Brake-control system for accelerating freely falling objects to a moving craft's speed
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the deployment of a towline connecting a moving craft to an ejected object, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. allowing the object to fall freely from the craft;
b. continuously monitoring the velocity and the total deployed distance of the object relative to the moving craft as it is falling freely;
c. continuously determining whether a point in a velocity-distance state-space plane defined by the monitored velocity and the monitored total deployed distance of the object has reached a switching curve, the switching curve comprising a locus of points of intersection of a plurality of free-fall trajectories of the object with a corresponding plurality of brake trajectories of the object, each of the plurality of free-fall trajectories being the trajectory followed by the object at a different velocity of the moving craft, each of the plurality of brake trajectories being the trajectory followed by the object, for a different craft speed, when a given brake system is engaged to retard the deployment of the towline; and
d. in response to a determination that the point in the velocity-distance state-space plane defined by the monitored velocity and total deployed distance has reached the switching curve, engaging the given brake system to retard the deployment of the towline.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a moving craft connected by a towline to an ejected and freely falling object, a brake control system determines when to engage a brake that accelerates the object to the moving craft'"'"'s speed by retarding the deployment of the towline without exceeding its rated working load. The control system continually monitors the velocity and the total deployed distance of the ejected object. When a point in a velocity-distance state-space plane corresponding to the monitored velocity and the monitored total deployed distance of the ejected object has reached a switching curve (48), the control system actuates a brake (74). The switching curve (48) is the locus of intersection points (38, 40, 42, and 44) of a plurality of pairs of curves, each pair consisting of a free-fall trajectory (23, 24, 26, and 28) and a brake trajectory (30, 32, 34, and 36) and being associated with a different craft velocity. The free-fall trajectory is the trajectory that the object follows after it has been ejected from the craft and is falling away from the craft under the influence of drag. The brake trajectory is the trajectory by which the brake system causes the object to stop at the desired deployment distance.
41 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the deployment of a towline connecting a moving craft to an ejected object, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. allowing the object to fall freely from the craft; b. continuously monitoring the velocity and the total deployed distance of the object relative to the moving craft as it is falling freely; c. continuously determining whether a point in a velocity-distance state-space plane defined by the monitored velocity and the monitored total deployed distance of the object has reached a switching curve, the switching curve comprising a locus of points of intersection of a plurality of free-fall trajectories of the object with a corresponding plurality of brake trajectories of the object, each of the plurality of free-fall trajectories being the trajectory followed by the object at a different velocity of the moving craft, each of the plurality of brake trajectories being the trajectory followed by the object, for a different craft speed, when a given brake system is engaged to retard the deployment of the towline; and d. in response to a determination that the point in the velocity-distance state-space plane defined by the monitored velocity and total deployed distance has reached the switching curve, engaging the given brake system to retard the deployment of the towline. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. For controlling the deployment of a towline connecting a moving craft to an ejected and object, an object-deployment system comprising:
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a. sensor means for continuously monitoring the total deployed distance of the object and the velocity of the object with respect to the craft and for generating an indication thereof; b. a brake system, adapted for application of a brake signal thereto, for engaging in response to the brake signal to retard the deployment of the towline; and c. means responsive to the sensor means for continuously determining whether a point in a velocity-distance state-space plane defined by the monitored velocity and the monitored total deployed distance has reached a switching curve in the velocity-distance state-space plane and for generating a brake signal if it has, the switching curve comprising a locus of points of intersection of a plurality of free-fall trajectories of the object with a corresponding plurality of brake trajectories of the object, each of the plurality of free-fall trajectories being the trajectory followed by the object at a different velocity of the moving craft, each of the plurality of brake trajectories being the trajectory followed by the object, for a different craft speed, when the brake system is engaged to retard the deployment of the towline. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification