Propeller Safety Guides

Summary:
Brightly colored guides extend out of a helicopter (or airplane) at landing. They are placed one foot from blades. Guides are parallel to the blades, stable and porous (designed not to affect airflow). A loud and visible alarm is activated at contact.

Full Description:
Unlike propeller painting schemes, due to the lack of movement, the guides have the potential of being more visible and warn the potential victim before they reach the blade both visually and physically (by actually running into the guide).

Unlike the currently used barrier systems the guides are automatic and cover a greater range (getting closer to the actual blade).

Training is helpful but human error still occurs. Guides help with those momentary lack of attention that is predictably going to occur.

Problem this idea/invention addresses:
The propeller or rotor is difficult to see when in operation, and the nonprofessional public is often not aware of its danger. Even personnel familiar with the danger of a turning propeller or rotor are likely to forget it.

CAMI (civil aerospace medical Institute) reported that 104 propeller/rotor blade accidents occurred from 1980 and 1989. Nearly half of the accidents were fatal. A similar study of U.S. Army accident records found the 24 rotor-blade-strike injures, half of which involve tail-rotor blades occurred from 1972 through 1991. Eleven of the injuries resulted in fatalities.

Accidents have declines through safety efforts such as propeller paint schemes to increase the conspicuity of the blades, physical barriers such as rope stanchions from the aircraft to the terminal doors and other safety barriers to restrict access by unauthorized persons. Also increased visibility of warning signs and improved safety training of personnel.

Accidents have declines through various safety efforts. Still more can be done

Asking price: [CONTACT SELLER]
Available for consultation? Yes

Invention #11964
Date posted: 2014-06-04


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