# US 10,479,473 B2 · Omnidirectional frangible joint > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,473 B2 - Document ID: US10479473B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/198,953 - Filed: 2016-06-30 - Published: 2018-01-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-30 - Assignees: Insitu, Inc. - Applicants: Insitu, Inc - Inventors: Chad Stuart Kossar; Bradley Yeomans; Matthew Grubb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479473B2 ## CPC - B64C 1/36: adapted to receive antennas or radomes - B64U 70/30: for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net - F16B 31/021: {by means of a frangible part (F16B31/025, F16B31/028 take precedence; break members in torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/1415)} - B64U 70/70: Launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails (launching from storage containers B64U70/50) - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A reusable frangible joint includes a first part having a hemispherical convex surface, and a second part defined by a reversely identical mating hemispherical concave surface. The convex and concave surfaces of the joint are secured and held together in compression until a predetermined applied load causes the joint to fail. The joint includes at least one replaceable fastener that rigidly secures and holds the respective concave and convex surfaces together. The fastener, designed to be the only part of the joint configured to fail, is sheared apart under the predetermined load, which results in separation of the concave and convex parts from one another irrespective of from which direction or to which part the impact load is applied. The failed fastener can then be replaced, wherein the frangible joint becomes immediately reusable, as having incurred no other damage by the impact load. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reusable frangible joint comprising: a first part having hemispherical convex surface; a second part having a reversely identical mating hemispherical concave surface, with the concave surface being held in compression against the convex surface; wherein each of the respective hemispherical concave and convex surfaces contains an aperture, and each of the apertures is aligned with the other; at least one fastener securing the respective concave and convex surfaces rigidly together; wherein the at least one fastener is spaced from, and oriented away from, the apertures; and wherein a predetermined impact load applied against either of the first or second parts is configured to shear the fastener, and to separate the first and second parts from one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reusable frangible joint of claim 1, wherein the impact load is omnidirectionally effective to shear the fastener, and wherein the fastener is sheared irrespective of whether applied to the first or second part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reusable frangible joint of claim 1, wherein the frangible joint is reusable upon removal of the sheared fastener and upon replacement thereof with a new fastener. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reusable frangible joint of claim 1, wherein the two hemispherical surfaces comprise a ball and socket joint. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The reusable frangible joint of claim 4, wherein the concave surface comprises the socket, and the convex surface comprises the ball. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The reusable frangible joint of claim 5, wherein the socket does not completely encompass the ball. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reusable frangible joint of claim 1, wherein two fasteners rigidly secure the respective concave and convex surfaces together. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The reusable frangible joint of claim 7, wherein the two fasteners are installed orthogonally with respect to one another. ### Claim 9 A system including a reusable frangible joint having a fracture pin on an unmanned aerial vehicle retrievable via a vertical pole and rope line, the system comprising: an elongated boom containing a frangible joint secured to an outer surface of an unmanned aerial vehicle, the frangible joint having proximal and distal portions with respect to the outer surface of the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the proximal and distal portions are secured together by a fracture pin; wherein each of the respective proximal and distal portions contains an aperture, and each of the apertures is aligned with the other; wherein the fracture pin is spaced from, and oriented away from, the apertures; an antenna attached to the distal portion of the frangible joint; wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to be launched, flown, and subsequently captured while in flight by means of a vertical pole and rope line, such that when the rope line impacts the distal portion of the frangible joint, an impact load will be sufficient to break the fracture pin; and wherein the fracture pin is removable, and the frangible joint is configured for installation of a new fracture pin within the frangible joint to provide for reuse of the frangible joint. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the impact load is omnidirectionally effective to shear the fastener, and wherein the fastener is sheared irrespective of whether the load is applied to the first or second portion of the frangible joint. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein one of the proximal and distal portions is concave and the other is convex. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the concave and convex portions comprise reversely identical mating parts of the joint. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the identical mating parts comprise hemispherical surfaces defining ball and socket structures. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein two fasteners rigidly secure the respective concave and convex surfaces together. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the ball and socket structures each include bushings, and wherein each of the fasteners is secured through a bushing of each of the ball and socket structures. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the two fasteners are installed orthogonally with respect to one another.