US 12,351,311 B2
Aircraft capable of hovering and method for transporting a load suspended from such aircraft
Filippo Franchi, Samarate (IT); Fabio Iasi, Samarate (IT); and Daniele Robustelli, Samarate (IT)
Assigned to LEONARDO S.P.A., Rome (IT)
Appl. No. 17/927,194
Filed by LEONARDO S.P.A., Rome (IT)
PCT Filed May 26, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/054602
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 22, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/240405, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20176645 (EP), filed on May 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0211882 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. B64D 1/22 (2006.01); B64C 27/04 (2006.01); B66D 1/54 (2006.01); F16F 3/087 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 1/22 (2013.01) [B64C 27/04 (2013.01); B66D 1/54 (2013.01); F16F 3/0876 (2013.01); F16F 2230/0023 (2013.01); F16F 2232/08 (2013.01); F16F 2236/06 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage; and
a support element adapted to support a load, made of elastically deformable material and constrained to said fuselage;
said support element being movable in at least one operating position in which it is arranged at least partially outside said fuselage and supports said load;
said aircraft further comprising a sock surrounding said support element, when said support element is arranged, in use, in said operating position;
said sock being configured to contain an elastic return of said support element, in case said support element arranged, in use, in at least one said operating position is sheared off;
characterized in that it comprises:
a winch operatively connected to said support element;
a box for housing said winch;
said winch being operable to move said support element between:
said at least one operating position, in which said support element extends outside said box and supports said load; and
a storage position, in which said support element is located inside said box;
said sock comprising at least:
a first ring fixed to said box;
a second ring fixed to one end of said support element arranged on a side of said load; and
at least a first flexible element interposed between said first and second rings, and having a first length when said support element is in said at least one operating position and a second length lower than said first length, when said support element is in the storage position.