Apparatus for controlling orientation of a suspended load
AssigneeErickson Air Crane Co.
InventorHarlan B. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for use in an aircraft, such as a helicopter, for controlling rotation of a load suspended from a cable and for permitting the cable to swing relative to the helicopter. A frame includes a first or upper assembly which is mounted on the helicopter for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis. The frame also includes a second or lower assembly connected to the upper assembly which is pivotal about a second pivot axis extending transversely to the first pivot axis. A spreader bar is suspended within the frame and is isolated during helicopter pitch and roll. Helicopter yaw imparts positioning of the spreader bar relative to a vertical axis so that the load may be selectively oriented.
Claims7
Apparatus for controlling orientation of a load suspended from the fuselage of a helicopter by a cable comprising:
- spreader bar means connected to the cable for supporting a load connected thereto;
- and
- frame means mounted on the fuselage for transmitting helicopter yaw movement to said spreader bar means and for simultaneously permitting the load to be suspended substantially isolated from helicopter pitch and roll, said frame means including a first assembly mounted on the fuselage for pivotal movement relative to the fuselage about a first pivot axis including a first pair of strut members pivotally connected adjacent one set of their ends to the fuselage and a second pair of strut members pivotally connected adjacent one set of their ends to the fuselage opposite to said first pair, each pair defining a generally triangular plane which is inclined toward the cable, each strut member of said first pair being connected to a strut member of said second pair, said frame means also including a second assembly connected to said first assembly for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis extending transversely to said first pivot axis, said second assembly also being provided with guide means for receiving said spreader bar means and for transmitting yaw movement of the helicopter thereto.
Apparatus for controlling orientation of a load suspended from the fuselage of a helicopter by a cable comprising:
- spreader bar means connected to the cable;
- interconnecting means joining said spreader bar means and the load, said interconnecting means defining two pairs of members which extend downwardly from spaced-apart locations on said spreader bar means to spaced-apart locations on the load;
- and
- frame means mounted on the fuselage for transmitting helicopter yaw movement to said spreader bar means and for simultaneously permitting the load to be suspended substantially isolated from helicopter pitch and roll, said frame means including a first assembly mounted on the fuselage for pivotal movement relative to the fuselage about a first pivot axis including a first pair of strut members pivotally connected adjacent one set of their ends to the fuselage and a second pair of strut members pivotally connected adjacent one set of their ends to the fuselage opposite to said first pair, each pair defining a generally triangular plane which is inclined toward the cable, each strut member of said first pair being connected to a strut member of said second pair, said frame means also including a second assembly connected to said first assembly for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis extending transversely to said first pivot axis, said second assembly also being provided with guide means for receiving said spreader bar means and for transmitting yaw movement of the helicopter thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.