CA2024911A1 - Helicopter dolly - Google Patents

Helicopter dolly

Info

Publication number
CA2024911A1
CA2024911A1 CA 2024911 CA2024911A CA2024911A1 CA 2024911 A1 CA2024911 A1 CA 2024911A1 CA 2024911 CA2024911 CA 2024911 CA 2024911 A CA2024911 A CA 2024911A CA 2024911 A1 CA2024911 A1 CA 2024911A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
frame
dolly
platform
handle
crossbar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2024911
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Danial S. Gorham
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
STEEVES DANIEL
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2024911 priority Critical patent/CA2024911A1/en
Publication of CA2024911A1 publication Critical patent/CA2024911A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

ABSTRACT
A simple, lightweight dolly for carrying a helicopter includes a skeletal frame, large wheels supporting the frame at its front and rear ends, a handle/tow bar at the front end of the frame connected to the front wheels by a linkage including sprockets and a chain so that turning of the handle results in turning of the front wheels, a drive including a hydraulic motor and differential gearing connecting the motor to a shaft carrying the rear wheels for driving the dolly, a platform connected to the frame by pivot arms for movement of the platform between a lower, rest position on the frame and an elevated load carrying position, a hydraulic cylinder on the frame for raising and lowering the platform, and a plurality of posts removably mounted on the platform for supporting the helicopter.

Description

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This invention relates to a dolly and in particular to a dolly for a helicopter or similar load.
While the device of the present invention was designed specifically for moving small helicopters, it will be appreciated that the dolly can be used to move similar loads of the type including a body spaced apart from the ground so that the dolly can be moved beneath the load and then lifted.
A helicopter constitutes an awkward load to move.
In order to move such a load, a dolly or lifting device should be inserted beneath the load and then elevated to raise the load. Ideally, the dolly should be lightweight, and easy to operate and manipulate. Presently available helicopter dollies require pushing of the helicopter which cau5e5 undue stress on the airframe.
A search of the patent literature discloses dollies of generally the type proposed by applicant. Such devices are described in Canadian Patent No. 149,716, issued to E. M.
Chapman et al on August 5, 1913, and United States Patents Nos. 2,327,583, issued to H. J. Framhein on August 24, 1943, and 2,388,864, issued to H. E. Page on November 13, 1945. In general, the patented devices are somewhat complicated and consequently expensive to produce. Moreover, the patented dollies are ill-suited to the lifting or transporting of a helicopter or similar load.
25 ~ ~n object of the present invention is to solve the ~ problem of helicopter lifting by providing a relatively .

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simple dolly for lifting a helicopter or similar load which, because of its skeletal structure, is lightweight and easy to produce.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a dolly which includes a steering mechanism facilitating manually maneuvering of the device.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dolly which permits lifting of a helicopter at proper lift points on the skid gear, without placing undue stress on any part of the helicopter.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a dolly for a helicopter or other load comprising skeletal frame means; front wheel means and rear wheel means supporting said frame means for movement along the ground; drive means on said frame means for driving said rear wheel means; skeletal platform means; arms means pivotally connecting said platform means to said frame means for movement between a lower, rest position on the frame means and an elevated, load supporting position; fluid actuated cylinder means on said frame means for moving said platform means relative to said frame means;
post means for removable mounting on said platform means for supporting a load above the platform means; handle means for manually controlling movement of the dolly; and steering means connecting said handle means to said front wheel means for ~urning said front wheel means when the handle is turned.

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The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figure l is a side view of a dolly in accordance with the present invention in the lower or rest position;
Figure 2 is an isometric view from one side and above of all but the front end of the dolly of Fig. l in the partially elevated position;
Figure 3 is an isometric view from above and in the front of a frame used in the dolly of Figs. 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is an exploded, isometric view from above and in the front of a platform and posts used in the dolly of Figs. 1 and 2;
Figure 5 is an isometric view from the rear and one side of the dolly of Figs. l and 2 in the lower position beneath a helicopter; and Figure 6, is an isometric view from the front and the other side of the dolly of Figs. 1 and 2 in the elevated or use position beneath a helicopter.
2~ Parts have purposely been omitted from some figures of the drawings to facilitate clear illustration of the dolly.
With reference to the drawings, the principle elements of the dolly of the present invention include a frame generally indicated at l, and a lifting platform generally indicated at 2. As best shown in Fig. 3 the frame l is defined by rectangular cross section tubing, and includes .

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sides 3, a front crossbar 4 and a rear end 5. Diagonal braces 6, extend between the sides 3 and the rear end 5 of the frame for reinforcing the latter. A crossbar 8 extends between the sides 3 of the frame closer to the front crossbar 4 than the rear end 5. A pair of longitudinally extending bars 9 extend forwardly from the crossbar 8 beyond crossbar 4 to define the sides 10 of the end of the frame. The outer ends of the bars 10 are joined by a front bar 11. The front end carries a hydraulic control valve 12 a gasoline engine 13 a hydraulic pump 15 and a hydraulic reservoir 16. These elements are supported on the front end 10 of the frame 1 by plates 16 and 17 (Fig. 3). A clevis 18 is pivotally mounted on a pin 19, extending through the front bar 11 for carrying an elongated inclined T-shape tow bar 20. The top transversely extending end 22 of the tow b~r 20 defines a handle for controlling movement o the dolly. The tow bar 20 carries a hydraulic control valve 23 which is opened or closed using a lever or handl~ 24 to control movement of the dolly.
The front end of the frame is supported by a pair of wheels 26 mounted on stub axles 27. The axles 27 extend outwardly from clevises 28, which are pivotally connected to the outer ends of a transversely extending crossbar 29 mounted on crossbar 30 at the front end of the frame.
Pins 31 extend through the clevises 28 and the crossbar 29, so that the axles 27 can be rotated around the vertical axes of the pins. Rotation of the clevises 28 and , . ~ ' ' .
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consequently steering of the dolly is effected using a pair of levers 32 connected to the top ends of the clevises 28. The levers 32 and a rod 33 pivotally connected thereto define part of a linkage, which is connected to the front pin 19 by a bar 35, a pin 36, a pair of sprockets 38 and 39 and a chain 40.
When the tow bar 20 is rotated the pin 19 also rotates to rotate the sprockets 38 and 39. Thus, the bar 35 is caused to rotate with the pin 36 to rotate the clevises 28, and consequently the stub axles 27.
A pair of wheel supporting bars 42 extend rearwardly from the rear end 5 of the frame 1 for supporting wheels 44. Diagonal braces 45 extend ~etween the rear end 5 of the frame 1 and the bars 42. Plates 46 on the outer free ends of the bars 42 support pillow block bearings 47 (one shown-Fig.l) which carry a rear wheel shaft 48. The shaft 48 iB driven by a hydraulic motor 4g (Fig.2) mounted in a protective enclosure 50 on the rear end 5 of the frame 1. A
sprocket 52 is mounted on the shaft (not shown) of the motor 49 for rotating a chain 53, which connects the motor 49 to a transmission 55. The transmission 55 is mounted on a plate 56 extending rearwardly from the frame 50, and incorporates a gear (not shown) mounted on the shaft 48 for driving the latter, and consequently the wheels 44.
The lifting platform 2 includes a pair of sides 60, and front and rear ends 61 and 62, respectively. An expanded ~ met~l panel 64 extends downwardly and rearwardly from a ~ar 65 .... . . . . .
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near the rear end 6~ of the frame for carrying helicopter mounting posts, generally indicated at 68 and 69, when the latter are not in use. It will be noted that the posts 68 and 69 are shown in Fig. 4 on a larger scale than the platform 2.
A crossbar 70 extends between the sides 60 of the platform 2. Diagonal braces 72 extend between the crossbar 7G and the sides 60 for reinforcing the frame. A clevis defined by a pair of plates 7~ extends forwardly from the crossbar 70 for pivotally connecting a piston rod 75 to the platform. The piston rod 75 extends out of one end of a hydraulic cylinder 76. The other end of the cylinder 76 is pivotally connected to the front end 4 of the frame 1 by a clevis defined by a pair of plates 78. The cylinder 76 is used to raise the platform 2 relative to the frame 1. A pair of arms 80 are provided near the ~ront and rear of each side of the dolly for pivotally connecting the platform 2 to the frame sides 3. The arms 80 are pivotally connected to the frame 1 and the platform 2 by pins 81 and 82, respectively (Figs. 1 and 2) which extend through bushings 84 tone shown-Fig. 3) which are mounted in the sides 3 and 60 of the frame 1 and the platform 2, respectively.
The posts 68 and 69 for supporting a helicopter 85 tFigs. 5 and 6) are mounted in square brackets 86 and 87, respectively on the sides 60 of the platform 2. The post 68 includes an inverted generally L-shaped body 90. An arcuate ~radle 91 is pivotally connected to the top arm 92 of the body :

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90 by a clevis 93 and a pin 95. A hole 96 is provided near the bottom end of the post 90 for receiving a pin, which connects the post to the bracket 86. The post 69 includes an elongated body 98 with a stop 99 near the bottom end thereof for limiting movement of the post into the bracket 87. A
cradle 100 is pivotally connected to the top end of the body 98 by a clevis 101 and pin 102.
In use, with the posts 68 and 69 absent from the brackets 86 and 87, respectively and with the platform 2 resting on the frame 1 (Figs. 1 and 5), the frame 1 and the platform are moved beneath the helicopter 85. Such movement is effected by starting the engine 13, and the appropriate movement of the control lever 24 on the valve 23 to operate the reversible hydraulic motor 49. By starting the engine 13, oil is caused to flow from the tank 15 to the forward and reverse control valve 23, and to the lift and lower control valve 12. When the dolly drive is in use, oil will by-pass the valve 12 returning to the tank 15. By the same token, when the control valve 12 is open to control lifting on lowering of the platform 2, the drive control valve 23 will be by-passed.
As described hereinbefore, steering of the dolly is easily effected by rotating the handle 22 and tow bar 20 combination around the axis of the pin 19. Such movement ~ 25 .causes corresponding rotation of the pin 19, the sprocket 39, ~ the sprocket 38, the pin 36, the bar 35, the rod 33, the ,, , : ~.

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levers 32, and the cl~vises 28 carrying the axles 27 and the wheels 26. Thus, lateral movement of the handle 20 is accompanied by corresponding turning movement of the wheels 26.
Once the dolly has been driven beneath the helicopter, with the bracket 86 and 87 vertically aligned with the skid gear, the posts 68 and 69 are inserted into the brackets to support the helicopter. With the movement control handle in the closed or neutral position, a lever or handle (not shown) controlling the valve 12 is operated to actuate the cylinder 76. Thus, the platform 2 and the helicopter 85 are raised to the transport position (Pig. 6) in which the helicopter landing gear is clear of the ground. The above described procedure is repeated to move the dolly and helicopter to another destination.
The preferred embodiment of the invention was designed for an Aerospeciale-A-Star helicopter. This particular helicopter has a low skid gear, and accordingly the height of the dolly is less than 12" when the dolly is in the lower position. With minor design changes, it would be possible to adapt the structure to other helicopter.

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Claims (8)

1. A dolly for a helicopter or other load comprising skeletal frame means; front wheel means and rear wheel means supporting said frame means for movement along the ground; drive means on said frame means for driving said rear wheel means; skeletal platform means; arms means pivotally connecting said platform means to said frame means for movement between a lower, rest position on the frame means and an elevated, load supporting position; fluid actuated cylinder means on said frame means for moving said platform means relative to said frame means; post means for removable mounting on said platform means for supporting a load above the platform means; handle means for manually controlling movement of the dolly; and steering means connecting said handle means to said front wheel means for turning said front wheel means when the handle is turned.
2. A dolly according to claims 1, wherein said steering means includes first sprocket means connected to said handle means for rotation thereby; second sprocket means connected to said front wheel means for turning the latter;
and chain means extending between said first and second sprocket means, whereby turning of said handle means causes turning of said front wheel means.
3. A dolly according to claim 2, wherein said front wheel means includes crossbar means on said frame means;

clevis means on each end of said crossbar means pivotally connecting said front wheel means to the crossbar means;
linkage means connecting said clevis means at one end of said crossbar means to the clevis means at the other end of said crossbar means, and connecting both said clevis means to said second sprocket means for rotation thereby.
4. A dolly according to claim 1. wherein said drive means includes hydraulic motor means and transmission means for driving said rear wheel means.
5. A dolly according to claims 4 including shaft means rotatable on the rear end of said frame means carrying said rear wheel means, said shaft means extending through said transmission means.
6. A dolly according to claim 5, including hydraulic pump means on the front of said frame means for operating said hydraulic motor means; and engine means for operating said pump means.
7. A dolly according to claim 1, including socket means on said plat form means for removably receiving said post means, whereby the dolly can be inserted beneath a load before the post means are inserted into the bracket means.
8. A dolly according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, wherein said platform means contacts said frame means between said front and rear wheel means when in the lower rest position .
CA 2024911 1990-09-07 1990-09-07 Helicopter dolly Abandoned CA2024911A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2024911 CA2024911A1 (en) 1990-09-07 1990-09-07 Helicopter dolly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2024911 CA2024911A1 (en) 1990-09-07 1990-09-07 Helicopter dolly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2024911A1 true CA2024911A1 (en) 1992-03-08

Family

ID=4145925

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2024911 Abandoned CA2024911A1 (en) 1990-09-07 1990-09-07 Helicopter dolly

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2024911A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109625307A (en) * 2019-01-22 2019-04-16 芜湖中科飞机制造有限公司 A kind of undercarriage traction device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109625307A (en) * 2019-01-22 2019-04-16 芜湖中科飞机制造有限公司 A kind of undercarriage traction device

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