Structures to limit collision damage for aircraft
AssigneeScientific Applications & Research Associates, Inc.
InventorsKeenan A. Wyrobek, Gavin K. Ananda Krishnan, Brendan J. D. Wade, Philip M. Green, Randall R. Patterson
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Abstract
Described herein is an aircraft. The aircraft includes a peripheral assembly, such as a sensor probe. The aircraft further includes a release assembly connecting the peripheral assembly to a portion of the aircraft. The release assembly is configured to separate the peripheral assembly and the portion upon receipt of a threshold force. The release assembly may be configured to allow for the quick release, such as via a snap-fit connection, between the peripheral assembly and the portion of the aircraft.
Claims19
An aircraft comprising:
- a wing assembly,
- a peripheral assembly comprising:
- a sensor probe;
- and
- a release assembly connecting the peripheral assembly to a portion of the aircraft, wherein the release assembly separates from the peripheral assembly and the portion of the aircraft upon receipt of a threshold impact force, the release assembly comprising:
- a connecting feature that releasably connects the sensor probe to the portion of the aircraft and extends from the release assembly into the wing assembly, and
- wherein the connecting feature is a flexible component that deforms upon the release assembly receiving the threshold impact force, permitting separation of the peripheral assembly from the portion of the aircraft.
An aircraft comprising:
- a wing assembly;
- and
- a peripheral assembly releasably connected to the wing assembly comprising:
- a sensor probe, and
- a release assembly connecting the wing assembly and the peripheral assembly comprising:
- at least one flexible component extending from the peripheral assembly and into the wing assembly, and
- wherein the at least one flexible component deforms and the release assembly separates from the wing assembly upon receipt of a threshold impact force;
- wherein the wing assembly and the peripheral assembly cooperate to selectively release the peripheral assembly from the wing assembly while the wing assembly remains substantially intact within the aircraft.
A method comprising:
- connecting a peripheral assembly to a wing assembly of an aircraft by defining a snap-fit connection between a connecting feature of the peripheral assembly and a catch of the wing assembly, wherein the connecting feature is a flexible component that extends from the peripheral assembly into the wing assembly and to the catch;
- and
- releasing the peripheral assembly from the wing assembly by elastically deforming the connecting feature upon receipt of a threshold impact force, wherein:
- the threshold impact force is oriented transverse to the connecting feature,
- the portion remains substantially intact during the releasing of the peripheral assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.