Unmanned aerial vehicle fire extinguishing bomb hanging bomb pod

Abstract

This invention discloses a drone-mounted fire-fighting projectile pod, belonging to the field of drone fire-fighting equipment technology, aiming to solve the problems of insufficient transportation stability, deployment safety, and accuracy when fire-fighting projectiles are used in conjunction with drones. The pod includes a main structure, a projectile connector, a suspension and deployment system, sensing and control components, a safety valve, an altitude-holding device, and an interface structure. The main structure adopts an aerospace-grade aluminum alloy unibody design, adaptable to various specifications of fire-fighting projectiles such as 2.5KG, 10KG, and 20KG. The suspension and deployment system adopts a motor-driven gear and gear-driven rack design, all integrated into one unit. The sensing and control components include a Hall sensor, a control circuit board, and a manual projectile mounting switch. The safety valve has a mechanical pin-type safety structure. The altitude-holding device uses millimeter-wave scanning radar. The interface structure has multiple reserved ports and a standardized design. This invention achieves reliable control of the entire process of fire-fighting projectile transportation, mounting, and deployment, with strong adaptability and high safety, and can be widely used in drone fire-fighting operations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of drone firefighting equipment technology, specifically to a drone firefighting ammunition pod. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of drone technology, drone firefighting, due to its advantages such as fast response speed, wide operating range, and no risk of personnel casualties, has become an important supplement to traditional firefighting methods and its application in the field of fire emergency response is becoming increasingly widespread. Firefighting grenades, as the core execution carrier of drone firefighting, rely heavily on their connection and mounting devices with the drone for effective firefighting operations. The structural stability, delivery accuracy, and applicability and safety of the grenades directly determine the efficiency and safety of drone firefighting operations. Existing connection devices have several shortcomings: some devices have unreasonable structural designs, with the main structure often made of ordinary steel or plastic, resulting in either excessive weight that consumes a large portion of the drone's payload or insufficient mechanical strength to stably support large-sized firefighting grenades, and limited compatibility with specific grenades specifications; the main structure lacks targeted reinforcement design, making it prone to deformation and breakage under extreme conditions such as high-speed drone flight, sharp turns, or strong airflow impacts; the surface lacks effective protective treatment, making it susceptible to corrosion and wear in high-temperature, high-humidity, and dusty firefighting environments, shortening its service life; and the interface connection points are poorly designed, resulting in low assembly precision with other components and affecting the overall structural stability. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a main structure for a missile pod that is optimized in structure, reliable in strength, lightweight and highly weather-resistant, to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that existing fire-fighting ammunition loading devices have poor stability, low deployment accuracy, insufficient safety and weak adaptability.

[0004] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems by adopting the following technical solution: It provides a drone fire-fighting projectile pod, comprising the following components: a main structure, a projectile connector, a suspension and delivery system, sensing and control devices, a safety valve, an altitude-holding device, and an interface structure; the upper part of the projectile connector is connected to the pod controller, and the lower part is connected to the fire-fighting projectile body through the suspension and delivery system; the sensing and control devices include a Hall sensor, a control circuit board, and a manual projectile loading switch; the safety valve is a manually controlled mechanical pin, which works with the control circuit board to achieve safe control of the ignition device; the altitude-holding device uses millimeter-wave scanning radar; the interface structure has multiple reserved ports for interfacing with the drone's power supply and communication signals.

[0005] Preferably, the main structure is made of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy using a one-piece molding process. The wall thickness of the main structure is 8-12mm, and reinforcing ribs are provided in key load-bearing areas. The cross-section of the reinforcing ribs is an isosceles triangle, and the thickness is not less than the wall thickness of the main structure. The main structure is used to support fire-fighting bombs of 2.5KG, 10KG, and 20KG specifications. The surface of the main structure is anodized to form an oxide film with a thickness of 5-8μm, taking into account both structural stability and lightweight requirements. Its tensile strength is not less than 300MPa, and its density is 2.7g / cm³. 2 . Preferably, the projectile connector is a vertically continuous connection structure, with the upper part fixedly connected to the pod controller and the lower part detachably connected to the suspension and delivery system via bolts. Anti-slip washers are provided at the connection points to ensure that there is no loosening when bearing the weight of the fire-fighting projectile during the loading process, thus ensuring structural stability.

[0006] Preferably, the suspended deployment system adopts a design of motor-driven gear and gear-driven rack, and the rack and suspension mechanism are manufactured as an integrated unit.

[0007] Preferably, the suspension mechanism adopts a U-shaped clamp, which is driven by a motor to fit snugly with the fire-fighting projectile body. During the flight phase of the UAV, the U-shaped clamp holds the fire-fighting projectile body tightly to prevent the projectile body from falling off due to flight turbulence and airflow impact. After receiving the control command, the motor drives the gear to rotate, which drives the rack and pinion to unlock the U-shaped clamp simultaneously, so as to realize the vertical and precise delivery of the fire-fighting projectile.

[0008] Preferably, the sensing and control devices include a Hall sensor, a control circuit board, and a manual loading switch; the Hall sensor is installed at the connection of the suspension mechanism to sense the opening and closing status of the projectile suspension mechanism in real time and transmit the signal to the control circuit board; the control circuit board, as the control center of the pod, integrates signal receiving, processing, and command sending functions, and coordinates the orderly linkage of various components; the manual loading switch is located on the outside of the pod and is electrically connected to the control circuit board. When the automatic system fails, the projectile can be manually controlled to tighten and loosen, achieving emergency control.

[0009] Preferably, the safety valve is a manually controlled mechanical pin structure, installed in the ignition control circuit of the control circuit board.

[0010] Preferably, when the pin is not removed, the ignition control circuit is in an open state, and the control board cannot perform subsequent operations on the ignition device; after the pin is removed, the ignition control circuit is connected, and the control board can control the ignition device to operate according to the deployment command, ensuring that the fire extinguishing bomb is in a safe state during transportation and avoiding accidental triggering.

[0011] Preferably, the altitude-fixing device uses a millimeter-wave scanning radar, which is installed at the bottom of the pod. The radar detection direction is vertically downward, which can overcome the interference of complex weather conditions, accurately sense the ground height in real time, and transmit the altitude data to the control circuit board, providing data support for judging the timing of fire extinguishing bomb deployment and improving deployment accuracy.

[0012] Preferably, the interface structure is a standardized interface with multiple reserved ports for power signals, communication signals and corresponding interfaces of the UAV. Positioning pins and locking nuts are provided at the interface to simplify the installation process of the pod and the UAV and ensure connection stability and signal transmission reliability.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a drone fire-fighting missile pod with the following advantages: 1. The main structure is made of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy using a one-piece forging process. This material has excellent mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and lightweight characteristics. Its tensile strength can reach over 300MPa, its yield strength is not less than 270MPa, and its density is only 2.7g / cm³. 3 While ensuring structural stability, the design minimizes the weight of the pod itself, avoiding excessive occupation of the UAV's payload space. The main structure features a hollow frame design with a frame wall thickness of 8-12mm, varying according to different load-bearing requirements: 8mm for a pod accommodating a 2.5KG fire extinguishing projectile, 10mm for a 10KG projectile, and 12mm for a 20KG projectile. At key stress-bearing locations such as the four corners of the main structure and the projectile mounting points, integrally molded reinforcing ribs are incorporated. These ribs have an isosceles triangular cross-section, with a thickness no less than the corresponding wall thickness of the main structure. The transition between the reinforcing ribs and the main frame utilizes a rounded chamfer design with a radius of 5-8mm, effectively dispersing stress concentration and preventing the risk of fracture under extreme conditions. The main structure surface undergoes hard anodizing treatment, forming a dense oxide film with a thickness of 5-8μm. This oxide film has high hardness and excellent corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and high-temperature resistance, allowing it to adapt to working environments ranging from -20℃ to 60℃ and resisting erosion from rainwater, fire extinguishing agent residue, and sand. The main structure features standardized component mounting holes with high precision. The hole walls are honed, resulting in low surface roughness, ensuring coaxiality and tightness during assembly with components such as the projectile connector, suspension and delivery system, and altitude control device. After assembly, there is no loosening or misalignment of any components. Simultaneously, the bottom of the main structure features weight-reduction grooves with a depth of 3-5mm, further optimizing weight reduction without compromising structural strength. This keeps the overall weight of the main structure within the range of 2.5-4KG. Designed to accommodate different fire-fighting projectile specifications, it can stably support fire-fighting projectiles of 2.5KG, 10KG, and 20KG, and is compatible with the payload requirements of various types of fire-fighting drones, including multi-rotor and fixed-wing drones.

[0014] 2. The projectile connector serves as the connection interface between the pod controller and the fire-fighting projectile. Its upper part is fixedly connected to the pod controller, and its lower part docks with the projectile body via a suspension and deployment system. This component ensures the structural stability of the fire-fighting projectile during loading, reliably supports its weight, and prevents loosening during loading.

[0015] 3. The suspended delivery system employs a precision transmission design of motor-driven gears and gears driving racks, with the rack and pinion mechanism integrated into the suspension mechanism. This eliminates transmission backlash, ensuring the synchronization and reliability of the delivery action and effectively preventing fire extinguishing bombs from jamming or deviating from their intended purpose. During the drone's flight phase, the system firmly locks the fire extinguishing bomb body, resisting the effects of flight turbulence and airflow impacts, preventing the bomb from detaching. Upon receiving a control command, it can quickly respond and unlock, achieving precise vertical delivery of the fire extinguishing bomb.

[0016] 4. The sensing and control components include Hall effect sensors, a control circuit board, and a manual attachment switch. The Hall effect sensors are specifically designed to detect the opening and closing status of the projectile suspension mechanism, collecting real-time status data and transmitting it to the control circuit board to provide a basis for subsequent control decisions. The control circuit board, as the "control center" of the pod, is responsible for coordinating the operation of various components, achieving orderly linkage of functions such as deployment and sensing, and ensuring the efficient and coordinated operation of the entire pod system. The manual attachment switch serves as an emergency backup for the automatic control system; when the automatic system malfunctions, the attachment and release of the projectile can be manually controlled, improving the equipment's fault tolerance and operational safety.

[0017] 5. The safety valve employs a manually controlled mechanical pin structure as a safety precaution for the control circuit board. When the pin is not removed, the control circuit board cannot perform subsequent operations on the ignition device; only after the pin is completely removed can the control circuit board initiate the relevant procedures for the ignition device. This design ensures that the fire extinguishing bomb remains in a safe state during transportation and loading, preventing accidental ignition and maximizing the safety of personnel and equipment.

[0018] 6. The altitude-keeping device utilizes millimeter-wave scanning radar, which possesses strong environmental adaptability and can overcome interference from complex weather conditions such as rain, fog, and sandstorms, accurately sensing ground altitude. By transmitting real-time altitude data to the control circuit board, it provides reliable support for determining the timing of fire extinguishing bomb deployment, significantly improving the accuracy of firefighting operations.

[0019] 7. The interface structure is specifically designed for connection with drones, with multiple function ports reserved to enable comprehensive integration of various signals such as power and communication. The interface adopts a standardized structural design, simplifying the installation process of the pod with different drone models, allowing for quick adaptation without additional modifications, and improving operational flexibility and efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a mechanical structure diagram of the present invention; In the diagram: main structure (Z1); projectile connector (Z2); suspension and delivery system (Z3); sensing and control devices (Z4); safety valve (Z5); altitude control device and interface structure (Z6). Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] Please see Figure 1 A drone-mounted fire-fighting missile pod includes the following structures: main structure (Z1), missile connector (Z2), suspension and delivery system (Z3), sensing and control devices (Z4), safety valve (Z5), altitude holding device and interface structure (Z6).

[0023] In this embodiment, the projectile connector, suspension and delivery system, and other components are first precisely assembled into place using the mounting holes on the main structure to ensure no looseness. Then, according to the firefighting operation requirements, various specifications of fire-fighting projectiles, such as 2.5kg, 10kg, and 20kg, are selected and installed onto the suspension and delivery system through the projectile connector. The suspension mechanism automatically locks the projectile body. Subsequently, the projectile is connected and fixed to the UAV through a standardized interface structure, completing the connection of power and communication signals. After the Hall sensor detects that the projectile body is locked, it transmits the signal to the control circuit board. The control circuit board feeds back to the UAV control system through the communication port, completing the mounting preparation.

[0024] In this embodiment, the mechanical pin of the safety valve remains in the inserted state throughout the transportation process, preventing the control circuit board from activating the ignition device and ensuring the safety of the fire extinguishing bomb during transportation.

[0025] In this embodiment, a closed-loop safety system combining hardware and software is implemented to ensure that the ignition process is precise and controllable. The control board first communicates with the ignition device and checks its status to ensure that the ignition device can operate normally. At the same time, it constantly checks whether the pin is present to ensure the ignition decision. The charging time is set according to the ignition method. If the device fails to detonate within the time limit, the power will be automatically cut off to prevent the fire extinguisher from going out of control.

[0026] In this embodiment, after the UAV flies to the firefighting operation area, the millimeter-wave scanning radar of the altitude-holding device detects the ground height in real time and transmits data. According to the firefighting needs, the operator sends a deployment command through the UAV control system. After receiving the command, the control circuit board first confirms that the safety valve pin has been removed, and then drives the motor of the suspension deployment system to move. The suspension mechanism is unlocked through gear-rack transmission, so that the fire-fighting bullet is deployed vertically. At the same time, the ignition device is controlled to trigger the fire-fighting bullet to extinguish the fire as needed.

[0027] In this embodiment, if the automatic delivery system malfunctions, the operator can manually unlock the suspension mechanism via the manual bomb-laying switch to complete the delivery of the fire extinguishing bomb; if a safety hazard is found, the safety valve pin can be inserted to cut off the ignition control circuit, stop the delivery operation, and ensure operational safety.

[0028] Please see Figure 1 A drone-mounted fire-fighting ammunition pod includes: a main structure (Z1), an ammunition connector (Z2), a suspension and delivery system (Z3), sensing and control devices (Z4), a safety valve (Z5), an altitude-holding device, and an interface structure (Z6). The upper part of the ammunition connector is connected to the pod controller, and the lower part is connected to the fire-fighting ammunition body through the suspension and delivery system. The sensing and control devices include a Hall sensor, a control circuit board, and a manual ammunition loading switch. The safety valve is a manually controlled mechanical pin that works with the control circuit board to achieve safe control of the ignition device. The altitude-holding device uses millimeter-wave scanning radar. The interface structure has multiple reserved ports for interfacing with the drone's power supply and communication signals.

[0029] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0030] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A drone firefighting bomb hanging pod, characterized in that, include: The system comprises a main structure (Z1), a projectile connector (Z2), a suspension and delivery system (Z3), sensing and control devices (Z4), a safety valve (Z5), an altitude-holding device, and an interface structure (Z6). The projectile connector is connected at the top to the pod controller and at the bottom to the fire-fighting projectile body via the suspension and delivery system. The sensing and control devices include a Hall effect sensor, a control circuit board, and a manual projectile loading switch. The safety valve is a manually controlled mechanical pin that works with the control circuit board to ensure safe control of the ignition device. The altitude-holding device uses a millimeter-wave scanning radar. The interface structure has multiple reserved ports for interfacing with the UAV's power supply and communication signals.

2. The UAV fire-extinguishing bomb hanging pod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body structure is made of aviation-grade aluminum alloy material by an integral forming process, the wall thickness of the main body structure is 8-12mm, the key stress position is provided with a reinforcing rib, the cross section of the reinforcing rib is an isosceles triangle and the thickness is not less than the wall thickness of the main body structure, the main body structure is used for carrying 2.5KG, 10KG and 20KG specifications of fire extinguishing bombs, the surface of the main body structure is treated by anodic oxidation to form an oxide film with a thickness of 5-8μm, the structural stability and lightweight requirements are considered, the tensile strength is not less than 300MPa, and the density is 2.7g / cm 3 .

3. The UAV fire-extinguishing bomb-hanging pod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The projectile connector is a vertically continuous connection structure. The upper part is fixedly connected to the pod controller, and the lower part is detachably connected to the suspension and delivery system via bolts. Anti-slip washers are provided at the connection points to ensure that the structure remains stable when bearing the weight of the fire-fighting projectile during loading.

4. The UAV fire-extinguishing bomb-hanging pod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The suspended deployment system adopts a design of motor-driven gear and gear-driven rack, and the rack and suspension mechanism are manufactured as a single unit.

5. The UAV fire-extinguishing bomb-hanging pod according to claim 4, characterized in that, The suspension mechanism uses a U-shaped clamp, which is driven by a motor to fit snugly against the fire-fighting projectile. During the flight phase of the UAV, the U-shaped clamp holds the fire-fighting projectile tightly to prevent it from falling off due to flight turbulence and airflow impact. After receiving the control command, the motor drives the gear to rotate, which in turn drives the rack and pinion to unlock the U-shaped clamp simultaneously, so as to achieve vertical and precise delivery of the fire-fighting projectile.

6. The drone firefighting bomb-hanging pod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing and control devices include a Hall sensor, a control circuit board, and a manual loading switch. The Hall sensor is installed at the connection of the suspension mechanism to sense the opening and closing status of the projectile suspension mechanism in real time and transmit the signal to the control circuit board. The control circuit board serves as the control center of the pod, integrating signal reception, processing, and command transmission functions to coordinate the orderly linkage of various components. The manual loading switch is located on the outside of the pod and is electrically connected to the control circuit board. When the automatic system fails, the projectile can be manually tightened and loosened to achieve emergency control.

7. The UAV fire-extinguishing bomb-hanging pod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The safety valve is a manually controlled mechanical pin structure, installed in the ignition control circuit of the control circuit board.

8. The UAV fire-extinguishing bomb-hanging pod according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the pin is not removed, the ignition control circuit is disconnected, and the control board cannot perform subsequent operations on the ignition device; after the pin is removed, the ignition control circuit is connected, and the control board can control the ignition device to operate according to the deployment command, ensuring that the fire extinguishing bomb is in a safe state during transportation and avoiding accidental triggering.

9. The UAV fire-extinguishing bomb-hanging pod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The altitude-keeping device uses a millimeter-wave scanning radar, which is installed at the bottom of the pod. The radar's detection direction is vertically downward, which can overcome interference from complex weather conditions, accurately sense the ground height in real time, and transmit the altitude data to the control circuit board. This provides data support for determining the timing of fire extinguishing bomb deployment and improves deployment accuracy.

10. The UAV fire-fighting ammunition pod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The interface structure is a standardized interface with multiple reserved ports for power signals, communication signals, and corresponding interfaces of the UAV. Positioning pins and locking nuts are set at the interfaces to simplify the installation process of the pod and the UAV and ensure connection stability and signal transmission reliability.

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