Modular integrated self-contained cargo deployment/retrieval system
First Claim
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1. A system for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising:
- a support frame;
a winch connected to said support frame;
a tow cable wound around said winch, said tow cable being connected to said external load;
a support structure connected to said support frame, said support structure being axially movable relative to said support frame for moving said external load so as to control the center of gravity of said aircraft;
means for moving said support structure relative to said support frame; and
said moving means comprising a pair of actuators connected to said supports structure and to said support frame.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to self contained, modular integrated deployment and retrieval system for use with an aircraft such as a helicopter. The deployment and retrieval system comprises a support frame, a winch connected to the support frame, a tow cable wound around the winch, which tow cable is connected to the external load, and a support structure connected to the support frame. The support structure is axially movable relative to the support frame for moving the external load so as to control the center of gravity of the aircraft and so as to deploy and retrieve the external load.
54 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A system for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising:
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a support frame;
a winch connected to said support frame;
a tow cable wound around said winch, said tow cable being connected to said external load;
a support structure connected to said support frame, said support structure being axially movable relative to said support frame for moving said external load so as to control the center of gravity of said aircraft;
means for moving said support structure relative to said support frame; and
said moving means comprising a pair of actuators connected to said supports structure and to said support frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
said support frame having a pair of spaced apart side rails;
each of said side rails having a track;
said support structure having a pair of spaced apart side elements; and
each of said side elements having means for engaging and cooperating with one of said tracks to allow said axial movement of said support structure.
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3. A system according to claim 2, wherein each said track is formed by a longitudinally extending slot in a respective side rail.
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4. A system according to claim 2, wherein said support structure further comprises a sheave over which said tow cable passes and a support arm extending from each of said side elements to support said sheave.
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5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising side arms attached to said support frame to support said winch.
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6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising control devices mounted to said support frame.
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7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for connecting said support frame to a floor of said aircraft.
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8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said support frame has a longitudinal axis and said longitudinal axis is coincident with a center line of said aircraft.
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9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said system is modular and self-contained.
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10. A system for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising:
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a support frame;
a winch connected to said support frame;
a tow cable wound around said winch, said tow cable being connected to said external load;
a support structure connected to said support frame, said support structure being axially movable relative to said support frame for moving said external load so as to control the center of gravity of said aircraft;
means for moving said support structure relative to said support frame;
said support frame having a pair of spaced apart side rails;
each of said side rails having a track;
said support structure having a pair of spaced apart side elements;
each of said side elements having means for engaging and cooperating with one of said tracks to allow said axial movement of said support structure; and
an energy absorbing member extending between said side rails, said energy absorbing member acting as a forward crash restraint for said external load.
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11. A system for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising:
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a support frame;
a winch connected to said support frame;
a tow cable wound around said winch, said tow cable being connected to said external load;
a support structure connected to said support frame, said support structure being axially movable relative to said support frame for moving said external load so as to control the center of gravity of said aircraft;
control devices mounted to said support frame;
said support structure including a sheave over which said tow cable passes; and
said control devices including rotation and linear sensors for synchronizing linear motion of said sheave with motion of said winch. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising:
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a support frame;
a winch connected to said support frame;
a tow cable wound around said winch, said tow cable being connected to said external load;
a support structure connected to said support frame, said support structure being axially movable relative to said support frame for moving said external load so as to control the center of gravity of said aircraft;
means for connecting said support frame to a floor of said aircraft; and
said connecting means comprising at least one shear and tension connections.
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14. A system for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising:
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a support frame;
a winch connected to said support frame;
a tow cable wound around said winch, said tow cable being connected to said external load;
a support structure connected to said support frame, said support structure being axially movable relative to said support frame for moving said external load so as to control the center of gravity of said aircraft; and
a removable shield positioned over said support frame.
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15. A system for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising:
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a support frame;
a winch connected to said support frame;
a tow cable wound around said winch, said tow cable being connected to said external load;
a support structure connected to said support frame, said support structure being axially movable relative to said support frame for moving said external load so as to control the center of gravity of said aircraft; and
a barrier in front of and adjacent to said support frame to reduce noise, reduce hazards and control helicopter environment.
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16. A system for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising:
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a support frame;
a winch connected to said support frame;
a tow cable wound around said winch, said tow cable being connected to said external load;
a support structure connected to said support frame, said support structure being axially movable relative to said support frame for moving said external load so as to control the center of gravity of said aircraft; and
a tow boom pivotably movable relative to said aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising:
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a support frame;
a winch connected to said support frame;
a tow cable wound around said winch, said tow cable being connected to said external load;
a support structure connected to said support frame, said support structure being axially movable relative to said support frame for moving said external load so as to control the center of gravity of said aircraft;
a tow boom pivotably movable relative to said aircraft; and
pivotal connections for allowing pivotal movement of said tow boom and a pitch sensor incorporated into each of said pivotal connections.
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27. A method for deploying and retrieving an external load from an aircraft comprising the steps of:
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providing a self contained modular deployment and retrieval system which includes a support frame, a winch connected to said support frame, an axially movable support structure for supporting a sheave, and at least one actuator attached to said support frame and said axially movable support structure;
passing a tow cable on said winch over said sheave and connecting an end of said tow cable to said external load; and
moving said support structure from a retracted position to a deployed position by actuating said at least one actuator so that the external load passes through an opening in said aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A helicopter having a fuselage and an opening in said fuselage through which an external load is deployed, said helicopter comprising:
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a self contained, modular deployment and retrieval system secured to said fuselage; and
said self contained, modular deployment and retrieval system including a support frame secured to said fuselage, a movable support structure for supporting a sheave connected to said support frame for movement relative to said support frame between a retracted position and a deployed position where said external load extends through said opening, and a pair of actuators for moving said support structure relative to said support frame, each of said actuators being connected to said support frame at one end and to said support structure at a second end. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
said support frame having a pair of spaced apart side rails;
each of said side rails having a track;
said support structure having a pair of side elements; and
each of said side elements having means for engaging and cooperating with said track of a respective one of said side rails.
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45. A helicopter according to claim 40, wherein said deployment and retrieval system further comprises a winch having a tow cable wound thereon, said tow cable being connected to said winch and to said external load, and a tow boom for capturing said tow cable as said external load is being deployed.
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46. A helicopter according to claim 45, wherein said tow boom has a tow hook and a pyrotechnic cable cutter.
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47. A helicopter according to claim 45, wherein said tow boom has means for detecting tow tension in said cable.
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48. A helicopter according to claim 47, wherein said detecting means comprises at least one load cell and at least one yaw sensor.
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49. A helicopter according to claim 45, further comprising means for detecting the pitch of said tow boom.
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50. A helicopter according to claim 45, further comprising at least one video camera attached to said tow boom.
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51. A helicopter according to claim 40, wherein said external load comprises a towed body for use in a mine hunting operation.
Specification