US 10,370,120 B1 · Launcher for an unmanned aircraft and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A launcher for an unmanned aircraft may comprise: a launch rail, a carriage, pair of pulley drivers, and a cable and pulley system. The pulley drivers may produce opposing pulley drive forces, which may be converted into a single launching force via the cable and pulley system for launching the carriage. The cable and pulley system may comprise: launch rail pulleys, pulley block pulleys, cam pulleys, drive cables, and one or more winches. Embodiments of the launcher may apply a constant force to the aircraft uniformly over the launch distance, such that the unmanned aircraft may be propelled within a relatively short distance by applying energy to the aircraft in the smallest period of time and without exceeding the aircraft's acceleration limits.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for converting a launcher from a stowed configuration into a launch configuration, the method comprising the steps:

providing the launcher in the stowed configuration, said launcher comprising:
(1) a launch rail having a forward beam portion and an aft beam portion, said forward beam portion being hingedly coupled to said aft beam portion via a hinge and is folded onto said aft beam portion, such that said forward beam portion is stacked on said aft beam portion, and (2) a pair of pulley drivers hingedly coupled to a proximal end of said launch rail, each being folded against an associated lateral side of said launch rail;
unfolding said launch rail by pivoting said forward beam portion away from said aft beam portion;
unfolding said pair of pulley drivers by pivoting said pair of pulley drivers away from said launch rail and having said pair of pulley drivers substantially orthogonal to said launch rail, such that said pulley drivers are substantially aligned and abutting each other;
and
installing a leg at said distal end of said launch rail.

3 more elements

A method for converting a launcher from a stowed configuration into a launch configuration, the method comprising the steps:

providing the launcher in the stowed configuration, said launcher comprising:
(1) a launch rail having a forward beam portion and an aft beam portion, said forward beam portion being hingedly coupled to said aft beam portion via a hinge and is folded onto said aft beam portion, such that said forward beam portion is stacked on said aft beam portion;
(2) a pair of pulley drivers hingedly coupled to a proximal end of said launch rail, each being folded against an associated lateral side of said launch rail;
(3) a pair of forward beam wheels rotatably coupled to said aft beam portion of said launch rail;
and
(4) an adjustable leveling mount coupled to each of said pair of pulley drivers;
unfolding said launch rail by pivoting said forward beam portion away from said aft beam portion;
unfolding said pair of pulley drivers away from said launch rail and having said pair of pulley drivers substantially orthogonal to said launch rail, such that said pulley drivers are substantially aligned and abutting each other;
lifting a distal end of said launch rail;
installing a leg at said distal end of said launch rail;
removing said pair of forward beam wheels from said launch rail;
and
deploying said adjustable leveling mount for each of said pair of pulley drivers.

10 more elements

A method for launching an unmanned aircraft from a launcher having a pair of pulley drivers and a cable and pulley system, the method comprising the steps:

providing a launcher having:
(1) a launch rail;
(2) a carriage slidably engaged with said launch rail;
(3) a pair of pulley drivers hingedly coupled to a proximal end of said launch rail and each comprising a slider assembly and one or more compression springs, said pair of pulley drivers being adapted to create pulley drive forces;
and
(4) a cable and pulley system for converting both said pulley drive forces into a launching force for said carriage;
wherein said cable and pulley system comprises:
(1) a winch;
(2) a plurality of launch rail pulleys;
(3) a centering pulley sheave located on said carriage;
(4) a pair of drive cam pulleys, each being rotatably coupled to an associated one of said slider assemblies;
(5) a pair of spring compression cam pulleys axially fixed with said drive cam pulleys;
(6) one or more drive cables in physical communication with said winch, said plurality of launch rail pulleys, said pair of drive cam pulleys, and said centering pulley sheave, and
(7) spring compression cam cable having opposing ends coupled to said spring compression cam pulleys;
mounting an unmanned aircraft on said carriage;
actuating said winch to retract said one or more drive cables, said retraction causing said one or more drive cables to rotate said drive cam pulleys and said pair of spring compression cam pulleys, said rotation of said spring compression cam pulleys resulting with a winding of said spring compression cam cable and a biasing of said one or more compression springs by said slider assemblies;
and
launching, by said pair of pulley drivers, by releasing a quick release fastener coupled to an attachment point of said carriage.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Launcher for an unmanned aircraft and methods of use thereof

Life of this patent

Launcher for an unmanned aircraft and methods of use thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20