Perforated Capsule Hook for Stable High Speed Retract
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A payload coupling apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a side wall positioned between the upper and lower portions;
an attachment point on the housing adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether;
a slot in the housing that extends downwardly towards a center of the housing thereby forming a hook or lip on the lower portion of the housing beneath the slot;
a plurality of holes in the upper portion of the housing; and
a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the housing.
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Abstract
A payload coupling apparatus is provided that includes a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a side wall positioned between the upper and lower portions, an attachment point on the housing adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether, a slot in the housing that extends downwardly towards a center of the housing thereby forming a hook or lip on the lower portion of the housing beneath the slot, a plurality of holes in the upper portion of the housing; and a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the housing. A method of retracting a payload coupling apparatus during UAV flight is also provided.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A payload coupling apparatus comprising:
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a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a side wall positioned between the upper and lower portions; an attachment point on the housing adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether; a slot in the housing that extends downwardly towards a center of the housing thereby forming a hook or lip on the lower portion of the housing beneath the slot; a plurality of holes in the upper portion of the housing; and a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of retracting a payload coupling apparatus to a UAV comprising:
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providing the payload coupling apparatus with a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a side wall positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion, the housing attached to a first end of a tether with a second end of the tether attached to the UAV, a slot in the housing that extends downwardly towards a center of the housing thereby forming a hook or lip on the lower portion of the housing beneath the slot, a plurality of holes in the upper portion of the housing, a plurality of holes in the side wall of the housing, and a plurality of holes positioned in the lower portion of the housing; moving the UAV forward at a rate of 25-35 m/s; retracting the payload coupling apparatus towards the UAV with the tether as the UAV moves forward at a rate of 25-35 m/s; wherein the payload coupling apparatus remains stable during retraction of the payload coupling apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A payload coupling apparatus comprising:
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a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a side wall positioned between the upper and lower portions; an attachment point on the housing adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether; a slot in the housing that extends downwardly towards a center of the housing thereby forming a hook or lip on the lower portion of the housing beneath the slot; wherein a first cam and a second cam extend outwardly from opposite sides of the side wall; and wherein a first indentation is positioned on a right side of the slot and a second indentation is positioned on a left side of the slot, and the first and second indentations and first and second cams are adapted to prevent a handle of a payload from coming out of the slot during possible rotation of the payload caused by high winds during winch up.
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Specification