Modular Drone Armament Carriage with Powered Pylon
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional release and armament systems for manned aircraft are highly specific and not adaptable to other aircraft, while those for small, remotely controlled pilotless drones require substantial design time and expense due to their unique configurations and the need for aircraft-by-aircraft adaptation.
Innovation Solution
A configurable carriage and release system for drones that is lightweight, easily adaptable to various wings and airframes, and interchangeable, featuring a pylon-mounted bracket with removable stores carriers and subcarriages, allowing for a wide range of store sizes and configurations, with a powered ejection mechanism for secure and versatile store deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional release and armament systems are designed for each aircraft individually, then the system is highly specific and integrates well with that aircraft, but the design time and expense increase substantially when adapting to different aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal carriage system with standardized mounting interfaces that can be adapted to multiple different aircraft types. The bracket assembly includes standardized attachment points and a configurable pylon structure that can accommodate various store configurations across different drone platforms, eliminating the need for complete redesign for each aircraft type while maintaining reliable integration
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into modular components including a bracket assembly, pylon, and removable stores carrier that can be independently configured and assembled. This segmentation allows the same basic carriage structure to be adapted to different aircraft by simply changing the modular components rather than redesigning the entire system
2Weight of moving object
If a lightweight carriage system is designed for small drones, then the weight is reduced, but the adaptability to various aircraft configurations becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lightweight bracket assembly is designed with universal mounting features that can interface with various aircraft structures. The standardized attachment points and configurable pylon allow the same lightweight carriage to be adapted to different drone configurations without requiring heavier, more robust structures, thus maintaining both weight efficiency and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The pylon is designed with movable and adjustable components that can be reconfigured for different store positions and orientations. This dynamic adjustability allows a single lightweight carriage design to accommodate various aircraft configurations and store types without requiring multiple specialized designs
3Reliability
If proprietary carriages are designed for each aircraft type, then the system is highly specific to that aircraft, but the interchangeability between different aircraft is not readily achievable
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage system employs standardized mounting interfaces and configurable components that enable the same carriage assembly to be reliably installed and operated on multiple different aircraft types. The universal bracket design maintains consistent performance characteristics across different platforms while eliminating the need for proprietary designs for each aircraft
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the carriage into standardized modular components with universal interfaces, the system enables easy interchangeability between aircraft while maintaining reliable, aircraft-specific performance through proper configuration of the modular elements
Data Source
AI summary
A carriage and release system for stores (armaments such as rockets and bombs) on an aircraft includes a bracket adapted for attachment to the aircraft. A pylon is mounted on the bracket for movement in a pitch direction relative to the aircraft. A mechanism is provided to power the pitch movement and position it at a predetermined angle relative to the aircraft. A variety of stores carriers may be employed with the pylon. Subcarriages may also be mounted to the pylon for attaching additional stores carriers.