# US 10,501,184 B2 · Compliant aft pivot assemblies and systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,184 B2 - Document ID: US10501184B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/181,216 - Filed: 2016-06-13 - Published: 2017-08-24 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-24 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Raytheon Company - Inventors: Joseph P. Nipper; Zachary Scott Zutavern; Arthur J. Mathews - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501184B2 ## CPC - B64D 1/12: Releasing - B64D 1/00: Dropping, ejecting, releasing or receiving articles, liquids, or the like, in flight (refuelling during flight B64D39/00; launching apparatus for projecting projectiles or missiles F41F1/00, F41F7/00; rocket or torpedo launchers F41F3/00; weapon sights or aiming F41G) - B64D 37/12: jettisonable - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT ## Abstract An aft pivot assembly can include a mount device securable to an aft portion of a payload of an aircraft for facilitating release of the payload. The aft pivot assembly can include a shaft operable with the mount device and a release component, the shaft being rotatable about multiple shaft axes relative to the mount device so as to either minimize or eliminate carriage loads about the aft portion, while reacting jettison loads during a jettison event or phase. The rotation of the shaft about its shaft axes can further be limited via a limit device. As the payload transitions from a carriage phase to a jettison phase, the shaft moves in multiple degrees of freedom and in multiple axes relative to the mount device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aft pivot assembly facilitating release of a payload from a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a mount device securable to an aft portion of a payload of a vehicle; a shaft operable with the mount device, and rotatable about multiple shaft axes relative to the mount device; and a release component interfaced with the shaft and removably coupleable to the vehicle, wherein, in response to release of a forward attachment portion coupling the payload to the vehicle, the shaft is operable to move in multiple degrees of freedom in and about multiple axes as the payload transitions from a carriage phase to a jettison phase, whereby the assembly is configured to either minimize or eliminate carriage loads about the aft portion of the payload. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a limit device operable with the mount device to limit rotation of the shaft about the multiple shaft axes during the jettison phase. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein the limit device comprises a collar extending from the mount device, the shaft extending through the collar, and wherein a volume of space is defined between the collar and the shaft to facilitate movement of the shaft about at least two shaft axes relative to the mount device during the jettison phase. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, wherein the collar includes a conical opening having an inner stop surface configured to limit movement of the shaft about its y-axis and z-axis relative to the mount device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein the limit device comprises a compliant bearing situated between the shaft and the mount device, the compliant bearing facilitating movement of the shaft about its y-axis and/or its z-axis relative to the mount device during the jettison phase. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein the limit device comprises a leaf spring situated between the shaft and the mount device, the leaf spring facilitating movement of the shaft about its y-axis and/or its z-axis relative to the mount device during the jettison phase. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spherical bearing rotatably coupling the shaft to the mount device, wherein the spherical bearing facilitates movement of the shaft about its y-axis and z-axis relative to the mount device during the jettison phase. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a retainer rotationally attaching the spherical bearing to the shaft to facilitate rotation of the shaft about its x-axis relative to the mount device during the jettison phase. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the release component is rotatably coupled to the shaft to facilitate rotation of the shaft about its x-axis and to facilitate translation of the shaft along its x-axis relative to the release component during the jettison phase. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes at least one stop portion to limit movement of the shaft along its x-axis relative to the release component during the jettison phase, the at least one stop being engageable to react to jettison loads during the jettison phase. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mount device comprises a saddle mount having an upper plate and a lower plate fastened together about a wall of the payload, the lower plate being positioned opposite the upper plate. ### Claim 12 A payload system releasable from an aircraft, the payload system comprising: a payload having a forward attachment portion releasably coupled to an aircraft, and an aft portion releasably coupled to the aircraft; an aft pivot assembly secured to the aft portion of the payload, the aft pivot assembly comprising: a mount device supported about the payload; a shaft operable with the mount device, and rotatable about multiple shaft axes relative to the mount device; and a release component interfaced with the shaft and removably coupled to the aft portion of the aircraft, wherein, in response to release of the forward attachment portion of the payload from the aircraft, the shaft is operable to move in multiple degrees of freedom in and about multiple axes relative to the mount device as the payload transitions from a carriage phase to a jettison phase, whereby the assembly is configured to either minimize or eliminate carriage loads about the aft portion of the payload. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a limit device operable with the mount device to limit rotation of the shaft about the multiple shaft axes during the jettison phase. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the limit device comprises a collar extending from the mount device, the shaft extending through the collar, and wherein a volume of space is defined between the collar and the shaft to facilitate movement of the shaft about at least two shaft axes relative to the mount device during the jettison phase, and wherein the collar comprises an inner stop surface limiting movement of the shaft about its y-axis and z-axis relative to the mount device during the jettison phase. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the limit device comprises a compliant bearing situated between the shaft and the mount device, the compliant bearing facilitating movement of the shaft about its y-axis and/or its z-axis relative to the mount device during the jettison phase. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the limit device comprises a leaf spring situated between the shaft and the mount device, the leaf spring facilitating movement of the shaft about its y-axis and/or its z-axis relative to the mount device during the jettison phase. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further comprising a spherical bearing rotatably coupling the shaft to the mount device, wherein the spherical bearing facilitates movement of the shaft about its y-axis and z-axis relative to the mount device during the jettison phase. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the release component is rotatably coupled to the shaft to facilitate rotation of the shaft about its x-axis and to facilitate translation of the shaft along its x-axis during the jettison phase. ### Claim 19 A method for facilitating release of a payload from a vehicle, the method comprising: providing an aft pivot assembly operable to secure a payload to a vehicle about an aft portion of the payload, the aft pivot assembly comprising: a mount device securable to an aft portion of a payload of a vehicle; a shaft operable with the mount device; and a release component interfaced with the shaft and removably coupled to the vehicle; facilitating release of a forward attachment portion coupling the payload to the vehicle to initiate transition of the payload from a carriage phase to a jettison phase; facilitating rotation of the shaft about multiple shaft axes relative to the mount device; and facilitating movement of the shaft in multiple degrees of freedom in and about multiple axes relative to the mount device as the payload transitions from the carriage phase to the jettison phase, whereby the assembly is configured to either minimize or eliminate carriage loads about the aft portion of the payload. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising facilitating limitation of the rotation of the shaft about the shaft axes.