Helicopter-suspended manoeuvring capsule

Citation

(2000), "Helicopter-suspended manoeuvring capsule", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772ead.004

Helicopter-suspended manoeuvring capsule

Helicopter-suspended manoeuvring capsule

Keywords Patents, Aerospace industry, Aircraft

In GB Patent 2327657 James Lincoln Bardolf-Smith describes a helicopter-suspended manoeuvring capsule and seating for a pilot and four passengers with three controllable-pitch fans, two hydraulic winch motors, four hydraulic rams and electrical power for auxiliary equipment. An inflated section with grab lines is provided for flotation, tendering and boarding. The capsule can stand upright on level ground and manoeuvring is achieved by the three controllable-pitch fans and a winch. The rams articulate the winch cradle longitudinally, adjusting the capsule centre of gravity. In transit, an aerodynamic stabiliser fin, a tailplane and other rams articulate a winch fairlead longitudinally, thus controlling altitude. A reversing helical spline shaft in the fairlead assembly feeds the winch cable on to the drum evenly. The capsule can thus manoeuvre within the scope of the suspending cable, avoiding the hazards of placing a helicopter near enough to the target for conventional winching.