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

• US 9,856,036 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• 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): O'Hara, Brian M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Keith L
• Application Number:
  US15/065,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20160264259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 244110 F, 244110 C
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• 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; and

a retainer slideably coupled to the line capture device body, at least one of the retainer and the line capture device body having a line slot, the line slot having an open end and a closed end, the retainer being slideable relative to the line capture device body between a first position and a second position, with the retainer positioned to at least restrict access to or from 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.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the line slot is positioned in the line capture device body.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a guide pin carried by the line capture device body, and wherein the retainer includes:

a strike plate pivotably coupled to the line capture device body;

a closing tab having a slot in which the guide pin is received; and

a pivot joint between the strike plate and the closing tab.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the line slot is positioned in the retainer.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the line capture device body has a guide slot, and wherein the retainer carries at least one guide pin received in the guide slot, and wherein the retainer is slideable along the guide slot between the first position and the second position.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the line capture device body includes a tab and wherein the retainer includes a retainer slot and two spaced-apart ears positioned on opposing sides of the tab, and wherein the ears are positioned to allow access to the line slot through the open end when the retainer is in the first position, and wherein the retainer slot is positioned to receive the tab to at least restrict access to the slot through the open end when the retainer is in the second position.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ratchet device operably coupled between the line capture device body and the retainer to releasably restrict relative movement between the retainer and the line capture device body.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the recovery line; and

a support carrying the recovery line.

9. An aircraft system, comprising:

a line capture device body;

a retainer having a line slot with an open end and a closed end, the retainer further including a retainer slot positioned near the open end;

wherein

the retainer is positioned to slide along the line capture device body and the retainer slot is positioned to receive a tab portion of the line capture device body when the retainer is moved along a first direction toward a closed position in which the line capture device body extends across the line slot.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the system further comprises a guide element connected to the retainer, wherein the line capture device body includes a guide slot, and wherein the guide element is positioned to slide within the guide slot.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the line capture device body has a first side and a second side positioned opposite the first side, and wherein the retainer has a first ear positioned adjacent to the first side, and a second ear spaced apart from the first ear and positioned adjacent to the second side.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a ratchet element positioned to resist movement of the retainer along a second direction opposite the first direction when the retainer is in the closed position.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the ratchet element is a ratchet spring carried by the line capture device body and positioned to rotate relative to the line capture device body, wherein the retainer includes at least one ratchet tooth, and wherein the ratchet spring is positioned to engage the ratchet tooth to resist movement of the retainer along the second direction.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the retainer includes a plurality of ratchet teeth.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising an aircraft having a fuselage and a wing, and wherein the line capture device body is attached to the wing.

16. An aircraft system, comprising:

a line capture device body, the line capture device body being mounted to an aircraft;

a retainer having a line slot, the line slot having an open end and a closed end;

a guide element passing through a guide slot and connecting the retainer to the line capture device body, wherein the retainer is positioned to slide along the line capture device body between an open position in which a flexible recovery line can enter the line slot, and a closed position in which a portion of the line capture device body extends across the line slot to at least restrict the recovery line from passing out of the line slot.

17. The aircraft system of claim 16 wherein the guide element is attached to the retainer, and wherein the guide slot is positioned in the line capture device body.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the retainer includes at least one ratchet tooth positioned to engage a ratchet spring carried by the line capture device body to at least resist movement of the retainer away from the closed position.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the retainer includes a retainer slot positioned to receive a tab portion of the line capture device body when the retainer is in the closed position.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the retainer has a first ear and a second ear spaced apart from the first ear, and wherein the guide slot is positioned between the first ear and the second ear.

21. A method for capturing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:

directing the UAV toward a capture line;

engaging a line capture device carried by the UAV with the capture line by moving at least one of the UAV and the capture line relative to the other, causing a first portion of the capture line to pass into a line capture slot of the line capture device; and

while the first portion of the capture line is in the line capture slot, preventing a second portion of the capture line from entering the line capture slot.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the line capture device includes a retainer that is moveable relative to a body of the line capture device, and wherein preventing the second portion of the capture line from entering the line capture slot comprises causing the first portion of the capture line to move the retainer relative to the body.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein preventing the second portion of the capture line from entering the line capture slot comprises obstructing an end of the line capture slot.

24. An aircraft system, comprising:

an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV);

a capture line;

a line capture device carried by the UAV and having a line capture slot;

wherein

the line capture slot is positioned to receive a first portion of the capture line to capture the capture line in the line capture device when the UAV is moved relative to the capture line; and

wherein

the line capture device is configured to prevent a second portion of the capture line from entering the line capture slot when the first portion is in the line capture slot.

25. The aircraft system of claim 24, wherein the line capture device comprises a line capture device body and a retainer connected to the line capture device body;

wherein

the line capture slot is positioned in the retainer, the line capture slot having a closed end and an open end sized to receive the capture line; and

wherein

the retainer is configured to translate relative to the line capture device body between a first position in which the open end is positioned to receive the capture line and a second position in which the line capture device body obstructs the open end.

26. The aircraft system of claim 25, further comprising a ratchet device operably coupled between the line capture device body and the retainer to releasably restrict relative movement between the retainer and the line capture device body.