RU2768290C1 - Method of slinging an excavator for transportation on an external suspension of a helicopter - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: transportation; aviation.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to aircraft transportation, particularly, to slinging of cargoes, mainly, of caterpillar excavators for their transportation on external suspension of helicopter. Method of slinging excavator is carried out in the following sequence: two slings, ends of which are braided into loops, are introduced at equal distance from center of mass under bearing frame of excavator into gaps between bottom rollers and tracks of caterpillars. After alignment of ends of slings on both sides of cargo they are connected to load holders of external suspension of helicopter. To ensure the possibility of transporting caterpillar excavators with small bottom rollers by helicopter, preliminarily thrusting the boom with the bucket into the ground, the caterpillar track is tilted until the tracks of one or both caterpillars are separated from the ground and the gaps between the bottom rollers and the tracks of the sagging caterpillars increase to the value required and sufficient for the slings loops passage.

EFFECT: method will make it possible to expand range of cargoes transported on external suspension of helicopters due to inclusion of promising types of caterpillar excavators with small rollers installed in undercarriage with small pitch.

5 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to aviation transport operations, in particular, to an important stage of preparatory work - slinging cargo, mainly tracked excavators, for transportation on an external helicopter sling.

A known method of preparing cargo for transportation, i.e. slinging by direct tying of cargo with rope slings (RD 10-33-93 "General-purpose cargo slings. Requirements for device and safe operation", Appendix 3, Fig. P.3.1). Recommendations for the implementation of this method are of a general nature, therefore, for each specific cargo and for different types of transport, slinging schemes with their own characteristics are developed.

The movement of cargo, hooked by slings to the load holders (hooks) of ground lifting equipment (cranes), is usually performed over short distances and in a short time (for example, for loading onto a trailer or railway platform). In this case, static loads act on the load, incl. when turning it manually (with or without halyards) to correct the position.

Transportation of cargo on the external sling of helicopters is usually carried out to remote hard-to-reach areas, at distances up to several hundred kilometers. In flight, the cargo is subjected to dynamic loads (aerodynamic forces from oncoming high-speed air flow up to 200 km/h) and vibrations in a wide range (5-500 Hz) for a long time (up to several hours), while the cargo can perform complex vibrations on an external sling and rotation with increasing amplitude and frequency. Therefore, to carry out the transportation of goods on the external sling of a helicopter, known methods of slinging are used, but with increased requirements that ensure flight safety (see "Rules for the preparation of slings and goods by the customer for the transportation of goods on the external sling of helicopters", No. 26.1.7-498, approved. Ministry of Civil Aviation of the USSR dated June 17, 1988 - one of the first sectoral regulatory documents on this issue developed by our company). These rules provided for the possibility of directly tying the load or its units with rope slings with additional requirements and more stringent control. For example, for tracked vehicles, a slinging option was proposed with tightening the slings with a loop (according to RD 10-33-93, Fig. P.3.4 or according to GOST 25573-82, "Cargo rope slings for construction. Technical conditions", Appendix 3). This option of picking up the load in the practice of slingers is called "noose". It was supposed to use additional short slings (for example, four so-called slings), which are pre-fixed on the protruding elements of the supporting frame with a "noose" tightening, and then connected to the main slings. However, the use of additional slings (slings) can lead to complication and an increase in the time required to prepare cargo for transportation by helicopter.

A simpler application of the method of slinging tracked vehicles by direct tying with rope slings is known, which is most often used for delivery by air (see the current "Rules for the preparation of goods for transportation on the external sling of the Mi-26 helicopter", approved by MGA 30.11.90, No. 20/I with Amendments and additions No. 7/I dated 09/17/91, "Album of slinging schemes for standard cargo transported on the external sling of the Mi-26 helicopter", Fig. 3-4, - www.panh.ru). The application of this method after additional checks was confirmed by the methodological manual "Instructions for transporting goods on the external sling of helicopters", No. Kp-2-p, approved. Ministry of Transport of Russia 01/08/2004. Slinging according to this method has been performed for many years with two rope slings, the ends of which are braided into loops. The slings are introduced at an equal distance from the center of mass under the carrier frame of the caterpillar bogie into large gaps between the track rollers and tracks, and after aligning the ends of the slings, they are connected to the weight holders of the external suspension of the helicopter. This method of cargo slinging is the least expensive and is recognized by helicopter crews as the most reliable and safe.

However, this slinging method cannot be applied to some tracked vehicles without technology improvements. This is due to the fact that in the modern design of excavators there is a tendency to reduce the diameter of the road wheels with a decrease in their installation step. Probably, this is done to ensure a more uniform load on the ground, to reduce metal consumption, etc. (see, for example, frequently imported excavators from Hitachi, Volvo, etc. or domestic excavators of the UMG Group of Companies). Some of these cargoes are difficult to sling, and sometimes slinging them in a known way for transport by helicopter is unrealistic. The reason was a discrepancy between the size of the ends of the slings, regulated for the transport of such heavy loads by helicopter, and the reduced dimensions of the places on the cargo, usually used for laying slings. This contradiction that has now manifested itself is generated by the strict requirement established 30 years ago (after analyzing tragic mistakes) of the said Rules No. 20 / I to use slings made of steel rope with a diameter of at least 32 mm for all loads. The end of such a rope, braided on a thimble, with cross-sectional dimensions (width and height) of at least 170x55 mm, cannot be inserted into the gaps between the small rollers of the excavator undercarriage. As a result, some excavators, created taking into account new trends in the development of tracked vehicles, cannot be included in the nomenclature of cargo delivered by helicopter (in particular, in the Album of typical cargo slinging schemes). Therefore, the customer's requests for the delivery of these goods to the specified destinations cannot be fulfilled by airlines.

The objective of the proposed method is to achieve a technical result, which is expressed in resolving the contradiction between new trends in the creation of tracked vehicles and current aviation standards, which will expand the range of goods transported on the external sling of helicopters by including crawler excavators with small rollers, but using the most reliable way of slinging.

The essence of the invention lies in the fact that in the method of slinging an excavator for transportation on an external sling of a helicopter, which consists in the fact that two slings, the ends of which are braided into loops, are inserted at an equal distance from the center of mass under the excavator's supporting frame into the gap between the road wheels and tracks tracks, and after aligning the length of the branches of the slings on both sides of the load, they are connected to the load holders of the external suspension of the helicopter, the following additional operations are performed: by pre-stopping the boom with the bucket into the ground, tilt the caterpillar truck until the tracks of one or both tracks are lifted off the ground and the gaps between the track rollers increase and tracks of sagging tracks to the size necessary and sufficient for the passage of sling loops.

The caterpillar bogie can be tilted in the longitudinal plane, and first the end of the first sling is inserted alternately through both sagging caterpillars into the increased gaps between the road wheels and tracks, then the excavator is lowered and the boom is turned 180 ° and the caterpillar bogie is tilted into the opposite side, after which the end of the second sling is inserted alternately through both sagging tracks into the enlarged gaps between the road wheels and tracks.

The caterpillar bogie can be tilted in the transverse plane, and first the ends of both slings are inserted through one sagging caterpillar into the enlarged gaps between the road wheels and the tracks under the carrier frame, then the excavator is lowered and the boom is turned 180 °, the caterpillar truck is tilted with the boom and bucket into the ground in the opposite direction and bring the ends of both slings out from under the carrier frame through another sagging caterpillar into the enlarged gaps between the road wheels and tracks.

After returning the boom with the bucket to the transport position, their minimum dimensions are ensured and fixed relative to the supporting frame, and all actuators and units that can change position are fixed to ensure their immobility during the flight.

In addition, if necessary, to ensure a guaranteed increase in clearances, the tension of the tracks is loosened.

The essence of the proposed method is illustrated by drawings:

in fig. 1 shows a diagram of the introduction of the end of the sling into the increased clearance when the caterpillar truck is tilted in the longitudinal direction;

in fig. 2 - scheme for inserting the end of the sling into the increased clearance when the caterpillar bogie is tilted in the transverse direction;

in fig. 3 - excavator in flight on the external sling of the helicopter.

To implement the proposed method, a helicopter 1 is used, equipped with external suspension ropes 2 with load holders 3, to which it is necessary to pick up the load - a caterpillar excavator 4 by means of slings 5 and 6, the ends of which are braided into a loop. The excavator to be slinged must contain a undercarriage, the basis of which is a carrier frame 7, equipped on both sides with a drive wheel 8, an idler wheel 9 and support rollers 10 and track rollers 11 located between them, which go around the tracks 12. The distances between the track rollers 11 and caterpillar tracks 12 prevent the insertion of loops of slings 5 and 6 between them (with dimensions of at least 170 × 55 mm), but are sufficient to accommodate and move the branches of the sling rope (32 mm in diameter) with guaranteed gaps, excluding damage to the rope strands.

The method can be carried out in two ways.

According to the first of them, the boom 14 with the handle 15 and the working body - bucket 16 are preliminarily installed along the longitudinal axis of the excavator undercarriage. By resting on the ground of the bucket 16, the front part of the undercarriage is raised until both tracks 12 sag with the formation of gaps between them and the track rollers 11 exceeding the dimensions of the loops on the slings 5 and 6. The end of the sling 5 is inserted into this gap, first into one caterpillar and, having passed the sling under the carrier frame 7, its end is brought out through the other caterpillar 12 from the opposite side of the cart. The excavator is lowered to the ground, ensuring the location of the sling rope between the rollers 11 and the tracks or, more expediently, between the tension wheel 8 and the nearest roller 11 - to increase the base of the sling. Then the boom is rotated 180° and with the bucket 16 resting on the ground, the opposite, rear part of the undercarriage is lifted. The second sling 6 is introduced under the supporting frame 7 in the same way as the first one, keeping the distances from them to the center of mass equal. When lowering the undercarriage, the sling rope 6 is located between the rollers 11 and the tracks or between the drive wheel 8 and the nearest roller 11.

With another option for introducing slings under the carrier frame 7, the boom 14 is pre-installed across the undercarriage. By resting on the ground of the bucket 16, raise the side of the undercarriage until the caterpillar 12 closest to the bucket sags with the formation of gaps between it and the road wheels 11 exceeding the dimensions of the loops on the slings 5 and 6. The ends of both slings 5 and 6 are inserted into these gaps on the same distance from the center of mass of the excavator and further under the supporting frame 7. Then the excavator is lowered, the boom is rotated 180 ° and the opposite side of the undercarriage 16 is raised against the ground of the bucket until the other caterpillar 12 is lifted off the ground. The ends of both slings 5 and 6, lying under the carrier frame 7, the cart is brought out from under it from the opposite side symmetrically through the increased gaps between the rollers or between the idler wheel and the nearest roller, as well as between the idler wheel and the roller, and the excavator is lowered.

Both options for inserting slings under the supporting frame provide the same reliability of slinging. The choice of the option of laying slings under the supporting frame depends on the situation around the excavator (for example, taking into account the availability of free space for maneuvering the boom with the bucket) or for other reasons (for example, on the preferences of the work manager - foreman).

When the dimensions of the gaps between the rollers and tracks, obtained by tilting the caterpillar truck, are insufficient for inserting the loops of the slings, during operation, the tension of the tracks is loosened by the tensioning mechanism.

Similar manipulations with the slopes of the excavator, proposed for slinging, are used during operation in order to perform current work: inspection, adjustment or repair of inaccessible nodes with the horizontal position of the excavator, etc. In particular, with the bucket stop, the front (rear) part of the undercarriage is lifted with independent loading and unloading of an excavator onto a trailer or railway platform using a ramp by pulling (without the involvement of other lifting equipment). Lateral slopes of the excavator are used, for example, when setting up and adjusting the tensioning mechanism of the tracks. To avoid overloading and breakage of the excavator units during such manipulations, the angle between the boom and the handle is recommended to be kept within 90-110 °, and to ensure the safety of work, temporary supports 17 are placed under the raised sides of the supporting frame (see the relevant sections of the operating instructions for excavators).

After all the slopes of the excavator necessary for its slinging, the boom with the bucket is installed in the transport (longitudinal) position, ensuring their minimum dimensions. In this position, all actuators and components that have the ability to change position are fixed to ensure their immobility during flight, for example, by installing travel stops 18 on the rods of the hydraulic cylinders of the boom 14, the arm 15 and the bucket 16. The bucket is additionally fixed relative to the carrier frame 7 and the boom 14 ties 19.

After laying the slings 5 and 6 under the carrier frame 7 with the output through both tracks 12 between the rollers 11, the length of the rope branches is equalized, i.e. free sections of slings, ensuring their equality on each side of the excavator. When approaching and hovering helicopter 1 over the excavator 4, the ends of the slings 5 and 6 with loops are connected to the load holders 3 of the external suspension of the helicopter. After hooking up, the excavator 4 is lifted by the helicopter 1 and transported to its destination. At the stage of climb and acceleration, the rotation of the excavator is possible, which usually stops when the flight speed reaches 50 km/h. At this speed, aerodynamic forces begin to act on the excavator (as well as on any load), the center of pressure of which is shifted relative to the center of mass to the boom with a bucket due to their large surface and corresponding windage. Therefore, the excavator, the center of mass of which is located on the axis of the suspension, turns in flight on the external suspension with the boom back. Thanks to the configuration of the excavator, the flight speed can reach 170-190 km / h, because an arrow with a reach of several meters from the center of mass can provide stabilization of the load in the oncoming air flow (like a weather vane).

In the proposed method of slinging, commonly used methods and operations are used in a new sequence and a new combination, which provides a solution to the problem.

The method is suitable for use for excavators with small track rollers with a small step of their installation in the undercarriage.

The proposed method is relevant in the northern oil and gas producing areas, if necessary, emergency or planned operational transfer by helicopter of modern high-performance imported and domestic excavators between objects, for example, from one drilling rig to another.

Claims (5)

1. A method of slinging an excavator for transportation on an external sling of a helicopter, which consists in the fact that two slings, the ends of which are looped, are inserted at an equal distance from the center of mass of the excavator under the carrier frame into the gaps between the track rollers and tracks, and after aligning the ends slings protruding from both sides of the caterpillar truck connect them to the load holders of the external suspension of the helicopter, characterized in that the caterpillar truck is tilted by pre-stopping the boom with the bucket into the ground until the tracks of one or both tracks are lifted off the ground and the gaps between the track rollers and the tracks of the sagging tracks are increased to the value necessary and sufficient for the passage of the loops of the slings. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tilt of the caterpillar bogie is performed in the longitudinal plane, and first the end of the first sling is inserted alternately through both sagging tracks into the increased gaps between the road wheels and tracks, then the excavator is lowered and the boom is turned 180 °, with the boom and bucket resting on the ground, the caterpillar truck is tilted in the opposite direction and the end of the second sling is inserted alternately through both sagging tracks into the increased gaps between the road wheels and tracks. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tilt of the caterpillar truck is performed in the transverse plane, and first the ends of both slings are inserted through one sagging caterpillar into the increased gaps between the road wheels and tracks under the carrier frame, then the excavator is lowered and the boom is turned 180 °, with the boom and bucket resting on the ground, tilt the caterpillar truck in the opposite direction and bring the ends of both slings out from under the carrier frame through another sagging caterpillar into the increased gaps between the road wheels and tracks. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after the return of the boom with the bucket to the transport position, their minimum dimensions are ensured and fixed relative to the supporting frame, and all actuators and assemblies that can change position are fixed to ensure their immobility during flight . 5. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that when performing slinging, the sagging of the tracks is increased by means of a tensioning mechanism.

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