CASING

• US 20140139730A1
• Filed: 06/30/2012
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Qinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Inventors: White, Daniel John, Wooley, Clive Charles, Abbey, Jim Maurice, Simpson, David, Driscoll, Christopher Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,357,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/006 Apparatus mounted on flying objects
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

Casings and housings for use in high speed airflow (for example for mounting on a high speed vehicle) are described. In one embodiment, a housing for imaging equipment is described. The housing has a tapering form with symmetrical angular truncations such that it tapers in the form of a wedge with two substantially planar regions. At least one substantially planar region includes an aperture formed of optically transparent material.

Claims

1. A housing for imaging equipment, wherein the housing is arranged to be used in high speed airflow, the housing having a tapering form with symmetrical angular truncations such that it tapers in the form of a wedge with two substantially planar regions, wherein at least one substantially planar region comprises an aperture formed of optically transparent material.

2. A housing for imaging equipment according to claim 1 in which the housing comprises an ogive form having symmetrical angular truncations.

3. A housing for imaging equipment according to claim 1, in which both planar regions are provided by optically transparent materials.

4. A housing for imaging equipment according to claim 1, which comprises a leading edge strip.

5. A housing for imaging equipment according to claim 4 in which the strip is capable of heat conduction.

6. A housing for imaging equipment according to claim 1, in which the optically transparent material comprises glass.

7. A housing for imaging equipment according to claim 1, which further comprises a base region which is substantially cylindrical in shape.

8. A housing for imaging equipment according to claim 1, in which the internal angle of the wedge is approximately 40-45°

.

9. A housing for imaging equipment according to claim 1, arranged to act as the nose cone on a casing for mounting on a high speed vehicle.

10. A modular casing for sensing apparatus arranged to be mounted on a high speed vehicle, the casing comprising at least one nose section, at least one body section and at least one tail section, wherein said sections are detachably connected to one another so as to permit disassembly of the casing.

11. A modular casing according to claim 10 which further comprises mounting means arranged to allow the casing to be mounted onto a high speed vehicle.

12. A modular casing according to claim 11 in which the mounting means comprise a load carrying structure which is arranged to provide hardpoint attachments to a host vehicle.

13. A modular casing according to claim 10 which is roughly cylindrical in shape along at least a portion of its length.

14. A modular casing according to claim 10 in which the casing sections are connected by connectors arranged to interact with two adjacent casing sections.

15. A modular casing according to claim 10 in which at least one casing section comprises a cut-out portion arranged to provide access to the interior of the casing and/or to receive an interface, wherein the interface is arranged to allow information gathered by a sensor housed in the casing to be accessed.

16. A modular casing according to claim 10 which comprises pressure relief valves.

17. A modular casing according to claim 10 in which the sections are independently rotatable about the common axis of the casing.

18. A modular casing according to claim 10 which is arranged to house one or more of each of the following:

sensor, location sensor, communication device, driver equipment, memory, battery, electronic control unit, desiccator, electronic interface.

19. A modular casing according to claim 10 which is arranged, in use, to have a length, weight, centre of gravity and/or centre of mass similar to that of standard apparatus carried by the platform on which it is intended to be mounted.

20. A modular casing according to claim 10 in which the nose cone section comprises a housing for imaging equipment wherein the housing is arranged to be used in high speed airflow, the housing having a tapering form with symmetrical angular truncations such that it tapers in the form of a wedge with two substantially planar regions, wherein at least one substantially planar region comprises an aperture formed of optically transparent material.

21. A casing for sensor equipment arranged to be mounted on the exterior of an aircraft, the casing being arranged such that, in use, it exhibits similar characteristics in flight to known aircraft stores.

22. A casing for sensor equipment according to claim 21 which is arranged such that at least one of the following qualities/quantities is similar to that of a known store:

weight, centre of mass, centre of gravity, inertia length, cross sectional area.

23. A casing for sensor equipment according to claim 21 arranged to be mounted on the exterior of an aircraft.

24. A casing for sensor equipment according to claim 21 which is a modular casing for sensing apparatus arranged to be mounted on a high speed vehicle, the casing comprising at least one nose section, at least one body section and at least one tail section, wherein said sections are detachably connected to one another so as to permit disassembly of the casing.

25-26. -26. (canceled)