UAV-mounted dispersant device with electronic triggering mechanism

• US 10,501,185 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerial Enforcement Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aerial Enforcement Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Kramer, Michael Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieuwen, Cody J
• Application Number:
  US15/406,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20180201371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 239171, 169 53, 102334, 1022025, 10220211, 10220214
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0235 by means of containers, e.g. buckets
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/0242 by spraying extinguishants from the aircraft spraying from aircraft in general B64D1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/005 mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/16 Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting jettisoning fuel B64D37/26
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 9/06 Apparatus for generating artificial fog or smoke screens for producing special effects on stages A63J5/00; smoke-pot projectors, e.g. arranged on vehicles, F42B5/155
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/46 for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances F42B12/70 takes precedence

Abstract

An accessory for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a baseplate that is attached to the UAV unmanned aerial vehicle, at least one dispersant canister that is removably attached to the baseplate, a radio frequency receiver, an auxiliary circuit board, at least one battery, first and second wire pairs that supply electrical current from the auxiliary circuit board, a protective housing, and a radio frequency transmitter that is in communication with the radio frequency receiver. In alternate embodiments, the invention further comprises an electric match, linear solenoid, or electric primer.

Claims

1. An accessory for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the accessory comprising:

(a) a baseplate that is configured to be attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the unmanned aerial vehicle having landing legs, the baseplate being attached to the landing legs of the unmanned aerial vehicle;

(b) at least one smoke canister that is removably attached to the baseplate;

(c) a radio frequency receiver comprising;

(i) a radio frequency circuit board that is attached to the baseplate; and

(ii) a radio frequency receiver antenna with a proximal end that is mounted to the radio frequency receiver circuit board and a distal end that is unattached;

(d) an electric match that is installed within the smoke canister, the smoke canister comprising a threaded top that is configured to secure the electric match within the smoke canister and to removably attach the smoke canister to the baseplate;

(e) an auxiliary circuit board that is attached to the baseplate and configured to supply electrical current sufficient to activate the electric match;

(f) at least one battery that is attached to the baseplate and configured to provide an output power source for the radio frequency receiver circuit board and the electric match;

(g) a first wire pair that is connected to a second wire pair via an electrical connector, wherein the first and second wire pairs supply electrical ignition current from the auxiliary circuit board to the electric match, wherein the second wire pair has an upper terminal end, wherein the second wire pair passes through a central bore of the threaded top of the smoke canister and is connected at the upper terminal end of the second wire pair to the electrical connector, wherein the threaded top of the smoke canister comprises a male threaded portion and a female threaded portion, wherein the male threaded portion of the threaded top of the smoke canister screws into the female threaded portion of the smoke canister, wherein the smoke canister comprises an open central bore, wherein the electric match is positioned within the open central bore of the smoke canister, wherein the smoke canister contains a flammable smoke-producing compound, wherein when the electric match is ignited bypassing an electric current through it, the flammable smoke-producing compound within the smoke canister is ignited by flames produced by the burning electric match, and smoke is emitted downward through the open central bore of the smoke canister, and wherein the electrical connector is situated between the threaded top of the smoke canister and the auxiliary circuit board;

(h) a protective housing that surrounds the radio frequency receiver circuit board and the battery; and

(i) a radio frequency transmitter that is in communication with the radio frequency receiver, the radio frequency transmitter comprising a radio frequency transmitter circuit board and at least one switch, wherein the auxiliary circuit board comprises a transistor, and wherein the transistor is configured to send an electric current through the electric match.

2. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a gimbal that is mounted to an underside of the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the baseplate is mounted to an underside of the gimbal.

3. The accessory of claim 2, further comprising a camera that is mounted to the gimbal.

4. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a camera that is mounted to the baseplate.

5. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a laser pointer that is attached to the baseplate and configured to emit laser light in a generally downward direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoke canister.

6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the baseplate further comprises a universal rail mount system for attachment of additional accessories.

7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the baseplate is attached to the landing legs of the unmanned aerial vehicle with quick-release pins.

8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the baseplate is attached to the landing legs of the unmanned aerial vehicle with bolts.

9. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency circuit board has a top surface, and the top surface of the radio frequency circuit board is oriented perpendicularly to a bottom surface of the baseplate.

10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary circuit board has a bottom surface, and the bottom surface of the auxiliary circuit board is parallel to a bottom surface of the baseplate.

11. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the smoke canister is cylindrical in shape.

12. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the smoke canister has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the smoke canister is perpendicular to a bottom surface of the baseplate.

13. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency receiver antenna has the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the proximal end of the radio frequency receiver antenna is soldered to the radio frequency circuit board, and wherein the distal end of the radio frequency receiver antenna is unattached.