System for detachably coupling an unmanned aerial vehicle within a launch tube

• US 10,442,554 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Andryukov, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Giczy, Alexander V.
• Application Number:
  US14/561,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/50 Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/70 Launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails launching from storage containers B64U70/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence

Abstract

A system comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle launch tube comprising a sabot disposed in an interior of the launch tube, the sabot having a first clasp tab and an expandable skirt. The sabot is hollow, and the expandable skirt has a circumferential skirt protrusion and is configured to provide a pressure seal with the inner circumferential wall of the launch tube. The system further comprises a clasp detachably coupled to the first clasp tab and contacting the inner circumferential wall of the launch tube.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch tube;

a sabot disposed in an interior of said UAV launch tube, said sabot comprising a first clasp tab and an expandable skirt, wherein said sabot is hollow, wherein said expandable skirt is configured to provide a pressure seal with an inner circumferential wall of said UAV launch tube, wherein said expandable skirt is disposed proximate an open end of the sabot, wherein said expandable skirt is disposed distal from said first clasp tab, and wherein said expandable skirt further comprises a circumferential skirt protrusion extending toward said inner circumferential wall of said UAV launch tube; and

a clasp detachably coupled to said first clasp tab and contacting said inner circumferential wall of said UAV launch tube;

wherein said clasp is constrained by said inner circumferential wall and said first clasp tab.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said expandable skirt is restrained within said UAV launch tube by an adhesive.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said adhesive detachably binds said expandable skirt about an exterior surface of a gas generator within said UAV launch tube.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein

said gas generator is configured to generate gas between said expandable skirt and said exterior surface of said gas generator;

and

wherein the generated pressure of said generated gas is sufficient to push said expandable skirt off of said exterior surface of said gas generator by breaking said adhesive restraint between the exterior surface of said gas generator and said expandable skirt.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a UAV seated on said sabot, said UAV having a second clasp tab detachably coupled to said clasp, and wherein said clasp is constrained by said inner circumferential wall, said first clasp tab, and said second clasp tab.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said sabot is tethered to said UAV launch tube.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said expandable skirt is restrained within said UAV launch tube by a detachable binding.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said detachable binding is configured to bind said expandable skirt about an exterior surface of a gas generator within said UAV launch tube so that a generation of gas by a gas generator inside said gas generator pushes said expandable skirt off of said exterior surface of said gas generator by breaking said detachable binding.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a UAV seated on said sabot, said UAV having a second clasp tab detachably coupled to said clasp;

wherein said inner circumferential wall prevents said clasp from slipping off of said second clasp tab while said UAV is in said UAV launch tube.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a gas generator disposed in the interior of said UAV launch tube;

wherein said expandable skirt is detachably coupled to an exterior surface of said gas generator via an adhesive coupling.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said adhesive coupling is configured to break from resultant gas pressure from said gas generator creating a seal between said sabot and said inner circumferential wall of said UAV launch tube.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a UAV and a second clasp tab of said UAV, wherein said UAV is detachably coupled to said sabot via said clasp, and wherein said clasp is detachably coupled to said first clasp tab and said second clasp tab.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said clasp is configured to decouple from said second clasp tab as said UAV exits said UAV launch tube.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said clasp is configured to decouple from said first clasp tab and said second clasp tab as said UAV exits said UAV launch tube.