Rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11608191-B2
Application number	US-202016902637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2020
Priority date	Aug 17, 2016
Publication date	Mar 21, 2023
Grant date	Mar 21, 2023

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system includes a modular multicopter, a storage and launch system, an anchor system, a flexible capture member, and an aircraft-landing structure. The multicopter is attachable to the fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launching the fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight. The storage and launch system is usable to store the multicopter (when disassembled) and to act as a launch mount for the fixed-wing aircraft by retaining the fixed-wing aircraft in a desired launch orientation. The anchor system is usable with the multicopter, the flexible capture member, and the aircraft-landing structure to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An anchor system for retrieving an aircraft from free flight, the anchor system comprising:
a base;
a drum shaft rotatably mounted to the base;
a drum attached to the drum shaft to rotate with the drum shaft; and
a motor comprising a motor shaft operatively connected to the drum shaft to impose a regulated torque on the drum shaft independent of spin direction of the motor shaft, wherein the motor is configured to impose a first regulated torque on the drum shaft when an opposing torque exerted on the drum shaft is less than the first regulated torque and to impose a second regulated torque different from the first regulated torque on the drum shaft when the opposing torque exceeds the first regulated torque.

2. The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to impose the first regulated torque when the drum shaft spins in a first direction and to impose the second regulated torque different from the first regulated torque when the drum shaft spins in a second direction different from the first direction.

3. The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises a hydraulic motor, the anchor system further comprising a hydraulic system comprising the hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor, the hydraulic system operatively connected to the drum shaft via the motor.

4. The anchor system of claim 1 , wherein the second regulated torque is greater than the first regulated torque.

5. The anchor system of claim 4 , wherein the hydraulic system further comprises a pressure relief valve having: (1) an inlet in fluid communication with an inlet of the hydraulic motor and an outlet of the hydraulic pump; and (2) an outlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the hydraulic motor, wherein the pressure relief valve is movable between a closed configuration in which the pressure relief valve prevents flow of hydraulic fluid from its inlet to its outlet and an open configuration in which the pressure relief valve enables flow of the hydraulic fluid from its inlet to its outlet, wherein the pressure relief valve is biased to the closed configuration and configured to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration responsive to a pressure of the hydraulic fluid at the inlet of the pressure relief valve reaching a pressure relief valve set point.

6. The anchor system of claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic system is configured such that a pressure of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor is a first pressure when the hydraulic motor imposes the first regulated torque on the drum shaft.

7. The anchor system of claim 6 , wherein the hydraulic system is configured such that the pressure of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor is a second pressure greater than the first pressure when the opposing torque exceeds the first regulated torque.

8. The anchor system of claim 7 , wherein the hydraulic system further comprises an accumulator having an inlet/outlet port in fluid communication with an outlet port of the hydraulic pump.

9. The anchor system of claim 8 , wherein the hydraulic system further comprises a pressure switch configured to measure a pressure of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor and: (1) electrically connect the hydraulic pump and a power source responsive the pressure of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor being below a pressure switch lower set point; and (2) electrically disconnect the hydraulic pump from the power source when the pressure of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor equals or exceeds a pressure switch upper set point that is greater than the pressure switch lower set point.

10. The anchor system of claim 3 , wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:
a pressure relief valve between and in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor; and
a tank in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor and the hydraulic pump.

11. The anchor system of claim 10 , wherein the hydraulic system further comprises an accumulator between the pressure relief valve and the hydraulic motor.

12. The anchor system of claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic system further comprises a pressure switch configured to measure a pressure of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor and: (1) electrically connect the hydraulic pump and a power source responsive the pressure of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor being below a pressure switch lower set point; and (2) electrically disconnect the hydraulic pump from the power source when the pressure of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor equals or exceeds a pressure switch upper set point that is greater than the pressure switch lower set point.

13. The anchor system of claim 10 , wherein the hydraulic system is configured such that, when the opposing torque is less than the first regulated torque, the hydraulic pump pumps hydraulic fluid from the tank through the hydraulic motor and back into the tank to cause the hydraulic motor to impose the first regulated torque on the drum shaft.

14. The anchor system of claim 13 , wherein the hydraulic system is configured such that, when the opposing torque is greater than the first regulated torque, hydraulic fluid flows in a circuit between the hydraulic motor and the pressure relief valve and the hydraulic motor imposes the second regulated torque on the drum shaft.

15. The anchor system of claim 1 , further comprising a level wind system attached to the base, the level wind system comprising a level wind shaft defining a groove and a traveler slidably mounted to the level wind shaft such that a guide element of the traveler is received in the groove.

16. The anchor system of claim 15 , wherein the level wind shaft is operably connected to the drum shaft such that rotation of the drum shaft causes rotation of the level wind shaft, which causes the traveler to slide relative to the level wind shaft.

17. An anchor system for retrieving an aircraft from free flight, the anchor system comprising:
a base;
a drum shaft rotatably mounted to the base;
a drum attached to the drum shaft to rotate with the drum shaft; and
a motor comprising a motor shaft operatively connected to the drum shaft to impose a regulated torque on the drum shaft independent of spin direction of the motor shaft; and
a level wind system attached to the base, the level wind system comprising a level wind shaft defining a groove and a traveler slidably mounted to the level wind shaft such that a guide element of the traveler is received in the groove, wherein the level wind shaft is operably connected to the drum shaft such that rotation of the drum shaft causes rotation of the level wind shaft, which causes the traveler to slide relative to the level wind shaft.

Assignees

• Hood Tech Corp

Inventors

• Von Flotow Andreas H
• Roeseler Corydon C
• Reiss Daniel Pepin
• Massong Jessie

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U20/94

  of rotors or rotor motors · CPC title

• B64U30/291

  Detachable rotors or rotor supports · CPC title

• B64U70/00

  Launching, take-off or landing arrangements · CPC title

• B64U20/80

  Arrangement of on-board electronics, e.g. avionics systems or wiring · CPC title