External load stabilization apparatus

Claim 1

A stabilization mechanism for cargo load carriers of the type which are suspended beneath an aircraft by means of risers, comprising: load-carrying arm support means positioned in the base of the aircraft; a pair of retractable load-carrying arms (load arms); universal joint means positioned within the load arm support means, and adapted to receive the upper ends of each load arm so that the two load arms become pivotally connected spaced pendants; load arm drive means adapted to move each load arm within its universal joint means both longitudinally and laterally relative to the aircraft; riser attachment means pivotally connected to the lower end of each load arm and adapted to receive and move linearly with a riser attached both thereto and to the load carrier; sensor means engaging each load arm for sensing motion of the load arm relative to a reference line through the aircraft base, and for generating a signal as a function of said motion; sensor means engaging each riser attachment means for sensing motion of the risers relative to their respective load arms, and for generating a signal as a function of said motion; load arm actuating means adapted to engage and to operate each load arm drive means to move the load arms both longitudinally and laterally; electronic circuit means responsive to the load arm engaging sensor means and the riser engaging sensor means, transmitting corrective electrical signals to each load arm actuating means, driving the load arms to damp pendular load motion; and yaw damping means inhibiting oscillation of a load about a vertical axis through differential front and rear arm motion.