초록 ▼

An improved rappelling system for raising or lowering a person or an object to or from a stationary or moving elevated point includes at least one cable for supporting a person or an object, a motor attached to the elevated point and coupled to the cable so that the motor propels the cable up or dow

An improved rappelling system for raising or lowering a person or an object to or from a stationary or moving elevated point includes at least one cable for supporting a person or an object, a motor attached to the elevated point and coupled to the cable so that the motor propels the cable up or down and thereby raises or lower the person or object, respectively, a controller/processor for controlling the motion of the motor and at least one sensor attached to the elevated point and coupled to the controller/processor. The sensor measures the distance of the elevated point from a target area located at a lower point than the elevated point and continuously sends a feedback signal to the controller/processor. The feedback signal is used to calculate and adjust in real-time motor control parameters that determine speed and landing location of the person or object relative to the target area. The system also includes a display attached to the elevated point and displaying the measured distance and the motor control parameters in real-time.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An improved rappelling system for raising or lowering a person or an object to or from a moving helicopter comprising: a single cable for supporting a person or an object, wherein said cable comprises a detector attached to its lower end;a motor attached to said helicopter and coupled to said cab

1. An improved rappelling system for raising or lowering a person or an object to or from a moving helicopter comprising: a single cable for supporting a person or an object, wherein said cable comprises a detector attached to its lower end;a motor attached to said helicopter and coupled to said cable so that said motor propels said cable up or down and thereby raises or lower said person or object, respectively;a controller for controlling the motion of said motor;at least three sensors attached to three different locations of the helicopter, respectively, and being coupled to said controller, wherein said three sensors measure the distances of said three different location of the helicopter—from three different locations in a target area located at a lower point than said helicopter and continuously send feedback signals to said controller and wherein said feedback signals comprise said measured distances and are used to generate a three-dimensional view of the target area and to calculate and adjust in real-time motor control parameters that determine speed and landing location of said person or object relative to said target area; anda display coupled to said controller for displaying said measured distances, said three-dimensional view of the target area and said calculated motor control parameters in real-time. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said cable comprises a foot stirrup and wherein said foot stirrup is controlled by a self adjusting mechanism that grasps a person's foot upon applying pressure and releases the person's foot upon removing the applied pressure. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said cable further comprises a hand loop and first and second handles located about five feet above said foot stirrup. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said cable comprises heat resistant fibers and wherein said heat resistant fibers comprise Kevlar™ material, metal, composites, nano-materials, phase change material or bullet proof materials. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said cable comprises a structure allowing cable motion only on an X-Y plane defined by a longitudinal cable axis and a horizontal target axis and preventing motion on the corresponding X-Z and Y-Z planes that are perpendicular to the X-Y plane. 6. The system of claim 1 where said detector further provides light. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said cable is delivered under an angle from said helicopter. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensors further measure wind, temperature, humidity, precipitation, or visability. 9. The system of claim 1 wherein said motor slows down as the person or object approaches the target area and comes to a complete stop about two feet from the desired landing location within the target area. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein said display is attached at the top of an exit opening of the helicopter. 11. The system of claim 1 further comprising remote activation means for said motor. 12. The system of claim 1 further comprising an alarm indicating a system malfunction. 13. An improved rappelling system for raising or lowering a person or an object to or from a stationary or moving elevated point comprising: at least one cable for supporting a person or an object;a motor attached to said elevated point and coupled to said cable so that said motor propels said cable up or down and thereby raises or lower said person or object, respectively;a controller for controlling the motion of said motor;at least one sensor attached to said elevated point and coupled to said controller, wherein said sensor measures the distance of said elevated point from a target area located at a lower point than said elevated point and continuously sends a feedback signal to said controller and wherein said feedback signal comprises said measured distance and is used to calculate and adjust in real-time motor control parameters that determine speed and landing location of said person or object relative to said target area;a display attached to said elevated point and coupled to said controller for displaying said measured distance and calculated motor control parameters in real-time; andwherein said target area comprises a water surface of a water body and wherein said sensor further measures the distance of said elevated point to said water surface and the depth of the water body. 14. An improved rappelling method for raising or lowering a person or an object to or from a stationary or moving elevated point comprising: supporting a person or an object upon at least one cable;attaching a motor to said elevated point and coupling it to said cable so that said motor propels said cable up or down and thereby raises or lowers said person or object, respectively;controlling the motion of said motor with a controller;attaching at least one sensor to said elevated point and coupling it to said controller;measuring the distance of said elevated point from a target area located at a lower point than said elevated point with said sensor, wherein said target area comprises a water surface of a water body and wherein said method further comprises measuring the distance of said elevated point to said water surface and the depth of the water body with said sensor;sending a feedback signal from said sensor to said controller, said feedback signal comprising said measured distance and using said feedback signal to calculate and adjust in real-time motor control parameters that determine speed, and landing location of said person or object relative to said target area;attaching a display to said elevated point and coupling it to said controller; anddisplaying said measured distance and said calculate motor control parameters in real-time in said display. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said cable comprises a foot stirrup and wherein said foot stirrup is controlled by a self adjusting mechanism that grasps a person's foot upon applying pressure and releases the person's foot upon removing the applied pressure. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said cable further comprises a hand loop and first and second handles located about five feet above said foot stirrup. 17. The method of claim 14 wherein said cable comprises heat resistant fibers and wherein said heat resistant fibers comprise Kevlar™ material, metal, composites, nano-materials, phase change materials or bullet proof materials. 18. The method of claim 14 wherein said cable comprises a structure allowing cable motion only on an X-Y plane defined by a longitudinal cable axis and a horizontal target axis and preventing motion on the corresponding X-Z and Y-Z planes that are perpendicular to the X-Y plane. 19. The method of claim 14 wherein said sensor further measures wind, temperature, humidity, precipitation, or visibility. 20. The method of claim 14 further comprising slowing down said motor as the person or object approaches the target area and bringing it to a complete stop about two feet from the desired landing location within the target area. 21. The method of claim 14 wherein said elevated point comprises a moving aircraft and wherein said display is attached at the top of an exit opening of the aircraft. 22. The method of claim 14 further comprising activating said motor remotely. 23. An improved rappelling method for raising or lowering a person or an object to or from a helicopter comprising: supporting a person or an object upon a single cable;attaching a motor to said helicopter and coupling it to said cable so that said motor propels said cable up or down and thereby raises or lowers said person or object, respectively;controlling the motion of said motor with a controller;attaching at least three sensors to three different locations of the helicopter, respectively, and coupling them to said controller;measuring the distances of the three different locations of the helicopter from three different locations in a target area located at a lower point than said helicopter with said sensors;sending feedback signals from said sensors to said controller, said feedback signals comprising said measured distances and using said feedback signals to generate a three-dimensional view of the target area and to calculate and adjust in real-time motor control parameters that determine speed, and landing location of said person or object relative to said target area;attaching a display to said helicopter and coupling it to said controller; anddisplaying said measured distances, said three-dimensional view of the target area and said calculated motor control parameters in real-time in said display.