Detachable communications connector for vehicle stores and method therefor
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames V Eveker, Cory G Keller, Alberto A Martinez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A communications connector for a vehicle store, the communications connector includes a receptacle interface plate, and a communications receptacle configured for coupling with an umbilical lanyard plug of a host vehicle, the communications receptacle having at least one magnetic member configured to couple the communications receptacle to the receptacle interface plate so that the communications receptacle is decoupled from the receptacle interface plate upon release of the vehicle store from the host vehicle.
Claims20
A communications connector for a vehicle store, the communications connector comprising:
- a vehicle store receptacle interface plate;
- and
- a vehicle store communications receptacle configured for coupling with an umbilical lanyard plug of a host vehicle, the vehicle store communications receptacle having at least one magnetic member configured to couple the vehicle store communications receptacle to the vehicle store receptacle interface plate so that the vehicle store communications receptacle is decoupled from the vehicle store receptacle interface plate upon release of the vehicle store from the host vehicle.
A vehicle store comprising:
- a communications connector including
- a receptacle interface plate, and
- a communications receptacle configured for coupling with an umbilical lanyard plug of a host vehicle, the communications receptacle having at least one magnetic member configured to couple the communications receptacle to the receptacle interface plate so that the communications receptacle is decoupled from the receptacle interface plate upon release of the vehicle store from the host vehicle.
A method for decoupling a communications connector of a vehicle store when the vehicle store is released from a host vehicle where the communications connector includes a receptacle interface plate and a communications receptacle, the method comprising:
- decoupling the communications receptacle, that is coupled to an umbilical lanyard plug of a host vehicle, from the receptacle interface plate, that is coupled to the vehicle store;
- wherein a coupling force generated between at least one magnetic member, of the communications receptacle, and the receptacle interface plate is less than a coupling force between the umbilical lanyard plug and the communications receptacle so that the umbilical lanyard plug decouples the communications receptacle from the receptacle interface plate when the vehicle store is released from the host vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.