Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft, including a cleat for capturing aircraft on a line
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An aircraft system, comprising:
- a cleat body having a cleat slot, the cleat slot having an open end with a first width and a closed end with a second width; and
a retainer coupled to the cleat body and movable between a first position with the retainer at least restricting access to the cleat slot and a second position with the retainer positioned to allow a flexible recovery line to enter the cleat slot, the retainer having first and second portions positioned to restrict access to the cleat slot when the retainer is in the first position, the first and second portions being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to receive the recovery line.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured by a recovery line in flight, a process that can be aided by a line capture device having a retainer with two portions spaced apart by a distance great enough to receive the recovery line, e.g., to capture the recovery line with increased security. The line capture device can be operatively mounted on a lifting surface of the aircraft.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An aircraft system, comprising:
-
a cleat body having a cleat slot, the cleat slot having an open end with a first width and a closed end with a second width; and
a retainer coupled to the cleat body and movable between a first position with the retainer at least restricting access to the cleat slot and a second position with the retainer positioned to allow a flexible recovery line to enter the cleat slot, the retainer having first and second portions positioned to restrict access to the cleat slot when the retainer is in the first position, the first and second portions being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to receive the recovery line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An aircraft system, comprising:
-
a cleat body operatively connected to an unmanned aircraft, the cleat body including a cleat slot having an open end with a first width and a closed end with a second width less than the first width;
a retainer coupled to the cleat body and pivotally movable between a first position with the retainer at least restricting access to the cleat slot and a second position with the retainer positioned to allow a flexible recovery line to enter the cleat slot, the retainer having first and second portions positioned to restrict access to the cleat slot when the retainer is in the first position, the first and second portions being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to receive the recovery line; and
a resilient member coupled to the cleat body and positioned to apply force on the retainer moving the retainer from the second position back to the first position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An aircraft system, comprising:
-
an unmanned aircraft having a fuselage and a lifting surface;
a cleat body fixedly attached to the lifting surface and having a cleat slot, the cleat slot having an open end with a first width and a closed end with a second width; and
a retainer coupled to the cleat body and movable between a first position with the retainer at least restricting access to the cleat slot and a second position with the retainer positioned to allow a flexible recovery line to enter the cleat slot, the retainer having first and second portions positioned to restrict access to the cleat slot when the retainer is in the first position, the first and second portions being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to receive the recovery line. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method for capturing an unmanned aircraft in flight, comprising:
-
flying an unmanned aircraft having a lifting surface and a line capture device mounted to the lifting surface so as to intercept a flexible recovery line;
receiving the recovery line in a slot of the line capture device; and
releasably securing the recovery line to the line capture device with a retainer by passing the recovery line past at least one of two spaced apart portions of the retainer and moving the at least one portion of retainer relative to the recovery line as the recovery line moves through the slot. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for capturing an unmanned aircraft in flight, comprising:
-
flying an unmanned aircraft having a lifting surface and a line capture device, the line capture device including a cleat body with a cleat slot, the cleat body being fixedly attached to the lifting surface so as to intercept a flexible recovery line;
receiving the recovery line in the cleat slot;
moving the recovery line into the cleat slot by passing the recovery line past at least one engaging portion of a retainer; and
releasably securing the recovery line in the cleat slot with the retainer. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
-
Specification