Prop wash deflector

• US 6,766,980 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen Greenston
• Original Assignee: Stephen Greenston
• Inventors: Greenston, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): BAREFOOT, GALEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/625,670
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 244/17.11, 244/118.1, 244/130, 244/137.4
• US Class Current: 244/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/006 Safety devices

Abstract

A structure for increasing the cargo carrying capacity of a helicopter when the cargo is suspended below the helicopter chassis is described. The structure includes a depending skirt surrounding the helicopter wheels or struts and extending outwardly over the suspended cargo. The skirt is substantially frustro-conical in shape and provides a peripheral lip extending substantially horizontally for deflecting prop down wash from the helicopter rotor away from the suspended cargo.

Claims

1. In a cargo carrying helicopter wherein the cargo is suspended below the helicopter chassis the improvement comprising:

a helicopter prop wash deflector means for defecting prop wash away from said cargo including a skirt disposed between the helicopter chassis and the cargo and extending outwardly and opening downwardly over the suspended cargo, said skirt terminating in an outwardly directed circumferential lip, said skirt being rigid and substantially frustro-conical.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said skirt extends over the helicopter landing gear.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the lip extends outwardly in a substantially horizontal direction.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein the lip is semicircular in cross section, opening upwardly.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said skirt is plexiglass.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the skirt is substantially elliptical in cross-section.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the cargo is anchored to the skirt.

8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the skirt is attached to the helicopter chassis.

9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the skirt comprises a plurality of interconnected sections.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein at least one of said sections is opaque.

11. The improvement of claim 9 wherein at least one of said sections is transparent.