公开(公告)号：US20190031340A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-31

申请号：US16150063

申请日：2018-10-02

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Elias Wolfgang Patten ,  Abhimanyu Belani ,  Robert Nelson ,  Brian Hachtmann ,  Gabriel Murphy

IPC: B64C39/02 ,  B64F3/00 ,  B65H57/14 ,  B65H75/44 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F03D9/32

Abstract: A tether guide system operable through a wide range of tether/fleeting angles while causing minimal wear to the tether. The tether guide system may include a series of rollers arranged in a curved path. Also disclosed are tether guides with a sliding belt, a guide surface, or a guide wheel, all for use in the disclosed tether guide system.

公开(公告)号：US20180155150A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-07

申请号：US15368226

申请日：2016-12-02

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Abhimanyu Belani ,  Elias Patten ,  Robert Nelson ,  Brian Hachtmann ,  Gabriel Murphy

IPC: B65H54/28 ,  B64C39/02 ,  F03D5/00 ,  B65H57/14 ,  B65H57/00 ,  B65H57/24

CPC classification number: B65H54/28 ,  B64C39/022 ,  B65H57/00 ,  B65H57/14 ,  B65H57/24 ,  B65H57/26 ,  B65H75/4407 ,  B65H75/4415 ,  B65H2701/34 ,  F03D5/00 ,  F05B2220/706 ,  F05B2240/917 ,  F05B2240/921 ,  F05B2240/923 ,  Y02E10/725 ,  Y02P70/30

Abstract: A tether guide operable through a wide range of tether/fleeting angles while causing minimal wear and having a reduced size compared to a levelwind wheel. The tether guide may include a series of rollers approximating the curved shape and radius of levelwind wheel. The tether guide may include downward facing guide wings matched to a curved roller profile, but flaring out to capture and guide tether into rollers. Sensors may be included on the tether guide to provide information about tether location, including whether the tether is engaged in the tether guide.