Abstract:
A helicopter rescue device having a catwalk cantilevered outwardly from the front end of the helicopter. A plurality of upright stanchions are provided along each side of the catwalk with one or more safety cables attached between the spaced stanchions to form a pair of spaced safety guardrails each disposed longitudinally along a respective side of the catwalk. A pair of support cables are affixed between the helicopter and an intermediate section of the catwalk support beams. One or more grasping hooks or anchoring means may be provided at the cantilevered free end of the catwalk to enable anchoring to building ledges and window sills.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to airborne rescue devices and more particularly to a helicopter rescue device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of helicopter rescue devices have hitherto been proposed such as a net mounted to arms extending from the underside of a helicopter, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,000 issued Feb. 12, 1980 to David G. Dalziel. 
     Another prior art rescue device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,868 issued Jan. 13, 1976 to C. P. Smith, Jr. This patent describes a gondola supported by a helicopter in which the gondola is stabilized with respect to the exterior wall of a building so that people trapped within the building can be removed and lowered to the ground. 
     Yet another prior art rescue device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,847 issued Jan. 29, 1976 to P. Bentivegna, which describes a helicopter having a fuselage with a floor that has an opening therethrough. A rescue capsule is operably connected to the helicopter by cable and winches. 
     Other prior art patents of interest include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,113,207 issued Sept. 12, 1978 to David G. Dalziel; 2,738,939 issued Mar. 20, 1956 to F. M. Johnson; 2,942,816 issued June 28, 1960 to P. E. Dostie; 2,953,330 issued Sept. 20, 1960 to Lysak; 3,072,371 issued Jan. 8, 1963 to Doyle; and French Pat. No. 2,387,051. 
     The above noted patents are mentioned as being representative of the prior art and other pertinent references may exist. None of these patents are deemed to affect the patentability of the present claimed invention. 
     In contrast to the prior art, the present invention provides a platform extended outwardly from the front of the helicopter to enable successive persons to walk or crawl from a (burning) structure directly into a door or hatchway at the front of the helicopter. Anchoring means may be provided to enable the free end of the platform to be rested on or hooked over, for example, a window sill. An accordian type of canopy may also be provided to shield the escaping persons from the helicopter&#39;s down drafts and any flames escaping from the structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a helicopter rescue attachment device is provided having particular utility for facilitating safer and more expeditious rescue/removal of personnel from a structure such as a burning building, comprising: 
     a platform (10) extendable outwardly from a front portion (13) of the helicopter (11) with one end (22) being aligned with and in proximity to a front helicopter hatchway (36) to enable personnel egress therebetween, the other end of said platform being extended beyond the forward reach of the main rotor blade(s) of the helicopter and having securing end means (27) to enable contact with and stabilization on a ledge or window sill like structure; and 
     a pair of spaced guardrails (30) each disposed longitudinally along a respective side of the platform. 
     Another feature of the invention comprises the use of a canopy or cover means (51) to shield any personnel on the platform from the helicopter&#39;s down drafts and, for example, from flames which may be about the structure from which the rescue operation is being conducted. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus readily attachable to a helicopter for facilitating personnel rescue missions. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive apparatus for rescuing one or more persons from an elevated location such as from an upper level window of a burning building. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an air rescue device which permits persons to be rescued to walk or crawl on a platform suspended by a helicopter from the building in which they are situated and into a hatchway located in the front of the helicopter. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a helicopter adapted with a device extendable from beneath the front fuselage outwardly beyond the main rotor blade reach to enable persons to traverse thereon to facilitate safer and more expeditious rescue of a plurality of persons into a front fuselage hatchway. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention may be more clearly seen when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout. 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the helicopter and rescue platform in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rescue platform in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view, partly cutaway, of the rescue platform; 
     FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the front hatchway and rescue platform attached to the helicopter mounting brackets; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the canopy. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a rescue platform 10 and helicopter 11 constructed in accordance with the invention such that a walkway 12 extends outwardly from the front fuselage 13 of helicopter 11 a predetermined distance 14 beyond the length of the main rotor blade 15 when rotated to a frontal disposition as illustrated. Rescue platform 10 has a frame like construction and, preferrably, is formed of lightweight metal such as aluminum, titanium or magnesium to withstand a loading capacity, for example, of approximately two thousand pounds or more and also to be capable of withstanding severe jarring. 
     Rescue platform 10 is affixable at one end 16 to the helicopter fuselage 13 by means of anchor plates and bolts (see FIG. 4). A pair of suspension cables 17 and 18 are each affixed at one end to a respective securing clamp or winch means 19 (only one shown) projecting from a respective side of the fuselage 13. The other end of suspension cables 17 and 18 are affixed to cable securing clamps 20 and 21, respectively, diametrically disposed on the frame member 22 of rescue platform 10. Suspension cables 17 and 18 have a predetermined length such that walkway 12 is typically held in a horizontal orientation for personnel to walk or crawl thereon during a rescue mission. It should bs recognized, however, that cables 17 and 18 may be suspended from a winch means of conventional design to selectively vary the length of cables 17 and 18 and, thereby, the walkway 12 slope relative to the horizontal axis of helicopter 11. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3 the structure of rescue platform 10 will now be discussed in more detail. Rescue platform 10 generally comprises a lightweight frame member 22 of rectangular shape, a plurality of support cross bars or members 23, a catwalk or walking platform (shown partly cutaway) 12 affixed across the length of frame member 22, a pair of cable securing clamps 20 and 21, a pair of rear arms 26, a pair of front arms 27, a plurality of upright stanchions 28 and 29 on each side of frame member 22, and a plurality of guard rails or safety cables 30 and 31 interconnected between the stanchions 28 and 29, respectively, on a side of the rescue platform 10. Each of said rear arms 26 have a bolt or pin receiving hole 32 and 33 formed therein for receiving a respective mounting bolt or pin (see FIG. 4). Front arms 27 may be bent downwardly or have a hook like shape to facilitate securing or stabilizing the rescue platform 10 on a ledge or window sill (not shown). A pair of wheels 24 may be mounted to frame member 22 by any conventional means such as bracket 25. 
     The frame member 22 and cross bars 23 may be constructed of tubular or other suitable shaped metal members and welded or bolted together. The catwalk 12 may comprise a perforated or heavy gauge screen-like metal platform or a solid metal sheet welded to the frame member 22 and/or cross bars 23. Catwalk 12 should be capable of withstanding the weight of several people or more at one time being on the rescue platform 10. 
     Stanchions 28 and 29 should be substantially rigid to provide support for cables 30 and 31, respectively, and thereby form spaced apart lateral guardrails extending substantially the entire length of frame member 22. Stanchions 28, 29 and cables 30, 31 should be formed of suitable material to withstand the weight and bumping forces of one or more persons traversing platform 10. 
     With reference now to FIG. 4, there is shown a partial perspective view of helicopter 11 which has been adapted for receiving rescue platform 10 in accordance with the invention. The front fuselage 13 is provided with a hatchway 36 opening into the helicopter 11 having suitable dimensions to enable egress of personnel. Preferably, the hatchway door 37 opens outwardly such that its free edge 38 abuts or is in juxtaposition with catwalk 12 and has a surface 39 to provide sure footing. Door 37 may have a pair of support lines 40 and 41 to facilitate raising and lowering door 37 to provide guardrails to persons entering and exiting helicopter 11. 
     Two pairs of anchor plates 42 and 43 are affixed in conventional manner, for example bolted or welded, to the support structure of helicopter 11. Each pair of anchor plates 42 and 43 have a hole 44 and 45, for receiving a bolt or mounting pin 46 and 47, respectively, therein. 
     Rescue platform 10 is mounted to helicopter 11 by inserting each end of arms 26 between a set of anchor plates 42 and 43 such that holes 32 and 33 align with holes 44 and 45, respectively. Bolts 46 and 47 are then inserted into holes 32, 44 and 33,45, respectively; and nuts or cotter pins 48 and 49 are affixed to bolts 46 and 47, respectively, to secure the rescue platform 10 to helicopter 11. Next cables 17 and 18 are attached to clamps 20 and 21, respectively, and to clamps 19 and 19&#39;, respectively. 
     Wheels 24 may be provided, as noted above, to facilitate moving the rescue platform 10 about on the ground for readily mounting and dismounting platform 10 with helicopter 11 as the need occurs. 
     With reference to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4 is lllustrated. The rescue platform 10 and helicopter 11 of this embodiment is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-4, with the exception that the rescue platform 10 has a canopy affixed thereto to substantially shield the traversing individuals from down drafts of the helicopter 11 and from flames or debris from the structure from which the persons are being rescued. Each rib 50 of canopy 51 has a pair of downwardly projecting beams 52 and 53 which are mounted within mounting brackets 54 and 55, respectively, for supporting the canopy in position as illustrated. Bolts or other conventional fastening means may also be utilized to further secure the canopy to the rescue platform 10. As noted above, the canopy may be of the accordian type to facilitate ground storage, and preferably should be of a fire proof material. It should also be recognized that a counterbalance device of conventional design, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,000, which is incorporated herein to the extent necessary, may be utilized if desired to counterbalance rescue platform 10. 
     While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is desired to secure in the appended claims all modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.