GB2412356A

GB2412356A - A helicopter for rescuing trapped persons

Info

Publication number: GB2412356A
Application number: GB0406419A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley George Austin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-22
Filing date: 2004-03-22
Publication date: 2005-09-28
Also published as: GB0406419D0

Abstract

A helicopter (2) for rescuing trapped persons, which helicopter (2) comprises a chute (4) which projects outwardly from a part (6) of the helicopter (2), the chute (4) being of such a size that persons are able to pass along the chute (4) and into the helicopter (2) from a trapped position (8) in which they were trapped.

Description

24 1 2356

A HELICOPTER FOR RESCUING TRAPPED PERSONS

This invention relates to a helicopter and, more especially, this invention relates to a helicopter for rescuing trapped persons.

There are often occasions when it is not possible to rescue trapped persons because they are in an inaccessible position. For example, persons trapped in the upper stories of high rise buildings such as flats and office blocks cannot be reached by means of ladders. If the buildings are on fire, then loss of life usually results. Persons on cliffs and mountains also often get trapped in inaccessible positions. Rescue equipment often cannot be brought to the area where the person is trapped and again death may result. Usually, when persons are trapped, then speed of rescue is often extremely important. Persons trapped in buildings on fire may soon be overcome by rising smoke. Persons trapped on cliffs and mountain sides may soon be overcome by hostile weather conditions.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a helicopter for rescuing trapped persons, which helicopter comprises a chute which projects outwardly from a part of the helicopter, the chute being of such a size that persons are able to pass along the chute and into the helicopter from a trapped position in which they were trapped.

The helicopter of the present invention is advantageous in that it can quickly fly to an emergency position. Self-evidently, height is not a problem.

Thus the helicopter is able to be utilised far more quickly and with a much greater chance of success than an emergency road vehicle such for example as a fire engine with ladders. With an appropriate length of chute, the helicopter is able to approach the trapped position in relative safety and rescue the trapped person or persons.

Advantageously, the helicopter is one in which the chute is such that it slopes downwardly from a free end of the chute towards an end of the chute adjacent a body part of the helicopter, thereby facilitating the passage of persons along the chute and into the helicopter. With such a downwardly sloping chute, it will be difficult for persons to fall out of the chute once they are safely in the chute.

Preferably, at least a part of the chute is covered so that the persons cannot look down and panic during their transfer from their trapped position into the helicopter.

The chute may be constructed of any suitable and appropriate length, width and height. The chute may thus be constructed for enabling the passage of the persons along the chute and into the helicopter with a sliding action. Alternatively, the chute may be constructed for enabling the passage of the persons along the chute and into the helicopter with a walking action or a crawling action.

Preferably, the part of the helicopter from which the chute projects is the front part of the helicopter. Such positioning of the chute may provide maximum visibility of the chute for a pilot of the helicopter when manoeuvering the chute as close as possible to the position of the person or persons trapped in an emergency incident. If desired however the chute may project from other parts of the helicopter so that, for example, the chute may project from one of the sides of the helicopter.

When the chute projects from the front part of the helicopter, then the chute is preferably positioned below a window of a cockpit of the helicopter.

The chute may be a fixed-length rigid chute. Alternatively, the chute may be a telescopic chute which is able to telescope to desired lengths. A telescopic chute able to telescope to different desired lengths may be advantageous in enabling the helicopter to travel to the emergency location with the chute in a stored position, and then to deploy the chute to a rescue position when the helicopter is adjacent the person or persons requiring rescuing. The chute can then be extended to the desired length depending upon the exact trapped position of the person or persons. For example, a person at a window of a flat-sided building may only require a chute of a relatively short length, whereas a person trapped on a ledge of an uneven cliff or mountain side may require a longer length of chute. The telescopic chute may be retracted and extended by hydraulic, pneumatic, hand- operated or electrical drive means.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a helicopter of the invention in use; and Figure 2 is a side view of the helicopter shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a helicopter 2 for rescuing trapped persons. The helicopter 2 comprises a chute 4 which projects outwardly from a part 6 of the helicopter 2. The chute 4 is of such a size that persons (not shown) are able to pass along the chute 4 and into the helicopter 2 from a trapped position 8 in which they were trapped.

As shown in the drawings, the chute 4 is such that it slopes downwardly from a free end 10 towards an end 12 of the chute 4 adjacent a body part 14 of the helicopter 2. Such a sloping configuration of the chute 4 facilitates the passage of the persons along the chute 4 and into the helicopter 2.

As can be seen from Figure 1, a part 16 of the chute 4 is covered.

More specifically, the part 16 of the chute 4 has a top 18 and side walls 20, 22. Thus persons in the chute 4 are not able to look down, and will thus not tend to panic during their transfer from their trapped position 8 and into the body part 14 of the helicopter 2. The chute 4 has an open mouth 24 for facilitating the entry of trapped persons into the chute 4. As shown in the drawings, the chute 4 is constructed for enabling the passage of one or more persons along the chute 4 and into the helicopter 2 with a sliding action.

The part 6 from which the chute 4 projects is a front part of the helicopter 2. The chute 4 projects from this front part 6 and below a window 26 of a cockpit 28 of the helicopter 2. Access to the cockpit 28 is by a door 30. s

The chute 4 is a fixed-length rigid chute. In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown) the chute 4 may be a telescopic chute which is able to telescope to different desired lengths.

Apart from the provision of the chute 4, the helicopter 2 may be a wide variety of known designs for helicopters. As shown, the helicopter 2 has rotor blades 32 and landing equipment 34.

The trapped position 8 shown in the drawings is a window of a building 36.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the chute 4 may be of a different design to that shown. The building 36 may be any building in which one or more persons are trapped. Alternatively, the trapped position 8 could be in an outside environment such for example as a cliff or mountain side. The chute employed in the helicopter of the invention may be made of any suitable and appropriate materials. Generally, the materials will be chosen for providing adequate strength and lightness. The inside of the chute of the helicopter may be of any suitable construction and material to facilitate the passage of persons along the chute. Thus the inside of the chute 4 could be provided with a slippery material, for example a slippery fabric material, for helping persons to slide along the chute 4.

Claims

1. A helicopter for rescuing trapped persons, which helicopter comprises a chute which projects outwardly from a part of the helicopter, the chute being of such a size that persons are able to pass along the chute and into the helicopter from a trapped position in which they were trapped.

2. A helicopter according to claim 1 in which the chute is such that it slopes downwardly from a free end of the chute towards an end of the chute adjacent a body part of the helicopter, thereby facilitating the passage of the persons along the chute and into the helicopter.

3. A helicopter according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which at least a part of the chute is covered so that the persons cannot look down and panic during their transfer from their trapped position into the helicopter.

4. A helicopter according to any one of the preceding claims in which the chute is constructed for enabling the passage of the persons along the chute and into the helicopter with a sliding action.

5. A helicopter according to any one of the preceding claims in which the part of the helicopter from which the chute projects is the front part of the helicopter.

6. A helicopter according to claim 5 in which the chute projects from the front part of the helicopter and below a window of a cockpit of the helicopter.

7. A helicopter according to any one of the preceding claims in which the chute is a fixed-length rigid chute.

8. A helicopter according to any one of claims 1 - 6 in which the chute is a telescopic chute which is able to telescope to different desired lengths.

9. A helicopter for rescuing trapped persons, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.