Granted Patent B2

US 12,503,229 · App. 17/184,270 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Inventors: Craig Cillessen (Dallas, TX); Marco Bayerlein (Munich, DE); Ansgar Hannes Baisch (Wain, DE); Ralf Kassner (Bielefeld, DE)

Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.

B64D9/00A62B1/06

Abstract

Claims (31)

1 . A fast-rope system for use with a rotary aircraft, the fast-rope system comprising:

a tubular housing attached to an interior portion of a cabin and adjacent to an upper portion of an exit door opening of the rotary aircraft; and

a fast-rope frame structure rotatably coupled to the tubular housing, the fast-rope frame structure comprising:

a cylindrical pipe contained partially within the tubular housing and operable to rotate within the tubular housing; and

a cantilever beam structure having a first end fixedly connected to the cylindrical pipe and a second end distal from the first end; and

a fast rope attached to an attachment point of the cantilever beam structure, the attachment point being closer to the second end than the first end; and

wherein the cantilever beam structure moves between a stowed position and an operation position in response to rotation of the cylindrical pipe within the tubular housing.

2 . The fast-rope system of claim 1 , wherein each of the stowed position and the operation position dependent on a rotational position of the cylindrical pipe.

3 . The fast-rope system of claim 2 , wherein, in the stowed position, a substantial portion of the cantilever beam structure is adjacent a ceiling of the cabin.

4 . The fast-rope system of claim 2 , wherein, in the operation position, an outermost portion of the cantilever beam structure is outboard of an outermost portion of the rotary aircraft beneath a rotor of the rotary aircraft.

5 . The fast-rope system of claim 1 , wherein the cantilever beam structure comprises an attachment loop for attachment of the fast rope thereto.

6 . The fast-rope system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular housing and the cylindrical pipe are coaxial.

7 . The fast-rope system of claim 1 , wherein the cantilever beam structure comprises:

a pair of beams interoperably coupled to the cylindrical pipe; and

a loop-attachment beam connected between the pair of beams.

8 . The fast-rope system of claim 7 , wherein the cantilever beam structure comprises a fast-rope attachment loop connected to the loop-attachment beam.

9 . A fast-rope system for use with a rotary aircraft, the fast-rope system comprising:

a tubular housing attached to an interior portion of a cabin of the rotary aircraft;

a fast-rope frame structure rotatably coupled to the tubular housing, the fast-rope frame structure comprising:

a pipe operable to rotate within the tubular housing; and

a rigid cantilever beam structure fixedly connected to the pipe; and

a fast rope attached to an attachment point of the rigid cantilever beam structure opposite a connection point of the rigid cantilever beam structure to the pipe;

wherein the cantilever beam structure rotates in response to rotation of the cylindrical pipe within the tubular housing.

10 . The fast-rope system of claim 9 , wherein the fast-rope frame structure is positionable in a stowed position and an operation position, each of the stowed position and the operation position dependent on a rotational position of the pipe.

11 . The fast-rope system of claim 10 , wherein, in the stowed position, a substantial portion of the cantilever beam structure is adjacent a ceiling of the cabin.

12 . The fast-rope system of claim 10 , wherein, in the operation position, an outermost portion of the cantilever frame structure is outboard of an outermost portion of the rotary aircraft beneath a rotor of the rotary aircraft.

13 . The fast-rope system of claim 9 , wherein the cantilever beam structure comprises an attachment loop for attachment of the fast rope thereto.

14 . The fast-rope system of claim 9 , wherein the housing and the pipe are coaxial.

15 . The fast-rope system of claim 9 , wherein the cantilever beam structure comprises:

a pair of beams interoperably coupled to the pipe; and

a loop-attachment beam connected between the pair of beams.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (75)