# US 10,308,375 B2 · Capturing hook for aerial system

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- Number: US 10,308,375 B2
- Document ID: US10308375B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/291,870
- Filed: 2016-10-12
- Published: 2017-01-26
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14
- Assignees: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
- Applicants: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
- Inventors: James Peverill; Adam Woodworth; Benjamin Freudberg; Dan Cottrell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308375B2

## CPC

- B60L 53/68: Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
- B60L 53/14: Conductive energy transfer
- B64C 25/68: Arrester hooks
- B64D 47/04: the lighting devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead
- B64F 1/029: {using a cable or tether}
- B64U 10/25: Fixed-wing aircraft (VTOL aircraft B64U10/20)
- B64U 50/19: using electrically powered motors
- B64U 50/34: In-flight charging (photovoltaics B64U50/31)
- B64U 70/30: for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
- G05D 1/101: {specially adapted for aircraft}
- B60L 2200/10: Air crafts
- B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography
- B64U 2201/10: autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A capturing hook for engaging a cable during capture and release of an aerial vehicle may comprise a first and second gate pivotally supported at their first ends by a base portion and each being movable between a closed position and an open position, but spring-biased to the closed position. The capturing hook may further include a latch device comprising a movable locking part biased by a return spring to a locked position to lock the second gate in the closed position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A capturing hook for engaging a cable during capture and release of an aerial vehicle, the capturing hook comprising:
a first gate pivotally supported at a first end by a base portion and movable between a closed position and an open position;
a first return spring biasing the first gate to the closed position;
a second gate pivotally supported at a first end by the base portion and movable between a closed position and an open position;
a second return spring biasing the second gate to the closed position; and
a latch device comprising a movable locking part biased by a return spring to a locked position to lock the second gate in the closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the capturing hook releases the cable by moving the second gate into the open position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the capturing hook captures the cable by moving the first gate into the open position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the latch device's movable locking part is released from the locked position by a servo-controlled release wire, thereby allowing the second gate to move to the open position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the first gate and the second gate are fabricated from a non-conductive material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The capturing hook of claim 5, wherein the first gate comprises a first electrical contact and the second gate comprises a second electrical contact.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The capturing hook of claim 6, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are fabricated from a non-corrosive material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the base portion is a shank of an arresting device coupled to the aerial vehicle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The capturing hook of claim 1, wherein the capturing hook further comprises an induction coil to facilitate inductive coupling with the cable.

### Claim 10

An aerial vehicle for capturing an arresting cable, the aerial vehicle comprising:
a fuselage having a propulsion system; and
an arresting device coupled to the fuselage to capture the arresting cable,
wherein the arresting device includes a shank coupled to the fuselage at its first end and to a capturing hook at its second end,
wherein the capturing hook comprises a first gate, a first return, a second gate, a second return, and a latch device,
wherein the first gate is pivotally supported at a first end by the shank and movable between a closed position and an open position, the first return spring biasing the first gate to the closed position,
wherein the second gate pivotally supported at a first end by the shank and movable between a closed position and an open position, the second return spring biasing the second gate to the closed position, and
wherein the latch device includes a movable locking part biased by a return spring to a locked position to lock the second gate in the closed position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the capturing hook releases the arresting cable by moving the second gate into the open position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the capturing hook captures the arresting cable by moving the first gate into the open position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the movable locking part is released from the locked position by a servo-controlled release wire, thereby allowing the second gate to move to the open position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first gate and the second gate are fabricated from a non-conductive material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The aerial vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first gate comprises a first electrical contact and the second gate comprises a second electrical contact.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The aerial vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are fabricated from a non-corrosive material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the aerial vehicle is configured to couple and decouple with the arresting cable via the capturing hook.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein the capturing hook further comprises an induction coil to facilitate inductive coupling with the arresting cable.

### Claim 19

A capturing hook for engaging a cable during capture and release of an aerial vehicle, the capturing hook comprising:
a first gate pivotally supported at a first end by a base portion and movable between a closed position and an open position;
a first return spring biasing the first gate to the closed position;
a second gate pivotally supported at a first end by the base portion and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first gate comprises a first electrical contact and the second gate comprises a second electrical contact;
a second return spring biasing the second gate to the closed position; and
a latch device comprising a movable locking part biased by a return spring to a locked position to lock the second gate in the closed position.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The capturing hook of claim 19, wherein the movable locking part is released from the locked position by a servo-controlled release wire, thereby allowing the second gate to move to the open position.