Variable grip grapple
AssigneeCurtis Industries LLC
InventorSteven D. Smith, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a grapple assembly that includes a grapple unit having a fixed assembly, an articulating assembly having a pivot point located at a proximal end of the articulating assembly, pivotably coupling the articulating assembly to the fixed assembly, and an articulation connection point distal to the pivot point along the articulating assembly, and a linear actuator having a first actuator end and a second actuator end configured to move linearly relative to the first actuator end, the first actuator end being pivotably coupled to the fixed assembly and the second actuator end being pivotably coupled to the articulation connection point, and configured to actuate the articulating assembly relative to the fixed assembly.
Claims11
A grapple assembly comprising:
- a grapple unit comprising:
- a fixed assembly;
- an articulating assembly having:
- a pivot point located at a proximal end of the articulating assembly, pivotably coupling the articulating assembly to the fixed assembly;
- and
- an articulation connection point distal to the pivot point along the articulating assembly;
- the articulating assembly comprising:
- a proximal segment comprising the articulation connection point, the pivot point at a first segment end, and a second pivot point at a second segment end opposite the first segment end;
- a medial segment pivotably coupled to the second pivot point at a third segment end and extending to a fourth segment end;
- and
- a first linkage pivotably coupled to the fixed assembly at a first linkage end and pivotably coupled to the medial segment at a second linkage end opposite the first linkage end;
- and
- a linear actuator having a first actuator end and a second actuator end configured to move linearly relative to the first actuator end, the first actuator end being pivotably coupled to the fixed assembly and the second actuator end being pivotably coupled to the articulation connection point, and configured to actuate the articulating assembly relative to the fixed assembly.
A method for grappling comprising:
- actuating a first actuator end of a linear actuator linearly relative to a second actuator end of the linear actuator;
- and
- actuating, by the linear actuator, an articulating assembly relative to a fixed assembly at a pivot point located at a proximal end of the articulating assembly, pivotably coupling the articulating assembly to the fixed assembly, the first actuator end being pivotably coupled to the fixed assembly and the second actuator end being pivotably coupled to an articulation connection point of the articulating assembly, wherein actuating the articulating assembly further comprises:
- actuating, by the linear actuator, a proximal segment relative to the fixed assembly, the proximal segment comprising the articulation connection point, the pivot point at a first segment end, and a second pivot point at a second segment end opposite the first segment end;
- actuating a medial segment relative to the proximal segment and the fixed assembly, wherein the medial segment is pivotably coupled to the second pivot point at a third segment end and extending to a fourth segment end;
- and
- actuating, by the medial segment, a first linkage pivotably coupled to the fixed assembly at a first linkage end and pivotably coupled to the medial segment at a second linkage end opposite the first linkage end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.