Method for retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft without a runway

Aeronautics and astronautics – Retarding and restraining devices – Friction brakes

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C244S11000H, C244S116000, C244S11000H

Reexamination Certificate

active

06264140

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention addresses the problem of landing a small fixed-wing aircraft aboard a ship or in a space offering insufficient room for a runway, for example, on the roof of a building. The method involves the aircraft engaging a cable or cables held aloft by a kite, balloon, kite/balloon hybrid, aircraft, or mast. The aircraft is decelerated by the cable and then lowered to the deck.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Operation of small unmanned aircraft may call for retrieval where space is insufficient for a normal landing run, e.g., aboard a boat. Current methods require the aircraft to fly into a net (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,056,247; 4,143,840; 4,456,205; 4,979,701; 5,109,788) or to deploy a parachute (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,980,259; 4,311,290). Net techniques have disadvantages including: (1) difficulty of precise targeting, especially when the approach is through the turbulent wake of a ship's superstructure or when the ship is rocking, with associated high risk of damage if the aircraft enters the net incorrectly; (2) significant risk of damage even when the net entry is correct; (3) hazard to staff and equipment aboard ship; (4) complexity and cost of the net and associated apparatus; and (5) requirement for a large deck space. Parachute techniques have disadvantages including: (1) weight and complexity of equipment aboard the aircraft; and (2) difficulty of precise landing, and associated risk of damage.
3. Objects and Advantages
An object of the present invention is to improve upon current techniques in the following respects:
1. Easier targeting;
2. Less risk of damage to the aircraft if the target is missed;
3. Reduced hazard to staff and equipment on the surface;
4. Simpler apparatus, with lower cost and easier assembly and dismantling;
5. Smaller requirement for deck space, with associated feasibility of use even on small boats.
These improvements are realised through a combination of two distinct and novel concepts:
1. Use of a balloon, kite, crane, or mast to suspend the retrieval apparatus; and
2. Capture of the aircraft by a single cable having generally vertical orientation or, more precisely, whose orientation includes a significant component normal to a plane containing the aircraft's line of approach, and a line along the wing leading edge or other component of the aircraft intended to strike the cable.
Use of these concepts is particularly applicable to small aircraft, ie., weighing not more than a few tens of kilograms, since the size of the apparatus then becomes quite practical for routine use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention calls for a kite, balloon, or mast to hold aloft one or more cables, the suspension force on each cable being sufficient also to support the aircraft to be retrieved. The aircraft flies into the cable such that contact is made on the wing leading edge or other spanwise surface. As the aircraft moves forward against the cable, the contact force causes the aircraft to decelerate and rotate toward the cable; the cable meanwhile moves spanwise on the aircraft until it encounters one of a number of hooks. Each hook has a spring catch or like mechanism such that the cable is captured upon engagement and will not subsequently be released until the aircraft is retrieved. After the cable is thus captured, the aircraft continues to decelerate until it no longer has flying speed. Retrieval can then be effected by sliding the aircraft along the cable, or by reeling the cable itself to the retrieval area.
More generally, the present invention is a method and an apparatus for capturing a flying object. The apparatus includes a linear fixture; a means for suspending the fixture across the path of the flying object; and means for capturing the flying object with the fixture.
The method comprises suspending the linear fixture such that its orientation includes a component normal to the flying object's line of approach; directing the flying object to strike the fixture, which causes the flying object to rotate and decelerate, while the fixture slides along a surface of the flying object into a hook; capturing the fixture in the hook; and retrieving the flying object from the fixture.
In preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method, the linear fixture is a cable or pole; the means for suspending the linear fixture is selected from the group consisting of a kite, a balloon, a kite/balloon hybrid, an aircraft, a mast and a crane; and the means for capturing the flying object is at least one hook on a surface of the flying object. In another preferred embodiment, the hook further includes a cleat or latch.


REFERENCES:
patent: 968339 (1910-08-01), Geraldson
patent: 1144505 (1915-06-01), Steffan
patent: 1383595 (1921-07-01), Black
patent: 1634964 (1927-07-01), Steinmetz
patent: 1731091 (1929-10-01), Belleville
patent: 1748663 (1930-02-01), Tucker
patent: 1836010 (1931-12-01), Audrain
patent: 1925212 (1933-09-01), Steiber
patent: 2448209 (1948-08-01), Boyer et al.

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