Load carrying assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11873099-B2
Application number	US-202017109519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2020
Priority date	Dec 2, 2020
Publication date	Jan 16, 2024
Grant date	Jan 16, 2024

Abstract

A load carrying assembly for carrying a load with a rotary wing aircraft. The load carrying assembly includes a cargo cable and a load engaging system. The cargo cable may have a first end that is attachable to a hoist or a cargo hook arrangement. The load engaging system may include a first attachment that is attached to the second end of the cargo cable, a second attachment that is adapted for receiving a load, a connecting apparatus that connects the first attachment with the second attachment, and at least two first and second thrust producing devices that are attached to the connecting apparatus and produce thrust in a direction that is orthogonal to the cargo cable extension.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A load carrying assembly for carrying a load with a rotary wing aircraft, the load carrying assembly comprising a cargo cable and a load engaging system,
the cargo cable comprising:
a first end that is attachable to at least one of a hoist or a cargo hook arrangement of the rotary wing aircraft, and
a second end; and
the load engaging system, comprising:
a first attachment that is attached to the second end of the cargo cable,
a second attachment that is adapted for receiving a load,
a connecting apparatus that connects the first attachment with the second attachment, wherein the connecting apparatus extends between the first and second attachments in a first direction and comprises a beam that connects the first attachment with the second attachment, wherein the beam is adapted to transfer the weight of the load from the second attachment to the first attachment and wherein the beam defines the first direction,
at least two first thrust producing devices that are attached to the connecting apparatus and produce thrust in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, and
at least two second thrust producing devices that are attached to the connecting apparatus and produce thrust in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first and the second directions.

2. The load carrying assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cargo cable is provided to move the load engaging system in the first direction.

3. The load carrying assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least two first thrust producing devices are adapted to move the load engaging system in the second direction and to enable rotational movement around an axis defined by the first direction.

4. The load carrying assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least two second thrust producing devices are adapted to move the load engaging system in the third direction.

5. The load carrying assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least two first thrust producing devices comprise rotating blades.

6. The load carrying assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least two second thrust producing devices comprise rotating blades.

7. The load carrying assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connecting apparatus comprises:
a box that is attached to the beam.

8. The load carrying assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least two first thrust producing devices are attached to the connecting apparatus in the third direction on opposite sides of the box, and wherein the at least two second thrust producing devices are attached to the connecting apparatus on the same side of the box at which the second attachment is arranged.

9. The load carrying assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first attachment further comprises:
a swivel that is provided to enable rotational movement of the box around the axis defined by the first direction relative to the cargo cable.

10. The load carrying assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of sensors that is attached to the connecting apparatus and generates sensor data about the status of the load engaging system, wherein the sensor data is associated with at least one of a motion variation of the load engaging system, a rotation around the axis defined by the first direction, a rotation around a first additional axis defined by the second direction, or a rotation around a second additional axis defined by the third direction.

11. The load carrying assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises:
a camera that is attached to the connecting apparatus and generates sensor data in form of a video feed.

12. The load carrying assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a communication device that is attached to the connecting apparatus, coupled to at least some of the plurality of sensors, and adapted to send at least a portion of the sensor data from the at least some of the plurality of sensors to an operator and to receive command signals from the operator.

13. The load carrying assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a controller that is attached to the connecting apparatus and controls the at least two first and second thrust producing devices based at least on some of the sensor data or the command signals from the operator.

14. The load carrying assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one of a battery that is attached to the connecting apparatus or a power harness that is coupled to the cargo cable, wherein the at least one of a battery or a power harness supplies electricity to the at least two first thrust producing devices.

15. A method for operating a load carrying assembly of claim 1 , comprising:
using a plurality of sensors to generate sensor data about the status of a load engaging system that is attached via a cargo cable and at least one of a hoist or a cargo hook arrangement to the rotary wing aircraft, wherein the sensor data is associated with at least one of a motion variation of the load engaging system, a rotation around a first axis defined by a first direction, a rotation around a second axis defined by a second direction, or a rotation around a third axis defined by a third direction, wherein the first, second, and third directions are orthogonal to each other;
with a communication device, receiving command signals from an operator; and

using a controller to control at least some of at least two first and second thrust producing devices based at least on some of the sensor data or the command signals from the operator.

16. The load carrying assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least two first thrust producing devices are attached to the connecting apparatus in the third direction laterally spaced from and on opposite sides of the box, and wherein the at least two second thrust producing devices are attached to the connecting apparatus below the box and on the same side of the box at which the second attachment is arranged.

17. The load carrying assembly of claim 16 , wherein the box has a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a top side above the first and second sides, and a bottom side below the first and second sides, wherein a first one of the at least two first thrust producing devices is attached on the first side of the box and laterally spaced from the box, and a second one of the at least two first thrust producing devices is attached on the second side of the box and laterally spaced from the box.

18. The load carrying assembly of claim 17 , wherein the at least two second thrust producing devices are attached to the bottom side of the box such that they are directly below the bottom side.

19. A load carrying assembly for carrying a load with a rotary wing aircraft, the load carrying assembly comprising a cargo cable and a load engaging system,
the cargo cable comprising:
a first end attachable to the rotary wing aircraft, and
a second end; and
the load engaging system, comprising:
a first attachment attached to the second end of the cargo cable,
a second attachment adapted for receiving a load,
a connecting apparatus that connects the first attachment with the second attachment, the connecting apparatus extending between the first and second attachments in a first direction and comprising a beam that connects the first attachment with the second attachment, wherein the beam is adapted to transfer the weight of load from the second attachment to the first attachment and wherein the beam defines the first direction,
at least two first thrust producing devices attached to the connecting apparatus adapted to produce thrust in a second dire

Assignees

• Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH

Inventors

• Behrens Michael
• Brosinger Heiko

Classifications

• B64D1/08 Primary

  the articles being load-carrying devices · CPC title

• B64D1/22

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

• B66C13/063

  electrical · CPC title

• B64C27/04

  Helicopters · CPC title

• B66C13/08 Primary

  for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions · CPC title