Airship handling devices and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Airship handling devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An airship handling device in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, for example, can include a first support member mountable to a ground vehicle. The device can also include a second support member operably coupled to the first support member and configured to rotatably move relative to the first support member about a support member axis. The second support member is out of contact with the ground vehicle. The device can further include a line attachment portion carried by the second support member and positioned to releasably couple a flexible handling line from an airship to the second support member. The handling line is not coupled to a winch.

1 . An airship handling device, comprising:
 a first support member mountable to a ground vehicle;   a second support member operably coupled to the first support member and configured to rotatably move relative to the first support member about a support member axis, wherein the second support member is out of contact with the ground vehicle; and   a line attachment portion carried by the second support member and positioned to releasably couple a flexible handling line from an airship to the second support member, wherein the handling line is not coupled to a winch.   
   
   
       2 . The airship handling device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first support member has a generally curved shape with a first end mountable to a front portion of the ground vehicle, and a second end spaced apart from the first end and approximately over a center of gravity of the ground vehicle;   the second support member includes a first end rotatably mounted to the second end of the first support member, and a second end spaced apart from the first end and having a lower elevation relative to the ground vehicle than the first end, and wherein the second support member has a generally curved shape corresponding, at least in part, to the curved shape of the first support member; and   the line attachment portion is proximate to the second end of the second support member.   
   
   
       3 . The airship handling device of  claim 2  wherein the first end of the first support member is the only portion of the airship handling device in contact with the ground vehicle. 
   
   
       4 . The airship handling device of  claim 1  wherein the second support member is configured to freely rotate through 360 degrees about the support member axis to self-align the second support member with the airship when the flexible handling line is releasably coupled to the second support member. 
   
   
       5 . The airship handling device of  claim 1  wherein the line attachment portion comprises a shackle positioned to releasably engage the flexible handling line. 
   
   
       6 . The airship handling device of  claim 1  wherein the line attachment portion comprises:
 a base portion fixedly attached to a distal portion of the second support member;   an arm portion pivotably coupled to the base portion; and   a first line guide device and a second line guide device carried by the arm portion, wherein the first and second line guide devices are positioned to contact the flexible handling line, and wherein the second line guide device is movable relative to the first line guide device between (a) a first position adjacent to the first line guide device, and (b) a second position spaced apart from the first line guide device,   wherein in the first position, the first and second line guide devices are spaced apart by a distance less than a diameter of the flexible handling line, and   wherein in the second position, the first and second line guide devices are spaced apart by a distance greater than a diameter of the flexible handling line.   
   
   
       7 . The airship handling device of  claim 6  wherein:
 the arm portion comprises a slot;   the first line guide device is fixedly attached proximate to an end of the arm portion; and   the second line guide device is at least partially received within the slot and movable relative to the slot between the first and second positions.   
   
   
       8 . The airship handling device of  claim 6  wherein the arm portion is pivotably movable relative to the base portion between a stowed position and an operating position in which the first and second line guide devices are positioned to contact the flexible handling line. 
   
   
       9 . The airship handling device of  claim 6 , further comprising a handle assembly operably coupled to the arm portion and positioned to (a) releasably lock and unlock the arm portion in place relative to the base portion, and (b) move the second line guide device relative to the first line guide device. 
   
   
       10 . The airship handling device of  claim 6  wherein the first line guide device comprises a first hitch ball and the second line guide device comprises a second hitch ball. 
   
   
       11 . The airship handling device of  claim 1 , further comprising the ground vehicle. 
   
   
       12 . The airship handling device of  claim 11  wherein the ground vehicle comprises a compact track or skid steer vehicle. 
   
   
       13 . An airborne vehicle ground handling system, comprising:
 a ground vehicle; and   an airship handling system carried by the ground vehicle, the airship handling system including—
 a support boom mounted to the ground vehicle; 
 a pivot boom operably coupled to the support boom and configured to freely rotate relative to the ground vehicle about a boom axis; and 
 a line attachment portion attached to the pivot boom at an elevation below an engagement point of the support boom and pivot boom, wherein the line attachment portion is positioned to releasably couple a handling line from a blimp to the pivot boom for ground handling operations. 
   
   
   
       14 . The ground handling system of  claim 13  wherein the handling line is not coupled to a winch. 
   
   
       15 . The ground handling system of  claim 13  wherein the ground vehicle includes a compact loader having a bucket, and wherein a proximal end of the support boom is fixedly attached to the bucket, and a distal end of the support boom is over a cab portion of the compact loader, and wherein the distal end of the support boom is out of contact with the compact loader. 
   
   
       16 . The ground handling system of  claim 15 , further comprising a boom rotation assembly operably coupled to the distal end of the support boom, and wherein a proximal end of the pivot boom is operably coupled to the boom rotation assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The ground handling system of  claim 13 , further comprising a brake operably coupled to the pivot boom and positioned to lock the pivot boom at a desired position when the handling line is not attached to the pivot boom. 
   
   
       18 . The ground handling system of  claim 13  wherein the line attachment portion is approximately aligned along a force axis extending between a center of gravity of the ground vehicle and a distal attachment point of the handling line on the blimp. 
   
   
       19 . An airborne vehicle ground handling system, comprising:
 a compact loader having a bucket;   an airship handling assembly carried by the compact loader, the airship handling assembly comprising—
 a support boom having a first end operably coupled to the bucket and a second end spaced apart from the first end and approximately over a center of gravity of the compact loader; 
 a pivot boom carried by the support boom and configured to freely rotate through 360 degrees relative to the compact loader, wherein the pivot boom includes (a) a first end operably coupled to the second end of the support boom, and (b) a second end apart from the first end and having a lower elevation relative to the compact loader than the first end; and 
 a line capture and release device attached to the pivot boom at an elevation below an engagement point of the support boom and pivot boom, wherein the line capture and release device is positioned to releasably couple a flexible handling line from an airship to the pivot boom for ground handling operations, and wherein the line capture and release device comprises—
 a base portion attached to the pivot boom and an arm portion pivotably coupled to the base portion; 
 a first hitch ball at a distal end of the arm portion; and 
 a second hitch ball carried by the arm portion and movable relative to the first hitch ball between (a) a first position adjacent to the first hitch ball, and (b) a second position spaced apart from the first hitch ball, and 
 wherein in the first position, the first and second hitch balls are positioned to releasably couple the flexible handling line to the line and capture release device. 
 
   
   
   
       20 . The airborne vehicle ground handling system of  claim 19  wherein:
 the support boom has a generally curved shape, and wherein the second end of the support boom is out of contact with the compact loader;   the pivot boom has a generally curved shape corresponding, at least in part, to the curved shape of the support boom; and   the handling line in contact with the line capture and release device is not coupled to a winch.   
   
   
       21 . The airborne vehicle ground handling system of  claim 19  wherein the flexible handling line further comprises a stopper at least proximate to an end of the flexible handling line and positioned to contact the first and second hitch balls and releasably couple the flexible handling line to the line capture and release device.