Shock-resistant device and method
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorKirk A. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shock-resistant device includes snubbers that may be selectively extended to selectively create a stiff attachment between a vibration-isolated component of the device, and another part of the device. The snubbers may be electromechanical or hydraulically driven. The device may be a sensor system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, with the snubbers extendible to create a stiff attachment between an inner gimbal and an outer shell of the sensor system, for example prior to landing the unmanned aerial vehicle on an aircraft carrier, or prior to transportation or storage of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The snubbers may be able to be manually actuated, even when the unmanned aerial vehicle has no power available.
Claims19
A shock resistant device comprising:
- an outer shell forming a first spherical portion having a radially inward facing surface;
- an inner gimbal for housing a visual sensor and movable relative to the outer shell, the inner gimbal forming a second spherical portion having a radially outward facing surface opposite the radially inward facing surface;
- and
- actuatable snubbers for selectively creating a stiff attachment between the outer shell and the inner gimbal;
- wherein the snubbers have respective snubber elements that are extended between the radially inward facing surface and the radially outward facing surface when the snubbers are actuated to create the stiff attachment between the outer shell and the inner gimbal,
- wherein the inner gimbal can rotate relative to the outer shell when the snubbers are not actuated;
- and
- wherein the snubbers are extendable between the outer shell and the inner gimbal such that extending the snubbers to directly engage either the radially inward facing surface of the outer shell or the radially outward facing surface of the inner gimbal results in the stiff attachment between the outer shell and the inner gimbal.
An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:
- a fuselage;
- and
- a sensor system coupled to the fuselage;
- wherein the sensor system includes:
- an outer shell;
- an inner gimbal for housing a visual sensor within the outer shell;
- and
- extendible snubbers that selectively couple together the inner gimbal and the outer shell;
- wherein, when the snubbers are not extended, the inner gimbal is vibrationally isolated from the outer shell, and able to move relative to the outer shell;
- wherein, when the snubbers are extended, the inner gimbal is stiffly coupled to the outer shell;
- and
- wherein the snubbers are extendable between the outer shell and the inner gimbal such that extending the snubbers to directly engage either a radially inward facing surface of the outer shell or a radially outward facing surface of the inner gimbal results in the stiff attachment between the outer shell and the inner gimbal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.