Maneuverable capture apparatus for airborne deployment and retrieval of parasite aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11008102-B2
Application number	US-201816161455-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2018
Priority date	Oct 16, 2018
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

In an embodiment, a maneuverable capture device includes a frame, a plurality of rotors secured to the frame, an attachment point disposed on the frame for securing a cable of a carrier aircraft to the frame, and an attachment feature configured to secure maneuverable capture device to a dock of a parasite aircraft. In an embodiment, a method of docking a maneuverable capture device with a parasite aircraft includes positioning a carrier aircraft above a parasite aircraft, releasing the maneuverable capture device attached to the carrier aircraft by a cable from the carrier aircraft, flying the maneuverable capture device to a dock of the parasite aircraft, and securing the maneuverable capture device to the dock of the parasite aircraft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A maneuverable capture device comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of rotors secured to the frame;
an attachment point disposed on the frame for securing a cable of a carrier aircraft to the frame; and
an attachment feature configured to secure the frame to a dock of a parasite aircraft, the attachment feature comprising a rod that extends from the frame such that at least a portion of the rod is forward of the plurality of rotors, the rod configured to mate with a housing of the dock.

2. The maneuverable capture device of claim 1 , wherein the rod is configured to enter an opening in the housing of the dock.

3. The maneuverable capture device of claim 1 , wherein the rod comprises a groove configured to interact with a ball-lock disposed within the housing to secure the rod to the dock.

4. The maneuverable capture device of claim 1 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a hook that extends from the frame, the hook configured to mate with a pin of the dock.

5. The maneuverable capture device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pair of cross-supports attached to the frame; and
wherein the plurality of rotors comprises four rotors and each cross-support of the pair of cross-supports includes one rotor disposed at each end of the cross-support.

6. The maneuverable capture device of claim 1 , wherein each rotor of the plurality of rotors is configured to pivot relative to the frame to allow a direction of thrust of each rotor to be controlled.

7. The maneuverable capture device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing disposed on the frame.

8. The maneuverable capture device of claim 1 , further comprising a second attachment point for securing a cable of the carrier aircraft to the frame.

9. The maneuverable capture device of claim 1 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a hook that extends from the frame substantially perpendicularly to the rod, the hook configured to mate with a pin of the dock.

10. A method of docking a maneuverable capture device with a parasite aircraft, the method comprising:
positioning a carrier aircraft above the parasite aircraft;
releasing the maneuverable capture device from the carrier aircraft;
flying the maneuverable capture device to a dock of the parasite aircraft;
securing the maneuverable capture device to the dock of the parasite aircraft, wherein the securing comprising positioning a rod of the maneuverable capture device into a housing of the dock, and wherein the rod extends forward of a plurality of rotors of the maneuverable capture device; and
wherein the maneuverable capture device is attached to the carrier aircraft by a cable.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising letting out the cable from the carrier aircraft as the maneuverable capture device flies toward to the parasite aircraft.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the securing comprises positioning the rod of the maneuverable capture device into an opening in the housing of the dock.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the rod includes a groove that is configured to mate with a ball-lock disposed within the housing.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the securing comprises positioning a hook of the maneuverable capture device around a pin of the dock.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein, during the positioning the carrier aircraft above the parasite aircraft, the parasite aircraft is positioned on a loading surface.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein, during the positioning the carrier aircraft above the parasite aircraft, the parasite aircraft is in flight.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the flying the maneuverable capture device comprises pivoting the plurality of rotors of the maneuverable capture device to control a direction of thrust of the plurality of rotors.

18. A method of undocking a maneuverable capture device from a parasite aircraft, the method comprising:
releasing the maneuverable capture device from a dock of the parasite aircraft, the releasing comprising unlocking a rod of the maneuverable capture device, the rod extending forward of a plurality of rotors of the maneuverable capture device;
flying the maneuverable capture device away from the parasite aircraft; and
reeling in a cable secured between the maneuverable capture device and a carrier aircraft.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the releasing comprises unlocking a ball-lock from the rod of the maneuverable capture device.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the flying comprises pivoting the plurality of rotors of the maneuverable capture device to control a direction of thrust of the plurality of rotors.

Assignees

• Bell Textron Inc

Inventors

• Ryan Michael John
• Fenny Carlos Alexander
• Drennan Joseph Scott
• Mccullough John Richard
• Zimmerman Brett Rodney

Classifications

• B64U80/82

  Airborne vehicles · CPC title

• B64U70/20

  for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft · CPC title

• B64U2101/15

  for conventional or electronic warfare · CPC title

• B64U10/25

  Fixed-wing aircraft (VTOL aircraft B64U10/20) · CPC title

• B64U10/14

  with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters · CPC title