Vibration isolation devices and associated systems and methods

• US 8,226,039 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2012
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: von Flotow, Andreas H., Horton, Tyler Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, Troy
• Application Number:
  US13/347,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20120104169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 196 Days
• Field of Search: 244/119, 244/131, 244/132, 244/120, 244/118.2, 244/121
• US Class Current: 244/131
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers

Abstract

Vibration isolation devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, an unmanned aircraft can include a fuselage having a first fuselage section and a second fuselage section adjacent to and at least approximately longitudinally aligned with the first fuselage section. The aircraft can also include at least one vibration isolation device coupling the first fuselage section to the second fuselage section. The vibration isolation device is translationally stiffer along a longitudinal axis than it is along a lateral and a vertical axis, and rotationally stiffer about a pitch and a yaw axis than it is about a roll axis.

Claims

1. A method for operating an unmanned aircraft, the method comprising:

coupling a first fuselage section of the aircraft to a second fuselage section of the aircraft with a vibration isolation device;

flying the aircraft; and

inhibiting vibration transfer from the second fuselage section to the first fuselage section during flight operations with the vibration isolation device by—

inhibiting translational movement of the first and second fuselage sections relative to each other along a longitudinal axis with a first translational force, and inhibiting translational movement of the first and second fuselage sections relative to each other along a lateral and vertical axes with a second translational force and a third translational force, respectively, and wherein the second and third translational forces are less than the first translational force; and

inhibiting rotational movement of the first and second fuselage sections relative to each other about a pitch axis and a yaw axis with a first rotational force and a second rotational force, respectively, and inhibiting rotational movement of the first and second fuselage sections relative to each other about a roll axis with a third rotational force less than the first and second rotational forces.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein coupling a first fuselage section to a second fuselage section with a vibration isolation device comprises:

attaching a first member to the fuselage section with a first fastener;

attaching a second member to the second fuselage section with a second fastener; and

coupling the first member to the second member with a tensioning member in contact with and extending between the first member and the second member.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first member includes a non-linear first mating surface facing the second member, and the second member includes a non-linear second mating surface, and wherein:

coupling a first fuselage section of the aircraft to a second fuselage section includes mating the first mating surface with the second mating surface to define, at least in part, an interlocking finger positioned to mechanically limit movement between the first and second members.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein coupling a first fuselage section to a second fuselage section comprises coupling a nose portion of the aircraft including a turret assembly and a surveillance payload to a fuselage section immediately aft of the nose portion.