US 7,165,745 B2 · Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including releasably gripping aircraft during launch and braking subsequent grip motion

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes a launch carriage that moves along a launch guide. The carriage can accelerate when portions of the carriage and/or the launch guide move relative to each other. A gripper carried by the launch carriage can have at least one grip portion in contact with the aircraft while the launch carriage accelerates along the launch axis. The at least one grip portion can move out of contact with the aircraft as the launch carriage decelerates, releasing the aircraft for takeoff. A brake can arrest the motion of the gripper after launch.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An apparatus for carrying an unmanned aircraft, comprising:

a support;
a launch carriage movably carried by the support;
a gripper movably coupled to the launch carriage, the gripper positioned to releasably engage an unmanned aircraft, the gripper being movable relative to the launch carriage between a first position with the gripper portion positioned to contact the aircraft and a second position with the gripper positioned to be out of contact with the aircraft;
and
a brake positioned at least proximate to the gripper, the brake being changeable from a first configuration in which the brake inhibits motion of the gripper relative to the launch carriage by a first amount, and a second configuration in which the brake does not inhibit motion of the gripper relative to the launch carriage, or inhibits motion of the gripper by a second amount less than the first amount.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/808,725Filed 24 Mar 2004 · continuation in part

Priority

17 Jan 2003

Published

US 2005/0178894 A118 Aug 2005

Granted

23 Jan 2007

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B64F 1/06
For launching aircraft: using catapults
B64U 70/50
Launching, take-off or landing arrangements: launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
B64U 50/11
Propulsion: using internal combustion piston engines
B64U 70/70
Launching, take-off or landing arrangements: launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails

Family

Application60/440,727Us provisional application · filed 17 Jan 2003

Application10/758,955Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Jan 2004

Application60/554,824Us provisional application · filed 19 Mar 2004

US 2005/0178895 A1Pre-grant publication · published 18 Aug 2005

US 2005/0178894 A1Published application

US 7,140,575 B2Related patent

US 7,165,745 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including releasably gripping aircraft during launch and braking subsequent grip motion

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatuses for launching unmanned aircraft, including releasably gripping aircraft during launch and braking subsequent grip motion

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13