AU2006292025C1

AU2006292025C1 - Load support mountable body for helicopters

Info

Publication number: AU2006292025C1
Application number: AU2006292025A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Grant Mackinnon
Original assignee: MACK INNOVATIONS AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: MACK INNOVATIONS (AUSTRALIA) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-12
Filing date: 2006-09-12
Publication date: 2011-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-12
Also published as: AU2006292025A1; AU2006292025B2

Description

WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 LOAD SUPPORT MOUNTABLE BODY FOR HELICOPTERS This invention relates to a mounting body for helicopters and in particularly a mounting body which extends through a cabin of the helicopter. Hitherto there was provided a support platform for helicopters which was attached to a pair of longitudinal skid members located below a belly or lowermost point of a lower surface to the helicopter. This support platform was adapted for use with the Squirrel AS 350 or McDonnell Douglas 500, 520 or 530F helicopters and was used for carrying out maintenance operations on powerlines. Such support platforms are described, for example, in US Patent 5,072,895 and US Patent 4,637,575. Reference in particular is made to US Patent 5,072,895 which describes a cargo and work platform assembly adapted to be mounted to at least one of two longitudinally extending skid tubes beneath a helicopter fuselage wherein a plurality of support struts including inboard support struts and outboard support struts extending between the platform and the fuselage. The inboard support struts are attached to cross arms which extend across the floor of the cabin of the helicopter from one doorway to another. Each cross arm has an outer end that projects beyond the cabin doorway for attachment to an adjacent outboard strut. The cross arms are attached to transversely extending ribs on the cabin floor and each cross arm has an adjustable length. The arrangement is such that the cargo and work platform can be attached to adjacent cross arm ends on either a left or right hand side of the helicopter. However use of the platform assembly disclosed in US Patent WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 2 5,072,895 as a work platform was disadvantageous because there was limited sitting or standing space because of the inboard and outboard struts being attached to the platform. Thus the primary function of this platform assembly was as a cargo assembly. 5 Reference also may be made to US Patent 4,637,575 which describes a work platform for attachment to a helicopter for working on a high-voltage power line which was rectangular in shape and supported by a pair of opposed longitudinal skid members of the helicopter as well as support struts attached to the fuselage on each side of the helicopter. It is also noted that 10 CA 2,150,194 describes a similar arrangement. However the main disadvantage of support platforms mainly supported by longitudinal skid members of a helicopter was that powerline maintenance workers usually sat on the platform with their legs dangling or suspended from the platform and this was a serious problem when the 15 helicopter made a forced landing because injury would occur to the maintenance worker. Thus this was a problem with skid mounted platforms. US Patent 4,609,167 refers to a cargo rack for helicopters comprising a pair of upwardly extending frame members of a support frame adapted to be attached to helicopter jack points and a cargo hook attachment point. The 20 support frame also has a pair of substantially parallel horizontal arms to carry a load supporting structure. However it was noted that the cargo rack described in this reference was not suitable as a support platform for powerline maintenance workers. Another disadvantage of the work platforms of the prior art was that WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 3 helicopters carrying such work platforms could be unstable in flight owing to the change in the centre of gravity or centre of mass due to a work platform being located on one side of the vehicle. Another disadvantage of the prior art helicopter work platforms was 5 that they were not versatile in nature and thus were incapable of being attached to helicopters of different types. For example, the work platform described in US Patent 5,072,895 was only capable of being used in relation to helicopters having integral floor ribs and this was a feature that was often omitted from other conventional helicopters. 10 Reference also may be made to US Patent 4,609,168 which refers to an external cargo carrier for helicopters capable of accepting a wide variety of external devices for use in emergency situations without it being necessary for permanent alteration of the helicopter. The external cargo carrier comprises a yoke framework of an inverted U shape having a top 15 reinforced frame fitting adapted to rest on a cargo deck of the helicopter and a pair of side frames extending downwardly from opposed door openings of the helicopter which side frames are releasably attached to the top reinforced frame and a bottom frame extending transversely across the helicopter which bottom frame is releasably attached to each side frame. 20 Each side frame is attached to jack point fittings in the fuselage of the helicopter below the door openings and the bottom frame is attached to a cargo hook attachment point in the bottom of the fuselage. Each of the side frames also incorporated structure for attachment of a cargo carrying device. It will be appreciated that US Patent 4,609,168 essentially relates to WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 4 an external cargo carrier and this was not adapted for carrying out maintenance work on powerlines. Because of this the cargo carrier was extremely complicated in structure requiring incorporation of a bottom frame as well as a pair of side frames which were attached to a cargo hook 5 attachment point on the bottom of the fuselage and jack point fittings on the fuselage below each of the opposed door openings. Because of these points of attachment the top frame only rested on the cargo floor and was not attached thereto. Reference also may be made to US Patent 5,128,133 which refers to 10 a cargo system attached to a helicopter for operations on a high power voltage line or similar installations which comprises a transverse support frame having a plurality of parallel beams and attached to end cross members which are each attached to bucket support frames at both ends of the transverse support frame. In an alternative arrangement one bucket 15 support frame may be omitted and replaced by a counterweight to offset the weight of the bucket carried by the single bucket support frame. The transverse support frame is specified as being arranged to rest on a floor of the helicopter where it is fixed "by known means which is not part of the present invention". 20 However one problem of the cargo system described in US Patent 5,128,133 was that the fixing of the transverse support frame to the floor of the helicopter cabin had to be very stable in operation and releasable fasteners may not have been suitable for this purpose. Another problem with the transverse support frame of US Patent 5,128,133 was that the transverse 5 support frame extended outwardly on each side of the door for some considerable distance thereby requiring the use of bracing attached to a bottom of the bucket and a lower edge of the door. The use of such bracing added to the cost of installation of the cargo system to the helicopter. 5 It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a support mounting assembly for a helicopter that may alleviate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art discussed above. The mounting body of the invention is adapted to be attached to a floor of the helicopter and has opposed sides wherein the mounting body is 10 oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the helicopter in use and extends between opposed doorways of the helicopter and having respective ends wherein each end is located closely adjacent to an adjacent doorway 6 characterised in that (i) there are provided securing members on each side of the mounting body which extend outwardly therefrom in plan view to be secured in use to securing locations of said floor which are helicopter "hard points" or certified securing points set by authorities for supporting loads or 5 safety apparatus such as seat belts wherein each of the securing points are located externally of each of the opposed sides of the mounting body and spaced therefrom and (ii) that said mounting body has releasable attachment means for attachment to a counterweight locatable at one of said ends of the mounting body which counterweight extends outwardly from an adjacent 10 doorway in use or to a support platform locatable at another of said ends of the mounting body which support platform extends outwardly from an adjacent doorway in use. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a combination of a helicopter and mounting body wherein the mounting body is attached to a 15 floor of the helicopter and has opposed sides and is oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the helicopter and extends between opposed doorways of the helicopter and having respective ends wherein each and is located closely adjacent to an adjacent opening characterised in that there are provided securing members on each side of the mounting body which extend 20 outwardly therefrom in plan view to be secured to securing locations of the floor of the cabin which are helicopter "hard points" or certified securing points set by authorities for supporting loads or safety apparatus such as seat belts wherein each of the securing points are located externally of opposed sides of the mounting body and spaced therefrom characterised in 25 that said mounting body has releasable attachment means for attachment to 6a a counterweight locatable at one of said ends of the mounting body which counterweight extends outwardly from an adjacent doorway in use or to a support platform locatable at another end of the mounting body in use which support platform extends outwardly from an adjacent doorway. 5 The releasable attachment means may be plug-socket in nature wherein one or more plugs or sockets of the mounting body engage with corresponding socket(s) or plug(s) of the counterweight or support platform. The mounting body may be located in a cabin of the helicopter and rearwardly of a pilot's seat. 10 The mounting body may be a mounting plate but more preferably is mounting frame having a pair of longitudinal members and cross members interposed therebetween which may be oriented at right angles to each longitudinal member or at an angle thereto. More preferably the mounting frame has an upper frame and a lower frame interconnected by webs. Such 15 upper frame and lower frame are preferably in the form of ladder frames interconnected by a pair of opposed end webs and a pair of opposed side webs having attachment apertures. At each end of the upper and lower frames there may be provided upper and lower attachment members. Such attachment members are plug-socket in nature being in the form of a clevis 20 or lug adapted to be connected to a corresponding attachment member of the counterweight or support platform by suitable fasteners. In a variation of the foregoing there may be provided a single mounting frame having attachment members located at each corner which 6b may be of reinforced construction. However the use of an upper frame and lower frame is preferred. Alternatively if required the releasable attachment means between the counterweight and adjacent end of the mounting frame may comprise mating 5 attachment members that are telescopic in nature which is an alternative plug-socket interconnection. This also applies to the releasable attachment means between the support platform and adjacent end of the mounting frame. Again in this embodiment the suitable fasteners may fasten each of the telescopic mating attachment members to each other. 10 From the foregoing it therefore will be appreciated that it is essential that both the first attachment means and the second attachment means are releasable in nature. This means that the support platform may be attached to the mounting frame at either a right hand side of the helicopter or left hand side as is appropriate for the particular application required for the support 15 platform. This also applies to the counterweight which will be attached to the WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 7 mounting frame at an end remote from the support platform. The securing means between the mounting frame and the adjacent floor of the helicopter may be of any suitable type such as restraining straps connected to each attachment location on the floor and adjustable rods 5 having hooks or bolts which engage with selected attachment apertures of each of the opposed side webs or end webs of the mounting frame. Preferably each adjustable rod may comprise a turnbuckle for ease of adjustment. The counterweight may include a counterweight plate orframe having 10 a pair of longitudinal members and one or more cross members. Suitable the counterweight has an outer end in use having a support upright. At an inner end of the counterweight frame are provided attachment members for attachment to mating attachment members of an adjacent end of the mounting frame as described above. 15 The support platform may be a frame having longitudinal members which are oriented parallel to each of the longitudinal skid members of the helicopter and a plurality of cross members. The support frame may also be provided with one or more preferably a pair of opposed elevated frames which form an upward extension of a respective cross member having the 20 attachment members described above at upper location for attachment to the mating attachment members of an adjacent end of the mounting frame as described above. Reference may be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein: WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 8 FIGS 1 to 3 are plan side and front views of a helicopter having the mounting body of the invention attached to a floor thereof rearwardly of the pilots seat to which a counterweight has been attached to one end thereof as well as the support platform being attached to another end thereof; 5 FIG 4 is another front view of the helicopter of FIG 3 showing use of a different type of counterweight; FIGS 5 to 7 are front, plan and side views showing the mounting assembly of the invention attached to a different type of helicopter; FIGS 8 to 11 are various views of the support platform; 10 FIGS 12 to 15 are various views of the counterweight; FIG 16 is a plan view of the upper frame of the mounting frame; FIG 17 is a plan view of the lower frame of the mounting frame; FIG 18 is a side view of the mounting frame; FIG 19 is an end view of the mounting frame; 15 FIG 20 is a plan view of the mounting frame attached to certified hard points located on the floor of the helicopter; and FIG 21 is a side view of the mounting frame shown in FIG 20. In FIGS 1 to 4 of the drawings there is shown a helicopter 10 having a cabin (having opposed doorways) 11, pilot's location 12, central rotor 13 20 having vanes 14 and tail assembly 15. There is also provided an undercarriage or skid frame 16 having longitudinal skid members 17 and connection members 18 to fuselage or body 19 of helicopters 10. The helicopter also has floor 20. The mounting frame or body 21 of the invention is shown attached to WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 9 floor 20 and there is also shown counterweight 22 attached to mounting frame 21 at 23 and 24 and support platform 25 attached to mounting frame 21 at 26 and 27. The utility of the mounting frame 21 and attached counterweight 22 and support platform 25 is shown in FIGS 3 to 4 where a 5 powerline worker 28 is shown supported on support platform 25 which in this instance functions as a powerline access platform for carrying out maintenance operations on a powerline (not shown). FIGS 3 and 4 show different types of counterweights 22 and 22A. In FIGS 1 to 4 helicopter 10 may be a NOTAR MD 520N which has 10 the mounting frame 21 located directly under the central rotor 13. In FIGS 5 to 8 helicopter 10 may be a SQUIRREL AS 350 B2 aircraft which is a different type of aircraft having the mounting frame 21 located in front of the central rotor 13. In FIGS 5 to 8 there is also shown pilot's seat 29 and a different type of connection member 30 to connection member 18 shown in 15 FIGS 1 to 4. In all other respects the description of FIGS 1 to 4 also applies to FIGS 5 to 7. In FIGS 8 to 11 there is shown support platform 25 having a lower frame 31 having longitudinal members 32, cross members 33, 34 and 35 and bracing members 36. There is also shown end frame members 37. Lower 20 frame 25 has a base plate 38. There is also provided a pair of opposed elevated frames 39 each being upward extensions of cross members 33 and 35. Each elevated frame has oblique frame members 41 and 42 which are attached to uprights 43. Each of frame members 41 and 42 have outer ends which correspond to attachment members 44 and 45 for attachment to the WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 10 mounting frame 21. There is also provided elevated side frame member 46 which has a plate 47 attached thereto. Each of attachment members 44 and 45 comprise attachment tongues or lugs as shown. In FIGS 12 to 15 there are shown various views of counterweight 22 in 5 the form of a counterweight frame 50 having longitudinal members 51 to which are attached at 52 additional longitudinal members 53. Each of longitudinal members 51 and 53 are spaced from each other by upright spacers 54. There is also provided end members 55 and 56. Each of the inner ends of longitudinal members 51 and 53 comprise attachment 10 members in the form of lugs 57 and 58 to an adjacent end of the mounting frame 21. At a free end of counterweight frame 22 there is provided a plate 59 supporting a bar 60. In FIG 16 is shown a plan view of an upper frame 61 of mounting frame 21 comprising longitudinal members 62 and end members 63. Each 15 longitudinal member 62 is provided with attachment clevises 64. In FIG 17 is shown a plan view of lower frame 65 having end members 66, cross members 67 and diagonal members 68. There is also provided longitudinal frame members 69 each having an attachment clevis 70. Diagonal frame members 68 may be replaced by an additional cross 20 member 71 shown in phantom. FIG 18 shows a side web 72 having attachment apertures or slots 73 as well as a spacer 74 to elevate mounting frame 21 above floor 20. Spacer 74 is attached to adjacent longitudinal member 69 by struts 75. Also provided are connection struts 76. In FIG 19 there are also shown webs 78 having attachment slots 76.

WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 11 Webs 78 are located between end members 63 and 66. In FIGS 20 to 21 there is shown suitable securing means for securing mounting frame 21 to floor 20 of helicopter 10. Floor 20 is provided with helicopter certified "hard point" locations 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86 and 87 5 and mounting frame 21 is secured to "hard point" locations 80, 82, 83, 85 and 87 by turnbuckles 88 having long dee shackles 89 secured to each of the hard point locations. Each turnbuckle 88 at their inner end has a hook 90 which engages with a selected attachment aperture 91 which may be of a different shape to attachment apertures 73 shown in FIG 18. The attachment 10 of hooks 90 with selected attachment apertures 91 is shown in FIG 21. There are also provided ratchet straps 92 which are controlled by a ratchet mechanism 93 similar to a vehicle seat belt wherein ratchet straps 92 are constantly adjustable by ratchet mechanism 93 to have a desired tension. In this embodiment each ratchet strap 92 is provided with a hook 94 15 for engagement with "hard point" locations 80, 81, 82, 85 and 87 as shown. The straps 92 are passed over mounting frame 21 as shown in FIG 20 to function as an additional restraint in securing mounting frame 21 to floor 20. There is also provided additional restraints in the form of wire rope linkages 95 which are attached to aircraft hard points 84 and 86 and which are 20 provided with bolts 98 for connection to mating apertures 96 and 97 shown in FIG 21. There is also shown gussets 99. From the foregoing it will be appreciated having regard to the preferred embodiment discussed above that relevant advantages of the mounting frame of the invention include: WO 2007/030874 PCT/AU2006/001338 12 (i) a capability to be fitted to different helicopters by being secured to aircraft "hard points" which differ from aircraft to aircraft by choice of a suitable securing means which is adjustable in nature; 5 (ii) having a counterweight attachable to the mounting frame so as to provide aircraft stability; and (iii) having a work platform elevated above longitudinal skids 16 so that maintenance operators do not have their legs dangling below the longitudinal skid members which is not advisable for 10 safety reasons.

Claims

1. A mounting body for attachment to a floor of a helicopter and has opposed sides wherein the mounting body is oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the helicopter in use and extends between opposed 5 doorways of the helicopter and having respective ends wherein each end is located closely adjacent to an adjacent doorway characterised in that (i) there are provided securing members on each side of the mounting body which extend outwardly therefrom in plan view to be secured in use to securing locations of said floor which are helicopter "hard points" or certified 10 securing points set by authorities for supporting loads or safety apparatus such as seat belts wherein each of the securing points are located externally of each of the opposed sides of the mounting body and spaced therefrom and (ii) that said mounting body has releasable attachment means for attachment to a counterweight locatable at one of said ends of the mounting 15 body which counterweight extends outwardly from an adjacent doorway in use or to a support platform locatable at another of said ends of the mounting body which support platform extends outwardly from an adjacent doorway in use.

2. A mounting body as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment means 20 is plug-socket in nature wherein one or more plugs or sockets of the mounting body engage with corresponding socket(s) or plug(s) of the counterweight or support platform.

3. A mounting body as claimed in claim 1 which includes the 14 counterweight attached to the mounting body by said attachment means which in this case comprises first attachment means.

4. A mounting body as claimed in claim 3 which includes the support platform attached to the mounting body by said attachment means which in 5 this case comprises second attachment means.

5. A mounting body as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first attachment means in use is located closely adjacent to a bottom edge of an adjacent first doorway of the helicopter.

6. A mounting body as claimed in claim 4 wherein the second 10 attachment means in use is located closely adjacent to a bottom edge of an adjacent second doorway of the helicopter.

7. A mounting body as claimed in claim 2 wherein one or more sockets of the mounting body engage with corresponding plug(s) of the counterweight. 15

8. A mounting body as claimed in claim 2 wherein one or more sockets of the mounting body engage with corresponding plug(s) of the support platform.

9. A mounting body as claimed in claim 7 wherein the mounting body has a plurality of sockets at each end engageable with corresponding plugs 20 of the counterweight.

10. A mounting body as claimed in claim 8 wherein the mounting body has a plurality of sockets at each end engageable with corresponding plugs of the support platform. 15

11. A mounting body as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting body has a plurality of attachment apertures in a pair of parallel side rails and there is also provided turnbuckles or length adjustment rods between at least some of said attachment apertures and an adjacent 5 securing point to secure the mounting body in use to the floor of the helicopter cabin.

12. A mounting body as claimed in claim 11 wherein each turnbuckle or length adjustable rod has a hook or mounting projection engageable with a corresponding attachment aperture. 10

13. A mounting body as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein there is additionally provided ratchet straps extending over each side rail of the mounting body and interconnecting adjacent securing locations on each side of the mounting body.

14. A mounting body as claimed in claim 11 wherein each side rail has a 15 web extending between upper and lower side frame members and each attachment aperture is located in said web.

15. A mounting body as claimed in claim 11 wherein in use there are provided a multiplicity of securing points externally of each side rail and the turnbuckles or length adjustable rods are interposed between every alternate 20 securing point and the attachment apertures on each side of the mounting body.

16. A mounting body as claimed in claim 15 wherein there is further provided securing straps or chains between securing points on each side of 16 the mounting body not engaged by turnbuckles or said length adjustable rods and said attachment apertures.

17. A combination of a helicopter and mounting body wherein the mounting body is attached to a floor of the helicopter and has opposed sides 5 wherein the mounting body is oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the helicopter and extends between opposed doorways of the helicopter and having respective ends wherein each end is located closely adjacent to an adjacent doorway characterised in that (i) there are provided securing members on each side of the mounting body which extend outwardly 10 therefrom in plan view to be secured to securing locations of said floor which are helicopter "hard points" or certified securing points set by authorities for supporting loads or safety apparatus such as seat belts wherein each of the securing points are located externally of each of the opposed sides of the mounting body and spaced therefrom and (ii) that said mounting body has 15 releasable attachment means for attachment to a counterweight locatable at one of said ends of the mounting body which counterweight extends outwardly from an adjacent doorway in use or to a support platform locatable at another of said ends of the mounting body which support platform extends outwardly from an adjacent doorway in use. 20

18. The combination as claimed in claim 17 wherein said attachment means is plug-socket in nature wherein one or more plugs or sockets of the mounting body engage with corresponding socket(s) or plug(s) for the counterweight and support platform. 17

19. The combination of claim 17 wherein the mounting body includes the counterweight attached to the mounting body by said attachment means which in this case comprises first attachment means.

20. The combination of claim 17 wherein the mounting body includes the 5 support platform attached to the mounting body by said attachment means which in this case comprises second attachment means.

21. The combination of claim 19 wherein the first attachment means is located closely adjacent to a bottom edge of a first doorway of the helicopter.

22. The combination of claim 20 wherein the second attachment means is 10 located closely adjacent to a bottom edge of a second doorway of the helicopter.

23. The combination of any one of claims 17 to 22 wherein the mounting body has a plurality of attachment apertures in a pair of parallel side rails and there is also provided turnbuckles or length adjustable rods between at least 15 some of said attachment apertures and an adjacent securing point to secure the mounting body to the floor of the helicopter cabin.