Multicopter-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017158352-A1
Application number	US-201715434722-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2017
Priority date	Apr 2, 2013
Publication date	Jun 8, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a multicopter-assisted launch and retrieval system generally including: (1) a multi-rotor modular multicopter attachable to (and detachable from) a fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; (2) a storage and launch system usable to store the modular multicopter and to facilitate launch of the fixed-wing aircraft into wing-borne flight; and (3) an anchor system usable (along with the multicopter and a flexible capture member) to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from wing-borne flight.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1 . A launch-assist assembly for facilitating launch of a fixed-wing aircraft, the launch-assist assembly comprising:
a base; a tray; and multiple legs pivotably attached to and extending between the tray and the base, wherein the tray is movable relative to the base between a storage position and a launch position via pivoting of the legs relative to the base, wherein the tray is a first distance from the base when in the storage position and a second distance from the base when in the launch position, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

2 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tray is positioned at a first angle relative to the base when the tray is in the storage position and at a second angle larger than the first angle relative to the base when the tray is in the launch position.

3 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first angle is about 0 degrees.

4 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second angle is about 10 degrees.

5 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 1 , which includes a locking device engageable to prevent the tray from moving from the launch position to the storage position.

6 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 1 , which includes multiple aircraft engagers each attached to the tray and sized and shaped to engage part of the fixed-wing aircraft.

7 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 6 , wherein two of the aircraft engagers are wing engagers sized and shaped to respectively engage opposing wings of the fixed-wing aircraft.

8 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 7 , which includes a fuselage-retaining device sized and shaped to receive a fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft.

9 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 1 , which includes a fuselage-retaining device sized and shaped to receive a fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft.

10 . A launch-assist assembly for facilitating launch of a fixed-wing aircraft, the launch-assist assembly comprising:
a tray; a first base bracket; a second base bracket spaced apart from the first base bracket; a first front leg pivotably connected to and extending between the first base bracket and the tray; a first rear leg pivotably connected to and extending between the first base bracket and the tray; a second front leg pivotably connected to and extending between the second base bracket and the tray; and a second rear leg pivotably connected to and extending between the second base bracket and the tray, wherein the tray is movable relative to the base brackets between a storage position and a launch position via pivoting of the legs relative to the base brackets, wherein the tray is a first distance from the base when in the storage position and a second distance from the base when in the launch position, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

11 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 10 , which includes a locking device connected to the first front leg between the tray and the first base bracket and to the first base bracket between the first front leg and the first rear leg, the locking device configured to prevent the first front leg from pivoting relative to the first base bracket.

12 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 10 , wherein the tray is positioned at a first angle relative to the first and second base brackets when the tray is in the storage position and at a second angle larger than the first angle relative to the first and second base brackets when the tray is in the launch position.

13 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first angle is about 0 degrees.

14 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 13 , wherein the second angle is about 10 degrees.

15 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 10 , which includes multiple aircraft engagers each attached to the tray and sized and shaped to engage part of the fixed-wing aircraft.

16 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 15 , wherein two of the aircraft engagers are wing engagers sized and shaped to respectively engage opposing wings of the fixed-wing aircraft.

17 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 16 , which includes a fuselage-retaining device sized and shaped to receive a fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft.

18 . The launch-assist assembly of claim 10 , which includes a fuselage-retaining device sized and shaped to receive a fuselage of the fixed-wing aircraft.

Assignees

• Hood Tech Corp

Inventors

• Von Flotow Andreas H
• Roeseler Corydon C

Classifications

• B64D5/00

  Aircraft transported by aircraft, e.g. for release or reberthing during flight · CPC title

• B64C11/48

  Units of two or more coaxial propellers · CPC title

• B64C25/10

  retractable, foldable, or the like · CPC title

• B64D3/00

  Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed · CPC title

• B64C27/26

  characterised by provision of fixed wings · CPC title