Floatation system including life raft

• US 7,115,010 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apical Industries, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Apical Industries, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hitzfield, Don V., Parrott, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWINEHART, EDWIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/777,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20040169109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 244/107, 244/905, 114/345, 441/35, 441/40, 441/42, 441/360
• US Class Current: 441/40
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2025/325 specially adapted for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/56 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/18 Flotation gear aircraft alighting gear B64C

Abstract

A floatation system for attachment to a helicopter landing skid includes a girt dimensioned to be attached to a landing skid and a plurality of floats attached to the elongate girt, wherein the plurality of floats are adapted to be converted from a packed configuration to an deployed configuration, and wherein at least one of the plurality of floats extends beneath the elongate girt when the plurality of floats is in the deployed configuration.

Claims

1. A floatation system for a helicopter having landing skids, the floatation system comprising:

at least one inflatable float attached to the landing skids for buoyantly supporting the helicopter on water; and

an inflatable raft for transporting persons,

wherein the system is adapted to be converted from a packed configuration to a partially deployed configuration by use of a first actuating member, and

wherein the system is adapted to be converted from the partially deployed configuration into a fully deployed configuration by use of a second actuating member.

2. The floatation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one float and the raft are releasably contained within a cover member in the packed configuration.

3. The floatation system of claim 1, wherein the raft and the at least one float are deflated in the packed configuration.

4. The floatation system of claim 1, wherein the raft is deflated and the at least one float is inflated in the partially deployed configuration.

5. The floatation system of claim 1, wherein the raft and the at least one float are inflated in the fully deployed configuration.

6. A floatation system attached to a helicopter, the floatation system comprising:

a girt attached to the helicopter;

at least one float attached to the girt; and

a raft attached to the at least one float,

wherein the at least one float is adapted to support the helicopter and the raft is adapted to transport persons,

wherein the system is adapted to be converted from a packed configuration to a partially deployed configuration by use of a first actuating member, and

wherein the system is adapted to be converted from the partially deployed configuration into a fully deployed configuration by use of a second actuating member.

7. The floatation system of claim 6, wherein the at least one float and the raft are releasably contained within a cover member in a packed configuration.

8. The floatation system of claim 7, wherein the raft and the at least one float are deflated in the packed configuration.

9. The floatation system of claim 6, wherein the raft is deflated and the at least one float is inflated in the partially deployed configuration.

10. The floatation system of claim 6, wherein the raft and the at least one float are inflated in the fully deployed configuration.

11. A floatation system in combination with a helicopter landing skid, the floatation system comprising:

at least one inflatable float attached to the landing skid; and

an inflatable raft,

wherein the system is adapted to be converted from a packed configuration to a partially deployed configuration by use of a first actuating member, and

wherein the system is adapted to be converted from the partially deployed configuration into a fully deployed configuration by use of a second actuating member.

12. The floatation system of claim 11, wherein the at least one float and the raft are releasably contained within a cover member in the packed configuration.

13. The floatation system of claim 11, wherein the raft and the at least one float are deflated in the packed configuration.

14. The floatation system of claim 11, wherein the raft is deflated and the at least one float is inflated in the partially deployed configuration.

15. The floatation system of claim 11, wherein the raft and the at least one float are inflated in the fully deployed configuration.

16. A floatation system for a helicopter having landing skids, the floatation system comprising:

at least one inflatable float attached to the landing skids for buoyantly supporting the helicopter on water; and

an inflatable raft for transporting persons,

wherein the at least one float and the raft are releasably contained within a cover member in a packed configuration.

17. The floatation system of claim 16, wherein the system is adapted to be converted from a packed configuration to a partially deployed configuration by use of a first actuating member.

18. The floatation system of claim 17, wherein the raft and the at least one float are deflated in the packed configuration.

19. The floatation system of claim 17, wherein the raft is deflated and the at least one float is inflated in the partially deployed configuration.

20. The floatation system of claim 17, wherein the system is adapted to be converted from the partially deployed configuration into a fully deployed configuration and the raft and the at least one float are inflated in the fully deployed configuration.