Method and apparatus for retrieving a hovering aircraft

• US 7,954,758 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aerovel Corporation (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Aerovel Corporation (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: McGeer, Brian T., von Flotow, Andreas H., Roeseler, Corydon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanderson; Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US11/837,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 244/110.C, 244/110.F, 244/110.G, 244/114.R
• US Class Current: 244/110.00F
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/029 using a cable or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/00 Designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; Handling, transporting, testing or inspecting aircraft components, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net

Abstract

For retrieval of a hovering aircraft, a cable, bar, or similar fixture is suspended in an approximately horizontal orientation across the retrieval area between two well-separated supports. The aircraft slowly flies into this fixture, which then slides along the aircraft in a direction approximately parallel with the aircraft'"'"'s thrust line. This leads to the aircraft becoming fastened to the fixture by an interceptor or aircraft capturer which in alternative embodiments are respectively on the aircraft or the fixture or both. Thrust is then reduced, and the aircraft comes to rest hanging from the fixture for subsequent removal. Retrieval is thus accomplished with simple and economical apparatus, light and unobtrusive elements on the aircraft, low risk of damage, and only moderate piloting accuracy.

Claims

1. A system for capturing an aircraft in principally thrust-borne flight, said capturing system comprising:

(a) a fixture interceptor, the fixture interceptor being attached to a tension element of the aircraft;

(b) a linear or curvilinear fixture configured to be suspended across a flight path of the aircraft in a principally horizontal orientation which is not parallel to the flight path of the aircraft, the fixture being rotatable about a vertical or substantially vertical axis;

(c) a suspension support configured to suspend the fixture such that the aircraft in principally thrust-borne flight can approach and employ the fixture interceptor to contact the fixture;

(d) a fixture interceptor capturer attached to the fixture and configured to engage the fixture interceptor; and

(e) an aerodynamic surface attached to the suspension support and configured to passively adjust a rotational position of the fixture about said axis to orient the fixture interceptor capturer relative to the wind direction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixture interceptor capturer is formed to engage the fixture interceptor in principally thrust-borne flight.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the linear or curvilinear fixture is attachable to a movable vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, which includes a docking fixture attached to the suspension support and configured to receive the aircraft.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the docking fixture is configured to:

(a) enable the aircraft to be stowed,

(b) enable the aircraft to be serviced, or

(c) facilitate launch of the aircraft.