Hovering aircraft belly bar clasp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10472065-B2
Application number	US-201615152785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2016
Priority date	May 12, 2015
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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;
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 connected to a connector shaft;
wherein said first external catch and said second external catch are mounted to the connector shaft; and
wherein the connector shaft comprises:
a fork;
a mid-shaft joined to said fork;
a connector for securing the mid-shaft to said fork;
a hook swivel adjacent the mid-shaft; and
a lock collar for securing said hook swivel to the mid-shaft.

2. The belly bar clasping apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the connector shaft further comprises a swivel stop collar attached to said bent shaft and mounted in interfering relationship with said hook swivel.

3. The belly bar clasping apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said hook swivel comprises:
a journal which rotates on said bent shaft;
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.

4. The belly bar clasping apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a hinge connected to a mounting end of said bent shaft via a hinge pin; and a jackpoint pin for connecting the hinge to the hovering aircraft.

5. The belly bar clasping apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a spacer for connection to said fork; and wherein the spacer is for connecting the articulated tubing tool to the hovering aircraft.

6. The belly bar clasping apparatus according to claim 1 , 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.

7. The belly bar clasping apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the external cargo is connected via a plurality of straps to said first external catch and said second external catch.

Assignees

• Quanta Ass Lp
• Quanta Associates Lp

Inventors

• Winfree Gordon Brent
• Patton Mike

Classifications

• H02G1/02

  for overhead lines or cables · CPC title

• B64D1/22 Primary

  Taking-up articles from earth's surface · CPC title

• B64C27/04

  Helicopters · CPC title