External cargo adapter for use with a rotorcraft
An external cargo adapter for use with a rotorcraft that comprises at least one carrier station, in particular at least one weapon station, comprising: at least one mounting lug for attachment to the at least one carrier station; at least one cargo carrying ring for connection to a connecting rope adapted for transport of an external cargo; and a connecting member that connects the at least one mounting lug with the at least one cargo carrying ring.
1 . An external cargo adapter for use with a rotorcraft having a wing arrangement with at least one left-hand side wing and one right-hand side wing, wherein the wing arrangement has at least one weapon station, the external cargo adapter comprising:
a pair of mounting lugs spaced apart and configured to be removably attachable to the at least one weapon station along an exterior of the rotorcraft;
a connecting rail extending between and connecting the pair of mounting lugs; and
at least one cargo ring configured to be connected to connected to a connecting rope for transport of an external cargo, wherein the at least one cargo ring is mounted to the connecting rail via a swivel.
2 . The external cargo adapter of claim 1 further comprising:
a connecting member that connects at least one of the pair of mounting lugs with the at least one cargo ring.
3 . The external cargo adapter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pair of mounting lugs comprises an associated lug opening configured for receiving a blocking hook or bar of the at least one weapon station.
4 . The external cargo adapter of claim 1 , wherein the pair of mounting lugs comprises a first mounting lug and a second mounting lug which are spaced apart from each other on the connecting rail.
5 . The external cargo adapter of claim 4 , wherein the first and second mounting lugs and the swivel are mounted to opposite sides of the connecting rail.
6 . A human external cargo transportation system, comprising:
a rotorcraft with at least one weapon station; and
a human external cargo transportation arrangement according to claim 1 .
7 . The human external cargo transportation system of claim 6 , wherein the rotorcraft comprises a wing arrangement with at least one left-hand side wing and one right-hand side wing; wherein the left-hand side wing comprises at least the first weapon station; and wherein the right-hand side wing comprises at least the second weapon station.
8 . The human external cargo transportation system of claim 7 , wherein the wing arrangement is a stub wing arrangement, and wherein the left-hand side wing and the right-hand side wing are stub wings.
9 . The human external cargo transportation system of claim 6 , wherein the rotorcraft is an attack helicopter.
10 . The external cargo adapter of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of mounting lugs comprises a lug opening configured for receiving a blocking hook or bar of the at least one weapon station.
11 . The external cargo adapter of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of mounting lugs and the at least one cargo ring are mounted to opposite sides of the connecting rail.
12 . A human external cargo transportation arrangement for use with a rotorcraft that comprises at least a first weapon station and a second weapon station, comprising:
a first external cargo adapter for attachment to the first weapon station;
a second external cargo adapter for attachment to the second weapon station;
the first and second external cargo adapters including the external cargo adapter of claim 1 ;
a first connecting rope for connection to the first external cargo adapter; and
a second connecting rope for connection to the second external cargo adapter;
wherein each one of the first and second connecting ropes is connected to at least one additional swivel for connection to at least one first human external cargo attachment rope and one second human external cargo attachment rope.
13 . The human external cargo transportation arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the first and second connecting ropes are connected to a single one of the at least one additional swivel that attaches the first connecting rope to the second connecting rope.
14 . The human external cargo transportation arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the at least one additional swivel comprises a first swivel and a second swivel, wherein the first connecting rope is connected to the first swivel for connection to the second human external cargo attachment rope; wherein the second connecting rope is connected to the second swivel for connection to the first human external cargo attachment rope.
15 . The human external cargo transportation arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the first swivel is further connected to a first redundant rope provided for connection to the second external cargo adapter; and wherein the second swivel is further connected to a second redundant rope provided for connection to the first external cargo adapter.
16 . The human external cargo transportation arrangement of claim 12 , further comprising a safety rope for connection of the first external cargo adapter with the second external cargo adapter.
17 . The human external cargo transportation arrangement of claim 12 , further comprising
a third external cargo adapter for attachment to a third weapon station of the rotorcraft; and
a fourth external cargo adapter for attachment to a fourth weapon station of the rotorcraft;
wherein the first connecting rope is a first Y-rope for connection to the first external cargo adapter and the third external cargo adapter; and wherein the second connecting rope is a second Y-rope for connection to the second external cargo adapter and the fourth external cargo adapter.