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US 12,662,258 B2Granted
Movable platforms for vehicle capture assemblies and related devices, assemblies, systems, and methods
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorsEmmanuel Simpri, Jack Purcell, Matthew Alan Michel, Michael J. Foster, Quentin Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Movable platforms for use with a vehicle capture assembly of a capture vehicle and related devices, systems, and methods include floors with rotatable legs extending between the floors. The rotation of the legs relative to one or more of the floors enables the movable platform to move from an initial position to a displaced position as one or more of the floors move relative to each other.
Claims10
A vehicle capture system for use with a capture vehicle, the vehicle capture system comprising:
- a probe assembly including one or more retention elements for engaging with and securing a target vehicle;
- and
- a movable platform coupled to at least a portion of the probe assembly, the movable platform comprising:
- a first lateral section coupled with a portion of the capture vehicle;
- a second lateral section coupled with the probe assembly;
- legs extending between the first lateral section and the second lateral section, the legs being rotationally coupled to at least one of the first lateral section or the second lateral section and configured to rotate relative to the at least one of the first lateral section or the second lateral section, wherein rotation of the legs relative to the at least one of the first lateral section or the second lateral section enables the movable platform to move from an initial position to a displaced position as the second lateral section translates relative to the first lateral section;
- and
- a floating stop configured to rotate when the legs rotate in one rotational direction relative to the at least one of the first lateral section or the second lateral section.
5 more elements
A vehicle capture system for use with a capture vehicle, the vehicle capture system comprising:
- a probe assembly including one or more retention elements for engaging with and securing a target vehicle;
- and
- a movable platform coupled to at least a portion of the probe assembly, the movable platform comprising:
- a first lateral section coupled with a portion of the capture vehicle;
- a second lateral section coupled with the probe assembly;
- legs extending between the first lateral section and the second lateral section, the legs being rotationally coupled to at least one of the first lateral section or the second lateral section and configured to rotate relative to the at least one of the first lateral section or the second lateral section, wherein rotation of the legs relative to the at least one of the first lateral section or the second lateral section enables the movable platform to move from an initial position to a displaced position as the second lateral section translates relative to the first lateral section, wherein the legs exhibit a nested configuration where a first set of the legs longitudinally overlaps with a second set of the legs;
- and
- a floating stop configured to rotate when the legs rotate in one rotational direction relative to the at least one of the first lateral section or the second lateral section.
5 more elements
A vehicle capture system for use with a capture vehicle, the vehicle capture system comprising:
- a probe assembly including one or more retention elements for engaging with and securing a target vehicle;
- and
- a movable platform coupled to at least a portion of the probe assembly, the movable platform comprising:
- a first floor configured to be coupled with a portion of the capture vehicle;
- a second floor configured to be coupled with the probe assembly;
- and
- at least one intermediate floor between the first floor and the second floor, the first floor coupled to the at least one intermediate floor on a first side of the at least one intermediate floor with a first set of legs, the second floor coupled to the at least one intermediate floor on a second side of the at least one intermediate floor with a second set of legs, wherein the first side of the at least one intermediate floor is positioned distal to the first floor and relatively closer to the second floor, and wherein the second side of the at least one intermediate floor is positioned distal to the second floor and relatively closer to the first floor;
- wherein rotation of the first set of legs or the second set of legs enables the movable platform to move from an initial position to a displaced position as the first floor translates laterally relative to the second floor in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the movable platform.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.