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US 12,715,741 B2Granted
Drogue for a load and related systems
AssigneeVita Inclinata IP Holdings LLC
InventorRobert C. Cockell, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drogue for stabilizing a load suspended from a carrier may include a sidewall comprising a sheet material. The sheet material defines a perimeter edge having a coupling portion and leading edge, where the coupling portion has a trailing edge opposing the leading edge, and a side edge extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The drogue also includes a coupling element configured to detachably connect the trailing edge and the side edge to a load having a load surface and an opposing bottom surface, wherein the sidewall is positioned below the bottom surface of the load when so detachably connected.
Claims17
A drogue comprising:
- a sidewall and a coupling element;
- wherein the sidewall comprises a sheet material, wherein the sheet material comprises a perimeter edge;
- wherein the perimeter edge comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, and the coupling element;
- wherein the first side edge and the second side edge span from the leading edge to the trailing edge;
- wherein the coupling element is to detachably secure the drogue to a load;
- wherein the leading edge and sheet material are to form an air scoop relative to the load;
- wherein the leading edge is to be perpendicular to a major axis of the load wherein the trailing edge is affixed to a foot end of the load;
- wherein an opening of the air scoop formed by the leading edge faces the head end of the load;
- further comprising an collapsable inlet opener, wherein the collapsable inlet opener comprises channel in the leading edge and biasing material inside the channel, wherein the biasing material comprises a dense material, wherein the collapsable inlet opener is to bias the leading edge to separate from the load and open the air scoop in the airflow due to gravity acting on the dense material;
- wherein the air scoop is to produce a drag force on the drogue in an airflow, wherein the coupling element is to transfer the drag force to the load.
7 more elements
An air transport system comprising:
- a litter and a drogue;
- wherein the drogue comprises a sidewall and a coupling element;
- wherein the sidewall comprises a sheet material, wherein the sheet material comprises a perimeter edge;
- wherein the perimeter edge comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, and a coupling element;
- wherein the first side edge and the second side edge span from the leading edge to the trailing edge;
- wherein the coupling element is to detachably secure the drogue to the litter;
- wherein the leading edge and sheet material are to form an air scoop relative to the litter;
- wherein the leading edge is not connected to the litter;
- wherein the leading edge is perpendicular to the litter wherein the trailing edge is affixed to a foot end of the litter;
- wherein an opening of the air scoop formed by the leading edge faces the head end of the litter;
- further comprising a collapsable inlet opener, wherein the collapsable Inlet opener comprises a channel in the leading edge and a biasing material inside the channel, wherein the biasing material comprises a dense material, wherein the collapsable inlet opener is to bias the leading edge to separate from the litter and open the air scoop in the airflow due to gravity acting on the biasing material;
- wherein the air scoop is to produce a drag force on the drogue in an airflow, and wherein the coupling element is to transfer the drag force to the litter.
9 more elements
An air transport system comprising:
- a helicopter, a litter, a cable system, and a drogue;
- wherein the cable system is to detachably couple the litter to the helicopter such that the litter is suspended below the helicopter when the helicopter is in flight;
- wherein the drogue comprises a sidewall and a coupling element;
- wherein the sidewall comprises a sheet material, wherein the sheet material comprises a perimeter edge;
- wherein the perimeter edge comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, and a coupling element;
- wherein the first side edge and the second side edge span from the leading edge to the trailing edge;
- wherein the coupling element is to detachably secure the drogue to the litter;
- wherein the leading edge and sheet material are to form an air scoop relative to the litter;
- wherein the leading edge is perpendicular to the litter wherein the trailing edge is affixed to a foot end of the load;
- wherein an opening of the air scoop formed by the leading edge faces the head end of the litter;
- further comprising a collapsable inlet opener, wherein the collapsable inlet opener comprises a channel in the leading edge and a biasing material inside the channel, wherein the biasing material comprises a dense material, wherein the collapsable inlet opener is to bias the leading edge to separate from the litter and open the air scoop in the airflow due at least in part to a force of gravity acting on the dense material;
- wherein the air scoop is to produce a drag force on the drogue in an airflow, and wherein the coupling element is to transfer the drag force to the litter, and wherein the leading edge is positioned proximate to an aft end of the litter relative to a forward direction of flight of the helicopter.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.