EXPENDABLE AERIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20130193272A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roy L. Fox Jr
• Original Assignee: Roy L. Fox Jr
• Inventors: Fox, Roy L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,864,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/137.3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/12 Releasing

Abstract

Methods and systems for aerial delivery utilize expendable materials. An expendable aerial delivery system comprises wood, textile and/or other expendable materials, for example materials suitable for disposing via burning or crushing in a forward area. In this manner, valuable and/or expensive metal platforms can be eliminated from airdrops, thus preventing insurgent repurposing of these platforms into improvised explosive devices and other implements of warfare.

Claims

1. An expendable aerial delivery system, comprising:

a platform comprising an expendable material;

a roller plank coupled to the platform, the roller plank comprising an expendable material;

a sling configured to couple the platform to a parachute; and

a strap configured to retain a payload to the platform.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a stop block coupled to the sling, wherein the stop block simultaneously transfers forces arising from an extraction parachute to the platform and the roller plank.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a stop block coupled to the sling, wherein the stop block reduces shear forces between the platform and the roller plank responsive to operation of an extraction parachute.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the roller plank is configured with a trench formed by at least one spacer, wherein the sling is disposed between the roller plank and the platform in the trench, and wherein the sling encircles at least a portion of the platform.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sling is configured as a combined sling disposed between the platform and multiple roller planks.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the roller plank aligns with a roller assembly in a cargo plane when the expendable aerial delivery system is placed in the cargo plane.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a notched siderail configured to interface with the locks in a cargo plane.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the expendable aerial delivery system is configured to deliver a payload exceeding 500 pounds.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the expendable aerial delivery system is configured to be disposable by open air burning.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of roller pads.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an end plank disposed at the rear of the platform, wherein the end plank resists crushing of the platform toward the centerline responsive to forces arising from operation of an extraction parachute.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises:

four platforms disposed in a front to rear line;

four roller planks coupled to the four platforms, each roller plank configured to align with a roller assembly in a cargo plane; and

four slings encircling one of the four platforms.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cascading loop release component coupled to the sling.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the strap passes along the front side of the payload to reduce shear forces between the payload and the platform.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the sling is severable at the front side of the platform to separate the parachute from the platform.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pull pin coupling the sling to the platform.

17. A method for aerial delivery, comprising:

deploying an extraction parachute coupled to an expendable aerial delivery system;

extracting, responsive to inflation of the extraction parachute, the expendable aerial delivery system from a cargo aircraft;

releasing a releasable interface coupling the extraction parachute to the expendable aerial delivery system; and

deploying, responsive to releasing the releasable interface, a main parachute coupled to the expendable aerial delivery system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising disposing of the expendable aerial delivery system after the expendable aerial delivery system contacts the ground.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the disposing comprises burning in an open-air fire.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the disposing comprises mechanical crushing.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the expendable aerial delivery system comprises:

a platform;

a roller plank coupled to the platform;

a sling configured to couple the platform to a parachute; and

a strap configured to retain a payload to the platform,

wherein the platform, the roller plank, the sling, and the strap each comprise an expendable material.