probe or other projection extending from the helicopter on the exterior of the helicopter when the helicopter has landed on the deck of the ship and the housing is brought to the probe or other projection, the shock absorbing bar being depressed towards the housing opposite the direction of movement of the housing upon engaging the probe or projection to slow and stop the movement of the housing and cushion the impact of the probe or other projection, means for reciprocating the housing towards and away from the landing area, a carrier on the housing extending parallel to the shock absorbing bar, the carrier for securing securing means thereto for securing the housing to the probe or other projection on the helicopter, the securing means being normally secured at one side of the housing on the carrier and being moved when the carrier is activated, laterally across the housing to capture the probe or projection, the securing means carrying a laterally opening mouth opening in the direction across the housing towards the probe and the other side of the housing, sensing means for sensing the position of the probe relative to the mouth of the securing means for sensing when the mouth is appropriately aligned with the probe so that when the securing means is moved by the carrier, the securing means will grasp and secure the probe and for sensing when the probe has moved away from the sensing means whereupon the system is activated to appropriately position the helicopter rapid securing system and thus the securing means relative to the probe or other projection, and means to operate the carrier.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the shock absorber and sensing means are incorporated in one structure to stop the system in a position wherein the probe is along the centre line of the mouth when the housing is slowed up and stopped and permitting the carrier to move the securing means laterally across the housing to capture the probe.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the carrier is a lead screw extending across the housing.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein the carrier is a hydraulically driven or electrically driven chain drive.

10. An improved system suitable for use in landing a craft on board a ship, the system comprising at least one radiation sensor, and at least one emitter positioned in a recognizable manner and means to receive signals from the at least one sensor to be used to determine the craft'"'"'s immediate position and orientation to assist the craft in a safe landing on the ship, the means to receive signals from the at least one sensor including signal processing means to process the signals received from the sensors, the processed signals to be used to determine the craft'"'"'s immediate position and orientation.