Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft structure – Airship load attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-16
2001-05-15
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft structure
Airship load attachment
C244S137100, C244S116000, C244S118100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231007
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for the exact setting down or taking up of cargo from aircraft without these needing to land. The cargo to be unloaded is let down on a rope from the aircraft. For securing and spatial fixing purposes, a link is made to the ground at a later time by means of several ropes tightened in space. The rope framework produced in this way is held under bias by the aircraft. For further lowering, the ropes are rolled up or otherwise shortened. To take up cargo, a method correspondingly reversed as regards the order of the steps is performed for setting down of packages from an aircraft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for the exact setting down or taking up of cargo from aircraft, without these landing.
It is known to load or unload cargo or persons from aircraft. In this process, the problem arises that it is necessary to land for this purpose.
It is further known to let down or take up persons or cargo from aircraft which have not landed, by means of a rope winch. Here, the problem arises that an exact setting down is possible only with great difficulty, particularly in adverse weather conditions. This method can therefore not be used in a wide variety of applications.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a method whereby an exact and even “spot-on” setting down or taking up of a load is made possible even if the ambient conditions do not allow the aircraft to be kept steady.
This object is solved using a method with the load to be let down being fixed spatially via a biased spatial rope framework.
Thanks to the biased spatial framework, the position of the load in space is clearly fixed and the load can thus be lowered down to the ground or taken up from the ground exactly without it being necessary for the aircraft to be still. Here, the aircraft itself is located at an appropriately selected distance above the load.
In an appropriate further development of the invention, the bias in the rope framework is disposed by the aircraft or systems affixed to it in such a way that further auxiliary systems from the ground can be eliminated.
It is advantageous for the maneuvering of the load near ground level to provide further rope systems, in addition to the rope framework, to fix the load in position in order to thus alleviate the problems arising due to the large angle of spread in the rope framework. Alternatively, the rope framework can also be set up over correspondingly designed guide pulleys, so that the angle of spread can be kept small, i.e. the fulcrum is moved upwards during the letting down in the direction of the setting down point.
The distance between the aircraft and the load can optionally be fixed or varied by means of a winch system so that the load is located inside the aircraft during transportation.
In the setting down or taking up process itself, the length of the ropes in the rope framework is changed, this being able to be done via winches or guide pulleys The position and number of winches per rope can be freely set.
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CargoLifter AG
Dilworth & Barrese LLP.
Nguyen Son T.
Poon Peter M.
LandOfFree
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