Patent Description:
Non-human cargo attachment devices for use with a rotorcraft, which are embodied to permit transport of non-human external cargo outside of the rotorcraft, may be provided in the form of hooks that are attached to ropes or cables which are connected to the rotorcraft. Such hooks may be embodied as simple hooks, safety hooks, snap hooks, or even more complicated forms of hooks. For instance, the document <CIT> describes a perforated capsule hook with a perforated housing which is attachable to non-human external cargo and remains after retraction from the non-human external cargo in a comparatively stable state during high speed flight due to a plurality of holes and perforations provided in the perforated housing.

Furthermore, human and/or non-human cargo attachment devices for use with a rotorcraft, which are embodied to permit transport of human and/or non-human external cargo outside of the rotorcraft, are available in a wide range of variations and usually attachable to ropes or cables which are connected to the rotorcraft. More generally, in civil, parapublic and military missions, such ropes or cables with human and/or non-human cargo attachment devices may e. be used for rapidly inserting and/or extracting persons and/or cargo into/from various environments, in particular environments that do not permit landing of the rotorcraft. Such environments may e. include maritime environments such as offshore as well as oil and gas platforms, and terrestrial environments such as land in vegetated areas, mountains and urban territory.

In general, three different types of human and/or non-human cargo attachment devices are currently available: rigging plates or loops of so-called SPIE (Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction) rigs, personal transport nets, and personal transport platforms, all of which are attachable to associated attachment interfaces such as safety hooks or snap hooks provided at associated ropes or cables of a given rotorcraft.

More specifically, in SPIE rigs the rigging plates or loops may be distributed over the length of associated ropes in order to form lashing points for attachment of human or non-human cargo. By way of example, the documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT> describe illustrative ropes with rigging plates or loops that form lashing points. Other rigging plates which are configured to provide multiple lashing points and which are attachable to attachment interfaces provided at associated ropes or cables are e. described in the documents <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a manipulator device suspended by a rope for installing on a drone.

<CIT> discloses a rope suspension device with at least one rope suspension module that is adapted for suspension of at least one rope from a rotorcraft and <CIT> discloses an airframe for selectively attaching and releasing multiple payloads suspended by a cable from an aircraft.

Personal transport nets, in turn, are available in a wide range of variations, as e. acknowledged in the document <CIT>, which describes that helicopter under-slung load equipment nets are well-known and widely used for transporting goods by helicopter either when there is no room in the helicopter for the goods, or when for reasons of speed or efficiency it is preferred to keep the goods outside of the helicopter. More specifically, such helicopter under-slung load equipment nets usually consist of a braided nylon net body and a plurality of lifting loops made from nylon webbing. Furthermore, each net usually comprises four pairs of lifting loops and each pair of lifting loops is provided with a hook.

Similarly, personal transport platforms are also available in a wide range of variations and e. described in the documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> A1, <CIT>, and <CIT>. By way of example, the document <CIT> describes a personal transport platform that may be suspended from a rotorcraft for rescuing people or equipment and that forms a link between the rotorcraft and a pod capable of being folded and unfolded, which is formed by a frame associated with a flexible support, such as a net. The frame comprises, fixed to the link, a central mast connected to mobile means bearing the flexible support, for folding and unfolding the mobile means and the flexible support about the central mast.

However, none of the above-described human and/or non-human cargo attachment devices is suitable for use with a rotorcraft for inserting and/or extracting persons and/or cargo into/from forested areas.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a new human and/or non-human cargo attachment device which is suitable for use with a rotorcraft for inserting and/or extracting persons and/or cargo into/from forested areas.

This object is solved by a human and/or non-human cargo attachment device for use with a rotorcraft, which comprises the features of claim <NUM>. More specifically, according to the present invention a human and/or non-human cargo attachment device for use with a rotorcraft comprises a mounting interface with a carrier device and an attachment that is rigidly mounted to the carrier device for attachment to a rotorcraft rope or cable, and a device body that is mounted to the carrier device and that comprises a stationary body section and a movable body section. The stationary body section is stationarily arranged on the carrier device and comprises a plurality of rotatable attachment hooks for attachment of human or non-human external cargo, wherein attached human or non-human external cargo is locked on the device body in closed state of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks and releasable from the device body in opened state of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks. The movable body section is movably arranged on the carrier device for enabling movements of the movable body section relative to the stationary body section between a locking position and a release position, wherein the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks is rotatable from the closed state to the opened state via movement of the movable body section from the locking position to the release position, and wherein the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks is rotatable from the opened state to the closed state via movement of the movable body section from the release position to the locking position.

Advantageously, the inventive human and/or non-human cargo attachment device is suitable for use with a rotorcraft in forested areas and enables a fast and simple insertion/extraction of up to ten or even more persons into/from such forested areas, as well as any other potential application environment. A safe and secure use in forested areas is amongst others enabled by forming a respective device body of the human and/or non-human cargo attachment device with a dedicated penetrating design, preferably with an arrowhead shape.

Preferably, the device body is lightweight and weighs only approximately <NUM> while allowing at least transportation of up to ten persons, each having a weight of up to <NUM>. More specifically, the device body forms a single, compact and central point for insertion/extraction, which allows for interaction of transported persons during transportation. In particular, lifting and drop-off of transported persons and/or cargo in a single step is enabled. Furthermore, the device body is preferably embodied with a redundant design and provides for each rotatable attachment hook at least one additional lashing point for attachment of human external cargo.

In addition, a required floatability of the star-shaped device body may be improved by filling its interior with foam. Furthermore, additional floats can be attached to the star-shaped device body, e. at selected rotatable attachment hooks. More specifically, any interior chambers of the device body may be filled with foam to achieve an increased floatability which is required to enable application in sea insertion/extraction.

In an illustrative realization the human and/or non-human cargo attachment device comprises a star-shaped device body with e. ten rotatable attachment hooks, each forming a respective main lashing point for attachment of human or non-human external cargo. Each such main lashing point may be associated with a redundant lashing point with enough distance between them in order to avoid snap hook respectively carabiner interactions. ten main lashing points, i. the rotatable attachment hooks, are preferably provided at lateral support arms of the device body in order to transmit occurring lateral loads. Preferably, the star-shaped device body exhibits an arrowhead form in order to be able to penetrate e. through trees in forested areas. The star-shaped device body may preferably be attached to a rope or cable of a rotorcraft by means of a suitable load hook. The rotatable attachment hooks of the star-shaped device body may be opened or closed either all at the same time or in at least two separate groups, e. in two groups of five rotatable attachment hooks. The opening of the rotatable attachment hooks of each such group is preferably initiated by a movement of a respectively associated movable body section away from the stationary body section into a release position. In locking position of the respectively associated movable body section, the latter preferably forms a form-fit locking with the rotatable attachment hooks, e. by means of pin/safety bolts sticking into recesses/holes in the rotatable attachment hooks. By moving the respectively associated movable body section away from the stationary body section, the form-fit locking is released and the rotatable attachment hooks are opened by rotating outward by means of an associated lever mechanism. To close the rotatable attachment hooks, the respectively associated movable body section is moved toward the stationary body section.

According to some aspects, the stationary body section comprises a plurality of lateral support arms, wherein each rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks is rotatably supported at an associated lateral support arm of the plurality of lateral support arms.

According to some aspects, the stationary body section comprises a sleeve-shaped carrier which is mounted to the carrier device, wherein the sleeve-shaped carrier and the lateral support arms of the plurality of lateral support arms form a star-shaped arrangement in radial direction of the device body.

According to some aspects, each lateral support arm of the plurality of lateral support arms comprises a fork-shaped accommodation to which an associated pivot bearing of a plurality of pivot bearings is mounted, wherein each fork-shaped accommodation rotatably accommodates an associated rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks.

According to some aspects, each rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks forms a main lashing point, wherein each lateral support arm of the plurality of lateral support arms comprises a redundant lashing point of a plurality of redundant lashing points.

According to some aspects, each rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks comprises an actuatable extension that is actuatable by means of the movable body section for rotation of the rotatable attachment hook from the closed state to the opened state.

Each rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks comprises at least one blockable surface that is blockable by means of the movable body section to prevent rotation of the rotatable attachment hook.

The movable body section comprises a plurality of lateral blocking arms, wherein each lateral blocking arm of the plurality of lateral blocking arms is provided for blocking an associated rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks in the closed state.

According to some aspects, the movable body section comprises at least one slidable carrier sleeve which is slidably supported on the carrier device, wherein the slidable carrier sleeve and the lateral blocking arms of the plurality of lateral blocking arms form a star-shaped arrangement in radial direction of the device body.

According to some aspects, the at least one slidable carrier sleeve comprises at least a first slidable carrier sleeve section and a second slidable carrier sleeve section, wherein a first predetermined number of the lateral blocking arms of the plurality of lateral blocking arms is connected to the first slidable carrier sleeve section, wherein a second predetermined number of the lateral blocking arms of the plurality of lateral blocking arms is connected to the second slidable carrier sleeve section, and wherein the first and second carrier sleeve sections are slidable on the carrier device independent of each other.

According to some aspects, each lateral blocking arm of the plurality of lateral blocking arms comprises a lock pin that is adapted to form a form-fit connection with an associated lock hole provided on the associated rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks in the closed state.

According to some aspects, each lateral blocking arm of the plurality of lateral blocking arms comprises an actuating pin that is adapted to cause rotation of the associated rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks from the closed state to the opened state via movement of the movable body section from the locking position to the release position.

According to some aspects, the movable body section is blockable in the locking position on the carrier device via associated blocking and securing means.

According to some aspects, the carrier device comprises a support end flange, wherein the stationary body section abuts on the support end flange.

According to some aspects, the device body comprises an arrowhead-shaped form.

<FIG> shows a rotorcraft <NUM> that illustratively comprises a fuselage <NUM> with a bottom shell 2c. By way of example, the fuselage <NUM> forms a cabin 2b for passengers and/or cargo and a tail boom 2a is mounted to the fuselage <NUM>.

The rotorcraft <NUM> illustratively further comprises at least one main rotor 1a configured to provide lift and forward or backward thrust during operation, and at least one counter-torque device <NUM> configured to provide counter-torque during operation, i. to counter the torque created by rotation of the at least one main rotor 1a for purposes of balancing the rotorcraft <NUM> in terms of yaw.

The at least one counter-torque device <NUM> is illustratively provided at an aft section of the tail boom 2a, which preferably further comprises a fin <NUM>. However, it should be noted that the at least one counter-torque device <NUM>, as well as the fin <NUM> provided at the aft section of the tail boom 2a, are merely described for illustrating one possible realization of the rotorcraft <NUM>.

According to one aspect, the rotorcraft <NUM> is provided with human and/or non-human cargo insertion/extraction means <NUM>. By way of example, the human and/or non-human cargo insertion/extraction means <NUM> are attached to an associated attachment <NUM> provided at the bottom shell 2c. The attachment <NUM> is illustratively embodied as an attachment ring which may e. be connected to a cable that is coupled to a winch.

More specifically, the human and/or non-human cargo insertion/extraction means <NUM> preferably comprises a rope <NUM> with a rope interface 7a, such as an eyelet, which is illustratively attached to the attachment <NUM>, e. by means of a snap hook respectively carabiner. The rope <NUM> is preferably provided with an attachment interface <NUM>, such as a safety hook or snap hook respectively carabiner 8a. The attachment interface <NUM> is preferably provided to enable a secure and reliable attachment of external components to the rope <NUM>. In a variant, the rope <NUM> is replaced by a cable.

By way of example, an attachment <NUM> of a human and/or non-human cargo attachment device <NUM> is attached to the attachment interface <NUM>. Illustratively, the attachment <NUM> is mounted to the human and/or non-human cargo attachment device <NUM> at an associated mounting interface <NUM> provided at a carrier device <NUM> of the human and/or non-human cargo attachment device <NUM>. The attachment <NUM> may be implemented by means of a load hook (9a in <FIG>). The human and/or non-human cargo attachment device <NUM> and/or its constituent components are further described below with reference to <FIG>.

Illustratively, the rotorcraft <NUM> with the human and/or non-human cargo insertion/extraction means <NUM> is shown in operation. In this illustrative operation, the human and/or non-human cargo insertion/extraction means <NUM> may e. be used for inserting/extracting persons, i. human cargo, and/or goods and loads, i. non-human cargo, into/from a respective environment.

By way of example, the rotorcraft <NUM> is embodied as a helicopter. However, use of the human and/or non-human cargo insertion/extraction means <NUM> is not limited to use with a helicopter. Instead, the human and/or non-human cargo insertion/extraction means <NUM> may at least be used with other rotorcrafts, such as e. tiltrotor aircrafts, compound helicopters, multicopters and so on.

<FIG> shows the human and/or non-human cargo attachment device <NUM> with the attachment <NUM>, the mounting interface <NUM>, and the carrier device <NUM> of <FIG>. For simplicity and brevity, the human and/or non-human cargo attachment device <NUM> is hereinafter merely referred to as the "cargo attachment device <NUM>".

The mounting interface <NUM> is illustratively embodied at a first - in <FIG> upper - end 12a of the carrier device <NUM> and provided with the attachment <NUM> for attachment to a rotorcraft rope or cable via a suitable attachment interface, e. the attachment interface <NUM> provided at the rotorcraft rope <NUM> of <FIG>. Illustratively, the attachment <NUM> includes a load hook 9a that is rigidly mounted to the carrier device <NUM> for attachment to the suitable attachment interface, e. the attachment interface <NUM> provided at the rotorcraft rope <NUM> of <FIG>.

Illustratively, the carrier device <NUM> is connected to a device body <NUM>. The device body <NUM> may be formed in the shape of an arrowhead, as illustrated. Such an arrowhead-shaped form provides for a penetrating design, which is particularly advantageous for use of the cargo attachment device <NUM> in forested areas, as it enables the device body <NUM> to penetrate through the trees in the forested areas with minimal resistance.

More specifically, the device body <NUM> is mounted to the carrier device <NUM> and preferably comprises a stationary body section <NUM> and a movable body section <NUM>. Illustratively, the carrier device <NUM> is provided at a second - in <FIG> lower - end 12b with a support end flange 12c and the stationary body section <NUM> abuts on the support end flange 12c.

The stationary body section <NUM> is preferably stationarily arranged on the carrier device <NUM>. In other words, the stationary body section <NUM> is not movable relative to the carrier device <NUM>, at least not in a direction in which the movable body section <NUM> is movable, as described by way of example below.

More particularly, the stationary body section <NUM> preferably comprises a sleeve-shaped carrier 15a which is mounted to the carrier device <NUM> which is preferably sleeve or cylinder-shaped. If desired, the stationary body section <NUM> may be rigidly attached to the carrier device <NUM> and/or the support end flange 12c by any suitable means, such as suitable fasteners, a press-fit connection and/or a welding connection, and so on. Alternatively, or in addition, the stationary body section <NUM> may be an integral part of the carrier device <NUM>.

Illustratively, the stationary body section <NUM> of the device body <NUM> comprises a plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> for attachment of human or non-human external cargo. Preferably, any attached human or non-human external cargo is locked on the device body <NUM> in closed state of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> and releasable from the device body <NUM> in opened state of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM>. By way of example, the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> is shown in closed state in <FIG>.

Illustratively, the stationary body section <NUM> comprises a plurality of lateral support arms <NUM>. Preferably, the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM> is provided with a plurality of pivot bearings <NUM> which rotatably accommodates the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM>. By way of example, the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM> is rigidly mounted to, or integrally formed with, the sleeve-shaped carrier 15a of the stationary body section <NUM> such that the sleeve-shaped carrier 15a and the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM> form a star-shaped arrangement in radial direction 10b of the device body <NUM>.

Preferably, the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> forms a plurality of main lashing points at the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM>, which is preferentially further provided with a plurality of redundant lashing points <NUM>. Use of main lashing points and redundant lashing points may be required for attachment of human external cargo at the device body <NUM>.

According to one aspect, opening and closing of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> is performed by means of the movable body section <NUM> of the device body <NUM>. More specifically, the movable body section <NUM> is preferably movably arranged on the carrier device <NUM> for enabling movements of the movable body section <NUM> relative to the stationary body section <NUM> between a locking position, illustrated in <FIG>, and a release position, illustrated in <FIG>. The plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> is preferably rotatable from the closed state to the opened state via movement of the movable body section <NUM> from the locking position to the release position, and the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> is preferably rotatable from the opened state to the closed state via movement of the movable body section <NUM> from the release position to the locking position.

By way of example, suitable movements of the movable body section <NUM> are performed in height direction 10a of the device body <NUM>. More specifically, the movable body section <NUM> preferably includes at least one slidable carrier sleeve 16a which is slidably supported on the carrier device <NUM> such that the suitable movements are performed by gliding of the at least one slidable carrier sleeve 16a along the carrier device <NUM> which is preferably sleeve or cylinder-shaped, in the height direction 10a.

Preferably, the movable body section <NUM> is blockable in the locking position on the carrier device <NUM> via associated blocking and securing means <NUM>. By way of example, the associated blocking and securing means <NUM> comprise at least one lock pin 13a.

Illustratively, the movable body section <NUM> comprises a plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM>. The plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM> is preferably provided for blocking of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> in the closed state. By way of example, the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM> forms a star-shaped arrangement with the slidable carrier sleeve 16a of the movable body section <NUM> in the radial direction 10b of the device body <NUM>. Preferably, the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM> is rigidly mounted to, or integrally formed with, the slidable carrier sleeve 16a of the movable body section <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the device body <NUM> with the stationary body section <NUM> and the movable body section <NUM> of <FIG>, wherein the movable body section <NUM> is illustrated in the release position. The stationary body section <NUM> comprises the sleeve-shaped carrier 15a and the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM> with the plurality of pivot bearings <NUM> which rotatably accommodates the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> forming the main lashing points, as well as with the plurality of redundant lashing points <NUM>. The movable body section <NUM> comprises the slidable carrier sleeve 16a and the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM>.

According to one aspect, the slidable carrier sleeve 16a is embodied by a first slidable carrier sleeve section 16b and a second slidable carrier sleeve section 16c. Preferably, the first slidable carrier sleeve section 16b and the second slidable carrier sleeve section 16c are slidable on the carrier device <NUM> independent of each other.

The first slidable carrier sleeve section 16b may be connected to a first predetermined number of lateral blocking arms of the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM> of the movable body section <NUM>, and the second slidable carrier sleeve section 16c may be connected to a second predetermined number of lateral blocking arms of the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM>. Illustratively, the first and second slidable carrier sleeves 16b, 16c are formed as slidable carrier sleeve halves. Thus, by way of example, one half of the lateral blocking arms of the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM> is connected to one of the slidable carrier sleeve halves 16b, 16c, while the other half of the lateral blocking arms of the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM> is connected to the other one of the slidable carrier sleeve halves 16c, 16b.

For simplicity and clarity of the drawing, only a single lateral blocking arm of the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM> is separately labelled with the reference sign 20a. Likewise, only a single lateral support arm of the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM> is separately labelled with the reference sign 19a, only a single pivot bearing of the plurality of pivot bearings <NUM> is separately labelled with the reference sign 18a, and only a single rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> is separately labelled with the reference sign 17a. The single rotatable attachment hook 17a, the single pivot bearing 18a, the single lateral support arm 19a, and the single lateral blocking arm 20a are described in more detail hereinafter representative for the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM>, the plurality of pivot bearings <NUM>, the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM>, and the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM>, for simplicity and clarity of the description.

More specifically, the lateral support arm 19a preferably comprises an upper mechanical stop 19b and a receiving groove 19c. Furthermore, the lateral support arm 19a illustratively comprises a fork-shaped accommodation 19d to which the pivot bearing 18a is mounted. By way of example, the pivot bearing 18a is embodied by means of a bearing pin 18b which is rigidly attached in the fork-shaped accommodation 19d. The fork-shaped accommodation 19d illustratively accommodates the rotatable attachment hook 17a rotatably. To this end, the rotatable attachment hook 17a may be mounted rotatably on the bearing pin 18b. Alternatively, the bearing pin 18b may be rotatable in the fork-shaped accommodation 19d and the rotatable attachment hook 17a may be mounted rigidly to the bearing pin 18b.

Preferably, the rotatable attachment hook 17a comprises a lock hole 17b provided on a blockable surface 17c. Furthermore, the rotatable attachment hook 17a is preferably embodied with an inner extension 17d, which may be provided with an actuatable extension 17e. The actuatable extension 17e is illustratively fork-shaped. The inner extension 17d may further be provided with a blockable surface 17f. Preferably, at least one of the blockable surfaces 17c, 17f is blockable by means of the movable body section <NUM> to prevent rotation of the rotatable attachment hook 17a.

The rotatable attachment hook 17a is blockable in closed state, illustrated in <FIG>, by means of the lateral blocking arm 20a. The lateral blocking arm 20a is embodied with an outer blocking surface 20c and preferably embodied with an inner blocking surface 20d. The outer blocking surface 20c is adapted for blocking of the blockable surface 17c of the rotatable attachment hook 17a, and the inner blocking surface 20d may be adapted for blocking of the blockable surface 17f of the rotatable attachment hook 17a.

Illustratively, the outer blocking surface 20c of the lateral blocking arm 20a is embodied with a lock pin 20b. The lock pin 20b may be provided to form a form-fit connection with the lock hole 17b of the rotatable attachment hook 17a in the closed state of the rotatable attachment hook 17a.

The lateral blocking arm 20a preferably further comprises an actuating pin 20f that is adapted to cause rotation of the rotatable attachment hook 17a from the closed state to the opened state via movement of the movable body section <NUM> from the locking position, illustrated in <FIG>, to the release position, illustrated in <FIG>. Illustratively, the actuating pin 20f is arranged on at least one and, by way of example, on both sides of a lower extension 20e provided on the movable body section <NUM> such that the actuating pin 20f is located - in <FIG> - below the actuatable fork 17e of the rotatable attachment hook 17a. Preferably, the actuatable fork 17e is actuatable by means of the movable body section <NUM>, i. the actuating pin 20f, for rotation of the rotatable attachment hook 17a from the closed state to the opened state.

Finally, the lateral blocking arm <NUM> may comprise a mechanical stop <NUM>. The mechanical stop <NUM> may be provided to abut against the stationary body section <NUM> in the closed state of the rotatable attachment hook 17a.

<FIG> shows the device body <NUM> with the stationary body section <NUM> and the movable body section <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>, wherein the movable body section <NUM> is illustrated in the release position. The stationary body section <NUM> comprises the sleeve-shaped carrier 15a and the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM> with the plurality of pivot bearings <NUM> which rotatably accommodates the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> forming the main lashing points, as well as with the plurality of redundant lashing points <NUM>. More specifically, the stationary body section <NUM> comprises the rotatable attachment hook 17a which is rotatably mounted by means of the pivot bearing 18a to the lateral support arm 19a. The movable body section <NUM> comprises the slidable carrier sleeve 16a with the slidable carrier sleeve halves 16b, 16c, and the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM>. More specifically, the movable body section <NUM> comprises the lateral blocking arm 20a.

By way of example and for purposes of illustration, an additional lateral blocking arm of the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM> is separately labelled with the reference sign 21a, an additional lateral support arm of the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM> is separately labelled with the reference sign 21c, and an additional rotatable attachment hook of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> is separately labelled with the reference sign 21b. Furthermore, a single redundant lashing point of the plurality of redundant lashing points <NUM> is individually, illustratively and representatively labelled with the reference sign 22a.

<FIG> further details an illustrative realization of the lateral blocking arm 20a with the outer blocking surface 20c that comprises the lock pin 20b, the inner blocking surface 20d, the lower extension 20e, the actuating pin 20f, and the mechanical stop <NUM>, as well as of the lateral support arm 19a with the upper mechanical stop 19b, the receiving groove 19c, and the fork-shaped accommodation 19d that rotatably accommodates the rotatable attachment hook 17a. <FIG> also further details an illustrative realization of the rotatable attachment hook 17a with the lock hole 17b on the blockable surface 17c, and the inner extension 17d with the actuatable extension 17e and the blockable surface 17f.

Illustratively, the inner extension 17d is engaged with the actuating pin 20f such that the rotatable attachment hook 17a is rotated into its opened state via movement of the movable body section <NUM> away from the stationary body section <NUM> in the height direction 10a of the device body <NUM> from the locking position, according to <FIG>, into the illustrated release position, according to <FIG>. In this release position, the movable body section <NUM> is preferably blocked by the stationary body section <NUM>, as described hereinafter, to prevent any further movement of the movable body section <NUM> away from the stationary body section <NUM>.

Illustratively, the movable body section <NUM> comprises an - in <FIG> lower - inner shoulder 16d and the stationary body section <NUM> comprises an - in <FIG> upper - outer collar 15b. The lower inner shoulder 16d preferably abuts against the upper outer collar 15b in the release position such that any further movement of the movable body section <NUM> in the height direction 10a away from the stationary body section <NUM> is prevented.

By way of example, the movable body section <NUM> further comprises an end stop 16e. Preferably, the end stop 16e abuts against the upper outer collar 15b in the locking position such that any further movement of the movable body section <NUM> in the height direction 10a toward the stationary body section <NUM> is prevented.

<FIG> shows the device body <NUM> with the stationary body section <NUM> and the movable body section <NUM> of <FIG>, wherein the movable body section <NUM> is partly illustrated in the locking position, and partly in an intermediate position. The stationary body section <NUM> comprises the sleeve-shaped carrier 15a and the plurality of lateral support arms <NUM> with the plurality of pivot bearings <NUM> which rotatably accommodates the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks <NUM> forming the main lashing points, as well as with the plurality of redundant lashing points <NUM>. More specifically, the stationary body section <NUM> comprises the rotatable attachment hook 17a which is rotatably mounted by means of the pivot bearing 18a to the lateral support arm 19a. The movable body section <NUM> comprises the slidable carrier sleeve 16a with the slidable carrier sleeve halves 16b, 16c, and the plurality of lateral blocking arms <NUM>. More specifically, the movable body section <NUM> comprises the lateral blocking arm 20a.

<FIG> further illustrates the lateral blocking arm 20a with the outer blocking surface 20c that comprises the lock pin 20b, the inner blocking surface 20d, the lower extension 20e, the actuating pin 20f, and the mechanical stop <NUM>, as well as the lateral support arm 19a with the upper mechanical stop 19b, the receiving groove 19c, and the fork-shaped accommodation 19d that rotatably accommodates the rotatable attachment hook 17a. <FIG> also further illustrates the rotatable attachment hook 17a with the lock hole 17b on the blockable surface 17c, the inner extension 17d with the actuatable extension 17e and the blockable surface 17f.

In an illustrative operation, by moving the movable body section <NUM> from the release position illustrated in <FIG> in the height direction 10a toward the stationary body section <NUM>, the blocking surface 20d of the lateral blocking arm 20a engages with the blockable surface 17f and, thus, pushes the inner extension 17d of the rotatable attachment hook 17a - in <FIG> - downward, thus, rotating the rotatable attachment hook 17a about the pivot bearing 18a into the closed state. Movement of the movable body section <NUM> ends when the mechanical stop <NUM> of the lateral blocking arm <NUM> abuts against the mechanical stop 19b of the lateral support arm 19a.

Moreover, <FIG> illustrates the lateral blocking arm 21a, the lateral support arm 21c, and the rotatable attachment hook 21b of <FIG>. Illustratively, the rotatable attachment hook 21b is shown in the intermediate position, wherein the rotatable attachment hook 21b is already rotated into the closed state, but not locked, as illustrated with respect to the rotatable attachment hook 17a.

Claim 1:
A human and/or non-human cargo attachment device (<NUM>) for use with a rotorcraft (<NUM>), comprising a mounting interface (<NUM>) with a carrier device (<NUM>) and an attachment (<NUM>) that is rigidly mounted to the carrier device (<NUM>) for attachment to a rotorcraft rope or cable (<NUM>); and a device body (<NUM>) that is mounted to the carrier device (<NUM>) and that comprises a stationary body section (<NUM>) and a movable body section (<NUM>), wherein the stationary body section (<NUM>) is stationarily arranged on the carrier device (<NUM>) and comprises a plurality of rotatable attachment hooks (<NUM>) for attachment of human or non-human external cargo, and wherein the attached human or non-human external cargo is configured to be locked on the device body (<NUM>) in closed state of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks (<NUM>) and is configured to be released from the device body (<NUM>) in opened state of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks (<NUM>), and wherein the movable body section (<NUM>) is movably arranged on the carrier device (<NUM>) for enabling movements of the movable body section (<NUM>) relative to the stationary body section (<NUM>) between a locking position and a release position, wherein each of the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks (<NUM>) is a rotatable attachment hook (17a), which is rotatably accommodated on the stationary body section (<NUM>) rotatable from the closed state to the opened state via movement of the movable body section (<NUM>) from the locking position to the release position, and wherein the plurality of rotatable attachment hooks (<NUM>) is rotatable from the opened state to the closed state via movement of the movable body section (<NUM>) from the release position to the locking position; characterised in that each said rotatable attachment hook (17a) has a blockable surface (17c) and wherein the movable body section (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of lateral blocking arms (<NUM>) and wherein each lateral blocking arm (20a) of the plurality of lateral blocking arms (<NUM>) comprises an outer blocking surface (20c), each blockable surface (17c) being blocked into a corresponding outer blocking surface (20c) in the closed state, and each blockable surface (17c) is away from the movable body section (<NUM>) in the opened state.