Strap Pack Support Tool for Helicopter Maintenance
US20260116579A1
Abstract
A strap pack tool is used to support a strap pack of a helicopter to allow easier, quicker and safer maintenance of rotor hub components. This is accomplished by a cylindrical hub extending upward from a main body of the strap pack tool for engaging the blade-root end of the strap pack. Side appendages connected to the main body are provided with arms having support platforms and respective hubs for engaging the disconnected ends of rotor dampers. An interior wall located within the main body forms a cavity for engaging a raised lip of a lower flange of a strap pack housing. The tool is made of thermoplastic material with the interior of the tool being of honeycomb construction with solid I-beams providing structural support to the arms.
Description (excerpt)
GOVERNMENT RIGHTS All rights in the Invention have been assigned to the U.S. Government. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The present invention pertains to maintenance tools for use on helicopters. In particular, the present invention pertains to a strap pack support tool that supports a helicopter strap pack to enable quick and safe maintenance of mechanical components associated with a helicopter rotor blade and main rotor head. 2. Discussion of the Background Performing maintenance on rotary aircraft can require partial disassembly of the components connecting to the main rotor head (MRH). The strap pack of a helicopter connects to and supports the load between the main rotor hub and the root of a rotor blade. Damper rods serve to reduce or dampen rotor blade vibrational effects. When the rotor blades are disconnected for maintenance operations, the strap pack and damper rods have a propensity to perilously dangle. Sudden movement or overextension of these heavy items can cause damage to other components and injury to repair technicians. Accordingly, the strap pack and damper rods need to be supported and contained while maintenance is performed. Traditionally, the method for such support has been to secure the strap pack and damper rods by employing a rag-tag assemblage of lumber, foam and rope. Such an approach is inefficient, inconsistent, and requires significant manual manipulation of heavy MRH components. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A strap pack tool for helicopter maintenance has a cylindrically shaped main body having a top circular platform from which a hub extends in an upward direction, with the hub being centered on a center axis. A first side appendage is connected to the main body and a first support arm extends from the side appendage. A first arm platform is located at an end of the first arm and connects to a first arm hub that extends in the upward direction. In like manner, a second side appendage is connected to an opposite side of the main body such that the second appendage section is oriented 180 degrees opposite to that of the first appendage section. A second arm platform is positioned at an end of said second support arm. The second arm platform connects to a second arm hub that extends in the upward direction. A first reinforcing wall connects the side of the main body to the first support arm and a second reinforcing wall connects the side of the main body to the second support arm. The first reinforcing wall connects to a first valley region having a top surface or shell which is parallel to the bottom of the first side appendage. The second reinforcing wall connects to a second valley region having a top surface or shell which is parallel to the bottom of the second side appendage. The top surface of the first valley region and the top surface of the second valley region lie in a first plane and the bottom of the first side appendage and the bottom of the second side appendage lie in a second plane. An interior main cylindrical wall forms a main cylindrical cavity within the main body of the strap pack tool. Within the main cylindrical cavity is a cylindrical sleeve. A gap is positioned radially outward from the cylindrical sleeve and radially inward from the main cylindrical wall. An inner cylindrical cavity is formed by the cylindrical sleeve, with the inner cylindrical cavity being located radially inward from the cylindrical sleeve and forming an opening at the bottom of the strap pack tool. The top of the cylindrical sleeve has a projection section that extends radially outward from and above the main cylindrical wall. The main cylindrical wall connects to a sloped wall (a circumferential sloped wall) that connects to a recessed wall (a circumferential recessed wall). The recessed wall is located radially outward from the main cylindrical wall and from a center axis, with the recessed wall being parallel to the center axis and the main cylindrical wall. An interior roof positioned below the top circular platform forms a conical cavity that lies above and connects to the main cylindrical cavity that is formed by the main cylindrical wall. The upward movement of the cylindrical sleeve is limited by the bottom edge of the roof that contacts the projection section of the cylindrical sleeve when the cylindrical sleeve is in a fully extended upward position such as when the support tool is resting on a flat surface. The downward movement of the cylindrical sleeve is limited by the projection section making contact with the sloped wall. The strap pack tool has a solid exterior shell, with the interior of the tool being honeycombed. For structural strength, the first and second arms have a
Filing details
- Inventors
- Joshua M. Williams
- Assignee
- United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
- Filed
- Oct 24, 2024
- Granted
- Application pending
Bibliographic data and excerpted text sourced from Google Patents (public record) as part of IP TechMatch's current-filings monitor. This filing is not part of the 2019 historical archive. For the authoritative full text, drawings, and legal status, see the source links above or consult USPTO records directly.