Systems and methods for launching a folding aircraft
AssigneeStark Aerospace, Inc.
InventorsAndrew McComas, Jon Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A canister system for a folding aircraft may include a canister housing and a launch mechanism powered by one or more compression springs. A hand-operated drive mechanism may rotate a plurality of threaded rods to drive the launch mechanism from a released position to a cocked position, in which mechanical energy is stored in the springs. A latch mechanism may capture the launch mechanism in the cocked position. The canister may include a housing for receiving and storing the aircraft when the launch mechanism is in the cocked position. A trigger mechanism may release the latch mechanism, permitting the energy stored in the compressed springs to drive the launch mechanism toward the released position and propel the aircraft from the housing at launch velocity.
Claims23
A system for launching an aircraft, comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of guide members mounted within the housing and comprising first engagement members;
- one or more springs;
- a launch member slidably movable along the guide members between cocked and released positions, the launch member comprising at least one thrust member adapted to engage the aircraft;
- a cocking mechanism slidably moveable along the guide members;
- a second engagement member attached to the cocking mechanism and engaging the first engagement member;
- a drive mechanism mounted on the housing and operable when driven to operate the first and second engagement members so as to draw the cocking mechanism against the launch member, drive the launch member along the guide members from the released to the cocked position, and energize the springs;
- a latch mechanism operable to latch the launch member in the cocked position;
- and
- a trigger mechanism operable when activated to release the latch mechanism so as to permit the springs to drive the launch member from the cocked to the released position.
A system for launching an aircraft, comprising:
- a tubular housing;
- a plurality of threaded guide members mounted within the housing;
- one or more springs positioned around the guide members;
- a launch member slidably movable along the guide members between cocked and released positions, the launch member comprising at least one thrust member adapted to engage the aircraft;
- a cocking mechanism slidably moveable along the guide members;
- a threaded engagement member attached to the cocking mechanism and engaging threads of the threaded rods;
- a drive mechanism mounted on the housing and operable when driven to rotate the threaded rods within the engagement member so as to draw the cocking mechanism against the launch member, drive the launch member along the guide members from the released to the cocked position, and compress the springs;
- a latch mechanism operable to latch the launch member in the cocked position;
- and
- a trigger mechanism operable when activated to release the latch mechanism so as to permit the springs to drive the launch member from the cocked to the released position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.