公开(公告)号：US11548608B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-10

申请号：US17223274

申请日：2021-04-06

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Joseph Scott Drennan ,  Carlos Alexander Fenny ,  Michael John Ryan ,  John Richard McCullough ,  Brett Rodney Zimmerman

IPC: B64C1/06 ,  B64D5/00 ,  B64C3/56 ,  B64C3/54 ,  B64D3/00 ,  B64C39/02

Abstract: A parasite aircraft for airborne deployment and retrieve includes a wing; a fuselage rotatably mounted to the wing; a dock disposed on top of the fuselage and configured to receive a maneuverable capture device of a carrier aircraft; a pair of tail members extending from the fuselage; and a plurality of landing gear mounted to the wing. A method of preparing a parasite aircraft for flight includes unfolding an end portion of a wing; unfolding an end portion of a tail member of the parasite aircraft; and rotating a fuselage of the parasite aircraft so that the fuselage is perpendicular to the wing. A method of preparing a parasite aircraft for storage includes rotating a fuselage of the parasite aircraft to be parallel with a wing of the parasite aircraft; folding an end portion of the wing; and folding an end portion of a tail member of the parasite aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US11104439B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-31

申请号：US16161279

申请日：2018-10-16

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Carlos Alexander Fenny ,  Joseph Scott Drennan ,  Michael John Ryan ,  John Richard McCullough ,  Brett Rodney Zimmerman

IPC: B64D1/22 ,  B64D5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C27/06 ,  B64C3/56

Abstract: A system for deploying and retrieving a parasite aircraft includes a parasite aircraft with a dock and a carrier aircraft that includes a maneuverable capture device tethered to the carrier aircraft via a cable. The maneuverable capture device includes a plurality of rotors and is configured to dock in the dock of the parasite aircraft. A method of deploying a parasite aircraft includes positioning a parasite aircraft on a loading surface; positioning a carrier aircraft above the parasite aircraft; releasing, from the carrier aircraft, a maneuverable capture device comprising a plurality of rotors; securing the maneuverable capture device to a dock positioned on the parasite aircraft; lifting, via a cable secured at a first end to the carrier aircraft and at a second end to the maneuverable capture device, the parasite aircraft with the carrier aircraft; and releasing the parasite aircraft from the maneuverable capture device.

公开(公告)号：US11008102B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-18

申请号：US16161455

申请日：2018-10-16

Applicant: Bell Textron Inc.

Inventor： Michael John Ryan ,  Carlos Alexander Fenny ,  Joseph Scott Drennan ,  John Richard McCullough ,  Brett Rodney Zimmerman

IPC: B64D5/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C3/56

Abstract: In an embodiment, a maneuverable capture device includes a frame, a plurality of rotors secured to the frame, an attachment point disposed on the frame for securing a cable of a carrier aircraft to the frame, and an attachment feature configured to secure maneuverable capture device to a dock of a parasite aircraft. In an embodiment, a method of docking a maneuverable capture device with a parasite aircraft includes positioning a carrier aircraft above a parasite aircraft, releasing the maneuverable capture device attached to the carrier aircraft by a cable from the carrier aircraft, flying the maneuverable capture device to a dock of the parasite aircraft, and securing the maneuverable capture device to the dock of the parasite aircraft.