Aerial load-lifting system
OwnerBernard Lindenbauminventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aerial load-lifting system including a lighter-than-air unit, such as a blimp, below which is suspended a powered heavier-than-air unit, such as a helicopter, for example. The latter unit produces thrust which can be directed vertically, up or down, or tilted for translational motion in any direction. The units are connected by a flexible tension member such as a cable. The upper, lighter-than-air unit is sufficiently high above the lower, heavier-than-air unit to permit the heavier-than-air-unit to freely control and maneuver itself and the payload suspended below it with minimal restraint from the lighter-than-air units.
Claims31
An aerial load-lifting system having a plurality of aircraft units, one of said units comprising a lighter-than-air aircraft for lift and another unit comprising a powered heavier-than-air aircraft for lift and maneuvering including controls using motion sensing inputs into an autopilot, a flexible tension member including an upper cable adapted for angle changes interconnecting said units, and means on said heavier-than-air aircraft connected to said tension member for allowing said heavier-than-air aircraft to bodily tilt through large angles in and azimuthal direction and to cause the tension force in said tension member to act approximately through a prescribed point with respect to said heavier-than-air aircraft for any angle between said tension member and said heavier-than-air aircraft during operation, said lighter-than-air aircraft being located substantially above said heavier-than-air aircraft suspended therefrom and cooperating therewith to permit swinging motion damped maneuvering of said heavier-than-air aircraft with a minimum of influence by any motions of said lighter-than-air aircraft such that the autopilot is used to stabilize position of the heavier-than-air aircraft and a suspended load regardless of motions of the lighter-than-air aircraft above and the upper cable angle changes produced by such motions.
A method of lifting and transporting a payload by means of an aerial crane system including a lighter-than-air aircraft for lift and a heavier-than-air aircraft for lift and maneuvering including controls using motion sensing inputs into an autopilot, comprising the steps of locating said lighter-than-air aircraft substantially above said heavier-than-air aircraft and providing control means including rotor controls as well as a pilot's longitudinal, lateral, and collective pitch controls connected electrically therewith so that the pilot's commands pass into an electronic signal processor which combines same with stabilization and autopilot inputs to provide correct control signals to the rotor controls, interconnecting said lighter-than-air aircraft and heavier-than-air aircraft by means of a first flexible tension member, suspending said payload below said heavier-than-air aircraft by means of a second flexible tension member, providing said control means on said heavier-than-air aircraft for allowing said heavier-than-air aircraft to bodily tilt through large angles in any azimuthal direction and causing the tension forces in said tension members to act approximately through prescribed points with respect to said heavier-than-air aircraft for any angle between said first and second flexible tension members during operation which includes lifting and transporting said payload while damping swinging motions and maneuvering of said heavier-than-air aircraft with a minimum of influence by any motions of said lighter-than-air aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.