Abstract:
The invention disclosed herein comprises a trailer capable of transporting, storing, launching and recovering an aircraft, such as a helicopter or rotorcraft. The trailer includes a movable landing pad from which the aircraft is launched or lands upon and a sliding curtain wall which covers, extends and retracts to provide for secure storage of the aircraft while in transit. The trailer may be attached to and detached from a tractor, truck or other capable tow vehicle. In one embodiment directed to aerial spraying applications, the trailer also includes tankage and fluid transfer equipment and pumps for the storage and transfer of fuel, chemical and water supply, when aerial spray operations using the aircraft are being conducted in the field.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 62/356,644, filed Jun. 30, 2016 and entitled “Rotorcraft Transport Trailer,” which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the prior art, well known transport equipment such as a typical truck tractor attached to a flatbed trailer are used to transport overland both fixed wing and rotorcraft. The aircraft to be transported is tied with straps to the trailer to secure the aircraft. This prevents movement of the aircraft during transport. However, the aircraft is typically not covered during transport and is subject to being damaged from airborne debris encountered during transport. Likewise, the aircraft is exposed to the environmental conditions through which it is traveling and may suffer damage from rain, hail, or snowfall striking the exposed aircraft. Moreover, such trailer equipment does not allow or provide for the aircraft to take off from and land on the transport trailer on a repetitive basis. Further, no known trailer apparatus and techniques provide for the storage and transport of equipment and associated consumables which may be required for operation of the aircraft at the destination site, consequently requiring multiple transport trucks and trailer to deliver fuel, water, and chemical if the spray operations are involved, to the destination site. 
         [0003]    Thus, there is a need for an aircraft transport trailer that provides a secure, covered trailer for transporting an aircraft overland and allows for the aircraft to use the trailer repeatedly as a take-off and landing pad. A need exists for an aircraft transport trailer and method which provides fuel, water and chemical storage, and associated pump transfer capabilities, so as to provide for the transfer of fuel and chemical to the aircraft while operating in the field. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present disclosure includes a transport trailer capable of transporting, storing, launching and recovering an aircraft, such as a helicopter or rotorcraft. The trailer includes a movable landing pad from which the rotorcraft is launched or lands upon and a sliding curtain wall which covers, extends and retracts to provide for secure storage of the rotorcraft while in transit. The trailer may be attached to a tractor, truck or other capable tow vehicle. In one embodiment directed to aerial spraying applications, the trailer also includes tankage and fluid transfer equipment and pumps for the storage and transfer of fuel, chemical and water supply when aerial spray operations are being conducted in the field. 
         [0005]    As disclosed herein, in order to safely accomplish launching and landing a helicopter on to the trailer landing pad, which is a safe distance from the trailer mounted water and chemical tankage, the invention includes a movable landing pad attached to a rail/roller system that allows the landing pad to be moved bi-directionally forward, over and behind the axle or axles of the trailer. The exterior landing surface of the landing pad may be coated with a rubber material to provide slip resistance when work is being performed on the pad. While the aircraft is enclosed for transport or storage, the landing pad is moved above or forward of the trailer axles via the rail/roller assembly for efficient weight distribution on the trailer and which allows for the extension of a slidable curtain wall with a swing door substantially around the periphery of the trailer providing a secure enclosure for the rotorcraft. When being readied for launch/landing operations, the sliding curtain wall is retracted towards the front of the trailer and the landing pad is moved to the rear portion of the trailer to provide the necessary clearance between rotor blade tips and the retracted sliding curtain wall to allow aircraft takeoff and landing operations to commence. The rotorcraft may then proceed on its mission and return to land on the landing pad where it may be refueled or resupplied, then resume operations in the area. 
         [0006]    The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the implementations will be apparent from the description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a rotorcraft resting in the storage or transport position on the transport trailer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a rotorcraft resting on the landing pad of the trailer in the launch or landing position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the rotorcraft resting on the landing pad of the trailer in the launch or landing position according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the rotorcraft enclosed and secured within the trailer in the storage or transport configuration according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view depicting the tractor and trailer providing for the enclosed and secured transport of a rotorcraft within the trailer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Embodiments of the present invention generally provide trailer apparatus and methods that provide for the transport, launch and landing of an aircraft, such as a rotorcraft or helicopter, while in the field. The trailer apparatus and transport methods may comprise a plurality of different features, interactions, dynamics, abilities, and components, and are not to be limited to the specific implementations described herein. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the transport trailer invention disclosed herein. Transport trailer  10  includes trailer bed  12  with an elevated forward storage area  13  which provides storage space for tanks, pumps and other associated equipment to provide for the storage and transport of fuel, water and chemical. Trailer bed  12  is supported by trailer frame  14  attached to axle wheels  16  as known in the trailer manufacturing art. In some embodiments, trailer bed  12  and trailer frame  14  may be made from other suitable materials, such as aluminum or metal alloys, or other material suited to bear the loads, stress and strain associated with trailering operations. One or multiple axle wheel assemblies  16  may be used to provide suitable load bearing capacity with the intended trailering application. In the depicted illustration, rotorcraft  60  is shown in the storage or transport configuration as pad  40  is positioned and secured forward of axle wheels  16  and in a lowered riding position which lowers the center of mass of rotorcraft  60  resulting in safer load positioning so as to reduce load tipping during transport. Rotorcraft  60  rests on pad  40  with pad wings  42  folded and pad  40  is fixed in position along a length of front rail  34  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) while the trailer is in transport. As shown in  FIG. 2 , front rail  34  is attached to an elevator means. In the depicted embodiment, the elevator means includes scissor lift  38 , which acts to elevate and lower front rail  34 . It is contemplated that other known elevator means may be used to raise and lower front rail  34  which may include a screwjack, hydraulic or pneumatic or other known mechanical apparatus capable of raising and lowering front rail  34  according to the invention disclosed herein. Returning to  FIG. 1 , a slidable curtain wall  20 , which is supported by spars  22  that are slidably attached to each other with joists  24 . Curtain wall  20  is attached to trailer bed  12  with the spars  22  slidably engaged along wall rail  18 . Curtain wall  20  may be retracted or extended along the entire length of trailer  10  as desired. When swing door  26  is closed at the aft end of trailer  10 , an enclosed and secure space for housing and transporting rotorcraft  60  is created as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0015]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , rotorcraft  60  is shown positioned in the launch and landing configuration. When moving the rotorcraft from the storage/transport position depicted in  FIG. 1  to the launch/recover position shown in  FIG. 2 , swing door  26  is opened and curtain wall  20  is retracted to the front portion of trailer  10  uncovering rotorcraft  60  which is resting on pad  40 . Pad  40  rests upon front rail  34  which includes rollers  36  spaced along opposing sides of front rail  34 . Scissor lift  38  is in mechanical communication with pad  40  and acts to raise and lower pad  40  in substantial proximity to back rail  30 . Back rail  30  extends to the rear of trailer bed  12  and includes rollers  36  attached to and spaced along opposing sides of back rail  30  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Side rails  32  are located on along the aft sides of trailer bed  12  and include rollers  36  spaced along the length of each back rail  30 . Scissor lift  38  is actuated to elevate front rail  34  to a level substantially even with back rail  30  so that pad  40  may be moved and translated, by hand or mechanically, along the length of front rail  34  and back rail  30  so as to move the position of rotorcraft  60  over the axle wheels  16  to the rear portion of trailer  10 . 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , once pad  40  has been moved to the desired location at the rear of trailer  10 , the pad  40  may be secured and locked to prevent movement along the length of back rail  30 . Pad wings  42  located on opposing sides of pad  40  are then unfolded and supported by side rails  32  which have rollers  36  spaced along the length of each side rail as shown in  FIG. 1 . Pad wings  42  provide additional surface area for pad  40  and allow for the operator and pilot to stand on the pad  40  area while preparing the rotorcraft  60  for flight operations. As previously described, curtain wall  20  has been slidably retracted to the forward portion of trailer bed  12  with adequate clearance between the rotor blades  62  of rotorcraft  60 , curtain wall  20  and swing door  26  to prevent rotor blades  62  from striking any portion of the trailer  10 , curtain wall  20  or swing door  26 . Generator  52  provides an electrical power source for use to power pump and tankage  50  equipment which may be installed on trailer  10  for refueling and chemical supply to the rotorcraft  60  during aerial spray operations. Additional storage, tankage or other equipment may be transported in the storage area  13  of the trailer  10 . 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the invention disclosed herein may include a chemical mixing system attached on or about trailer  10  for use in connection with aerial spray operations conducted by the rotorcraft. Trailer  10  may include a chemical mixing system utilizing a compressor that generates vacuum and pressure within a mixing vessel. No pump is required in this embodiment. Using the Venturi principle, a vacuum is created in a pressure vessel to a batch boy tank, which is used to measure out the desired volume of chemical for mixing. To deliver the desired volume of chemical to the mixing vessel, the batch boy tank is exposed to atmospheric pressure and the chemical is delivered to a mixing vessel via the hosing connections between the pressure vessel, batch boy tank, and mixing tank which are in fluid communication. Once the desired chemical mixture is created, pressure is applied to the mixing vessel which delivers the chemical mixture to the rotorcraft spray tank for aerial application. 
         [0018]    After rotorcraft operations are ceased, rotorcraft  60  returns and lands on pad  40  and rotorcraft  60  is shut down. Rotor blades  62  are aligned substantially parallel to the length of the trailer bed  12  and pad wings  42  are returned to the folded position. Pad  40  may then be moved and translated, by hand or mechanically, forward towards the front end of trailer  10  along the length of back rail  30  and front rail  34  so as to move the position of rotorcraft  60  above or over the axle wheels  16  to the substantially center portion of trailer  10 . The pad  40  is then lowered by actuation of the scissor lift  38  supporting front rail  34  upon which pad  40  rests. Curtain wall  20  is then drawn to the end of trailer  10  and swing door  26  is closed to form the enclosed trailer  10  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  containing rotorcraft  60 . 
         [0019]    Turning to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , trailer  10  is shown in the transport and storage configuration where curtain wall  20  is extended along the length of the trailer  10  and swing door  26  is in the closed position creating a secure and weather resistant shelter for rotorcraft  60  during transportation or during storage of rotorcraft  60 . During storage, jackstands  54  are extended to allow tractor  63  to separate from trailer  10  and to maintain trailer  10  in a stable position for storage of rotorcraft  60 . During transport operations, jackstands  54  are retracted once tractor  63  is attached to trailer  10 . 
         [0020]    It is to be understood that the implementations are not limited to particular apparatus or methods described herein, which may, of course, vary. For example, the trailer need not be limited to specific materials for manufacture of the trailer or for the types of uses described herein. The trailer may be used to transport and store other aircraft or vehicles and the disclosure is not to be construed as limiting to just rotorcraft. Additionally, the trailer apparatus and methods described herein may be adapted for use with various technologies, environments, and applications, including agriculture applications, powerline observation operations or military applications. Moreover, the invention defined by the above paragraphs is not to be limited to particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purposes of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting.