Payload shroud for air vehicle

• US 9,731,811 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AAI Corporation (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: AAI Corporation (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Hurn, Robert, Deardorff, Doug, Zeleny, Terry, Atzert, Monica, Wallace, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Badawi, Medhat
• Application Number:
  US14/105,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20160009371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/36 adapted to receive antennas or radomes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 7/00 Structures or fairings not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/08 the articles being load-carrying devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons

Abstract

A UAV includes a body. The body defines a payload opening 14. The payload opening is circular, but any shape may be used. A payload of the UAV is arranged in the payload opening. The payload may be a camera, sensors, a package, etc. A payload shroud may be installed which prohibits or reduced ingress of foreign material via payload opening. A payload shroud may include a diverter. The diverter may act as a barrier wall preventing the water or debris from entering the body of the UAV. The diverter should fit flush with the payload opening in the body of the UAV.

Claims

1. A payload shroud, comprising:

a diverter including a cylindrical wall defining a hollow central portion, wherein the cylindrical wall defines a cutout and an access port via which a mechanical latch is accessible;

a seal;

a flexible membrane disposed over the cutout;

a bracket provided at a base of the diverter;

wherein the access port extends through a top of the cylindrical wall; and

wherein the seal is discontinuous at the access port.

2. The payload shroud of claim 1, wherein the seal is a brush seal.

3. The payload shroud of claim 2, wherein the brush seal comprises a base having a circular shape and bristles, the bristles being flexible.

4. The payload shroud of claim 1, wherein the brush seal is disposed at an end of the diverter.

5. The payload shroud of claim 3, wherein the brush seal is attached in a horizontal position such that the bristles are substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical wall of the diverter.

6. The payload shroud of claim 3, wherein the bristles extend toward an interior defined by the hollow central portion.

7. The payload shroud of claim 1, wherein the diverter has a height to accommodate platform geometry limitations.

8. The payload shroud of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical wall defines at least one cutout, the cutout being sized and positioned in the cylindrical wall to accommodate variations in payload.

9. The payload shroud of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical wall defines three cutouts.

10. The payload shroud of claim 9, wherein the flexible membrane is disposed over the three cutouts.

11. The payload shroud of claim 10, wherein the flexible membrane seals the cutouts.

12. A body for an air vehicle, including a payload receiving portion, the payload receiving portion being adapted to receive a payload via an opening;

a diverter disposed within the opening, the diverter including a cylindrical wall defining a central portion and having a cutout, a bracket, and an access port via which a parachute latch is accessible, the cylindrical wall having a top and a bottom;

a seal disposed at one or both of the top or bottom of the cylindrical wall;

a flexible membrane disposed over the cutout; and

wherein the access port extends through the top of the cylindrical wall.

13. The body for an air vehicle of claim 12, wherein the seal is a brush seal.

14. The body for an air vehicle of claim 13, wherein the brush seal comprises a base having a circular shape and bristles, the bristles being flexible.

15. The body for an air vehicle of claim 12, wherein the brush seal is disposed at an end of the diverter.

16. The body for an air vehicle of claim 14, wherein the brush seal is attached in a horizontal position such that the bristles are substantially perpendicular the cylindrical wall of the diverter.

17. The body for an air vehicle of claim 14, wherein the bristles extend toward an interior defined by the central portion.

18. The body for an air vehicle of claim 12, wherein the diverter has a height to accommodate platform geometry limitations.

19. The body for an air vehicle of claim 12, wherein the cylindrical wall defines at least one cutout, the cutout being sized and positioned in the wall to accommodate variations in payload.

20. The body for an air vehicle of claim 19, wherein the cylindrical wall defines three cutouts.

21. The body for an air vehicle of claim 20, further comprising a flexible membrane disposed over the cutouts.

22. The body for an air vehicle of claim 21, wherein the flexible membrane seals the cutout.

23. An air vehicle, comprising:

a body defining a payload opening, the body including a mounting apparatus comprising at least one post;

a payload suspended in the payload opening;

a payload shroud arranged within the body and around the payload, the payload shroud including a diverter, a seal, a flexible membrane, and at least one bracket,

wherein the diverter is attached to the body above the opening by placing the posts over the at least one bracket,

wherein the diverter includes a cylindrical wall defining a central portion, a cutout, and an access port, the cylindrical wall having a top and a bottom,

wherein the seal is disposed at the top of the cylindrical wall,

wherein the flexible membrane is disposed over the cutout, and

wherein the access port extends through a top of the cylindrical wall.