US 8,944,373 B2Granted

Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods

AssigneeInsitu, Inc.

InventorsMatthew Robert Dickson, Craig Aram Thomasian

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Line capture devices for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a line capture device body having a line slot with an open end and a closed end. A retainer is positioned proximate to the line slot and has a rotor with a plurality of rotor arms positioned to extend at least partially across the line slot as the rotor rotates relative to the body. A joint rotatably couples the rotor to the body, and a ratchet device is operably coupled to the rotor to allow the rotor to rotate in a first direction and at least restrict the rotor arm from rotating in a second direction opposite the first. In other embodiments, the retainer can include other arrangements, for example, one or more wire-shaped elements.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An aircraft system comprising:

a line capture device body having a first surface with a first opening, a second surface facing away from the first surface and having a second opening, and a line slot, the line slot having an open end and a closed end;
and
a retainer rigidly attached to the line capture device body, the retainer including a wire-shaped element having a first end and a second end, the first opening receiving the wire-shaped element toward the first end, the second opening receiving the wire-shaped element toward the second end, the wire-shaped element being twistable between a first position and a second position, with the wire-shaped element positioned across the line slot to at least restrict access to the line slot when in the first position, and positioned to allow a flexible recovery line to enter the line slot when in the second position, the wire-shaped element being spaced apart from the closed end of the slot by a distance sufficient to receive the recovery line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/483,330Filed 30 May 2012 · continuation
Priority: 27 Sep 2010
Published: US 2013/0320138 A15 Dec 2013
Granted: 3 Feb 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B64F 1/029
For arresting aircraft, e.g. nets or cables: using a cable or tether
B64U 30/20
Means for producing lift; Empennages; Arrangements thereof: rotors; Rotor supports
B64U 70/30
Launching, take-off or landing arrangements: for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
B64U 80/84
By vehicles: waterborne vehicles