Helicopter load suspending apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling the pitch and lateral movement of a load held by a helicopter or aircraft, said apparatus comprising:
- a pitch regulator adapted to be coupled to said structure, said regulator comprising a rigid yoke and an extensible elevator pivoted to the yoke;
a rigid chassis comprising a front, a rear, a pair of rearwardly extending, spaced apart arms, a cavity defined between said arms, and an elongated guide slot extending from said cavity towards said front;
a coupling pivoted to said pitch regulator for supporting the chassis, said coupling comprising an arm projecting towards the front of said chassis and captivated within said guide slot;
a flexible suspension resiliently connecting said chassis to said coupling;
a lateral movement regulator for twisting said coupling and thus said chassis relative to said yoke;
a displaceable wing pivotally suspended between said chassis arms, said wing comprising a load bearing foot that suspends the load; and
,a junction between said foot and said pitch regulator enabling said elevator to pivot said wing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatus stabilizes loads beneath helicopters to prevent undesirable load movement while allowing in-flight optimization of the load'"'"'s center of gravity to reduce drag and increase banking capability and top speed. An anchoring bracket secures the apparatus to the helicopter. The apparatus comprises an upper section that controls load pitch and lateral movement and a lower section that controls load height during unloading. A pitch regulator comprises a c-shaped yoke with upper and lower collars penetrated by a hollow shaft and elevator. A lateral movement regulator comprises a coupling and a y-shaped chassis. The coupling comprises a central sleeve captivated between the upper and lower collars and a motor permitting selective rotation about the elevator. The chassis secures to the coupling via a ball and socket and a middle suspension system captivated between coupling and suspension plates. Spaced apart terminal chassis arms support the load via a bearing wing. A winch spools a cable with an load stop resting on a foot. The foot front is pivotally secured to the pitch regulator while the back is pivotally secured to the wing. The wing and the elevator control load pitch. As the elevator retracts or extends, the wing moves arcuately upwardly or downwardly to move the load center of gravity longitudinally forwardly or rearwardly to control load pitch. An optional lower section controls load height during unloading. A hoist band passing through a pulley system with actuators that variably space the pulleys variably controlling effective band length.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling the pitch and lateral movement of a load held by a helicopter or aircraft, said apparatus comprising:
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a pitch regulator adapted to be coupled to said structure, said regulator comprising a rigid yoke and an extensible elevator pivoted to the yoke; a rigid chassis comprising a front, a rear, a pair of rearwardly extending, spaced apart arms, a cavity defined between said arms, and an elongated guide slot extending from said cavity towards said front; a coupling pivoted to said pitch regulator for supporting the chassis, said coupling comprising an arm projecting towards the front of said chassis and captivated within said guide slot; a flexible suspension resiliently connecting said chassis to said coupling; a lateral movement regulator for twisting said coupling and thus said chassis relative to said yoke; a displaceable wing pivotally suspended between said chassis arms, said wing comprising a load bearing foot that suspends the load; and
,a junction between said foot and said pitch regulator enabling said elevator to pivot said wing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for controlling the pitch and lateral movement of a load suspended by a cable from a helicopter or aircraft, said apparatus comprising:
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winch means for spooling said cable; a stabilizer secured to said helicopter and adapted to support said winch means, said stabilizer comprising; a pitch regulator depending from said helicopter and adapted to selectively transversely relocate the center of gravity of said load; a lateral movement regulator pivotally secured to said pitch regulator, said lateral movement regulator adapted to support said load; first sensor means for detecting undesirable load lateral movement; first motor means responsive to said first sensor means for pivoting said lateral movement regulator about said pitch regulator to transversely relocate said load center of gravity to eliminate said undesirable load lateral movement; means secured to said pitch regulator for relocating said load center of gravity longitudinally rearwardly or forwardly; second sensor means for detecting undesirable load pitch; and
,second motor means responsive to said second sensor means for activating said means secured to said pitch regulator to longitudinally relocate said load center of gravity to eliminate said undesirable load pitch. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for controlling the pitch and lateral movement of a load suspended by a cable from a helicopter or aircraft, said apparatus comprising:
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winch means for spooling said cable; a stabilizer secured to said helicopter and adapted to support said winch means, said stabilizer comprising; a pitch regulator depending from said helicopter and adapted to selectively transversely relocate the center of gravity of said load; a lateral movement regulator pivotally secured to said pitch regulator, said lateral movement regulator adapted to support said load; first sensor means for detecting undesirable load lateral movement; first motor means responsive to said first sensor means for pivoting said lateral movement regulator about said pitch regulator to transversely relocate said load center of gravity to eliminate said undesirable load lateral movement; means secured to said pitch regulator for relocating said load center of gravity longitudinally rearwardly or forwardly; second sensor means for detecting undesirable load pitch; second motor means responsive to said second sensor means for activating said means secured to said pitch regulator to longitudinally relocate said load center of gravity to eliminate said undesirable load pitch; and
,hoist means for controlling the vertical height of said load. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification