US20200346754A1 - Hovering Aircraft Belly Bar Clasp - Google Patents

Abstract

A belly bar method and apparatus use to attach, carry and release external cargo from a hovering aircraft. The belly bar apparatus has articulated tubing tool connected to an airframe of the hovering aircraft at a first mounting end and at a second mounting end. The articulated tubing tool has a first external catch and a second external catch mounted on the articulated tubing tool. The first external catch is manually configured for optional attach, carry and release of the external cargo via the cyclic. The second external catch is electronically configured for optional attach, carry and release of the external cargo proximate the collective.

Description

STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• Not Applicable.
NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
• Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
• Not Applicable.
BACKGROUNDTechnical Field
• The disclosure relates to devices and techniques for attaching, releasing and carrying external loads from a helicopter or other hovering flight vehicle. Such helicopters are used, for example, in techniques to install, repair and maintain electric transmission lines (a high voltage environment).
• Current or conventional helicopter operations which utilize human external cargo to install, repair and/or maintain, for example, remote utility lines do so by the way a “belly band” (a strap which is fitted through the cabin of the helicopter encircling the helicopter that provides a secondary point of attachment and release outside of and below the helicopter). Release is achieved with an integrated release mechanism. The release mechanism requires the pilot to release the flight controls in order to activate the release mechanism for the human external cargo. Within the context of the foregoing consider that the reaction time of the operator is critical to successful operation of the release mechanism in an emergency situation while piloting or maneuvering the helicopter. Further one must also be concerned with the inadvertent release of the cargo load (human or otherwise).
SUMMARY
• A belly bar method and apparatus used to catch human external cargo in the event of a failure or unintended release from the primary attachment (i.e. cargo hook, etc.) and provide the temporary emergency carriage and provide a system of release of the human external cargo from a hovering aircraft. The belly bar apparatus has articulated tubing tool connected to an airframe of the hovering aircraft at a first mounting end and at a second mounting end. The articulated tubing tool has a secondary external catch mounted on the articulated tubing tool. The primary external catch (aircraft mounted cargo hook) is configured for attachment, carriage and manual or electronic release of the external cargo via the cyclic mounted controls. The secondary external catch is configured for temporary emergency carriage and electronic and/or manual release of the external cargo via the collective mounted controls.
• All pins described herein may take various forms as known to one having ordinary skill in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The embodiments may be better understood, and numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. These drawings are used to illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention, and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
• FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of a hovering aircraft with a belly bar clasping system according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 1A depicts another embodiment showing other external cargo which may be carried by the hovering aircraft with a belly bar clasping system ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 2 depicts an elevation view of a belly bar clasp according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a portion of the belly bar clasping system mounted to the hovering aircraft according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a portion of the belly bar clasping system mounted below the hovering aircraft according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 5 depicts a top view of one embodiment of a fork.
• FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the fork embodiment shown inFIG. 5.
• FIG. 7 depicts an end view of the fork embodiment shown inFIG. 5.
• FIG. 8 depicts a side view of one embodiment of a connector/jam nut.
• FIG. 9 depicts an end view of the connector/jam nut embodiment shown inFIG. 8.
• FIG. 10 depicts a side view of one embodiment of a mid-shaft.
• FIG. 11 depicts a side view of one embodiment of a hook swivel.
• FIG. 12 depicts an end view of the hook swivel embodiment shown inFIG. 11.
• FIG. 13 depicts a side view of one embodiment of a hinge.
• FIG. 14 depicts an end view of the hinge embodiment shown inFIG. 13.
• FIGS. 15A & 15B depict elevation views of an embodiment of a primary external catch mount with spacer block, saddle and a pivot link.
• FIG. 16 depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of a fork connected to a spacer.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)
• The description that follows includes exemplary apparatus, methods, techniques, and instruction sequences that embody techniques of the inventive subject matter. However, it is understood that the described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram depicting a hovering aircraft bellybar clasping system10. In an exemplary embodiment the hovering aircraft bellybar clasping system10 generally includes a hovering aircraft orhelicopter12 and a bellybar clasping system30. Thehelicopter12 totes the belly bar clasp30 (which may also be referred to as a “BELLY BAR”) which may be used to catch and temporarily carry and provide a release forexternal cargo14. Suchexternal cargo14 includes human external cargo (e.g. workers)14aand/or otherexternal cargo14b(FIG. 1A). Humanexternal cargo workers14amay be, for example, linemen, pilots, emergency rescue workers, and the like. Theworkers14amay, for example, work with, near, repair, maintain and/or install electric transmission lines.
• Theexemplary helicopter12 has acontrol center13 and as shown has a cyclic16, a collective18 including athrottle20,pedals22, and anairframe23 including an airframe belly (i.e. underside)24 which merges intoairframe sidewalls26. The bellybar clasping system30 mounts to thehelicopter12. Theexternal cargo14 may be attached to, carried by and/or released from the bellybar clasping system30 viastraps19 or the like.
• Now referring toFIGS. 1-4, the bellybar clasping system30 in an exemplary embodiment generally has an articulatedtubing tool32, a second or secondaryexternal catch72, afirst mounting end80 and asecond mounting end90. The bellybar clasping system30 mounts under theairframe belly24 at thefirst mounting end80 and at thesecond mounting end90 proximate theairframe sidewall26 or region where theairframe belly24 merges into theairframe sidewall26.
• The articulatedtubing tool32 in the exemplary embodiment shown generally has bent shaft (tubing or bar)34, a connector shaft (tube or bar)36 and a second or secondaryexternal catch mount70. The entire articulatedtubing tool32 or various components may be made of metal (preferably steel or an alternative lighter weight metal) or be filament wound, compression molded, transfer molded, cast, machined from a plastic, composite, metal, elastomer, ‘3D printed’ or any combination thereof.
• In the embodiment shown theconnector shaft36 has afork38, a connector/jam nut40, a mid-shaft (tube or rod)41, a lock collar/connector42 and ahook swivel50. The fork38 (shown inFIGS. 5-7) is attached via, for example, apin46, to the firstexternal catch mount60 proximate thefirst mounting end80. The connector/jam nut40 (shown inFIGS. 8-9) secures the mid-shaft or rod41 (shown inFIG. 10) to thefork38. The lock collar/connector42 secures the hook swivel50 (shown inFIGS. 11-12) around themid-shaft41. The mid-shaft41 extends through the inside of thehook swivel50 and connects to thebent shaft34. Thehook swivel50 pivots around thebent shaft34. Thejournal52 includes afirst travel stop53 and theswivel stop collar58 includes a second travel stop55 that limits rotation of thejournal52 aboutmid-shaft41. In one exemplary embodiment the rotation is limited to about thirty degrees although other angles desirable to one using secondexternal catch mount70 may be implemented. Thehook swivel50 includes two secondary hook attachments/mountingflanges56a&56bfor connecting thejournal52 to the secondexternal catch mount70 via pin(s)74.
• Thebent shaft34 connects to the second mountingend90. The second mountingend90 includes a jackpoint pin92 (seeFIG. 2). A hinge94 (shown in FIGS.13-14) is joined over thejackpoint pin92 and sidewalls96 of thehinge94 are connected to thebent shaft34 via a hinge pin98 (seeFIG. 2).
• Referring toFIGS. 2, 4, &15-16, the firstexternal catch mount60 includes a spacer64 (pinned to fork38) joined bybolts65 via a mountingplate28 to theairframe belly24 atfirst end80.Saddles66 are attached to thespacer64 viabolts65. Thesaddles66 hold a pivot link or pin68 joining thespacer64 to the firstexternal catch62.
• Firstexternal catch62 is generally a hooking device and has ahook actuator63 in communication with thecontrol center13 via manually actuated cable17 (alternativelycommunication lines15, hard wired as shown The firstexternal catch62 may be an off the shelf commercially available catch such as, for example, those available from Breeze-Eastern Corporation of Whippany, N.J., USA.
• Secondexternal catch72 is generally a back-up hooking device and has ahook actuator73 in communication with thecontrol center13 via communication lines15 (hard wired as shown but may also be wireless including transmitter(s)/receiver(s)). The secondexternal catch72 may also be an off the shelf commercially available catch such as, for example, those available from Mechanical Specialties of Olympia, Wash., USA.
• In alternative embodiments the humanexternal cargo workers14amay have acontroller100 linked (e.g. via wireless or the like) to thecontrol center13 and orhook actuator63 to allow the humanexternal cargo workers14ato activate open or release the firstexternal catch62 and/or secondexternal catch72 in an emergency situation.
• In one working example for use of the hovering aircraft bellybar clasping system10, the firstexternal catch62 may be the primary catch and the secondexternal catch72 may be a back-up catch (both must be released for release of the external cargo14). The firstexternal catch62 is a manual release system activated by a manually actuated handle, lever, button (or the like)61 located on the cyclic16 and a control cable (manually actuated cable17) connecting the handle, lever, button (or the like)61 to the firstexternal catch62 by way of thehook actuator63. Apull safety pin61amay also be implemented into the manually actuated handle, button (or the like) located on the cyclic16. The second external catch72 (in this case a back-up system) is an electronically activated release system with a protected (recessed)button76 proximate the collective18, relay lines (communication wire15), anelectronic hook actuator73 to actuate release of secondexternal catch72. The electronic circuit may normally be de-energized requiring power to actuate theelectronic hook actuator73 for release of the secondexternal catch72.
• While the embodiments are described with reference to various implementations and exploitations, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the inventive subject matter is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements are possible.
• Plural instances may be provided for components, operations or structures described herein as a single instance. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter.

Claims (18)

1. A belly bar clasping apparatus for use to attach, carry and release an external cargo from a hovering aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

an articulated tubing tool connected to an airframe of the hovering aircraft at a first mounting end and at a second mounting end;

wherein said articulated tubing tool comprises a first external catch on said articulated tubing tool and a second external catch on said articulated tubing tool; and

wherein said first external catch and said second external catch are respectively configured for optional attach, carry and release of the external cargo.

2. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said articulated tubing tool further comprises a bent shaft component continuing to a connector shaft component; and

wherein said first external catch and said second external catch are mounted to the connector shaft component.

3. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 2, further comprising a manually actuated cable connecting said first external catch to a cyclic located in the hovering aircraft; wherein said first external catch is configured for manual release activated by a manually actuated lever located on the cyclic; and a communication line for connecting an electronic hook actuator on said second external catch to a button proximate a collective located in the hovering aircraft.

4. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the external cargo is connected via a plurality of straps to said first external catch and said second external catch.

5. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the connector shaft component comprises:

a pin for attaching to a first external catch mount proximate the first mounting end;

a mid-shaft component continuing to said pin;

a hook swivel adjacent the mid-shaft component; and

a lock collar for securing said hook swivel to the mid-shaft component.

6. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein the connector shaft component further comprises a swivel stop collar attached to said bent shaft component and mounted in interfering relationship with said hook swivel.

7. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein said hook swivel comprises:

a journal which rotates on said bent shaft component;

a secondary hook attachment flange positioned on the journal; and

a first travel stop on the journal and in interfering relationship with said swivel stop collar.

8. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 7, further comprising a hinge connected to a mounting end of said bent shaft component via a hinge pin; and a jackpoint pin for connecting the hinge to the hovering aircraft.

9. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 7, further comprising a spacer for connection to said pin; and wherein the spacer is for connecting the articulated tubing tool to the hovering aircraft.

10. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the connector shaft component comprises:

a pin continuing from the connector shaft component for attaching to a first external catch mount proximate the first mounting end;

wherein said second external catch is adjacent the connector shaft component;

a lock collar for securing said second external catch to the connector shaft component; and

wherein said first external catch is adjacent to the first external catch mount.

11. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the connector shaft component comprises:

a connection for attaching to a first external catch mount proximate the first mounting end;

a mid-shaft component continuing to said connection;

a hook swivel adjacent the mid-shaft component; and

a lock collar for securing said hook swivel to the mid-shaft component.

12. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the connector shaft component comprises:

a connection continuing from the connector shaft component for attaching to a first external catch mount proximate the first mounting end;

wherein said second external catch is adjacent the connector shaft component;

a lock collar for securing said second external catch to the connector shaft component; and

wherein said first external catch is adjacent to the first external catch mount.

13. A belly bar clasping apparatus for use to attach, carry and release an external cargo from a hovering aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

an articulated tubing tool connected to an airframe of the hovering aircraft at a first mounting end and at a second mounting end;

wherein said articulated tubing tool comprises a first external catch on said articulated tubing tool and a second external catch on said articulated tubing tool;

wherein said first external catch and said second external catch are respectively configured for optional attach, carry and release of the external cargo;

wherein said articulated tubing tool further comprises a bent shaft component continuing to a connector shaft component;

wherein said first external catch and said second external catch are mounted to the connector shaft component;

wherein the connector shaft component comprises a pin continuing from the connector shaft component for attaching to a first external catch mount proximate the first mounting end;

wherein said second external catch is adjacent the connector shaft component;

a lock collar for securing said second external catch to the connector shaft component; and

wherein said first external catch is adjacent to the first external catch mount.

14. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 13, further comprising a manually actuated cable connecting said first external catch to a cyclic located in the hovering aircraft; wherein said first external catch is configured for manual release activated by a manually actuated lever located on the cyclic; and a communication line for connecting an electronic hook actuator on said second external catch to a button proximate a collective located in the hovering aircraft.

15. The belly bar clasping apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the external cargo is connected via a plurality of straps to said first external catch and said second external catch.

16. A method of releasing an external cargo from a hovering aircraft, comprising the steps of:

attaching a first external catch to the external cargo;

attaching a second external catch to the external cargo;

releasing a first external catch via a cyclic mounted controls in the hovering aircraft; and

releasing a second external catch via collective mounted controls of the hovering aircraft.

17. The method according toclaim 16, wherein said step of releasing the first external catch is performed manually or electrically; and wherein said step of releasing the second external catch is performed electrically and/or manually.

18. The method according toclaim 16, wherein said steps of attaching the first external catch and attaching the second external catch are accomplished via mounting a belly bar clasp below an airframe belly of the hovering aircraft.

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