Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods

• US 8,944,373 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Insitu Incorporated (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Dickson, Matthew Robert, Thomasian, Craig Aram
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Keith L
• Application Number:
  US13/483,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20130320138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 244/110.C, 244/110.F, 244/110.G
• US Class Current: 244/110.C
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/029 using a cable or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/84 Waterborne vehicles

Abstract

Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a line capture device body having a line slot with an open end and a closed end. A retainer is positioned proximate to the line slot and has a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms positioned to extend at least partially across the line slot as the rotor rotates relative to the body. A joint rotatably couples the rotor to the body, and a ratchet device is operably coupled to the rotor to allow the rotor to rotate in a first direction and at least restrict the rotor arm from rotating in a second direction opposite the first. In other embodiments, the retainer can include other arrangements, for example, one or more wire-shaped elements.

Claims

1. An aircraft system comprising:

a line capture device body having a first surface with a first opening, a second surface facing away from the first surface and having a second opening, and a line slot, the line slot having an open end and a closed end; and

a retainer rigidly attached to the line capture device body, the retainer including a wire-shaped element having a first end and a second end, the first opening receiving the wire-shaped element toward the first end, the second opening receiving the wire-shaped element toward the second end, the wire-shaped element being twistable between a first position and a second position, with the wire-shaped element positioned across the line slot to at least restrict access to the line slot when in the first position, and positioned to allow a flexible recovery line to enter the line slot when in the second position, the wire-shaped element being spaced apart from the closed end of the slot by a distance sufficient to receive the recovery line.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the wire-shaped element is a first wire-shaped element, and wherein the system further comprises a second wire-shaped element being independently twistable relative to the line capture device body, the first and second wire-shaped elements being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to receive the recovery line.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the line slot is narrower toward the closed end than toward the open end.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the line capture device body includes a receptacle positioned at the line slot to receive the wire-shaped element when the wire-shaped element is in its second position.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an aircraft having a fuselage and a wing, and wherein the line capture device body is attached to the wing.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein axes of the first and second openings are spaced apart from each other in a plane generally parallel to the first surface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second openings are coaxial.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the line capture device body has a leading edge, and wherein the leading edge is swept aft relative to the fuselage.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the recovery line; and

a support carrying the recovery line.

15. The system of claim 2 wherein the line capture device body includes a first receptacle positioned at the line slot to receive the first wire-shaped element when the first wire-shaped element is in its second position, and wherein the line capture device body includes a second receptacle positioned at the line slot to receive the second wire-shaped element.

10. An aircraft system comprising:

a line capture device body having a line slot, the line slot having an open end and a closed end; and

a retainer rigidly attached to the line capture device body, the retainer including a wire-shaped element having a first end and a second end and being attached to the line capture device body toward each of the first end and the second end,

the wire-shaped element being twistable between a first position and a second position and positioned across the line slot to at least restrict access to the line slot when in the first position, and positioned to allow a flexible recovery line to enter the line slot when in the second position, the wires-shaped element being spaced apart from the closed end of the line slot by a distance sufficient to receive the recovery line.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an aircraft having a fuselage and a wing, and wherein the line capture device body is attached to the wing.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the line capture device body has a leading edge, and wherein the leading edge is swept aft relative to the fuselage.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

the recovery line; and

a support carrying the recovery line.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the line capture device body includes a receptacle positioned at the line slot to receive the wire-shaped element when the wire-shaped element is in its second position.