Capturing hook for aerial system

• US 10,308,375 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2016
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Peverill, James, Woodworth, Adam, Freudberg, Benjamin, Cottrell, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Benedik, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US15/291,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20170021943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/68 Arrester hooks
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/04 the lighting devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/029 using a cable or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A capturing hook for engaging a cable during capture and release of an aerial vehicle may comprise a first and second gate pivotally supported at their first ends by a base portion and each being movable between a closed position and an open position, but spring-biased to the closed position. The capturing hook may further include a latch device comprising a movable locking part biased by a return spring to a locked position to lock the second gate in the closed position.

Claims

1. A capturing hook for engaging a cable during capture and release of an aerial vehicle, the capturing hook comprising:

a first gate pivotally supported at a first end by a base portion and movable between a closed position and an open position;

a first return spring biasing the first gate to the closed position;

a second gate pivotally supported at a first end by the base portion and movable between a closed position and an open position;

a second return spring biasing the second gate to the closed position; and

a latch device comprising a movable locking part biased by a return spring to a locked position to lock the second gate in the closed position.

2. The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the capturing hook releases the cable by moving the second gate into the open position.

3. The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the capturing hook captures the cable by moving the first gate into the open position.

4. The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the latch device'"'"'s movable locking part is released from the locked position by a servo-controlled release wire, thereby allowing the second gate to move to the open position.

5. The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the first gate and the second gate are fabricated from a non-conductive material.

6. The capturing hook of claim 5, wherein the first gate comprises a first electrical contact and the second gate comprises a second electrical contact.

7. The capturing hook of claim 6, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are fabricated from a non-corrosive material.

8. The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the base portion is a shank of an arresting device coupled to the aerial vehicle.

9. The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the capturing hook further comprises an induction coil to facilitate inductive coupling with the cable.

10. An aerial vehicle for capturing an arresting cable, the aerial vehicle comprising:

a fuselage having a propulsion system; and

an arresting device coupled to the fuselage to capture the arresting cable,

wherein the arresting device includes a shank coupled to the fuselage at its first end and to a capturing hook at its second end,

wherein the capturing hook comprises a first gate, a first return, a second gate, a second return, and a latch device,

wherein the first gate is pivotally supported at a first end by the shank and movable between a closed position and an open position, the first return spring biasing the first gate to the closed position,

wherein the second gate pivotally supported at a first end by the shank and movable between a closed position and an open position, the second return spring biasing the second gate to the closed position, and

wherein the latch device includes a movable locking part biased by a return spring to a locked position to lock the second gate in the closed position.

11. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the capturing hook releases the arresting cable by moving the second gate into the open position.

12. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the capturing hook captures the arresting cable by moving the first gate into the open position.

13. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the movable locking part is released from the locked position by a servo-controlled release wire, thereby allowing the second gate to move to the open position.

14. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first gate and the second gate are fabricated from a non-conductive material.

15. The aerial vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first gate comprises a first electrical contact and the second gate comprises a second electrical contact.

16. The aerial vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are fabricated from a non-corrosive material.

17. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the aerial vehicle is configured to couple and decouple with the arresting cable via the capturing hook.

18. The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the capturing hook further comprises an induction coil to facilitate inductive coupling with the arresting cable.

19. A capturing hook for engaging a cable during capture and release of an aerial vehicle, the capturing hook comprising:

a first gate pivotally supported at a first end by a base portion and movable between a closed position and an open position;

a first return spring biasing the first gate to the closed position;

a second gate pivotally supported at a first end by the base portion and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first gate comprises a first electrical contact and the second gate comprises a second electrical contact;

a second return spring biasing the second gate to the closed position; and

a latch device comprising a movable locking part biased by a return spring to a locked position to lock the second gate in the closed position.

20. The capturing hook of claim 19, wherein the movable locking part is released from the locked position by a servo-controlled release wire, thereby allowing the second gate to move to the open position.