UAV having hermetically sealed modularized compartments and fluid drain ports

• US 10,647,423 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2016
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Belik, Pavel, Szarek, Thomas, Torres, Gabriel E., Fraye, Vernon P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benedik, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US15/164,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/00 Other convertible vehicles, i.e. vehicles capable of travelling in or on different media vehicles having alternatively-usable runners and wheels B62B13/18; cycles convertible into other types of land vehicles B62K13/00; aircraft B64; flying-boats or seaplanes B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/52 Skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 35/008 Amphibious sea planes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/70 Convertible aircraft, e.g. convertible into land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/40 Modular UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/60 UAVs characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors

Abstract

In one possible embodiment, an amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle is provided, which includes a fuselage comprised of a buoyant material. Separators within the fuselage form separate compartments within the fuselage. Mounts associated with the compartments for securing waterproof aircraft components within the fuselage. The compartments each have drainage openings in the fuselage extending from the interior of the fuselage to the exterior of the fuselage.

Claims

1. An amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a) a fuselage comprised of walls comprising a buoyant material, the buoyant material having a specific gravity less than one with respect to water;

b) separators within the fuselage forming separate compartments within the fuselage;

c) mounts associated with the compartments for securing waterproof aircraft components within the fuselage; and

d) the compartments each having drainage openings in the fuselage extending from the interior of the fuselage to the exterior of the fuselage.

2. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the drainage openings in at least some of the compartments comprise weep holes through a wall of the fuselage.

3. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the compartments comprises a drainage channel at a bottom thereof, and wherein the drainage channel comprises at least one drainage opening associated therewith.

4. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the at least one drainage opening comprises a weep hole.

5. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 3, wherein the at least one drainage opening comprises a plurality of weep holes.

6. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the separate compartments comprise:

a) a forward battery compartment;

b) a central payload compartment; and

c) a rear avionics compartment.

7. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one skid pad on a bottom of the fuselage.

8. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 further comprising drainage openings extending through the separators within the fuselage.

9. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1 further comprising securing mechanisms associated with the compartments to secure the waterproof aircraft components in the compartments.

10. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least some of the mounts within the compartments comprise integrated connectors for electrically connecting a corresponding aircraft component upon mounting of the corresponding aircraft component within a respective compartment.

11. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the compartments comprise a battery compartment comprising a surface mount connector flush with a mounting surface of the mounts within the battery compartment.

12. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the compartments comprise a payload compartment comprising a surface mount connector flush with a mounting surface of the mounts within the payload compartment.

13. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the compartments comprise a payload compartment comprising an open bottom.

14. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein there is substantially no fuselage wall below the payload compartment.

15. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the compartments comprise an avionics compartment comprising a heat sink opening.

16. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the fuselage comprises:

a) a battery compartment having at least one weep hole through the fuselage;

b) an avionics compartment having at least one weep hole through the fuselage;

c) a payload compartment having an open bottom; and

d) wherein the fuselage is constructed of the buoyant material walls such that the unmanned aerial vehicle is buoyant despite the at least one weep hole through the fuselage in the battery compartment, the at least one weep hole through the fuselage in avionics compartment, and the open bottom of the payload compartment.

17. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the fuselage is constructed of buoyant material such that the fuselage floats when the fuselage is loaded with a battery, a payload, and avionics electronics.

25. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 1, wherein the separate compartments are not sealed from water intrusion.

18. An amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a) a fuselage constructed of a buoyant material, the buoyant material having a specific gravity less than one with respect to water;

b) separators within the fuselage forming separate battery, payload, and avionics compartments within the fuselage;

c) mounts associated with the compartments for securing a battery, a payload, and avionics within the fuselage; and

d) drainage openings extending through the wall of fuselage to connect the compartments with the exterior of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

19. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 18, wherein the battery compartment further comprises at least one drainage channel.

20. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 19, wherein the at least one drainage channel comprises at least one of the drainage openings therein.

21. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 20, wherein the at least one of the drainage openings comprises a plurality of weep holes.

22. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 18, wherein the avionics compartment further comprises at least one drainage channel.

23. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 22, wherein the at least one drainage channel comprises at least one of the drainage openings therein.

24. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 23, wherein the at least one of the drainage openings comprises a plurality of weep holes.

26. The amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 18, wherein the separate battery, payload, and avionics compartments are not sealed from water intrusion.

27. An amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

a) a fuselage comprised of buoyant material walls;

b) separators within the fuselage forming separate compartments within the fuselage;

c) mounts associated with the compartments for securing waterproof aircraft components within the fuselage;

d) the compartments each having drainage openings in the fuselage extending from the interior of the fuselage to the exterior of the fuselage; and

e) wherein the fuselage comprises;

a battery compartment having at least one weep hole through the fuselage;

an avionics compartment having at least one weep hole through the fuselage;

a payload compartment having an open bottom; and

wherein the fuselage is constructed of the buoyant material walls such that the unmanned aerial vehicle is buoyant despite the at least one weep hole through the fuselage in the battery compartment, the at least one weep hole through the fuselage in avionics compartment, and the open bottom of the payload compartment.