GB860009A - Device for embarking and landing from hovering aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

860,009. Embarking on and alighting from aircraft. HOSEGOOD, C. T. D. Aug. 21, 1959 [Aug. 22, 1958], No. 27071/58. Class 4. A device for embarking on and alighting from a hovering aircraft comprises two hand grips, stirrups, or the like, on the ends of two rope runs extending from a mounting on the aircraft carrying mechanism such that movement of either grip away from the mounting causes the other grip to approach the mounting, and having a brake to control the speed of the grips, the arrangement being such that the total length of rope between the mounting and the two grips can be varied. The Figure shows part of a hovering aircraft fuselage 1 having a floor 2 and an upwardly opening door 3 on hinges 4, means (not shown) for holding the door open being provided. A drum 7 is attached to a shaft 5 supported on the door by brackets 6 and a drum 8 can be attached to the shaft by a clutch 15 having a release handle 16, An overspeed brake 14 acts on the shaft, and may operate by centrifugal means, or may involve a driven fan. The rope run 9 on drum 7 has a length corresponding to a predetermined maximum hovering height, and has a grip 11. The other run 10 on drum 8 is of twice this length, and has a grip 12. The two runs are wound on their drums in opposite senses. To disembark a landing party, the run 9 is wound up, the clutch 15 released, the drum 8 rotated until the run 10 has a length corresponding to a hovering height previously decided upon and the clutch is engaged. At the landing point, door 3 is opened, and run 10 thrown out. The aircraft then hovers at the determined height, and the first person descends on grip 11 at a speed limited by brake 14. This brings grip 12 up to the aircraft, and alternate personnel descend on the grips 11 and 12. To take on personnel, both runs 9 and 10 are made equal to the hovering height decided on, and the aircraft hovers while grip 12 is anchored to the ground or weighted down. A person grasps grips 11, and the aircraft then rises until that person is level with the fuselage, and can enter the aircraft. The grip is then released, and the aircraft descends to hovering height again. Grip 11 is made heavier than the rope of run 10, which may be of a polyamide fibre, thus run 10 is maintained taut and grip 11 descends to ground level for the second person to embark. When all have embarked, grip 12 may be released from its anchor by rupture of a breakable link when the aircraft rises bevond the extent of the run 10. If the grip is weighted down, the aircraft can lift the weight off the ground, and it may be pulled up to fuselage level by pulling on run 9. The rope runs may be calibrated. In another embodiment the rope runs are in one piece, composed of readily connectible and disconnectible lengths the rope making a sufficient number of turns round the driving drum of a brake to ensure control of the speed of descent of a person.