High-place observation device including a gas balloon and a detachable rotorcraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11487189-B2
Application number	US-201716630426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2017
Priority date	Jul 12, 2017
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A high-place observation device for stably performing a fixed-point observation of a target object from a high place is provided. The high-place observation device provides a long pole which is formed to extend and contract freely and which stands on the installation surface, a rotorcraft for positioning the pole to a desirable height position by extending and contracting the pole by a floating force in a connected state, a winding mechanism which fixes and maintains the height position of the pole to the height position set by the rotorcraft, and a camera attached to the rotorcraft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A high-place observation device comprising:
a base which stands on an installation surface;
a rod-shaped body formed to extend and contract freely and supported by the base;
a rotorcraft connected to the rod-shaped body for positioning the rod-shaped body to a desired height position by extending and contracting the rod-shaped body via a floating force generated by the rotation of a plurality of rotary blades in a connected state;
a coupler configured to couple the rotorcraft to the rod-shaped body and release the rotorcraft from the rod-shaped body;
a gas balloon connected to the rod-shaped body for positioning the rod-shaped body to a desired height position in collaboration with the rotorcraft;
a maintaining means for fixing and maintaining the height position of the rod-shaped body at the height position set via the gas balloon and the rotorcraft; and
an observation device attached to the rotorcraft,
wherein the maintaining means is a winding mechanism comprising:
a reel formed to rotate freely around an axis; and
a wire which is wound around the reel to be withdrawn from the reel with the extension of the rod-shaped body and wound around the reel with the contraction of the rod-shaped body.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the winding mechanism comprises a biasing means that constantly biases the reel in a direction in which the wire is wound around the reel.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rod-shaped body comprises;
an outer cylindrical body; and
a plurality of inner cylindrical bodies whose diameters become gradually smaller than the outer cylindrical body,
wherein each inner cylindrical body is sequentially disposed inside the outer cylindrical body such that the diameter of each inner cylindrical body becomes gradually smaller and is formed in a hollow shape.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the rod-shaped body comprises;
an outer cylindrical body; and
a plurality of inner cylindrical bodies whose diameters become gradually smaller than the outer cylindrical body,
wherein each inner cylindrical body is sequentially disposed inside the outer cylindrical body such that the diameter of each inner cylindrical body becomes gradually smaller and is formed in a hollow shape.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of the rod-shaped body is coupled to the base.

Assignees

• Aeronext Inc

Inventors

• Suzuki Yoichi

Classifications

• B64U2201/202

  using tethers for connecting to ground station · CPC title

• B64U10/30

  Lighter-than-air aircraft, e.g. aerostatic aircraft · CPC title

• B64U70/30

  for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net · CPC title

• B64F3/00

  Ground installations specially adapted for captive aircraft · CPC title

• B64B1/54

  connecting two or more balloons in superimposed relationship · CPC title