Telescopic Harpoon Anchoring for Rotary-Wing Drones
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The adaptation of existing anchoring harpoons for helicopters to rotary-wing drones has been unsuccessful due to issues such as size, weight, and maintenance problems.
Innovation Solution
A modified anchoring harpoon system featuring a telescopic cylinder with a piston-driven mechanism, a consumable gas cartridge for pressurized fluid, a solenoid valve for controlled pressure pulses, and a bistable actuator with a rotating mechanical lock to deploy and retract the harpoon head, allowing for efficient anchoring and unanchoring with reduced length and improved maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing anchoring harpoons for helicopters are adapted to rotary-wing drones, then anchoring function is maintained, but size and weight become excessive for drone applications
Solution Approach 1:
The harpoon system employs nested telescopic cylinders where the second cylinder is received within the first cylinder. The piston rod extends from the second cylinder, creating a compact nested structure that reduces overall size and weight while maintaining the anchoring function. This nested configuration allows the harpoon to be stored in a compact form on the drone without sacrificing its operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring harpoon is divided into separate functional segments: the first cylinder, the second cylinder, the piston rod, and the harpoon head with retaining fingers. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for weight and function, and enables the harpoon to be deployed in a compact manner suitable for drone applications while maintaining reliable anchoring performance.
2Reliability
If existing anchoring harpoons for helicopters are adapted to rotary-wing drones, then anchoring function is maintained, but the harpoon length becomes excessive for compact drone integration
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic cylinder arrangement with the second cylinder nested within the first cylinder dramatically reduces the stored length of the harpoon system. When retracted, the nested configuration creates a compact structure suitable for integration on small drone platforms, while the same structure can extend to provide sufficient length for effective anchoring operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The harpoon system transitions from a static, fixed-length structure to a dynamic, telescopic structure that can change its effective length. The telescopic cylinders can extend during deployment to provide the necessary anchoring length, then retract to a compact configuration for storage and transport on the drone, effectively adapting the length parameter to different operational states.
3Reliability
If existing anchoring harpoons for helicopters are adapted to rotary-wing drones, then anchoring function is maintained, but maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical actuation mechanisms with a pneumatic system using a gas cartridge connected to the piston. This pneumatic actuation simplifies the control mechanism, reduces the number of moving parts requiring maintenance, and improves reliability. The gas cartridge provides reliable pressurization without requiring complex pumps or hydraulic systems that would increase maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas cartridge is designed as a consumable, disposable component that can be easily replaced. This approach simplifies maintenance by eliminating the need to service complex pressurization systems - instead, a simple cartridge replacement restores full functionality. This disposable component strategy significantly reduces maintenance complexity while ensuring reliable anchoring operation.
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 system enables successful anchoring and unanchoring of rotary-wing drones with reduced length and improved maintenance, providing a stable and efficient solution for drone anchoring, allowing for automatic landing and take-off operations.
Implementation Method 1
a source of pressurized fluid including a consumable gas cartridge
Implementation Method 2
the control means comprise means forming a solenoid valve controlled on opening and closing to supply the cylinder-shaped means
Implementation Method 3
the cylinder-shaped means of the cylinder comprise at least two telescopic cylinder portions one inside the other and movable between a retracted position one inside the other and an active position projecting relative to one another
Implementation Method 4
it comprises trigger means for preventing the movement of the fingers towards their active position as long as the harpoon head is not in a stop position in the anchoring grid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an anchoring harpoon (1) intended in particular for an aircraft, capable of cooperating with an anchoring grate (2) of a platform, comprising jack means (3) including cylinder means (4) containing mobile piston means (5) provided with a rod (6) that extends beyond the cylinder means, the free end of which includes a harpoon head (7) that is hooked in the grate and comprises retaining fingers (8, 13, 14) that can be moved between a retracted position and an active position by control means (9). The invention is characterised in that the jack means are connected to a pressurised fluid source (30) by means of control means (31) and in that the pressurised fluid source includes a consumable gas cartridge (30).