Patent GB-1275468-A (GB)
Title: Probe device for mounting on the underside of an aircraft
IPC: B64F1/12
Filed: 1969-08-21
Abstract: 1275468 Probe device for anchoring an aircraft CANADA MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE 21 Aug 1969 [21 Aug 1968] 41727/69 Heading B7G [Also in Division E2] A probe device attached to the underside of an aircraft capable of hovering is provided with means for drawing up a cable from a landing platform and means for securing it so that the aircraft may be winched down on to the platform, whereupon the probe may be grasped by a trap device and subsequently released therefrom to enable the aircraft to take off. The probe comprises a housing 31 mounted on the aircraft and fitted at its lower end with a resiliently mounted bearing through which a tubular probe 33 may be extended, having at its lower end a rotatable ring castellated on its lower surface (51) Fig. 2 (not shown) to obviate trapping a cable 5 between the probe and the landing surface, and carrying at its upper end a fitting 67 (shown in elevation in Fig. 4 and in plan section in Fig. 8) which also serves to secure a tubular extension 61, which in turn supports a further extension 181 (Fig. 5). The fitting 67 is in the form of an annular U-ring, in the groove of which is a rotatable cam ring 87 carried by a ball-race 89. In bores in the inner part of fitting 67 are two radially slidable members 107 and 109 carrying at their outer ends rollers 113 and 111. Rotation of control rod 75 by means of a jack device (209) Fig. 11 (not shown), at its upper end causes arm 97 to rotate the ring 87. When the ring 87 is moved anticlockwise (viewed as in Fig. 8) cam slots on it act on tongues on the members 107 and 109 to move them radially outwards, the rollers 111 and 113 being moved into recesses 115 and 119; rotation of ring 87 clockwise causes the rollers and sliding members to be moved radially inwards, and a spring 95 biases the ring in this direction. Latching means are provided to hold the mechanism in the position where the tongue members are in their outermost positions; these consist of a spring- loaded sleeve 135 to which is attached an arm 143 which operates a plunger 149 which can enter a hole in the upper surface of the ring 87. Raising or lowering of the plunger in turn moves a rod 153, whose upper end (not shown) has a cam surface which operates microswitches, providing a remote indication of the position of the latching plunger 149. A compression spring 193 tends to force the probe downwards and when the probe is drawn upwards against the spring it may be secured by a spring-loaded manually releasable toggle 197. In operation the probe is lowered by releasing toggle 197, the locking members 107 and 109 are moved outwards by the actuating mechanism already described, and a messenger weight 185 is lowered by cable 187 from a winch inside the aircraft, through the probe, when it may be secured manually to a complementary fitting 221 attached to the end of cable 5. This is then winched up into the probe, and when the fitting 221 is above the locking members 107 and 109 further raising causes the plunger 149 to be raised, releasing the locking members and trapping the fitting 221 above them. Cable 5 is then drawn in by a winch on the landing platform, drawing the aircraft down on to the platform.