UAV payload module camera assembly and retraction mechanism

• US 9,309,006 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2012
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Zwaan, John Peter, Belik, Pavel, Dimotakis, Manolis, D'Aquila, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENEDIK, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US13/730,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20130193269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,200 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F
• 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 70/10 for releasing or capturing UAVs by hand

Abstract

In one possible embodiment, a UAV payload module retraction mechanism is provided including a payload pivotally attached to a housing. A biasing member is mounted to bias the payload out of the housing and a winch is attached to the payload. An elongated flexible drawing member is coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated drawing flexible member being capable of being drawn by the winch to retract the payload within the housing.

Claims

1. A UAV payload module retraction mechanism apparatus comprising:

a) a payload module housing;

b) a payload pivotally attached to the housing;

c) a winch attached to the payload;

d) a biasing member mounted to bias the payload out of the housing; and

e) an elongated flexible drawing member coupled between the housing and the winch, the elongated flexible drawing member connected to the winch such that the elongated flexible drawing member is drawn onto the winch for retracting the payload within the housing and the elongated flexible drawing member is extended from the winch for releasing the payload from the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the payload is pivotally attached to a forward position in the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the payload is pivotally attached to a forward wall of the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the payload is pivotally attached to the housing via a hinge.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the hinge is located forward of the payload in a stowed position.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the hinge comprises a pivot shaft, and wherein the biasing member comprises a spring disposed about the pivot shaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biasing member urges the payload into a deployed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated flexible member is a cable.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated flexible member is a belt.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the payload comprises a camera assembly comprising a camera.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the winch is mounted above the camera.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the camera assembly further comprises a pan tray pivotally attached to the housing via a hinge, the pan tray comprising the winch and a pan actuator, and wherein the pan actuator is located between the hinge and the winch.

14. A UAV payload module retraction mechanism apparatus comprising:

a) a payload module housing comprising an opening in a bottom wall of the housing;

b) a payload pivotally attached in a forward position within the housing;

c) a biasing member mounted to bias the payload out of the housing;

d) a winch mounted to the payload; and

e) a flexible cable coupled between the housing and the winch such that the flexible cable is drawn onto the winch for retracting the payload into and releasing the payload from the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the payload comprises a camera assembly situated to pivot out of the housing through the opening in the bottom wall.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the flexible cable is a belt.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the biasing member urges the payload to a deployed position.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the payload is pivotally attached to a forward wall of the housing via a hinge.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the hinge comprises a pivot shaft, and wherein the biasing member comprises a spring disposed about the pivot shaft.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the payload further comprises a camera assembly having a pan tray mounted therewith, the pan tray being pivotally attached to the housing via a hinge, the pan tray comprising the winch and a pan actuator, and wherein pan actuator is located between the hinge and the winch.