CA1251777A - Apparatus and methods for line stringing with load pickup coupling device - Google Patents
Apparatus and methods for line stringing with load pickup coupling deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1251777A CA1251777A CA000555444A CA555444A CA1251777A CA 1251777 A CA1251777 A CA 1251777A CA 000555444 A CA000555444 A CA 000555444A CA 555444 A CA555444 A CA 555444A CA 1251777 A CA1251777 A CA 1251777A
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- Prior art keywords
- hoist line
- arm
- retainer portion
- line
- end member
- Prior art date
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Abstract
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR LINE STRINGING
WITH LOAD PICKUP COUPLING DEVICE
Abstract of the Disclosure The problem of readily picking up a load using an aircraft without requiring ground personnel is solved by a coupling device and a method of coupling a load using same. The coupling device includes a pivot member pivotally mounted on the load having a disposition and configuration that is readily engaged by a hoist line with an end or weight member from above and guided into a retainer portion so that as the hoist line is raised a connection is formed between the hoist line and the load. The pivot member serves as a load-bearing member during suspension. Upon deployment and relief of the weight of the load from the hoist line, the pivot member automatically returns to the starting position and the hoist line and end member are slid therefrom. Stringing apparatus inclusive of a support member carrying front and rear coupling devices and front and rear tower catches and is particularly effective in stringing line through the tower in accordance with a novel method of line stringing.
WITH LOAD PICKUP COUPLING DEVICE
Abstract of the Disclosure The problem of readily picking up a load using an aircraft without requiring ground personnel is solved by a coupling device and a method of coupling a load using same. The coupling device includes a pivot member pivotally mounted on the load having a disposition and configuration that is readily engaged by a hoist line with an end or weight member from above and guided into a retainer portion so that as the hoist line is raised a connection is formed between the hoist line and the load. The pivot member serves as a load-bearing member during suspension. Upon deployment and relief of the weight of the load from the hoist line, the pivot member automatically returns to the starting position and the hoist line and end member are slid therefrom. Stringing apparatus inclusive of a support member carrying front and rear coupling devices and front and rear tower catches and is particularly effective in stringing line through the tower in accordance with a novel method of line stringing.
Description
'~5~ ~77 APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR LINE ST~I~JGI~JG
WIT~ LOAD PIC~CUP COUPLING DE:VICE
Technical Field This lnvention relates to novel and Lmproved method~ and apparatus for line stringing that is par-ticularly suited for stringing line through towers with line-holding structure that has no side access such a~
for the stringing of a center line and includes a novel load coupling device and method.
Background Art T~e advantages of stringing electric power lines by helicopter or the like are well known. In the past for airborne stringing of power lines the practice has been to provide blocks on the support towers through which the personnel in the helicopter can readily string the power line.
The use of helicopters ana suitable string-ing apparatus and methods as presently known have been confined to towers having a ~ide access as illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 4,129,287. There are, however, a number of towers presently in use and designed for future use wherein the center power line is entirely closed on all sides at the point of attachment, and this, of course, poses particular prsblems for string-ing by helicopter or the like. The present prior artapproach is to use conventional ground equipment.
In the past a common practice in airlifting loads has ~een to use a grappling hook or some other ~--type of hook on ~he end of a hoist line to hook into the load or a cable attached to the load. In most cases ground personnel is u3ed to make certain there is a reliable connection between the hoist line and the load.
'~ 5 ~'7~7 In many aerial load pickup ~ituation~ it i3 also highly de~irable to be able to readily release the load from the hoist line without ground personnel. An example of the requirements of thi~ type of coupling i3 the stringing apparatus disclosed herein.
S Disclosure of Invention In accordance with the present invention there are di~closed apparatus and methods u~ing an aircraft for passing a sock line through a line-holding struc-ture for the center power line of a series of towers.
la A needle-type apparatus uses a pair of tower catches and a pair of line fasteners on a common support mem-ber to thread the line. The methods include suspend-ing the line, which is typically a sock line, from an aircraft and threading the sock line through a line-holding structure, all of which are carried out by theoperator in the aircraft, followed by attaching the sock line to the power line and a pulling of the power line through the line holding structure.
There is further dis~losed a load pickup 2Q coupling device and method for use in retrieving a load by a helicopter and like aircraft whic~ includes a pivot member shown in the form of a hook-like stru~ture or a bail-like structure defining a central receivinq area disposed in a sub tantially horizontal plane. The hook-like pivot me~ber is pivotall~ mounted to pi~ot relative to the load about a horizontal axis from a generally prone position to an upright suspended position.
The configuration and disposition of the pivot member is such that a hoist line with an enl~rged end ~ember or weight below the pivot member may pas~ into the receiving area and into a retainer portion defining an internal retainer area that is ~maller than the end 7~7 member and arranged so that as the hoist line and end member are raised by the aircraft the end member en-gages the retainer portion, the pivot member is piv-oted to an upright po~ition, and a load-bearing con-nection is established between ~he hoist line and load.When the weight of the load is supported by ~omething other than the hoist line, the pivot member pivots back to the horizontal position and the hoist line and end member slide from the retainer portion and out through ~he receiving area of the pivot member.
Brief Description of Drawin~s The details of this invention will be de-scri~ed in connection wi~h the accompanying drawings, in which:
Pig. 1 is a perspective view of a helicopter supporting a needle-type stringing apparatus for string-ing a line to towers;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the n~edle-type stringing apparatus shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Pig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of an al-ternative embodiment of a needle-type apparatus;
Fig. 5 ~s a top plan view of another fonm of line stringing apparatus;
Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the device shown in Figure 5;
Fig. 7 is an enlarge~ sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of Figuxe 5;
Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of ano~her arrangement for the front coupling device and front catch;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line~ 9-9 of Fiqure 5 with alternate positions for .~ S~ 777 the rear catch shown in dashed lines;
~ ig. 10 i~ a top plan view of a coupling device embodying features of the present in~ention;
Fig. 11 is a side elevation view of ~he coupling device hown in Pigure l;
Fig. 12 i3 an enlarg~d end elevation view o~
a portion of the coupling device shown in Yigure 10 with the pivot member upright;
Pig. 13 is an enlarged ~ide elevational view 1~ of the pivot assembly of Pigure 12;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along lines 14-14 of Figure 12;
~ ig. 15 is a pictorial view of the deployment of a helicopter with a hoist line having an end member on the lower end for engaging the coupling device shown in Figure 10;
Fig. 16 is a pictorial vie~ of the load being carried by the helicopter via the coupling device;
Fig. 17 is a pictorial view of the load in a ground-supported position with the pivot member moving with the end member extending back toward a horizontal position prior to release of the end member and hoist line from the device;
Fig. 18 is a top plan view of another form of aerial coupling device embodying features of the present invention; and Pig. 1~ is a side elevation ~iew of the device shown in Figure 18.
Detailed_Description Referring now to Fig. 1, a helicopter 10 is ~hown stringing a line 30 to a series of towers 14 dis-posed at spaced intervals. The towers 14 are conven-tional high-tension towers having a pair of laterally spaced vertical poles 16 and 18 that are anchored to ~ 7 the ground and a cross support 20 attached at the top of the vertical poles 16 and 18 for supporting the strands of the high tension power line. The towers 14 are illustrated as having generally cylindrically S shaped poles 15 and 18 and a generally rectangularly shaped cross support 20. It is understood that the ap-paratus and method of the invention may be used with a variety of types of towers and only one pole instead of two may be used per tower.
As illustrated, the cross supports 20 o the towers 14 are adapted to,support three strands of nigh tension electric power line; two outside strands 22 and 24 are shown and a procedure for stringing the center or middle strand is described herein. The structure being threaded for the center strand has no top, bot-tom, or side access and is also referred to herein as "window-like." The outside strands of power line 22 and 24 are attached to the cross support 20 utilizing a conventional electric insulator 28, as will be the middle strand of power line upon completion of the in-stallation. In practice, a stringing block 29 or like line-holding structure is mounted on the lower end of each insulator 28 to facilitate the stringing opera-tion. Blocks of this type are disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,129,287 and 3,195,862.
For installing the center strand of power line, a preliminary stringing line commonly ~nown as and here-in referred to as sock line 30 is unrolled continuously from a large spool supported on the ground at one end of the series of towers being strung, using the string-ing apparatus of the present invention. Line 30 is also referred to herein as the "threading line." The sock line 30 is strung the entire length of the series of towers and has an end coupling that is connected to an end of the center strand of power line or conductor.
~ 7 A winch-type puller on the ground is used to pull the sock line 30 back to its original position and thereby threads the power line connected thereto through the line-holding structure that had previously been occupied by the sock line 30. During the threading of the power line through the line holding structure it is maintained in tension by conventional tensioner ap-paratus on the ground.
While it is understood that the methods and apparatus of the present invention are suitable for di-rectly stringing at least, relatively short leng~hs of power line, the weight of a typical length of power line would be too great for lifting by the aircraft. In ad-tion, power line or electrical conductor is vulnerable to nicks and scratches. The sock line 30 is consider-ably lighter and more durable and typically is in the nature of a stranded cable made of strong, lightweight materials such as steel, nylon, polyethylene and the like.
A needle-type stringing apparatus 40 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, generally stated, comprises a support member 42 in the form of an elongated cylindrically shaped rod, a generally U-shaped sock line fastener 44 attached at the rear end of support member 42, a front or leading hoist line fastener or coupling portion 46 attached at the front end portion of the support member 42, and a trailing or rear hoist line fastener or coupling portion 48 attached to the support member a selected distance rearwardly of fastener 46 and between fastener 44 and fastener 46 for attaching the stringing apparatus 40 to a hoist line 54 depending from the helicopter 10 or like aircraft. Support member 42 is also referred to herein as a "threading member~ and as shown has a leading end and a trailing end. A front hook-shaped tower catch 50 is mounted on support member ~ 7 42 behind fastener 46 and a rear hook-shaped tower catcA
52 is mounted on member 42 rearwardly of fastener 48, Catch 50 is between fasteners 46 and 48. The function of catches 50 and 52 is to catch hold of and temporarily secure the stringing apparatus to the support tower as the tension in the line 30 pulls one of the catches 50 or 52 against the support tower.
Counterweights 56 and 58 are shown mounted on support member 42 directly opposite catches 50 and 52, respectively, to counterbalance the associated catches for ensuring that the catches are disposed in a hori-zontal plane and not turned at an angle so as to readil~
catch the tower pole 16.
The line fasteners 46 and 48, respectively, are thus located axially in front of catches 50 and 52, respectively. Each line fastener 46 and 48 includes a generally U-shaped eyelet or lug portion 60 on a ring-shaped base portion 61 that in turn is rotatably mounted on support member 42. Stops 62 are provided for each fastener 46 and 48 and are attached to the support mem-ber 42 on either side of the body to limit the axial movement of the fasteners with respect to the support member and also limit the rotational movement of the fasteners to 90 with respect to the support member s~
that the lug portion will rotate between a horizontal position ready for being hooked and a vertical posi-tio~ when it is hooked and carried by the hoist line.
The catches 50 and 52 are located opposite the lug portions 60 when the lug portions are in the horizontal position and swing to the vertical position at right angles to the catches so that the catches will catch hold of the sides of vertical poles. The stops 62 are attached to the support member at a point approximately even with the attachment point of the catches S0 and 52 to the support member.
r~3~ f~ 7 - 8 -~/
As shown in Fig. 1, a grappling hook 70 or similar device may be attached to the hoist line 54 for releasably attaching the hoist line 54 to ~he fas-teners 46 and 48 of the needle-type stringing apparatus 40. The grappling hook 70 and each of the fasteners 46 and 48 then form a releasable coupling between the hoist line 54 and the threading member 40.
The catches 50 and 52 of the stringing appa-ratus 40 are generally hook-shaped and are constructed to temporarily secure the apparatus 40 to a generally cylindrical vertical pole 16 of the tower 14 and sup-port the sock line 30 while the sock line is threaded through the tower 14.
The stringing apparatus 40 is adapted to string the sock line through a series of tower supports 14 by a method that generally includes the steps of pulling the stringing apparatus 4Q with the sock line 30 attached thereto between the towers 14 with the hoist line 54 of the helicopter lO supporting the stringing apparatus 40 on a tower 14 while the string-ing apparatus 40 is released from the hoist line 54, flying the helicopter 10 and hoist line 54 around the tower 14, reattaching the hoist line 54 to the string-ing apparatus 40 on the opposite side of the tower 14, and then pulling the stringing apparatus 40 and sock line 30 through the tower 14. Finally, after the sock line has been strung through all of the towers, one end is secured to the power line and the power line.is threaded through the support structure to replace the sock line.
More specifically, the method is preferably carried out by first fastening ~he sock line 30 to sock line fastener 44. The grapping hook 70 of the heli-copter haul line 54 is attached to the rear hoist line fastener 48 for pulling the stringing apparatus through -8a-the air. ~he airborne stringing apparatus is then pulled through the tower 14 and the leading tower catch 50 of the apparatus is hooked around a support pole lÇ
on the tower 14. The tension on the sock line 30 helps to maintain the stringing apparatus 40 in position on the pole 16.
The hoist line 54 is then released from the rear fastener 48 and the helicopter flies the hoist line 54 around to the opposite side of the tower 14. The ~ 7 hoist line 54 i3 then reattached to the front hoi3t line fastener 46 and the helicopter 10 pulls the 3tringing apparatus 40 through the tower 14 and hooks catch 52 to the tower pole 16. The hoi~t line 54 i3 then relea3ed from front hoist line fastener 46 and i5 reattached ~o rear hoist line fastener 48. The stringing 3pparatus 40 can then be pulled through the tower 14 by the aircraft and the operation can be repeated at the next tower.
Referring now to Fig. 4 , another em~odiment ~o of the needle-type stringing apparatus is shown and i$
generally designated 80. Apparatus 8~ is formed with generally square-shaped front and rear tower catches 82 and 84. The catches 82 and 84 have front and rear hoist line fasteners that are located with the lug portion on the same side of the support member wh~n the lug portion i5 in the horizontal position so that the catches will catch hold of the cross support 20 of the tower.
Counterweights 86 and 88 are shown mounted on support member 42 directly opposite catches 82 and 84, respec-tively, to counterbalance the associated catch~s. Thelug portions swing 90 from a horizontal to a vertical position when supported by the hoist line. This ar-rangement functions in the same manner as previously described except that during operatio~ of the apparatus the square-shaped tower catches 82 and 84 are designed to support the apparatus on the generally rectangularly shaped cross support member 20 of the tower 14 rather than on the vertical tower poles 16 and 18.
The line s~ringing apparatus 571 shown in Fig-ures 5-9 includes a support member 572 in the form of an elongated cylindrically shaped rod, a front hoist line fa~tener or coupling device 515a attached at the front end of the support m2mber 572, and a rear hoist line fastener or coupling device 515b attached to the support member 572 between thle ends thereof a selected 3 ~ 7 distance behind coupling device 515a.
The stringing app~ratus further ha3 a front tower catch 575 adjacent to and rearwardly of the front coupling device 515a and a rear tower catch 576 ~or-wardly of the rear coupling device 515b. A line fas-tener 578 is connected to the rear end of the support member for fastening the sock or pull line 579 to the support member 571. The line fastener 578 has a mount-ing bracket clamped to the support member 571 and a clevis held by the fastening bolts. The sock line 579 is secured to the clevis.
Coupling devices 515a and 515b are of a con-struction similar to device 515 hereinafter described and differ from one another only i~ the relative propor-tions of the shank portion and retainer portions. Thefront coupling device is shorter for added strength. As shown in Figure 7, each of these coupling deYices 515a and 515b has a pipe-clamp-type circular mounting bracket 581 that fits around the support member 572 and has
WIT~ LOAD PIC~CUP COUPLING DE:VICE
Technical Field This lnvention relates to novel and Lmproved method~ and apparatus for line stringing that is par-ticularly suited for stringing line through towers with line-holding structure that has no side access such a~
for the stringing of a center line and includes a novel load coupling device and method.
Background Art T~e advantages of stringing electric power lines by helicopter or the like are well known. In the past for airborne stringing of power lines the practice has been to provide blocks on the support towers through which the personnel in the helicopter can readily string the power line.
The use of helicopters ana suitable string-ing apparatus and methods as presently known have been confined to towers having a ~ide access as illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 4,129,287. There are, however, a number of towers presently in use and designed for future use wherein the center power line is entirely closed on all sides at the point of attachment, and this, of course, poses particular prsblems for string-ing by helicopter or the like. The present prior artapproach is to use conventional ground equipment.
In the past a common practice in airlifting loads has ~een to use a grappling hook or some other ~--type of hook on ~he end of a hoist line to hook into the load or a cable attached to the load. In most cases ground personnel is u3ed to make certain there is a reliable connection between the hoist line and the load.
'~ 5 ~'7~7 In many aerial load pickup ~ituation~ it i3 also highly de~irable to be able to readily release the load from the hoist line without ground personnel. An example of the requirements of thi~ type of coupling i3 the stringing apparatus disclosed herein.
S Disclosure of Invention In accordance with the present invention there are di~closed apparatus and methods u~ing an aircraft for passing a sock line through a line-holding struc-ture for the center power line of a series of towers.
la A needle-type apparatus uses a pair of tower catches and a pair of line fasteners on a common support mem-ber to thread the line. The methods include suspend-ing the line, which is typically a sock line, from an aircraft and threading the sock line through a line-holding structure, all of which are carried out by theoperator in the aircraft, followed by attaching the sock line to the power line and a pulling of the power line through the line holding structure.
There is further dis~losed a load pickup 2Q coupling device and method for use in retrieving a load by a helicopter and like aircraft whic~ includes a pivot member shown in the form of a hook-like stru~ture or a bail-like structure defining a central receivinq area disposed in a sub tantially horizontal plane. The hook-like pivot me~ber is pivotall~ mounted to pi~ot relative to the load about a horizontal axis from a generally prone position to an upright suspended position.
The configuration and disposition of the pivot member is such that a hoist line with an enl~rged end ~ember or weight below the pivot member may pas~ into the receiving area and into a retainer portion defining an internal retainer area that is ~maller than the end 7~7 member and arranged so that as the hoist line and end member are raised by the aircraft the end member en-gages the retainer portion, the pivot member is piv-oted to an upright po~ition, and a load-bearing con-nection is established between ~he hoist line and load.When the weight of the load is supported by ~omething other than the hoist line, the pivot member pivots back to the horizontal position and the hoist line and end member slide from the retainer portion and out through ~he receiving area of the pivot member.
Brief Description of Drawin~s The details of this invention will be de-scri~ed in connection wi~h the accompanying drawings, in which:
Pig. 1 is a perspective view of a helicopter supporting a needle-type stringing apparatus for string-ing a line to towers;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the n~edle-type stringing apparatus shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Pig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of an al-ternative embodiment of a needle-type apparatus;
Fig. 5 ~s a top plan view of another fonm of line stringing apparatus;
Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the device shown in Figure 5;
Fig. 7 is an enlarge~ sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of Figuxe 5;
Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of ano~her arrangement for the front coupling device and front catch;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line~ 9-9 of Fiqure 5 with alternate positions for .~ S~ 777 the rear catch shown in dashed lines;
~ ig. 10 i~ a top plan view of a coupling device embodying features of the present in~ention;
Fig. 11 is a side elevation view of ~he coupling device hown in Pigure l;
Fig. 12 i3 an enlarg~d end elevation view o~
a portion of the coupling device shown in Yigure 10 with the pivot member upright;
Pig. 13 is an enlarged ~ide elevational view 1~ of the pivot assembly of Pigure 12;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along lines 14-14 of Figure 12;
~ ig. 15 is a pictorial view of the deployment of a helicopter with a hoist line having an end member on the lower end for engaging the coupling device shown in Figure 10;
Fig. 16 is a pictorial vie~ of the load being carried by the helicopter via the coupling device;
Fig. 17 is a pictorial view of the load in a ground-supported position with the pivot member moving with the end member extending back toward a horizontal position prior to release of the end member and hoist line from the device;
Fig. 18 is a top plan view of another form of aerial coupling device embodying features of the present invention; and Pig. 1~ is a side elevation ~iew of the device shown in Figure 18.
Detailed_Description Referring now to Fig. 1, a helicopter 10 is ~hown stringing a line 30 to a series of towers 14 dis-posed at spaced intervals. The towers 14 are conven-tional high-tension towers having a pair of laterally spaced vertical poles 16 and 18 that are anchored to ~ 7 the ground and a cross support 20 attached at the top of the vertical poles 16 and 18 for supporting the strands of the high tension power line. The towers 14 are illustrated as having generally cylindrically S shaped poles 15 and 18 and a generally rectangularly shaped cross support 20. It is understood that the ap-paratus and method of the invention may be used with a variety of types of towers and only one pole instead of two may be used per tower.
As illustrated, the cross supports 20 o the towers 14 are adapted to,support three strands of nigh tension electric power line; two outside strands 22 and 24 are shown and a procedure for stringing the center or middle strand is described herein. The structure being threaded for the center strand has no top, bot-tom, or side access and is also referred to herein as "window-like." The outside strands of power line 22 and 24 are attached to the cross support 20 utilizing a conventional electric insulator 28, as will be the middle strand of power line upon completion of the in-stallation. In practice, a stringing block 29 or like line-holding structure is mounted on the lower end of each insulator 28 to facilitate the stringing opera-tion. Blocks of this type are disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,129,287 and 3,195,862.
For installing the center strand of power line, a preliminary stringing line commonly ~nown as and here-in referred to as sock line 30 is unrolled continuously from a large spool supported on the ground at one end of the series of towers being strung, using the string-ing apparatus of the present invention. Line 30 is also referred to herein as the "threading line." The sock line 30 is strung the entire length of the series of towers and has an end coupling that is connected to an end of the center strand of power line or conductor.
~ 7 A winch-type puller on the ground is used to pull the sock line 30 back to its original position and thereby threads the power line connected thereto through the line-holding structure that had previously been occupied by the sock line 30. During the threading of the power line through the line holding structure it is maintained in tension by conventional tensioner ap-paratus on the ground.
While it is understood that the methods and apparatus of the present invention are suitable for di-rectly stringing at least, relatively short leng~hs of power line, the weight of a typical length of power line would be too great for lifting by the aircraft. In ad-tion, power line or electrical conductor is vulnerable to nicks and scratches. The sock line 30 is consider-ably lighter and more durable and typically is in the nature of a stranded cable made of strong, lightweight materials such as steel, nylon, polyethylene and the like.
A needle-type stringing apparatus 40 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, generally stated, comprises a support member 42 in the form of an elongated cylindrically shaped rod, a generally U-shaped sock line fastener 44 attached at the rear end of support member 42, a front or leading hoist line fastener or coupling portion 46 attached at the front end portion of the support member 42, and a trailing or rear hoist line fastener or coupling portion 48 attached to the support member a selected distance rearwardly of fastener 46 and between fastener 44 and fastener 46 for attaching the stringing apparatus 40 to a hoist line 54 depending from the helicopter 10 or like aircraft. Support member 42 is also referred to herein as a "threading member~ and as shown has a leading end and a trailing end. A front hook-shaped tower catch 50 is mounted on support member ~ 7 42 behind fastener 46 and a rear hook-shaped tower catcA
52 is mounted on member 42 rearwardly of fastener 48, Catch 50 is between fasteners 46 and 48. The function of catches 50 and 52 is to catch hold of and temporarily secure the stringing apparatus to the support tower as the tension in the line 30 pulls one of the catches 50 or 52 against the support tower.
Counterweights 56 and 58 are shown mounted on support member 42 directly opposite catches 50 and 52, respectively, to counterbalance the associated catches for ensuring that the catches are disposed in a hori-zontal plane and not turned at an angle so as to readil~
catch the tower pole 16.
The line fasteners 46 and 48, respectively, are thus located axially in front of catches 50 and 52, respectively. Each line fastener 46 and 48 includes a generally U-shaped eyelet or lug portion 60 on a ring-shaped base portion 61 that in turn is rotatably mounted on support member 42. Stops 62 are provided for each fastener 46 and 48 and are attached to the support mem-ber 42 on either side of the body to limit the axial movement of the fasteners with respect to the support member and also limit the rotational movement of the fasteners to 90 with respect to the support member s~
that the lug portion will rotate between a horizontal position ready for being hooked and a vertical posi-tio~ when it is hooked and carried by the hoist line.
The catches 50 and 52 are located opposite the lug portions 60 when the lug portions are in the horizontal position and swing to the vertical position at right angles to the catches so that the catches will catch hold of the sides of vertical poles. The stops 62 are attached to the support member at a point approximately even with the attachment point of the catches S0 and 52 to the support member.
r~3~ f~ 7 - 8 -~/
As shown in Fig. 1, a grappling hook 70 or similar device may be attached to the hoist line 54 for releasably attaching the hoist line 54 to ~he fas-teners 46 and 48 of the needle-type stringing apparatus 40. The grappling hook 70 and each of the fasteners 46 and 48 then form a releasable coupling between the hoist line 54 and the threading member 40.
The catches 50 and 52 of the stringing appa-ratus 40 are generally hook-shaped and are constructed to temporarily secure the apparatus 40 to a generally cylindrical vertical pole 16 of the tower 14 and sup-port the sock line 30 while the sock line is threaded through the tower 14.
The stringing apparatus 40 is adapted to string the sock line through a series of tower supports 14 by a method that generally includes the steps of pulling the stringing apparatus 4Q with the sock line 30 attached thereto between the towers 14 with the hoist line 54 of the helicopter lO supporting the stringing apparatus 40 on a tower 14 while the string-ing apparatus 40 is released from the hoist line 54, flying the helicopter 10 and hoist line 54 around the tower 14, reattaching the hoist line 54 to the string-ing apparatus 40 on the opposite side of the tower 14, and then pulling the stringing apparatus 40 and sock line 30 through the tower 14. Finally, after the sock line has been strung through all of the towers, one end is secured to the power line and the power line.is threaded through the support structure to replace the sock line.
More specifically, the method is preferably carried out by first fastening ~he sock line 30 to sock line fastener 44. The grapping hook 70 of the heli-copter haul line 54 is attached to the rear hoist line fastener 48 for pulling the stringing apparatus through -8a-the air. ~he airborne stringing apparatus is then pulled through the tower 14 and the leading tower catch 50 of the apparatus is hooked around a support pole lÇ
on the tower 14. The tension on the sock line 30 helps to maintain the stringing apparatus 40 in position on the pole 16.
The hoist line 54 is then released from the rear fastener 48 and the helicopter flies the hoist line 54 around to the opposite side of the tower 14. The ~ 7 hoist line 54 i3 then reattached to the front hoi3t line fastener 46 and the helicopter 10 pulls the 3tringing apparatus 40 through the tower 14 and hooks catch 52 to the tower pole 16. The hoi~t line 54 i3 then relea3ed from front hoist line fastener 46 and i5 reattached ~o rear hoist line fastener 48. The stringing 3pparatus 40 can then be pulled through the tower 14 by the aircraft and the operation can be repeated at the next tower.
Referring now to Fig. 4 , another em~odiment ~o of the needle-type stringing apparatus is shown and i$
generally designated 80. Apparatus 8~ is formed with generally square-shaped front and rear tower catches 82 and 84. The catches 82 and 84 have front and rear hoist line fasteners that are located with the lug portion on the same side of the support member wh~n the lug portion i5 in the horizontal position so that the catches will catch hold of the cross support 20 of the tower.
Counterweights 86 and 88 are shown mounted on support member 42 directly opposite catches 82 and 84, respec-tively, to counterbalance the associated catch~s. Thelug portions swing 90 from a horizontal to a vertical position when supported by the hoist line. This ar-rangement functions in the same manner as previously described except that during operatio~ of the apparatus the square-shaped tower catches 82 and 84 are designed to support the apparatus on the generally rectangularly shaped cross support member 20 of the tower 14 rather than on the vertical tower poles 16 and 18.
The line s~ringing apparatus 571 shown in Fig-ures 5-9 includes a support member 572 in the form of an elongated cylindrically shaped rod, a front hoist line fa~tener or coupling device 515a attached at the front end of the support m2mber 572, and a rear hoist line fastener or coupling device 515b attached to the support member 572 between thle ends thereof a selected 3 ~ 7 distance behind coupling device 515a.
The stringing app~ratus further ha3 a front tower catch 575 adjacent to and rearwardly of the front coupling device 515a and a rear tower catch 576 ~or-wardly of the rear coupling device 515b. A line fas-tener 578 is connected to the rear end of the support member for fastening the sock or pull line 579 to the support member 571. The line fastener 578 has a mount-ing bracket clamped to the support member 571 and a clevis held by the fastening bolts. The sock line 579 is secured to the clevis.
Coupling devices 515a and 515b are of a con-struction similar to device 515 hereinafter described and differ from one another only i~ the relative propor-tions of the shank portion and retainer portions. Thefront coupling device is shorter for added strength. As shown in Figure 7, each of these coupling deYices 515a and 515b has a pipe-clamp-type circular mounting bracket 581 that fits around the support member 572 and has
2~ flange plates 582 and 583 through which one or more bolt fasteners 584 pass to releasably clamp the coupling device to the support m~her at the desired position.
This allows the member to be located at any position along the support member and be adjustably moved as required.
The pivot member carries a stop 586 to hold it in the horizontal position and a stop 587 to hold it in the upright position or at any desir~a angular po~ition in between. For some applications the stops 3a enable the pivot member to swing a full 180, as is shown in Figure 1.
The front tower catch 575 includes a releas-able and ~lidable mounting bracket portion 575a similar to bracket 581 above describecl to permit this catch to be slidable along the support member 572 and located at ~ 7 a selected position by tightening the bolt fasteners that extend through the flanges of the bracket, to-gether with a rearwardly and downwardly inclined hook-ing arm portion 575b adapted to hook over the top of the cross support on the tower designated by dashed lines at 577. The front tower catch 575 may also be located forwardly of the front coupling device 515a, as shown in Figure 8.
The rear tower catch 576 includes a releasable la and slidable mounting bracket portion similar to bracket 581 above described and has an outwardly and rearwardly extending arm portion provided with flat surfaces that are particularly suited for engaging wood.
The rear tower catch 576 shown in Figure~ 5 and 9 ex-tends laterally out from one side of the support mem-ber 572 opposite the normal position for the pivot mem-ber 517 and is positioned for a side hookup with the upright side pole of a support tower indicated at 580.
The rear tower catch 576 may be disposed at the opposite side at 576b, on top as indicated at 576a, or on the bottom as indicated at 575c with respect to the support member, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 9, depending on the type of tower engagement or hookup required. The upstanding or top disposition indicated at 576a with the catch located forwardly and adjacent catch 575, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 6, is particularly suited for having the catch engage the underside or bottom of a cross support 577 on a tower.
A preferred procedure for stringing a sock line through the line-holding structure of a tower that has no side access, such as the center line, u~ing line stringing apparatus 571 above described, is as follows:
The end member or ball 543 on the end of the hoist line is placed in the front coupling device 515a and the line stringing apparatus 571 is moved in by the 7.~7 aircraft and set on the top of the cross 3upport 577 of the tower or other support 3tructure with arm por-tion 575b hooked on support 577 and the sock line 579 providing a tension to hold apparatus 571 in place.
The line and end member are removed fram the ~ront coupling device 515a and connected to the rear coupling device 515b, which is the loaded position ready for threading.
The line stringing apparatus 571 is then lifted off the tower, backed up and threaded through the tower by manipulating the aircraft. The top front catch 576a may hook the bottom of the tower or the side mount front catch may hook the side of the tower, ac-cording to the type of tower, and the stringing appa-ratus is again supported by the tower. The end member543 is decoupled from the rear coupling device 515b and hooked into the front coupling device 515a and the line 579 is threaded through the tower and moved down to the next tower by the aircraft, where the front catch is 20 again set on the top cross support 577 and the above procedure i9 repeated.
Referring now to Figures 10-19 of the draw-ings, a load pickup coupli~g device 515 shown is mounted on load 516 representea in a general form as a rectan-25 gular block. This coupling device 515, generally stated, has a single hook-shaped pivot member 517 pivotally connected at one end to the top of the load by a pivot assembly 518 to pivo~ about a ~ubstantially horizontal axis between selected positions described hereinafter.
The pivot member 517 shown is comprised of a shank portion 521 and a U-qhaped retainer portion 522 with an outwardly flared end portion 523 opposite as-sembly 518 which define an interior re oeiving area with a receiving opening 524 for the line along one side op-posite the shank portion and between the end of the end portion 23 and the load. Thi3 configuration for the pivot member and the fact that it is disposed ssbstan-tially on its side in a prsne position as shown in Figure 10 provides a load-supported, line-engaging target area for the hoist line.
In practice the hoist line and end mem~er are - moved by the aircraft and engage the pi~ot mem~er so that its external edge assists in guiding the hoi~t line toward the opening in the hook between the flared 1~ end portion and the load. The outwardly flared end portion facilitates guiding of the hoist line into the opening in the hook and against the inner edge of the ~hank portion, which then serves as a line-engaging target area for the hoist line and guides the hoist line into the retainer portion 522. The retainer por-tion 522 is larger than the cross section of the hoist line and smaller than the cross section of the end mem-ber carried by the hoist line. Once carried by the hoist line, the pivot member 517 and its pivotal con-nection at the assembly 518 become load-bearing or load-supporting me~bers between the hoist line and load.
The pivot member 517 shcwn is made of a solid rod 525 of circular cross section with a reinforcing plate 526 that extends along the shank portion and one side of the retainer portion for added strength.
The pivot assembly 51B for the pivot member 517 includes a transverse pivot rod 531 affixed to the end of the shank portion opposite the retainer portion adapted to rotate about ~ horizon~al axis, together with a mounting pla~e 532 which carries a pair of sleeve bearings 533 and 534 affixed thereto. The pivot rod 531 is telescopically received in and retained at opposite ends by the sleeve bearing~ 533 and 534.
A horizontal stop 535 i~ carried by the shanX
portion and engages the mounting plate 532 to hold the pivot member 517 in the horizontal po3ition on one 3ide, and a horizontal ~top 536 is mounted on the opposi~e 3ide of the pivot member to hold the pivot in a horiz~ntal position when swung to an opposite position a~ shown in S dashed line~. It is understood that the stop~ 535 and 536 may be shaped to position the pivot member at an upward incline to the horizontal if desired, but in most cases this angle would be small and would not ex-ceed 45. Screw fasteners 537 are shown holding the mounting plate to the load. While a mounting plate i~
shown, it i~ understood that other fastening techniques may be used to fasten the pivot assembly 518 to the load and other forms of pivots may be used to pivotally mount the pivot member 517 to a load.
Referring now to Figures 15-17, the load 516 wi~h a coupling device 515 mounted thereon, as above de-scribed, is shown on a supporting surface 538. A heli-copter-type aircraft 541 has a hoist line 542 suspended thereon with an end member 543 in the form of a ball forming a weight on the lower end. Shapes other than spherical could be used.
The helicopter positions the end member 543 belo~ the pivot mem~er and the line 542 is moved toward the shank portion 521 through the receiving opening 524, usually against the inner edge of the shank portion wherein it is guided thereby into the retainer portion 522. The end member 543 i~ then raised against the re-tainer portion and at the ~ame time the pivot member swings up about ~he pivot and forms a connection between the load and the helicopter so that the helicopter may elevate the load, as shown in Figure 16.
To release the load from the hoist line, upon the placement of the load on a support surface the pivot member will tend to swing in the direction of the end member 543 and lie back down to the horisontal position, r~ ~Lr~7 ~J7 whereupon the end member 543 may ~e slid from the re-tainer portion and out the receiving opening of the hook in rever3al of motion to that of it3 application.
In Figures 18 and 19 there i$ shown another S form of coupling device 555 including a pivot member ;57 and a pivot assembly 559 connected at each end to the load 516. Pivot member 557 is in the nature of a modi-fied U-shaped bail comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed, ~paced, arcuate shank portions 560 and 561, lQ each pivotally connected at one end to the load and connected at the opposite end to a U-~haped retainer portion 562. The shank portion~ 560 and 561 form a receiving area through which the end member will insert and the inside edges guide the hoist line into the re-tainer portion. Again the retainer portion 562 issmaller in size than the end member to form the connection.
The pivot assembly 559 at each end is shown to include a mounting plate 558 held to the load as by bolt fasteners with a pivot stud 563 extending through a hole in the end of the shank portion having a retainer head 564. Suitable stops 565 are provided on each shank portion to dispose the pivot member at an angle to the horizontal, preferably of about 30 but usually not more than 45. The angular position,allcws the hoist line and end member to be moved into the receiving area toward ~he retainer portio~ 562 frcm the side~ $his configuration for member 557 provides a generally wider target area for the hoist lLne and end member.
3a The operation of the coupling device 555 is si~ilar to that of device 51~ above described and the interior receiving area formed by the pivot member must be large enough for the end mem~er on the hoist line to be moved into the receiving area from t~e 3ide toward the retainer portion 562. The width sf t~e retainer portion 562 allows the line to slide thereinto and engage the end member when it is pulled up against ~ame.
This allows the member to be located at any position along the support member and be adjustably moved as required.
The pivot member carries a stop 586 to hold it in the horizontal position and a stop 587 to hold it in the upright position or at any desir~a angular po~ition in between. For some applications the stops 3a enable the pivot member to swing a full 180, as is shown in Figure 1.
The front tower catch 575 includes a releas-able and ~lidable mounting bracket portion 575a similar to bracket 581 above describecl to permit this catch to be slidable along the support member 572 and located at ~ 7 a selected position by tightening the bolt fasteners that extend through the flanges of the bracket, to-gether with a rearwardly and downwardly inclined hook-ing arm portion 575b adapted to hook over the top of the cross support on the tower designated by dashed lines at 577. The front tower catch 575 may also be located forwardly of the front coupling device 515a, as shown in Figure 8.
The rear tower catch 576 includes a releasable la and slidable mounting bracket portion similar to bracket 581 above described and has an outwardly and rearwardly extending arm portion provided with flat surfaces that are particularly suited for engaging wood.
The rear tower catch 576 shown in Figure~ 5 and 9 ex-tends laterally out from one side of the support mem-ber 572 opposite the normal position for the pivot mem-ber 517 and is positioned for a side hookup with the upright side pole of a support tower indicated at 580.
The rear tower catch 576 may be disposed at the opposite side at 576b, on top as indicated at 576a, or on the bottom as indicated at 575c with respect to the support member, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 9, depending on the type of tower engagement or hookup required. The upstanding or top disposition indicated at 576a with the catch located forwardly and adjacent catch 575, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 6, is particularly suited for having the catch engage the underside or bottom of a cross support 577 on a tower.
A preferred procedure for stringing a sock line through the line-holding structure of a tower that has no side access, such as the center line, u~ing line stringing apparatus 571 above described, is as follows:
The end member or ball 543 on the end of the hoist line is placed in the front coupling device 515a and the line stringing apparatus 571 is moved in by the 7.~7 aircraft and set on the top of the cross 3upport 577 of the tower or other support 3tructure with arm por-tion 575b hooked on support 577 and the sock line 579 providing a tension to hold apparatus 571 in place.
The line and end member are removed fram the ~ront coupling device 515a and connected to the rear coupling device 515b, which is the loaded position ready for threading.
The line stringing apparatus 571 is then lifted off the tower, backed up and threaded through the tower by manipulating the aircraft. The top front catch 576a may hook the bottom of the tower or the side mount front catch may hook the side of the tower, ac-cording to the type of tower, and the stringing appa-ratus is again supported by the tower. The end member543 is decoupled from the rear coupling device 515b and hooked into the front coupling device 515a and the line 579 is threaded through the tower and moved down to the next tower by the aircraft, where the front catch is 20 again set on the top cross support 577 and the above procedure i9 repeated.
Referring now to Figures 10-19 of the draw-ings, a load pickup coupli~g device 515 shown is mounted on load 516 representea in a general form as a rectan-25 gular block. This coupling device 515, generally stated, has a single hook-shaped pivot member 517 pivotally connected at one end to the top of the load by a pivot assembly 518 to pivo~ about a ~ubstantially horizontal axis between selected positions described hereinafter.
The pivot member 517 shown is comprised of a shank portion 521 and a U-qhaped retainer portion 522 with an outwardly flared end portion 523 opposite as-sembly 518 which define an interior re oeiving area with a receiving opening 524 for the line along one side op-posite the shank portion and between the end of the end portion 23 and the load. Thi3 configuration for the pivot member and the fact that it is disposed ssbstan-tially on its side in a prsne position as shown in Figure 10 provides a load-supported, line-engaging target area for the hoist line.
In practice the hoist line and end mem~er are - moved by the aircraft and engage the pi~ot mem~er so that its external edge assists in guiding the hoi~t line toward the opening in the hook between the flared 1~ end portion and the load. The outwardly flared end portion facilitates guiding of the hoist line into the opening in the hook and against the inner edge of the ~hank portion, which then serves as a line-engaging target area for the hoist line and guides the hoist line into the retainer portion 522. The retainer por-tion 522 is larger than the cross section of the hoist line and smaller than the cross section of the end mem-ber carried by the hoist line. Once carried by the hoist line, the pivot member 517 and its pivotal con-nection at the assembly 518 become load-bearing or load-supporting me~bers between the hoist line and load.
The pivot member 517 shcwn is made of a solid rod 525 of circular cross section with a reinforcing plate 526 that extends along the shank portion and one side of the retainer portion for added strength.
The pivot assembly 51B for the pivot member 517 includes a transverse pivot rod 531 affixed to the end of the shank portion opposite the retainer portion adapted to rotate about ~ horizon~al axis, together with a mounting pla~e 532 which carries a pair of sleeve bearings 533 and 534 affixed thereto. The pivot rod 531 is telescopically received in and retained at opposite ends by the sleeve bearing~ 533 and 534.
A horizontal stop 535 i~ carried by the shanX
portion and engages the mounting plate 532 to hold the pivot member 517 in the horizontal po3ition on one 3ide, and a horizontal ~top 536 is mounted on the opposi~e 3ide of the pivot member to hold the pivot in a horiz~ntal position when swung to an opposite position a~ shown in S dashed line~. It is understood that the stop~ 535 and 536 may be shaped to position the pivot member at an upward incline to the horizontal if desired, but in most cases this angle would be small and would not ex-ceed 45. Screw fasteners 537 are shown holding the mounting plate to the load. While a mounting plate i~
shown, it i~ understood that other fastening techniques may be used to fasten the pivot assembly 518 to the load and other forms of pivots may be used to pivotally mount the pivot member 517 to a load.
Referring now to Figures 15-17, the load 516 wi~h a coupling device 515 mounted thereon, as above de-scribed, is shown on a supporting surface 538. A heli-copter-type aircraft 541 has a hoist line 542 suspended thereon with an end member 543 in the form of a ball forming a weight on the lower end. Shapes other than spherical could be used.
The helicopter positions the end member 543 belo~ the pivot mem~er and the line 542 is moved toward the shank portion 521 through the receiving opening 524, usually against the inner edge of the shank portion wherein it is guided thereby into the retainer portion 522. The end member 543 i~ then raised against the re-tainer portion and at the ~ame time the pivot member swings up about ~he pivot and forms a connection between the load and the helicopter so that the helicopter may elevate the load, as shown in Figure 16.
To release the load from the hoist line, upon the placement of the load on a support surface the pivot member will tend to swing in the direction of the end member 543 and lie back down to the horisontal position, r~ ~Lr~7 ~J7 whereupon the end member 543 may ~e slid from the re-tainer portion and out the receiving opening of the hook in rever3al of motion to that of it3 application.
In Figures 18 and 19 there i$ shown another S form of coupling device 555 including a pivot member ;57 and a pivot assembly 559 connected at each end to the load 516. Pivot member 557 is in the nature of a modi-fied U-shaped bail comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed, ~paced, arcuate shank portions 560 and 561, lQ each pivotally connected at one end to the load and connected at the opposite end to a U-~haped retainer portion 562. The shank portion~ 560 and 561 form a receiving area through which the end member will insert and the inside edges guide the hoist line into the re-tainer portion. Again the retainer portion 562 issmaller in size than the end member to form the connection.
The pivot assembly 559 at each end is shown to include a mounting plate 558 held to the load as by bolt fasteners with a pivot stud 563 extending through a hole in the end of the shank portion having a retainer head 564. Suitable stops 565 are provided on each shank portion to dispose the pivot member at an angle to the horizontal, preferably of about 30 but usually not more than 45. The angular position,allcws the hoist line and end member to be moved into the receiving area toward ~he retainer portio~ 562 frcm the side~ $his configuration for member 557 provides a generally wider target area for the hoist lLne and end member.
3a The operation of the coupling device 555 is si~ilar to that of device 51~ above described and the interior receiving area formed by the pivot member must be large enough for the end mem~er on the hoist line to be moved into the receiving area from t~e 3ide toward the retainer portion 562. The width sf t~e retainer portion 562 allows the line to slide thereinto and engage the end member when it is pulled up against ~ame.
Claims (16)
1. A hookup device for performing repeated hookups with and disengagements from the lower end of a hoist line suspended from an aircraft, said hookup device comprising:
an end member on said hoist line;
arm means having an outline as viewed from the top that defines a target area with an opening for the entry and exit of the hoist line, said arm means including:
a guide portion including an inner edge along which said hoist line is guided in moving toward a retained position and a retainer portion integral with and forming an extension of said guide portion so that said guide portion is carried with said retainer portion when suspended from said hoist line, said retainer portion having an end stop and a pair of spaced arms extending from the opposite ends of said stop, said arms being spaced apart wider than the thickness of said hoist line to permit the hoist line to be passed into said retainer portion and against said stop after being guided by said guide portion and narrower than said end member so that said end member cannot pass through said retainer portion, said arm means being movable between a first position and a second position, said first position being along a horizontal plane or tilted up with respect to said horizontal plane so that said retainer portion is nigher than said opening, said second position being at an angle to the horizontal greater than the tilted-up angle; and support means positioning said arm means at said first position ready to receive said hoist line via said opening with sufficient clearance under said arm means to permit said end member to move under said retainer portion and be drawn up and in contact with the bottom of said retainer portion, the application of upwardly directed forces to said end member raising said arm means to said second position to effect a connection between said hoist line and said arm means during the flight of said arm means in which an end portion of said hoist line adjacent said end member extends around said end stop and said end member due to its size in relation to said retainer portion is prevented from passing through said retainer portion, said end member dropping out of contact with the bottom of said retainer portion and said hoist line being passed back through said opening to disengage said arm means, said arm means returning to said first position ready to receive said hoist line and end member for the next hookup when the support means is supported from means other than said hoist line.
an end member on said hoist line;
arm means having an outline as viewed from the top that defines a target area with an opening for the entry and exit of the hoist line, said arm means including:
a guide portion including an inner edge along which said hoist line is guided in moving toward a retained position and a retainer portion integral with and forming an extension of said guide portion so that said guide portion is carried with said retainer portion when suspended from said hoist line, said retainer portion having an end stop and a pair of spaced arms extending from the opposite ends of said stop, said arms being spaced apart wider than the thickness of said hoist line to permit the hoist line to be passed into said retainer portion and against said stop after being guided by said guide portion and narrower than said end member so that said end member cannot pass through said retainer portion, said arm means being movable between a first position and a second position, said first position being along a horizontal plane or tilted up with respect to said horizontal plane so that said retainer portion is nigher than said opening, said second position being at an angle to the horizontal greater than the tilted-up angle; and support means positioning said arm means at said first position ready to receive said hoist line via said opening with sufficient clearance under said arm means to permit said end member to move under said retainer portion and be drawn up and in contact with the bottom of said retainer portion, the application of upwardly directed forces to said end member raising said arm means to said second position to effect a connection between said hoist line and said arm means during the flight of said arm means in which an end portion of said hoist line adjacent said end member extends around said end stop and said end member due to its size in relation to said retainer portion is prevented from passing through said retainer portion, said end member dropping out of contact with the bottom of said retainer portion and said hoist line being passed back through said opening to disengage said arm means, said arm means returning to said first position ready to receive said hoist line and end member for the next hookup when the support means is supported from means other than said hoist line.
2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm means is in the form of a single hook-like arm member.
3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said arm member includes a rod of generally circular cross section having a reinforcing plate along the shank and an adjacent portion of the U-shaped bend of the hook for added strength.
4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm member has an outwardly flared end portion to facilitate the movement of the hoist line into said retainer portion.
5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the connection from said arm member to said support means includes a transverse rod on the end of said shank portion and at least one sleeve-type bearing telescoped over said transverse rod, said bearing being connected to said support means.
6. A device as set forth in claim 5 including a mounting member on which said bearing is mounted, said mounting member being adapted to fasten to said support means.
7. A device as set forth in claim 5 including a stop on said arm member adapted to engage said mounting member to limit the movement of said arm member to a substantially prone position on its side in said first position.
8. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said mounting member is a substantially flat plate.
9. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said mounting member is a sleeve-like clamp with opposed outwardly extending clamping flanges adapted to releasably clamp onto a tubuler body.
10. A device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said arm member has a pair of stops to limit the pivotal movement between a substantially upright and a substantially horizontal position when mounted on a tubular body.
11. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm means is in the form of a bail-like arm member disposed at an angle to the horizontal and having a pair of opposed, spaced, shank portions each pivotally mounted at one end and joined by a substantially U-shaped retainer portion at the opposite end, said arm member defining an interior receiving area for the hoist line and end member, the U-shaped retainer portion being smaller in size than the end member and larger in size than said hoist line to slidably receive said hoist line from the side of said arm member.
12. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said end member is in the form of a ball forming a weight at the lower end of the hoist line.
13. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein in the suspended position the arm member is a load-bearing member.
14. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means has a load associated therewith.
15. An aerially applied hookup device for performing repeated hookups with and disengagements from the lower end of a hoist line suspended from an aircraft, said hookup device comprising:
an enlarged end member on the lower end of said hoist line;
an arm member having an outline as viewed from the top that defines a target area with an opening for the entry and exit of the hoist line, said arm member including:
an elongated guide portion including an inner edge along which said hoist line is guided in moving toward a retained position and a generally U-shaped retainer portion integral with and forming an extension of said guide portion so that said guide portion is carried with said retainer portion when suspended from said hoist line, said retainer portion having an end stop and a pair of spaced arms extending from the opposite ends of said stop, said arms being spaced apart wider than the thickness of said hoist line to permit the hoist line to be passed into said retainer portion and against said stop after being guided by said guide portion and narrower than said end member so that said end member cannot pass through said retainer portion.
said arm member being movable between a first position and second position, said first position being along a horizontal plane or tilted up with respect to said horizontal plane so that said retainer portion is higher than said opening, said second position being at an angle to the horizontal greater than the tilted-up angle; and support means operatively associated with a load to be moved from location to location, said support means positioning said arm member at said first lowered position ready to receive said hoist line via said opening with sufficient clearance under said arm member to permit said end member to move under said retainer portion and be drawn up and in contact with the bottom of said retainer portion, the application of upwardly directed forces to said end member raising said arm member to said second position to effect a connection between said hoist line and said arm member during the flight of said arm member in which an end portion of said hoist line adjacent said end member extends around said end stop and said end member due to its size in relation to said retainer portion is prevented from passing through said retainer portion, said end member dropping out of contact with the bottom of said retainer portion and said hoist line being passed back through said opening to disengage said arm means, said arm member returning to said first position ready to receive said hoist line and end member for the next hookup when the support means is supported from means other than said hoist line.
an enlarged end member on the lower end of said hoist line;
an arm member having an outline as viewed from the top that defines a target area with an opening for the entry and exit of the hoist line, said arm member including:
an elongated guide portion including an inner edge along which said hoist line is guided in moving toward a retained position and a generally U-shaped retainer portion integral with and forming an extension of said guide portion so that said guide portion is carried with said retainer portion when suspended from said hoist line, said retainer portion having an end stop and a pair of spaced arms extending from the opposite ends of said stop, said arms being spaced apart wider than the thickness of said hoist line to permit the hoist line to be passed into said retainer portion and against said stop after being guided by said guide portion and narrower than said end member so that said end member cannot pass through said retainer portion.
said arm member being movable between a first position and second position, said first position being along a horizontal plane or tilted up with respect to said horizontal plane so that said retainer portion is higher than said opening, said second position being at an angle to the horizontal greater than the tilted-up angle; and support means operatively associated with a load to be moved from location to location, said support means positioning said arm member at said first lowered position ready to receive said hoist line via said opening with sufficient clearance under said arm member to permit said end member to move under said retainer portion and be drawn up and in contact with the bottom of said retainer portion, the application of upwardly directed forces to said end member raising said arm member to said second position to effect a connection between said hoist line and said arm member during the flight of said arm member in which an end portion of said hoist line adjacent said end member extends around said end stop and said end member due to its size in relation to said retainer portion is prevented from passing through said retainer portion, said end member dropping out of contact with the bottom of said retainer portion and said hoist line being passed back through said opening to disengage said arm means, said arm member returning to said first position ready to receive said hoist line and end member for the next hookup when the support means is supported from means other than said hoist line.
16. A method of performing repeated hookups with and disengagements from a hoist line carried by an aircraft comprising the steps of:
flying a hoist line having an end member toward a hookup device including an arm having an outline as viewed from the top that defines a target area with an opening for the entry and exit of the hoist line;
moving the hoist line through said opening, along a guide surface of said arm, and into a retainer portion of said arm, said retainer portion being narrower than said end member so that said end member cannot pass through said retainer portion;
moving said end member up against the bottom of said retainer portion and raising said arm from a ready position to a raised suspended position to effect a connection between said hoist line and arm in which an end portion of the hoist line adjacent the end member extends around said retainer portion and the end member, due to its size, is prevented from pulling through said retainer portion and to suspend the hookup device from the aircraft;
flying the hookup device to a second location and positioning the device so that it is supported from below with said arm returning to said ready position; and dropping the end member out of the retainer portion and passing said hoist line through the exit opening to disengage the hoist line from the arm means.
flying a hoist line having an end member toward a hookup device including an arm having an outline as viewed from the top that defines a target area with an opening for the entry and exit of the hoist line;
moving the hoist line through said opening, along a guide surface of said arm, and into a retainer portion of said arm, said retainer portion being narrower than said end member so that said end member cannot pass through said retainer portion;
moving said end member up against the bottom of said retainer portion and raising said arm from a ready position to a raised suspended position to effect a connection between said hoist line and arm in which an end portion of the hoist line adjacent the end member extends around said retainer portion and the end member, due to its size, is prevented from pulling through said retainer portion and to suspend the hookup device from the aircraft;
flying the hookup device to a second location and positioning the device so that it is supported from below with said arm returning to said ready position; and dropping the end member out of the retainer portion and passing said hoist line through the exit opening to disengage the hoist line from the arm means.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000555444A CA1251777A (en) | 1979-12-13 | 1987-12-24 | Apparatus and methods for line stringing with load pickup coupling device |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/103,348 US4328952A (en) | 1979-12-13 | 1979-12-13 | Apparatus and methods for line stringing |
| US103,348 | 1979-12-13 | ||
| US06/154,878 US4348009A (en) | 1980-05-30 | 1980-05-30 | Load pickup coupling device, line stringing apparatus and method |
| US154,878 | 1980-05-30 | ||
| CA000366657A CA1234092A (en) | 1979-12-13 | 1980-12-12 | Apparatus and methods for line stringing with load pickup coupling device |
| CA000555444A CA1251777A (en) | 1979-12-13 | 1987-12-24 | Apparatus and methods for line stringing with load pickup coupling device |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000366657A Division CA1234092A (en) | 1979-12-13 | 1980-12-12 | Apparatus and methods for line stringing with load pickup coupling device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1251777A true CA1251777A (en) | 1989-03-28 |
Family
ID=27166912
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000555444A Expired CA1251777A (en) | 1979-12-13 | 1987-12-24 | Apparatus and methods for line stringing with load pickup coupling device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1251777A (en) |
-
1987
- 1987-12-24 CA CA000555444A patent/CA1251777A/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |