Dual-Gripping Launch Lock for Flying Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking devices for flying machines, such as missiles, are not robust enough to withstand significant inertial forces, leading to premature mechanical wear and potential untimely unlocking during violent decelerations, especially when landing on ships, causing unwanted movement and damage.
Innovation Solution
A releasable locking device with a dual-gripping mechanism featuring a first and second gripping member, where the second member is rotatably mounted and biased to maintain a firm grip, reducing play and wear, and a retractable trigger mechanism for controlled release, ensuring secure restraint and efficient launch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single hook mechanism is used to retain the flying machine, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of restraint under significant inertial forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two independent gripping members (first gripping member and second gripping member) that separately engage with the fitting. This segmentation allows each member to independently bear inertial loads, preventing single-point failure and eliminating play between components while maintaining manageable device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile hooks are used to accommodate high fittings, then the adaptability to different fitting heights is improved, but the mechanical wear and risk of untimely unlocking increase
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful play and movement between mobile hooks are eliminated by extracting the mobileity concept and replacing it with a biased dual-gripping system. The biasing mechanism ensures continuous contact and firm engagement between the gripping members and the fitting, removing the harmful axial thumping and wear associated with mobile hooks while maintaining adaptability to different fitting configurations.
3Ease of operation
If a retractable trigger mechanism is added for controlled release, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing mechanism automatically maintains the gripping members in the engaged position and provides the force necessary for retention without requiring continuous operational input. The system serves itself by using the biasing force to counteract inertial loads and maintain firm engagement, reducing the need for complex control systems while improving ease of operation through automatic self-retention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides a robust and reliable locking system that minimizes wear and ensures secure restraint of flying machines under inertial forces, preventing untimely unlocking and damage, while allowing controlled and efficient launch.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanism (64) for biasing the first gripping member (60) to firmly hold the first gripping member (60) and the second gripping member (62) in their closed configuration
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (20) has a frame (40) fixed on a platform, and a releasable locking assembly (42) for locking a flying vehicle in a locked position. The assembly has front and rear gripping units (60, 62) mounted to move with respect to the frame for passing between a closed configuration to grip a retaining unit (30) of the vehicle and an open configuration to release the vehicle. The assembly has an elastic stressing mechanism (64) to stress the front gripping unit toward the rear gripping unit in the closed configuration for grasping the retaining unit between the gripping units. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a launching assembly (2) a method for launching a flying vehicle from a platform.