Back to results
US 12,545,407 B2Granted
System and method for multiple liquid sample capture from aerial drones
AssigneeWill Lewis Consulting, LLC
InventorsWilliam H. Lewis, Thomas S. Lloyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, and method for capture of multiple liquid samples from an aerial drone, including an aerial drone; one or more liquid sample receptacles disposed within respective receptacle containing units provided on the aerial drone; and a gear drive mechanism configured to lower and raise the one or more liquid sample receptacles and the respective receptacle containing units into a body of liquid to capture multiple liquid samples from the body of liquid.
Claims10
A system for capture of multiple liquid samples from an aerial drone, the system comprising:
- an aerial drone;
- a plurality of liquid sample receptacles, each liquid sample receptacle disposed within a respective receptacle-containing unit, each receptacle-containing unit including a lid and capsule assembly having flow doors and the lid serving as orifice covers;
- a gear drive mechanism comprising a drive system including a gear and a cam bracket, the gear drive mechanism removably attached to the aerial drone;
- one or more docks coupled to the gear drive mechanism and configured to hold the respective receptacle-containing units;
- a sprung winch spool and a cable coupled to each receptacle-containing unit, the sprung winch spool configured to independently lower and raise the respective receptacle-containing unit into a body of liquid to capture a liquid sample;
- a shroud covering the receptacle-containing units when the receptacle-containing units are held at a docking point within the one or more docks, the shroud forming a mechanical barrier between individual receptacle-containing units and between the receptacle-containing units and a surrounding environment;
- wherein the system is configured such that the receptacle-containing units are deployed from the one or more docks via the gear drive mechanism, the sprung winch spool, and the cable at desired sampling locations and sampling times, and upon retrieval the receptacle-containing units are returned to the shroud and the flow doors and the lid are closed to prevent cross-contamination of collected samples during transit to and between sampling locations and a home base.
4 more elements
A method for capture of multiple liquid samples from an aerial drone, the method comprising:
- providing an aerial drone;
- providing a plurality of liquid sample receptacles, each liquid sample receptacle disposed within a respective receptacle-containing unit, each receptacle-containing unit including a lid and capsule assembly having flow doors and the lid serving as orifice covers;
- coupling a gear drive mechanism to the aerial drone, the gear drive mechanism comprising a drive system including a gear and a cam bracket, and one or more docks configured to hold the respective receptacle-containing units;
- coupling a sprung winch spool and a cable to each receptacle-containing unit;
- operating the gear drive mechanism and the sprung winch spool to lower the respective receptacle-containing unit from the one or more docks into a body of liquid to capture a liquid sample at a desired sampling location and sampling time;
- retrieving the receptacle-containing unit from the body of liquid by raising the receptacle-containing unit with the sprung winch spool and the cable;
- returning the receptacle-containing unit to the shroud while the shroud covers the receptacle-containing units held at a docking point within the one or more docks, the shroud forming a mechanical barrier between individual receptacle-containing units and between the receptacle-containing units and a surrounding environment;
- and
- closing the flow doors and the lid of the capsule assembly upon retrieval of the receptacle-containing unit to prevent cross-contamination of collected samples during transit to and between sampling locations and a home base.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.