Pin array chamber systems and methods for releasing and capturing moving objects

• US 9,650,156 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Arm Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Alan Mcchesney
• Inventors: McChesney, Jeffrey Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Giczy, Alexander V
• Application Number:
  US14/554,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20160229557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 5/00 Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight flying units formed by separate aircraft B64C37/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/02 for arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/646 Docking or rendezvous systems refueling in space B64G1/4024
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/66 Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• 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

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pin array release and capture chamber system includes a chamber assembly having two parallel plates of pin arrays from which a plurality of pins extend and retract vertically opposite each other so as to release and capture a UAV. The pin arrays are separated from each other by a space having two vertical and two horizontal sides, and the space is sized so as to receive the UAV. Each pin arrays may be housed in a pin array chamber enclosure. The chamber assembly may be attached to a moving object, such as an aircraft, or may be stationary with respect to a ground surface.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pin array release and capture chamber system comprising:

a chamber assembly comprising;

two substantially parallel plates of pin arrays,

each pin array having a plurality of pins that extend and retract through the respective plate substantially perpendicular to the respective plate,

the two pin arrays arranged vertically opposite each other with a space between the two pin arrays,

wherein the pins of a first pin array of the two pin arrays and the pins of a second pin array of the two pin arrays extend toward each other in an extended state and retract away from each other in a retracted state, and

wherein the space is enclosed by two vertical sides and two horizontal sides; and

a UAV,

wherein the space is sized so as to receive the UAV,

wherein the two pin arrays are sized such that in the extended state more than one of the pins of each pin array comes into contact with the body of the UAV.

2. The UAV pin array release and capture chamber system of claim 1, the chamber assembly further comprising two pin array chamber enclosures, each pin array chamber enclosure associated with one of the two pin arrays and into which the pins of the associated pin array are retracted in the retracted state.

3. The UAV pin array release and capture chamber system of claim 1, wherein the chamber assembly is attached to a moving object.

4. The UAV pin array release and capture chamber system of claim 3, wherein the moving object is an aircraft.

5. The UAV pin array release and capture chamber system of claim 1, wherein the chamber assembly is stationary with respect to a ground surface.