Retrieval assembly

• US 3,891,165 A
• Filed: 12/11/1973
• Issued: 06/24/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas B. Day, Welfred A. Stahl
• Original Assignee: Douglas B. Day, Welfred A. Stahl
• Inventors: Day, Douglas B., Stahl, Welfred A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reger, Duane A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kelmachter, Barry L.
• Application Number:
  US05/423,855
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 244/137R,118R,1R,17.11,17.17,3 294/19R,83R,83A,58 114/221R 174/556,6,7
• US Class Current: 244/137.4
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 3/00 Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed B64D39/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A retrieval assembly, in combination with an airborne vehicle capable of hovering (e.g., a helicopter), for use in retrieving a downed drone airborne vehicle. The assembly includes a hook subassembly, a pole subassembly which includes a multi-purpose pole, a recovery cable subassembly, and a swivel subassembly, all of which cooperate to capture, lift, support, and carry the downed drone vehicle. The drone, thereby, can be safely suspended beneath the helicopter, and also can rotate while dangling without twisting and subsequently breaking the recovery cable from which the drone is dangling. Therefore, the drone can be reliably, safely, quickly, and easily retrieved.

Claims

1. A retrieval assembly, in combination with an airborne vehicle capable of hovering, for use in retrieving a downed drone airborne vehicle having hookable means attached to it, wherein the hoverable airborne vehicle has a cargo hook and is capable of lifting, supporting, and carrying the downed drone airborne vehicle by suspension thereof, comprising:

a. a hook subassembly which includes a hook by which the hookable means of the downed drone airborne vehicle may be releasably hooked;

b. a pole subassembly which includes a pole having a fore end and an aft end, with said fore end removably attached to said hook of said hook subassembly;

c. a recovery cable subassembly which includes a recovery cable having a fore end and an aft end, with said fore end connected to said hook of said hook assembly;

d. and, a swivel subassembly which includes a swivel having a fore portion and an aft portion, with said fore portIon connected to said aft end of said recovery cable, and with said aft portion of said swivel releasably connected to the cargo hook of the hoverable airborne vehicle, and also with said aft portion removably attachable to said fore end of said pole of said pole subassembly;

whereby the hookable means of the downed drone airborne vehicle is hooked and secured by and with said hook of said hook subassembly, and thereby the downed drone airborne vehicle may be lifted, supported, and carried by the hoverable airborne vehicle by suspension thereof.

2. A retrieval assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hook of said hook subassembly has two ends, with an elongated jaw at one end, and with a cavity at the other end suitably dimensioned and configurated to accept and mate with said fore end of said pole of said pole assembly, and also with said hook having a biased keeper at said other end of said hook.

3. A retrieval assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said keeper at said other end of said hook is biased by a spring.

4. A retrieval assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pole of said pole assembly has a handle attached to said aft end of said pole, and said pole assembly further includes:

a ground wire having two ends, with one end attached to said pole handle;

a grounding clip connected to the other end of said ground wire; and

, a hollow cylindrical tube surrounding said pole and being slideably movable between said fore end and said aft end of said pole.

5. A retrieval assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hook of said hook subassembly is made of an aluminum alloy.

6. A retrieval assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pole of said pole subassembly is made of an aluminum alloy.

7. A retrieval assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recovery cable of said recovery cable subassembly is a steel wire cable of not less than one half inch in diameter.

8. A swivel assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said aft portion of said swivel has attached thereto an aft link for releasably connecting said aft portion of said swivel to the cargo hook of the hoverable airborne vehicle, also wherein said aft portion of said swivel has attached thereto a swivel adapter having an opening which will accept and will releasably hold said fore end of said pole of said pole assembly.