Helicopter rapid securing & traversing system

A helicopter rapid securing and traversing system for securing a helicopter upon landing on the deck of a ship and for subsequently traversing it from its landing position, said system comprising a housing reciprocal from a position remote the landing area to a position adjacent the landing area of the helicopter, the housing carrying a shock absorbing bar extending across the housing from one side to the other normal to the direction of movement of the housing for contacting a probe or other projection extending from the helicopter on the exterior of the helicopter when the helicopter has landed on the deck of the ship and the housing is brought to the probe or other projection, the shock absorbing bar being depressed towards the housing opposite the direction of movement of the housing upon engaging the probe or projection to slow and stop the movement of the housing and cushion the impact of the probe or other projection, means for reciprocating the housing towards and away from the landing area, a carrier on the housing extending parallel to the shock absorbing bar, the carrier for securing securing means thereto for securing the housing to the probe or other projection on the helicopter, the securing means being normally secured at one side of the housing on the carrier and being moved when the carrier is activated, laterally across the housing to capture the probe or projection, the securing means carrying a laterally opening mouth opening in the direction across the housing towards the probe and the other side of the housing, sensing means for sensing the position of the probe relative to the mouth of the securing means for sensing when the mouth is appropriately aligned with the probe so that when the securing means is moved by the carrier, the securing means will grasp and secure the probe and for sensing when the probe has moved away from the sensing means whereupon the system is activated to appropriately position the helicopter rapid securing system and thus the securing means relative to the probe or other projection and, means to operate the carrier.

In a helicopter rapid securing and traversing system, securing means carried by a carrier and moveable by the carrier to grasp and capture a probe or other projection of a helicopter landing on the deck of a ship, the securing means being normally partially open when it does not grasp the probe or other projection and being moveable from the normally partially opened position to a closed position when it grasps the probe and being moveable to an opened position presenting a greater opening than the opening when the securing means is normally partially open whereat it is able to release the probe, the securing means comprising a body carrying a probe or other projection-receiving recess and a pair of arms extending laterally across the traverser on either side of the recess, at least one arm moveable towards the other arm, the at least one moveable arm being urged to a closed position to preclude the probe or other projection from leaving the recess when the securing means is closed, means secured to the body, at least one portion normally extending into the probe or other projection-receiving recess whereat the securing means is in its normally partially opened position and whereby the mouth opening between the at least one moveable arm and other arm is less than the width of the probe or other projection and when the probe or other projection is in the probe or other projection-receiving recess, the means has been moved out of its position whereby the at least one pivotable arm and thus the securing means is closed presenting no mouth opening or a mouth opening less than the width of the probe or other projection, and whereby when the moveable arm is pivoted to a position whereby the space between the body and moveable arm forming the mouth of the securing means is greater than the width of the probe or other projection for releasing the probe or other projection and whereby when the probe or other projection is released from the probe-receiving recess, said means is restored to position with a portion thereof extending into the probe or other projection-receiving recess.