Patent ID: 6176671
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B64F,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for gripping, raising, orienting and transporting helicopters on a deck of a ship, comprising:a hangar on said deck having a width less than a width of the deck;longitudinal rails on the deck and extending into said hangar;a cross-beam receivable in said hangar and movable on said rails in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ship by a cable extending along the rails;a carriage movable on the cross-beam parallel to the cross-beam;an arm hinged on the carriage and having opposite ends spaced apart by substantially a length of said cross-beam;respective devices at the opposite ends of said arm for gripping and raising main wheels of a helicopter;means for actuating and controlling translation of the carriage relative to the cross-beam and for displacing said carriage and said cross-beam independently of one another, said cross-beam being mounted on said rails by horizontal-axis rollers and vertical-axis rollers, said carriage being mounted on rollers travelling inside corresponding guides of the cross-beam, said arm being rotatable relative to the carriage about a pin having an axis perpendicular to the deck;means including a hydraulic cylinder for actuating and controlling rotation of the arm with respect to the carriage; andpivoting wheels on each of said ends supporting said ends of said arm on said deck.