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US 11,565,812 B2Granted
Payload activation device
AssigneeBAE SYSTEMS plc
InventorGordon John Victor McArthur
Life of this patent
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Abstract
When the tension across the cord's 24 length reaches a predetermined threshold, an activation mechanism within the payload 16 and coupled to one of the cord's 24 ends is actuated in order to activate the payload 16. Activating the payload 16 may include deactivating a SAFU, activating a motor 32 disposed within the housing, or causing flight controls to extend from a housed position. Here, “within the payload 16” may mean part of the activation mechanism is disposed on the outer surface or housing of the payload 16.
Claims6
A deployable payload for an aircraft, the deployable payload comprising:
- a payload activation device comprising:
- a housing;
- a cord disposed within the housing and arranged to be coupled, at a first end, to an activation mechanism within a payload;
- and
- a retardation device coupled to a second end of the cord,
- wherein, in a first configuration, the retardation device is retained within or adjacent to the housing, and, in a second configuration, the retardation device is released from the housing to tauten the cord, and
- wherein, at a first predetermined tension, the cord is configured to actuate the activation mechanism,
- wherein the deployable payload comprises the activation mechanism for activating the payload, the activation mechanism being releasably coupled to the first end of the cord,
- wherein, when released, the retardation device is arranged to tauten the cord to actuate the activation mechanism when the cord is at the first predetermined tension between the first end and second end, and
- wherein the cord is configured to separate from the activation mechanism when the cord is at a second predetermined tension between the first end and second end, the second tension being greater than the first tension.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.