Hard stop apparatus for aimable devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10495288-B2
Application number	US-201815951274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2018
Priority date	Apr 13, 2017
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

The present invention includes a first frame attached to an aerial vehicle or a mounting plate attached to the aerial vehicle, and a second frame attached to an aimable device moveably connected to the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate. The first frame and the second frame are configured to collectively provide a hard stop that prevents the aimable device from pointing at the aerial vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first frame attached to an aerial vehicle or a mounting plate attached to the aerial vehicle;
a second frame attached to an aimable device, wherein the aimable device is moveably connected to the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate; and
wherein the first frame and the second frame are configured to collectively provide a hard stop when the second frame contacts the first frame, and the hard stop prevents the aimable device from pointing at the aerial vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aimable device comprises a searchlight, a laser, one or more sensors, or a weapon.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first frame and second frame are further configured to collectively provide the hard stop that prevents the aimable device from pointing at or interfering with other devices mounted on the aerial vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first frame comprises:
a first elongated loop aligned with a forward portion of the aerial vehicle, and extending outward and downward from the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate; and
a second elongated loop aligned with a rear portion of the aerial vehicle, and extending outward and downward from the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second frame comprises an elongated loop having a first portion extending along an upper portion of the aimable device and a second portion that extends outward and upward from the aimable device at an angle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first frame or the second frame are adjustable or removable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first frame and the second frame are made of a tubular material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second frame prevents the aimable device from being damaged when contact is made with the first frame or the mounting plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first frame and the second frame are configured to be outside of a line of sight of the aimable device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aerial vehicle is a rotorcraft, a helicopter, an airplane, an unmanned aerial vehicle, a drone, or a spacecraft.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aimable device is mounted proximate to a boom, a fuselage or a wing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aimable device is mounted proximate to a boom of a rotorcraft and a maximum elevation of the aimable device is +10 to −110 degrees when pointed to a side of the boom.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller communicably coupled to the aimable device, wherein the controller is programmed to prevent the aimable device from pointing at the aerial vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further programmed to stop movement of the aimable device before the second frame contacts the first frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first frame comprises:
a first member aligned with a forward portion of the aerial vehicle, and extending downward from the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate; and
a second member aligned with a rear portion of the aerial vehicle, and extending downward from the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the first member or the second member have a circular, square, rectangular or hexagonal shaped cross-section; or
the first member or the second member is straight, angled, L-shaped or curved.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second member comprises a square or rectangular shaped frame.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second frame comprises:
one or more mounting brackets attached to a front portion of the aimable device; and
a third member attached to the one or more mounting brackets that extend outward and upward from the aimable device at an angle.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein:
the third member has a curved end proximate to the aimable device; and
the third member has a top surface comprising a flat middle portion, an upwardly sloping portion adjacent to each end the flat middle portion, and a flat end portion adjacent to each upwardly sloping portion.

20. An apparatus comprising:
a first frame attached to an aerial vehicle or a mounting plate attached to the aerial vehicle, wherein the first frame comprises a first member aligned with a forward portion of the aerial vehicle, and extending downward from the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate, and a second member aligned with a rear portion of the aerial vehicle, and extending downward from the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate;
a second frame attached to an aimable device, wherein the aimable device is moveably connected to the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate, wherein the second frame comprises one or more mounting brackets attached to a front portion of the aimable device and a horizontal member attached to the one or more mounting brackets; and
wherein the first frame and the second frame are configured to collectively provide a hard stop when the second frame contacts the first frame, and the hard stop prevents the aimable device from pointing at the aerial vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the first frame and second frame are further configured to collectively provide the hard stop that prevents the aimable device from pointing at or interfering with other devices mounted on the aerial vehicle.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the second frame prevents the aimable device from being damaged when contact is made with the first frame or the mounting plate.

23. A method comprising:
providing a first frame attached to an aerial vehicle or a mounting plate attached to the aerial vehicle;
providing a second frame attached to an aimable device, wherein the aimable device is moveably connected to the aerial vehicle or the mounting plate; and
moving the aimable device and preventing the aimable device from pointing at the aerial vehicle, or pointing at or interfering with other devices mounted on the aerial vehicle whenever the first frame contacts the second frame.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising creating one or more forbidden zones within an operational zone of the aimable device by configuring a shape of the first frame and the second frame.

25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
determining a location of the aimable device on the aerial vehicle;
determining one or more forbidden zones for the aimable device based on one or more operational characteristics of the aimable device and the location of the aimable device with respect to the aerial vehicle; and
configuring a shape of the first frame and the second frame to create the one or more forbidden zones within an operation zone of the aimable device.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Turgeon Francis

Classifications

• F21S8/003

  Searchlights, i.e. outdoor lighting device producing powerful beam of parallel rays, e.g. for military or attraction purposes (searchlights mounted on a vehicle B60Q1/245) · CPC title

• B64D47/02

  Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices · CPC title

• F21V14/02 Primary

  by movement of light sources {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657)} · CPC title

• B64C27/04

  Helicopters · CPC title