Structures to limit collision damage for aircraft
AssigneeZipline International Inc.
InventorsKeenan A. Wyrobek, Gavin K. Ananda Krishnan, Brendan J.D. Wade, Philip M. Green, Randall R. Patterson
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
An aircraft comprising:
- a peripheral assembly;
- and
- a release assembly connecting the peripheral assembly to a portion of the aircraft, the release assembly configured to separate the peripheral assembly and the portion upon receipt of a threshold force.
An aircraft comprising:
- a wing assembly;
- and
- a peripheral assembly releasably connected to the wing assembly, 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 portion of an aircraft by defining a snap-fit connection between a connecting feature of the peripheral assembly and a catch of the portion of the aircraft;
- and
- releasing the peripheral assembly from a portion of the aircraft by elastically deforming the connecting feature, wherein the portion remains substantially intact during the releasing of the peripheral assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.