Apparatus and method of attachment of a payload

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to apparatus, systems and methods for attachment of an object to a hard point on an vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems and methods for attachment of an external payload or store to a hard point on an air vehicle, such as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

[0003] 2. Background

[0004] The current art exists for attachment of an external payload to a hard point of a vehicle, specifically, a UAV, that consists of a multi-screw pattern on the payload which matches up with the same screw pattern on the hard point of the UAV. The screw pattern of the external payload, with the aid of alignment pins, is brought into alignment with the screw pattern on the UAV hard point, and the screws are tightened to a predetermined torque in order to mount the payload to an external surface of a UAV. This method requires aligning and holding the payload in a fixed location while the screws are tightened. Additionally, typically, the attachment screws are threaded into locking helicoils which are designed to prevent the hardware from loosening and backing out during flight. These helicoils may only be used for a limited number of cycles and must be regularly replaced.

[0005] Therefore, an improved method of attaching an external payload to a surface of an aerial vehicle is needed that can easily be incorporated into the structure of the aerial vehicle, that allows for quick and easy upload and download of a payload.

[0009] Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are set forth in the following text to provide a thorough understanding and enabling description of a number of particular embodiments. Numerous specific details of various embodiments are described below with reference to attachment of payloads to an aerial vehicle, but embodiments can be used with other features. In some instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown, or are not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the inventive subject matter associated with the accompanying disclosure. A person skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may have additional embodiments, or that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details of the embodiments as shown and described.

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 which depicts a store/payload attachment device 10. Typically, the attachment device 10 would be mounted by a plurality of threaded retainers 42 or the like to the inside structure or skin 11 of the vehicle. The attachment device 10 is comprised of a housing 12 which includes an elongated base 15 and located at a first distal end of the base 15 is a retention receptacle 14 and disposed at the other distal end of the base 15 is a release receptacle 18. The retention receptacle 14 is a tubular like structure that is sized to receive a payload pin 16a which is protruding upwardly from the surface of a payload 16. A slot 24 is disposed on the payload pin 16a which is configured to align with an opening 46 disposed on the receptacle 14 when the pin 16a is fully inserted up into the receptacle 14.

[0011] The release receptacle 18 is a tubular like structure that is configured to slidably receive and retain a release mechanism assembly 20. An elongated slot 19 disposed in the receptacle 18 is configured to engage pins 20a and 20b protruding from the release mechanism assembly 20 to guide the motion of the release mechanism 20 when it is moved in an up and down like motion. A d-ring 22 is disposed at a lower distal end of the release mechanism 20 which allows a person to grab onto and pull down on the release mechanism 20.

[0012] Release mechanism 20 consists of shaft 60 possessing a hole to receive D-ring 22 at the lower distal end and hole 68 to receive pin 62 at the upper distal end. Pin 61 slidably engages shaft 60 through hole 65 and fixedly engages pin 62 through hole 64. Bushings 63 and collar 67 are rotably engaged by pin 62 and slidably constrained by the collar of shaft 68 and the head of pin 62. The diameters of pin 62, collar 67 and collar of shaft 60 are of such size that they slidably and rotably engage the inner surface of receptacle 18.

[0013] An elongated slot 66 disposed in the receptacle 18 is configured to engage pin 61 protruding from the release mechanism assembly 20. Slot 66 possesses a “J” configuration such that shaft 60 with pin 61 slidably engaged in slot 66 may be rotated and pin 61 received into the short leg 66a of slot 66's “J” so as to hold release mechanism assembly in an “open” position. Twisting and releasing shaft 60 will cause the release mechanism assembly 20 to retract through the force provided by the spring 34.

[0014] A spring loaded locking pin assembly 21 is disposed between the retention receptacle 14 and the release receptacle 18 and is comprised of a lock pin 26 having a tapered end 44 and a collar 28 disposed on one distal end. A spring 34 is disposed around the lock pin 26 and abuts the collar 28 to provide a locking biasing force. A bushing 48 is disposed at the other distal end of the lock pin 26 and is configured to slidably engage the lock pin as it is moved between a locked and unlocked position. The bushing 48 engages clevis 50 on the release receptacle 18. Bushing 48 is captured by cap 51, which is attached to clevis 50 by screws 51.

[0015] An L-shaped bellcrank link 32 is pivotably attached to the base 15 at first pivot 36. Disposed at one distal end of the link 32 is an elongated slot 17 which is configured to interface with a pin 20b which protrudes from release mechanism 20 such that when the release mechanism 20 is pulled in a downward direction, the link 32 rotates about the first pivot 36. A first link 30 is pivotably disposed between link 32 and extends to the collar 28 at a second pivot 38 such that when the link 32 rotates in a clockwise direction, the lock pin 26 slidably retracts from the retention receptacle 14. With this arrangement, pulling down on the d-ring 22 will rotate the link 32 which will pull the lock pin 26 tapered end 44 out of the retention receptacle 14 and either allows the payload pin 16a to be removed from or inserted into the retention receptacle 14.

[0016] The spring 34 is configured to force the tapered end 44 through the an opening in the retention receptacle 14 and through the slot 24 in the pin 16a and into the opening 44 such that the wedge like action of the tapered surfaces positively retains the payload 16 with no clearance or slop.