SORKEN, Trevor (P.O. Box 217, Bagshaw, Alberta T0B 0H0, CA)
| CLAIMS 1. A landing cart for a helicopter, comprising: a platfonn having a front end and a surface area sufficient to receive a landing helicopter; a wheeled undercarriage attached below the platform; a motor located at the rear end of the platform; a steering mechanism connecting the motor to the undercarriage; and a control system attached to the rear end of the platform; wherein the platform further comprises a central access opening for access to the bottom of a helicopter supported on the platform. 2. The landing cart of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the platform surface comprises a steel mesh. 3. The landing cart of claim 1, wherein the control system is an hydraulic control system within reach of an operator at the rear of the cart. 4. The landing cart of claim 3, wherein the hydraulic control system includes a first hydraulic control lever for controlling forward and rearward motion of the cart, and a second hydraulic lever for controlling leftward and rightward turns of the cart. 5. The landing cart of claim 4, wherein the hydraulic control system comprises a single joystick for controlling movement. 6. The landing cart of claim 1, wherein the wheeled undercarriage further comprises at least four wheels. 7. The landing cart of claim 1, further comprising a remote control system for controlling movement of the cart. 8. The landing cart of claim 7, wherein the remote control system is a wireless remote control system. 9. The landing cart of claim 1, wherein the platform further comprises longitudinal side flaps moveable between a raised position for storage and transport, and a lowered position coplanar with the platform for helicopter takeoff and landing. 10. The landing cart of claim 1, wherein the platform further comprises longitudinal side flaps moveable between a raised position coplanar with the platform for helicopter takeoff and landing, and a lowered position for storage and transport. 11. The landing cart of claim 1, wherein the cart may be attached to and pulled by another vehicle. 12. The landing cart of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a gasoline motor. 13. The landing cart of claim 1 , further comprising all-terrain wheels. |
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present mvention relates to aviation equipment. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for helicopter landing, takeoff and transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided a landing cart for a helicopter, comprising a platform having a front end and a surface area sufficient to receive a landing helicopter; a wheeled undercarriage attached below the platform; a motor located at the rear end of the platform; a steering mechanism connecting the motor to the undercarriage; and a control system attached to the rear end of the platform; wherein the platform further comprises a central access opening for access to the bottom of a helicopter supported on the platform. The motor may be a gasoline motor.
The control system may be an hydraulic control system within reach of an operator at the rear of the cart. The hydraulic control system may include a first hydraulic control lever for controlling forward and rearward motion of the cart, and a second hydraulic lever for controlling leftward and rightward turns of the cart, or it may have a single joystick for controlling movement. The landing cart may have a remote control system, which may be wireless. The wheeled undercarriage may have at least four wheels. The wheels may be large enough for off road and all terrain operations.
At least a portion of the platform surface may be a steel mesh. The platform may have side flaps moveable between a raised position for storage and transport, and a lowered position coplanar with the platform for helicopter takeoff and landing. In an alternate embodiment, the side flaps may be moveable between a raised position coplanar with the platform for helicopter takeoff and landing, and a lowered position for storage and transport. In one embodiment, the landing cart may be attachable to and pulled by another vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of the preferred embodiments is provided by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of the invention;
Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of the apparatus of the invention carrying a helicopter;
Fig.4 is a front view of the apparatus of the invention carrying a helicopter; and Fig. 5 is a rear view of the apparatus of the invention carrying a helicopter.
In the drawings, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, which are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that landing and ground handling of helicopters is difficult on terrain that is not flat and smooth. In many areas where helicopters are used, terrain conditions make ground handling of the helicopter very challenging, particularly where the helicopter's ground handling wheels are small. The present invention overcomes these challenges by providing a safe means for landing, take off and transport of helicopters in a wide range of terrains. The wheels of the cart preferably are large enough for all terrain operation of the cart. According to one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a cart 2 having a generally planar support surface 4, wheels 6 positioned below the support surface, and means for controlled movement of the cart.
The support surface includes a central opening 8 inset a selected distance from the front and back edges of the surface, and from the left and right edges of the surface. The distance between each side edge of the support surface and the opposite edge of the opening in the support surface is less than the span between the skids of a small helicopter to ensure safe landing and support of the helicopter on the support surface.
The opening permits easy access to the undercarriage of the helicopter for maintenance or other purposes when it is on the cart. Reflective or other indicator markings 10 may be applied to the upper side of the support surface as a guide for the helicopter pilot in landing.
In a preferred embodiment, the cart may have one or two longitudinal side flaps which may be reversibly raised and lowered to decrease or increase the surface area of the support surface of the cart. For example, a cart may have a central support surface which is 8.5 feet wide, with a 1 foot wide flap hinged along each side. In storage and transport, the flaps may be in a raised position. For helicopter landing and takeoff, the flaps may be lowered to increase the width of the support surface by 2 feet.
In an alternate embodiment, the flaps may be lowered to decrease the surface area and raised back into position to increase the surface area of the support surface. The position of the wheels under the support surface would be adjusted to accommodate lowering of the side flaps in this embodiment.
The dimensions of the support surface and the flaps may vary, with the limitation that the cart must be wide and long enough to support a range of helicopter sizes having differing skid spans. Preferably, the cart is manufactured of steel, but other high strength materials may also be used. The support surface may comprise a solid frame covered by planar surface materials. A portion 12 of the surface materials may comprise a plurality of openings to reduce the weight of the cart and to allow fluids and other debris to pass through the surface of the cart to the ground below. The cart may be powered by a gasoline motor 14 disposed in a housing 16 at the rear of the cart. Control means such as hydraulic controls may be located in proximity to the rear edge of the cart, to allow a user to easily control the movement of the cart while walking behind or sitting on the rear of the cart. In the embodiment shown in the figures, a pair of hydraulic controls 18 is used, in which one lever controls forward and backward movement, and the other controls movement left and right. In a preferred embodiment, a single joystick may be used to control forward, backward, left and right movement of the cart. In alternate embodiments, control of the cart may be from a remote wired or wireless controller operated from the cockpit of the helicopter by the pilot. In operation, the helicopter is stored on the cart in a hangar or elsewhere. The user operates the control means to drive the cart to a desired location for liftoff. If the side flaps of the support surface have been lowered, they are raised. The helicopter is flown off the cart and landed on the cart after use. The cart may then be driven to another location or back to a storage location. The side flaps may be lowered is the skid span allows.
The rear operating position and the flat profile of the cart allows clear visibility all around for the cart operator, with a clear view of the tail and front of the helicopter. The rate of movement of the cart is at walking pace which allows the operator to avoid 'hangar rash', the minor accidents common in prior art ground handling which may cause damage to the helicopter, the hangar, or users.
The means of propulsion of the cart is preferably a fuel engine. In this specification, fuel is defined to mean any of gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, or other refillable liquid hydrocarbon fuel.
In alternate embodiments, the cart may include shock absorbers or stabilizers on the undercarriage to enhance stability off road.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations of the preferred embodiment may also be practised without departing from the scope of the invention.