초록 ▼

A drip pan apparatus for a “M” model BLACK HAWK® helicopter and the like includes an expanded corner structure for accommodating an access port also positioned further outwardly in the corner than in prior drip pan apparatuses, facilitating filter viewing while retaining peripheral o-ring seal. An e

A drip pan apparatus for a “M” model BLACK HAWK® helicopter and the like includes an expanded corner structure for accommodating an access port also positioned further outwardly in the corner than in prior drip pan apparatuses, facilitating filter viewing while retaining peripheral o-ring seal. An expanded corner of the airframe skirt is accommodated by the expanded corresponding corner of a frame, which also defines a small radius internal curve. The removable pan has a small radius curve cooperating with the small radius curve of the frame and is sealed thereto by the peripheral o-ring seal sealing the entire pan to the frame. Physical access to the filter is enhanced.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A drip pan for cooperation with a frame secured to a depending skirt, which defines an access opening for access to a rotor transmission of a helicopter, an oil filter being attached to the rotor transmission, the frame having an inwardly-facing peripheral surface, said drip pan comprising: a sub

1. A drip pan for cooperation with a frame secured to a depending skirt, which defines an access opening for access to a rotor transmission of a helicopter, an oil filter being attached to the rotor transmission, the frame having an inwardly-facing peripheral surface, said drip pan comprising: a substantially planar member defining an access port and having an outwardly-facing peripheral surface, said access port for permitting access to the oil filter, andsaid outwardly-facing peripheral surface defining a first pan corner and a plurality of other corners, said outwardly-facing peripheral surface being adapted to cooperate with the inwardly-facing peripheral surface of the frame,wherein said first pan corner is asymmetric in curvature to said other corners such that said substantially planar member is adapted to be removably received within the frame in a single orientation. 2. The drip pan of claim 1 wherein said first pan corner is defined by a first pan corner radius and said other corners are each defined by a pan corner radius that is larger than said first pan corner radius. 3. The drip pan of claim 1 wherein the inwardly-facing peripheral surface of the frame includes a slot, said drip pan further including: at least one resilient member secured to said substantially planar member and adapted to releasably engage the slot. 4. The drip pan of claim 1 wherein said access port further includes an inwardly-facing groove and said removable port cover further includes a resilient member adapted to releasably engage said inwardly-facing groove of said access port. 5. The drip pan of claim 1 further including a means for attaching said removable port cover to said substantially planar member. 6. A drip pan apparatus for a helicopter having an access opening defined by a depending skirt having at least two straight sides connected by a corner, wherein the corner is defined by an inwardly oriented concave curve such that an extension of the concave curve intersects an extension of at least one straight side at an angle greater than zero degrees, said drip pan apparatus comprising: a frame configured to cooperate with the skirt, including the inwardly oriented concave curve, said frame comprising: an inwardly-facing first frame corner defined by a first frame corner radius, anda plurality of other inwardly-facing frame corners each defined by a frame corner radius that is greater than said first frame corner radius. 7. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising: a drip pan for sealing cooperation with said frame, said drip pan comprising: a first pan corner defined by a first pan corner radius; anda plurality of other corners each defined by a pan corner radius that is greater than said first pan corner radius. 8. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said first pan corner is sealingly engageable with said first frame corner. 9. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said drip pan apparatus is for covering an oil filter having a longitudinal axis; and wherein said drip pan defines an access port at said first pan corner, said access port orientated in a position to permit visual viewing of the oil filter through said port. 10. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said drip pan has an outwardly-facing peripheral groove extending around said drip pan, including around said first pan corner, and said drip pan apparatus further includes: an o-ring seal disposed in said outwardly-facing peripheral groove for sealingly engaging said frame. 11. A drip pan apparatus for covering and sealing a helicopter transmission access opening in a helicopter, the drip pan apparatus comprising: a frame adapted to mount to the helicopter transmission access opening, said frame having an inwardly-facing peripheral surface extending around said frame, said inwardly-facing peripheral surface having a first frame corner defined by a first frame corner radius and a plurality of other frame corners each defined by a frame corner radius that is greater than said first frame corner radius;a drip pan having an outwardly-facing peripheral surface extending around said drip pan, said outwardly-facing peripheral surface having a first pan corner defined by a first pan corner radius and a plurality of other drip pan corners each defined by a drip pan corner radius that is greater than said first pan corner radius, wherein said first pan corner cooperates with said first frame corner and said drip pan is configured to be selectively affixed to said frame; anda seal member disposed between said outwardly-facing peripheral surface and said inwardly-facing peripheral surface when said drip pan is affixed to said frame. 12. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said drip pan defines an access port and the drip pan apparatus further comprises: an access cover removably disposed within said access port. 13. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said access port is positioned in said drip pan to permit visual viewing of an oil filter through said access port. 14. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said access cover has a viewing window to permit visual inspection of an oil filter without removal of said access cover. 15. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said access port has a groove formed in a peripheral edge thereof and said access cover further includes a resilient member attached thereto to resiliently engage said groove and to detachably secure said access cover to the access opening. 16. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said drip pan includes a drain hole through which collected fluid may drain therethrough. 17. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 16 further comprising a drain tube attached to said drain hole. 18. The drip pan apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the drip pan further includes: a peripheral groove in said outwardly-facing peripheral surface, including around said first pan corner, and said o-ring seal is disposed within said peripheral groove. 19. A drip pan apparatus for covering and sealing an asymmetrical helicopter transmission access opening defined by a depending skirt, the drip pan apparatus comprising: a frame adapted to mount to the asymmetrical helicopter transmission access opening, said frame comprising a first straight side, a second straight side, and a corner structure connecting said first straight side and said second straight side,said first straight side, said second straight side, and said corner structure collectively defining an inwardly-facing peripheral surface,said inwardly-facing peripheral surface having a first frame corner in said corner structure and a plurality of other frame corners,said corner structure having at least one width that is greater than the width of said first straight side,said first frame corner defined by a first frame corner shape,said other frame corners are each defined by a frame corner shape that is different than said first frame corner shape;a drip pan having an outwardly-facing peripheral surface extending around said drip pan, said outwardly-facing peripheral surface having a first pan corner defined by a first pan corner shape and a plurality of other drip pan corners each defined by a drip pan corner shape that is different than said first pan corner shape,wherein said first pan corner cooperates with said first frame corner and said drip pan is configured to be removably secured to said frame; anda seal member disposed between said inwardly-facing peripheral surface and said outwardly-facing peripheral surface. 20. The drip pan apparatus of claim 19 wherein said corner structure has at least one width that is greater than the width of said second straight side. 21. The drip pan apparatus of claim 19 wherein said first frame corner is defined by a first frame corner radius and said other frame corners are each defined by a frame corner radius that is greater than said first frame corner radius; and said first pan corner is defined by a first pan corner radius and said other pan corners are each defined by a pan corner radius that is greater than said first pan corner radius. 22. In combination: a multipassenger helicopter comprising: a flight deck;a cabin section rearwardly of said flight deck;a rotor transmission oriented at least in part above said cabin section; anda transmission access opening within said cabin section for providing access to said rotor transmission; anda drip pan apparatus for covering said transmission access opening, said drip pan apparatus comprising: a frame adapted to mount to said transmission access opening, said frame having an inwardly-facing peripheral surface extending around said frame,said inwardly-facing peripheral surface having a first frame corner defined by a first frame corner shape and a plurality of other frame corners each defined by a frame corner shape that is different than said first frame corner shape;a drip pan having an outwardly-facing peripheral surface extending around said drip pan, said outwardly-facing peripheral surface having a first pan corner defined by a first pan corner shape and a plurality of other drip pan corners each defined by a drip pan corner shape that is different than said first pan corner shape,wherein said first pan corner cooperates with said first frame corner and said drip pan is configured to be selective affixed to said frame; andan o-ring seal disposed between said inwardly-facing peripheral surface and said outwardly-facing peripheral surface. 23. The drip pan apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first frame corner is defined by a first frame corner radius and said other frame corners are each defined by a frame corner radius that is greater than said first frame corner radius, and said first pan corner is defined by a first pan corner radius and said other pan corners are each defined by a pan corner radius that is greater than said first pan corner radius.