US3790111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for docking a helicopter
Assignee: Government of France
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Filing: 1972-10-02
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A device for displacing an object on a horizontal surface, which can tilt and oscillate, along a desired trajectory between any two points. The trajectory is derived from a lengthwise motion of a cross beam, generated by a driving mechanism entirely independent of the cross beam and by a transverse motion of a cross slide on the cross beam, the transverse motion being obtained from the load component acting upon the cross beam due to a manual or mechanical orientation of the load itself. The orientation is obtained, as required, by a means external to the device.
Inventors
- 👤 J Mesnet
- 👤 Beauvais P Remon
- 👤 G Dadon
- 👤 J Barbarin
- 👤 Guennec R Le
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:25
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64F; B64F1/00; B64F1/12; B64F1/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for displacing an object on a horizontal surface, which can be tilted and can oscillate, along a desired trajectory between any two points on said surface, said apparatus comprising a rigid elongated cross beam having a longitudinal axis, means for displacing said cross beam on said surface at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam, a slide member slidably supported on said cross beam for longitudinal displacement therealong, said object resting on and being movable on said surface and means on said slide member for attachment to the object to be displaced to produce displacement of the slide member in response to external orientation of the object itself on said surface, said slide member being freely movable along said cross beam under the action of a load component applied thereto by the object when the latter is externally oriented on said surface in the direction of an intended trajectory which is inclined relative to the direction of displacement of the cross beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for displacing an object on a horizontal surface, which can be tilted and can oscillate, along a desired trajectory between any two points on said surface, said apparatus comprising a rigid elongated cross beam having a longitudinal axis, means for displacing said cross beam on said surface at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam, a slide member slidably supported on said cross beam for longitudinal displacement therealong, said object resting on and being movable on said surface and means on said slide member for attachment to the object to be displaced to produce displacement of the slide member in response to external orientation of the object itself on said surface, said slide member being freely movable along said cross beam under the action of a load component applied thereto by the object when the latter is externally oriented on said surface in the direction of an intended trajectory which is inclined relative to the direction of displacement of the cross beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cross beam is displaced at right angles to its longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising braking means between said slide member and cross beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said braking means includes a multiple blade brake comprising fixed blades arranged along the cross beam and movable tightening blades carried by the slide member, the movable blades being adapted for being applied by spring action in a braking operation and released by the control of the operator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means on the slide member for attachment to the object comprises a cross bar coupled to the slide member for limited pivotal movement in a horizontal plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for guiding said cross beam in the course of its displacement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the guiding means comprises a pair of substantially parallel rails, and carriages slidable on said rails and mounted on said cross beam at the ends thereof, the means for displacing the cross beam being attached to said carriages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein each said carriage comprises a core having opposite ends, and pads pivotably connected to said core at said ends and slidable on said rails.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the rails are profiled, said means for displacing the cross beam comprising strip means attached to each said carriage and displaceable within said rails, and means for winding and unwinding said strip means to cause the carriages to travel on said rails.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for winding and unwinding the strip means comprises at least two automatically slaved motors, one for towing and one for tensioning to provide sufficient tensioning of the strip means in any configuration of the object, thus allowing correct winding and unwinding of the strip means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising a hinge pin hingeably joining each carriage to a respective end of the cross beam, one of the hinge pins being fitted with a lateral clearance to allow relative shifting of the carriages and to overcome snug fit tolerances.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |