Helicopter tail rotor lifting and dismounting platform

Abstract

A helicopter tail rotor lifting dismounting work platform relates to the technical field of aviation maintenance support equipment, and comprises a walking chassis, universal wheels with brakes are respectively arranged at the bottom of the walking chassis; a vertical lifting assembly is fixedly arranged at the middle of the upper end surface of the walking chassis, and a rotating support seat is rotatably connected to the top output end of the vertical lifting assembly; a clamp base is arranged on the upper end of the rotating support seat; at least two symmetrically arranged blade clamping units are fixedly arranged on the clamp base. The whole platform is compact in structure and simple in operation, personnel climbing high places is not needed, labor intensity and safety risks are significantly reduced, and the angle of the tail rotor can be adjusted on the ground, so that subsequent detection, fault elimination or replacement operation is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of aviation maintenance and support equipment technology, specifically a helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly work platform. Background Technology

[0002] In helicopter maintenance, tail rotor assembly and disassembly is a routine but challenging operation. Currently, this task is primarily performed manually, with operators typically needing to use a ladder to access the tail rotor. Due to the compact structure and limited space in the helicopter tail rotor area, the operator's working space is quite limited during the operation. Furthermore, when performing assembly and disassembly operations on the ladder, the operator's standing position and posture limit the force applied, potentially affecting work efficiency and accuracy.

[0003] Furthermore, in such high-altitude working environments, the lack of effective auxiliary support and positioning devices poses certain safety risks, potentially adversely affecting personnel safety and tail rotor components. Existing operating methods have limitations in improving operational convenience, ensuring operational safety, and supporting subsequent ground inspection or troubleshooting. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to solve the problems mentioned in the background art, and then to propose a helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly work platform.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is: A helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly work platform includes a traveling chassis with universal wheels equipped with brakes installed at the four corners of the bottom of the traveling chassis; a vertical lifting assembly is fixedly installed in the middle of the upper surface of the traveling chassis, and a rotating support is rotatably connected to the top output end of the vertical lifting assembly; a clamp base is installed on the upper end of the rotating support base; and at least two symmetrically arranged blade clamping units are fixedly installed on the clamp base.

[0006] Furthermore, the blade clamping unit includes a pair of hinged clamping arms, a connecting shaft, a locking screw, and an arc-shaped rubber pad. One clamping arm is fixed to the clamp base. One end of the two clamping arms is hinged together by the connecting shaft, and the other end forms an opening structure for accommodating the root of the tail rotor blade. Aligned through holes are respectively opened at the ends of the two clamping arms away from the hinge point. The locking screw passes through the two through holes in sequence and is screwed with wing nuts at both ends to close the two clamping arms and clamp the tail rotor. An arc-shaped rubber pad is fixedly bonded to the inner side of the two clamping arms corresponding to the tail rotor contact area.

[0007] Furthermore, the vertical lifting assembly includes a base plate and a hydraulic cylinder. The base plate is welded and fixed to the upper end face of the walking chassis. The bottom of the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder is hinged to the center position of the base plate by a pin, and a rotating support seat is fixedly connected to the top of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0008] Furthermore, the vertical lifting assembly also includes guide columns and lifting sleeves. Four guide columns are vertically welded at the four corners of the base plate. The lifting sleeve has a rectangular frame structure, and linear bearings with sliding fits at its four corners are provided. The top of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to the center of the lower end face of the lifting sleeve through a flange. The rotating support is fixed to the upper end face of the lifting sleeve by bolts.

[0009] Furthermore, the walking chassis is constructed by welding rectangular steel pipes, with push handle crossbars welded to both sides of its front end, and handrail tubes connecting the push handle crossbars; a toolbox mounting bracket is welded to the upper surface of the rear end of the walking chassis.

[0010] Furthermore, an angle locking mechanism is provided on the rear end face of the rotating support. The angle locking mechanism includes an arc-shaped angle plate and multiple positioning holes on the arc-shaped angle plate. The arc-shaped angle plate is welded to the rotating support and rotates synchronously with the rotating support. The piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is provided with a threaded hole, and a bolt is threaded into the threaded hole. The bolt can be inserted into the positioning hole to restrict the rotating support from rotating around the upper end of the piston rod.

[0011] Furthermore, six positioning holes are evenly distributed on the arc-shaped angle plate.

[0012] Furthermore, the clamping arm has an L-shaped structure, with a hinged ear plate at the short end and a groove on the inner side of the long side. A rubber pad is embedded in the groove and fixed by a countersunk screw.

[0013] Furthermore, wheel cover brackets are welded above the swivel wheels at the four corners of the chassis, and dustproof mudguards are installed on the wheel cover brackets.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this utility model are as follows: This utility model enables flexible equipment movement through a mobile chassis; it precisely adjusts the clamp height through a vertical lifting assembly to adapt to the tail rotor installation positions of different helicopter models; it achieves multi-position positioning through a rotating support base and an angle locking mechanism; and it reliably clamps the tail rotor blade root through a manually locked blade clamping unit, preventing slippage or damage during disassembly and assembly. The entire platform has a compact structure, is easy to operate, and eliminates the need for personnel to climb to heights, significantly reducing labor intensity and safety risks. Furthermore, the tail rotor angle can be adjusted from the ground, facilitating subsequent inspection, troubleshooting, or replacement operations. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model; In the diagram: 1: Walking chassis, 11: Push handle crossbar, 12: Tool box mounting bracket, 2: Universal wheel with brake, 3: Vertical lifting assembly, 4: Rotary support base, 41: Arc angle plate, 42: Positioning hole, 5: Fixture base, 6: Paddle clamping unit, 61: Clamping arm, 62: Connecting shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0017] A helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly work platform includes a traveling chassis 1, with universal wheels 2 equipped with brakes installed at the four corners of the bottom of the traveling chassis; a vertical lifting assembly 3 is fixedly installed in the middle of the upper surface of the traveling chassis, and a rotating support 4 is rotatably connected to the top output end of the vertical lifting assembly; a clamp base 5 is installed on the upper end of the rotating support; and at least two symmetrically arranged blade clamping units 6 are fixedly installed on the clamp base.

[0018] In at least one embodiment, the blade clamping unit includes a pair of hinged clamping arms 61, a connecting shaft 62, a locking screw, and an arc-shaped rubber pad. One clamping arm is fixed to the clamp base. One end of the two clamping arms is hinged together by the connecting shaft, and the other end forms an opening structure for accommodating the root of the tail rotor blade. Aligned through holes are respectively opened at the ends of the two clamping arms away from the hinge point. The locking screw passes through the two through holes in sequence and is screwed with wing nuts at both ends to close the two clamping arms and clamp the tail rotor. An arc-shaped rubber pad is fixedly bonded to the inner side of the two clamping arms corresponding to the tail rotor contact area.

[0019] In at least one embodiment, the vertical lifting assembly includes a base plate and a hydraulic cylinder. The base plate is welded and fixed to the upper end face of the walking chassis. The bottom of the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder is hinged to the center position of the base plate by a pin, and a rotating support seat is fixedly connected to the top of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0020] Furthermore, the vertical lifting assembly also includes guide columns and lifting sleeves. Four guide columns are vertically welded at the four corners of the base plate. The lifting sleeve has a rectangular frame structure, and linear bearings with sliding fits at its four corners are provided. The top of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to the center of the lower end face of the lifting sleeve through a flange. The rotating support is fixed to the upper end face of the lifting sleeve by bolts.

[0021] Furthermore, the chassis is constructed by welding rectangular steel pipes, with push handle crossbars 11 welded to both sides of its front end, and handrail tubes connecting the push handle crossbars; a toolbox mounting bracket 12 is welded to the upper surface of the rear end of the chassis for placing auxiliary tools such as wrenches and torque wrenches.

[0022] Furthermore, an angle locking mechanism is provided on the rear end face of the rotating support base to fix the fixture after it has been rotated to the desired position; the angle locking mechanism includes an arc-shaped angle plate 41 and a plurality of positioning holes 42 provided on the arc-shaped angle plate; the arc-shaped angle plate is welded to the rotating support base and rotates synchronously with the rotating support base; the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is provided with a threaded hole, and a bolt is threaded into the threaded hole, which can be inserted into the positioning hole to restrict the rotating support base from rotating around the upper end of the piston rod.

[0023] Six positioning holes are evenly distributed on the arc-shaped angle plate, and bolts can be inserted into any of the positioning holes to achieve six-position angle positioning.

[0024] Furthermore, the clamping arm has an L-shaped structure with a hinged ear plate at the short end and a groove on the inner side of the long side. A rubber pad is embedded in the groove and fixed by a countersunk screw. The locking screw uses an M20×1.5 fine thread and has hexagonal heads machined at both ends for easy manual tightening.

[0025] Furthermore, wheel cover brackets are welded above the four swivel wheels at the corners of the chassis, and dust and mudguards are installed on the wheel cover brackets to prevent ground debris or oil from splashing into the wheel hubs; each swivel wheel is equipped with a foot-operated mechanical locking device, which forms a rigid fixation between the wheel and the ground when stepped on.

[0026] In actual use, first push the platform under the helicopter tail rotor, step on the foot-operated mechanical locking device of the four universal wheels to rigidly fix the walking chassis 1 to the ground; then operate the hydraulic system to control the extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder, driving the lifting sleeve to rise along the guide column until the height of the blade clamping unit 5 is aligned with the installation position of the tail rotor root; manually rotate the arc angle plate and lock the angle with bolts; then place the tail rotor root into the opening structure formed by the two clamping arms, manually tighten the wing nuts at both ends of the locking screw to close the two clamping arms and clamp the tail rotor with rubber gaskets; at this time, the tail rotor is firmly clamped in the blade clamping unit, and subsequent disassembly or installation operations can be carried out; after the operation is completed, start the hydraulic cylinder to lower the lifting sleeve, loosen the wing nuts in the opposite direction, open the clamping arms, and let the tail rotor detach from the helicopter tail rotor hub, completing the entire disassembly and assembly process.

[0027] In the overall structure, the traveling chassis serves as the foundation for the aircraft's movement and load-bearing capacity, the vertical lifting assembly provides vertical position adjustment capability, the clamping base serves as the mounting carrier for the clamping structure, the blade clamping unit directly contacts the tail rotor and completes the clamping action, and the angle locking mechanism provides mechanical positioning constraints after rotation into position. The various components form a stable and reliable mechanical connection system through welding, bolting, hinges, sliding fits, and gear meshing, collectively constituting a mobile, lifting, rotating, and clamping integrated tail rotor assembly and disassembly platform. The dimensions, materials, connection methods, and assembly sequence of all components are determined according to mechanical design specifications to ensure that they can withstand the tail rotor's own weight and operational loads during actual operation, meeting the safety and reliability requirements of aviation maintenance operations.

[0028] To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and implement this utility model, the following supplements the specific implementation principle of this utility model in conjunction with a specific application scenario.

[0029] At the site of a routine tail rotor replacement operation for a certain type of medium-sized transport helicopter, maintenance personnel need to safely remove the disassembled tail rotor assembly from the tail rotor hub and transport it to the ground inspection station. Because the tail rotor of this aircraft is installed approximately 2.8 meters above the ground, and the space under the tail boom is narrow, traditional manual operation requires two maintenance workers to work together on a double-layered ladder, which presents problems such as instability, obstructed vision, and difficulty in applying force. After applying the helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly work platform described in this utility model, its operation process is as follows: First, the operator pushes the walking chassis 1 along the hangar floor to directly under the helicopter's tail boom. The direction of travel is controlled by the handrail tube and push bar, so that the clamp base 4 is roughly aligned with the tail rotor axis. Then, the operator steps on the foot-operated mechanical locking device of the four casters to create a rigid constraint between the wheels and the concrete ground, preventing the platform from shifting during subsequent lifting or clamping. At this time, the torque wrench and special socket pre-installed on the toolbox mounting rack can be used at any time, improving the continuity of operation.

[0030] Next, the external hydraulic power unit is activated, hydraulic oil enters the hydraulic cylinder, the piston rod extends, and pushes the lifting sleeve to rise synchronously along the four guide columns. Because the linear bearings embedded in the four corners of the lifting sleeve form a precision sliding pair with the guide columns, the lifting process is smooth and without swaying. When the center height of the opening of the blade clamping unit 5 is close to the mounting flange at the root of the tail rotor blade, the arc-shaped angle plate is manually rotated, and the angle is locked with bolts. Then, the root of the tail rotor blade is inserted into the opening structure formed by the two clamping arms, so that the cylindrical section of the blade root completely falls into the envelope formed by the arc-shaped rubber pad. Inside the space; manually tighten the wing nuts at both ends of the locking screw. Because the locking screw uses M20×1.5 fine thread, the thread helix angle is small and the self-locking performance is good, so a large axial clamping force can be generated under a small tightening torque; the two L-shaped clamping arms rotate inward synchronously around the connecting shaft, and the rubber pads are evenly attached to the surface of the tail rotor blade root, which not only provides sufficient friction to prevent slippage, but also avoids direct metal contact that could damage the paint or composite material surface; at this time, the tail rotor is stably suspended in the blade clamping unit 5, and maintenance personnel can safely remove the tail rotor hub connecting bolts without having to climb to a height.

[0031] After disassembly is completed, the hydraulic cylinder is retracted, and the lifting slide sleeve drives the entire upper structure to descend smoothly until the tail rotor is completely separated from the helicopter tail boom area; the platform can continue to support the tail rotor to perform angle flipping on the ground or transfer it to the testing platform.

[0032] All content not described in detail in the specification belongs to the prior art known to those skilled in the art, and the model parameters of each hydraulic component, motor and sensor are not specifically limited. Conventional industrial standard parts can be used. The control logic and circuit connection not mentioned in this technical solution are not shown in the figure because they belong to the prior art, and will not be described here.

Claims

1. A helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly platform, characterized in that, The system includes a chassis with four casters equipped with brakes installed at the four corners of the chassis bottom; a vertical lifting assembly is fixedly installed in the middle of the upper surface of the chassis, and a rotating support is rotatably connected to the top output end of the vertical lifting assembly; a clamp base is installed on the upper end of the rotating support; and at least two symmetrically arranged blade clamping units are fixedly installed on the clamp base.

2. The helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blade clamping unit includes a pair of hinged clamping arms, a connecting shaft, a locking screw, and an arc-shaped rubber pad. One clamping arm is fixed to the clamp base. One end of the two clamping arms is hinged together by the connecting shaft, and the other end forms an opening structure for accommodating the root of the tail rotor blade. Aligned through holes are opened at the ends of the two clamping arms away from the hinge point. The locking screw passes through the two through holes in sequence and is screwed with wing nuts at both ends to close the two clamping arms and clamp the tail rotor. An arc-shaped rubber pad is fixedly bonded to the inner side of the two clamping arms corresponding to the tail rotor contact area.

3. The helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vertical lifting assembly includes a base plate and a hydraulic cylinder. The base plate is welded and fixed to the upper end face of the walking chassis. The bottom of the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder is hinged to the center position of the base plate by a pin, and a rotating support seat is fixedly connected to the top of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder.

4. The helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly platform according to claim 3, characterized in that, The vertical lifting assembly also includes guide columns and lifting sleeves. Four guide columns are vertically welded at the four corners of the base plate. The lifting sleeve has a rectangular frame structure, and linear bearings that slide with the guide columns are provided at its four corners. The top of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to the center of the lower end face of the lifting sleeve through a flange. The rotating support is fixed to the upper end face of the lifting sleeve by bolts.

5. The helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The chassis is constructed from welded rectangular steel pipes, with push handles welded to both sides of its front end, and handrails connected between the push handles; a toolbox mounting bracket is welded to the upper surface of the rear end of the chassis.

6. The helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly platform according to claim 4, characterized in that, An angle locking mechanism is provided on the rear end face of the rotating support. The angle locking mechanism includes an arc-shaped angle plate and multiple positioning holes on the arc-shaped angle plate. The arc-shaped angle plate is welded to the rotating support and rotates synchronously with the rotating support. The piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is provided with a threaded hole, and a bolt is threaded into the threaded hole. The bolt can be inserted into the positioning hole to restrict the rotating support from rotating around the upper end of the piston rod.

7. The helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly platform according to claim 6, characterized in that, Six positioning holes are evenly distributed on the arc-shaped angle plate.

8. The helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly platform according to claim 2, characterized in that, The clamping arm has an L-shaped structure, with a hinged ear plate at the short end and a groove on the inner side of the long side. A rubber pad is embedded in the groove and fixed by a countersunk screw.

9. The helicopter tail rotor lifting and disassembly platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, Wheel cover brackets are welded above the swivel wheels at the four corners of the chassis, and dustproof mudguards are installed on the wheel cover brackets.

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