Abstract:
A method and apparatus for attachment of a payload/store to the external surface of an aerial vehicle is disclosed. The method and apparatus comprises a single point release feature that simplifies the installation and removal of the payload.

Description:
OVERVIEW OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to apparatus, systems and methods for attachment of an object to a hard point on an vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems and methods for attachment of an external payload or store to a hard point on an air vehicle, such as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). 
         [0003]    2. Background 
         [0004]    The current art exists for attachment of an external payload to a hard point of a vehicle, specifically, a UAV, that consists of a multi-screw pattern on the payload which matches up with the same screw pattern on the hard point of the UAV. The screw pattern of the external payload, with the aid of alignment pins, is brought into alignment with the screw pattern on the UAV hard point, and the screws are tightened to a predetermined torque in order to mount the payload to an external surface of a UAV. This method requires aligning and holding the payload in a fixed location while the screws are tightened. Additionally, typically, the attachment screws are threaded into locking helicoils which are designed to prevent the hardware from loosening and backing out during flight. These helicoils may only be used for a limited number of cycles and must be regularly replaced. 
         [0005]    Therefore, an improved method of attaching an external payload to a surface of an aerial vehicle is needed that can easily be incorporated into the structure of the aerial vehicle, that allows for quick and easy upload and download of a payload. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an iso-metric view showing an embodiment of the attachment apparatus, and 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view showing an embodiment of the attachment apparatus, and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing an embodiment of the attachment apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0009]    Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are set forth in the following text to provide a thorough understanding and enabling description of a number of particular embodiments. Numerous specific details of various embodiments are described below with reference to attachment of payloads to an aerial vehicle, but embodiments can be used with other features. In some instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown, or are not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the inventive subject matter associated with the accompanying disclosure. A person skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may have additional embodiments, or that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details of the embodiments as shown and described. 
         [0010]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  which depicts a store/payload attachment device  10 . Typically, the attachment device  10  would be mounted by a plurality of threaded retainers  42  or the like to the inside structure or skin of the vehicle (not shown). For clarity, the vehicle skin and structure has been removed, but such mounting is well known in the art. The attachment device  10  is comprised of a housing  12  which includes an elongated base  15  and located at a first distal end of the base  15  is a retention receptacle  14  and disposed at the other distal end of the base  15  is a release receptacle  18 . The retention receptacle  14  is a tubular like structure that is sized to receive a payload pin  16   a  which is protruding upwardly from the surface of a payload  16 . A slot  24  is disposed on the payload pin  16   a  which is configured to align with an opening  46  disposed on the receptacle  14  when the pin  16   a  is fully inserted up into the receptacle  14 . 
         [0011]    The release receptacle  18  is a tubular like structure that is configured to slidably receive and retain a release mechanism assembly  20 . An elongated slot  19  disposed in the receptacle  18  is configured to engage pins  20   a  and  20   b  protruding from the release mechanism assembly  20  to guide the motion of the release mechanism  20  when it is moved in an up and down like motion. A d-ring  22  is disposed at a lower distal end of the release mechanism  20  which allows a person to grab onto and pull down on the release mechanism  20 . 
         [0012]    Release mechanism  20  consists of shaft  60  possessing a hole to receive D-ring  22  at the lower distal end and hole  68  to receive pin  62  at the upper distal end. Pin  61  slidably engages shaft  60  through hole  65  and fixedly engages pin  62  through hole  64 . Bushings  63  and collar  67  are rotably engaged by pin  62  and slidably constrained by the collar of shaft  68  and the head of pin  62 . The diameters of pin  62 , collar  67  and collar of shaft  60  are of such size that they slidably and rotably engage the inner surface of receptacle  18 . 
         [0013]    An elongated slot  66  disposed in the receptacle  18  is configured to engage pin  61  protruding from the release mechanism assembly  20 . Slot  66  possesses a “J” configuration such that shaft  60  with pin  61  slidably engaged in slot  66  may be rotated and pin  61  received into the short leg slot  66 &#39;s “J” so as to hold release mechanism assembly in an “open” position. Twisting and releasing shaft  60  will cause the release mechanism assembly  20  to retract through the force provided by the spring  34 . 
         [0014]    A spring loaded locking pin assembly  21  is disposed between the retention receptacle  14  and the release receptacle  18  and is comprised of a lock pin  26  having a tapered end  44  and a collar  28  disposed on one distal end. A spring  34  is disposed around the lock pin  26  and abuts the collar  28  to provide a locking biasing force. A bushing  48  is disposed at the other distal end of the lock pin  26  and is configured to slidably engage the lock pin as it is moved between a locked and unlocked position. The bushing  48  engages clevis  50  on the release receptacle  18 . Bushing  48  is captured by cap  51 , which is attached to clevis  50  by screws  51 . 
         [0015]    An L-shaped bellcrank link  32  is pivotably attached to the base  15  at first pivot  36 . Disposed at one distal end of the link  32  is an elongated slot  17  which is configured to interface with a pin  20   b  which protrudes from release mechanism  20  such that when the release mechanism  20  is pulled in a downward direction, the link  32  rotates about the first pivot  36 . A first link  30  is pivotably disposed between link  32  and extends to the collar  28  at a second pivot  38  such that when the link  32  rotates in a clockwise direction, the lock pin  26  slidably retracts from the retention receptacle  14 . With this arrangement, pulling down on the d-ring  22  will rotate the link  32  which will pull the lock pin  26  tapered end  44  out of the retention receptacle  14  and either allows the payload pin  16   a  to be removed from or inserted into the retention receptacle  14 . 
         [0016]    The spring  34  is configured to force the tapered end  44  through the an opening in the retention receptacle  14  and through the slot  24  in the pin  16   a  and into the opening  44  such that the wedge like action of the tapered surfaces positively retains the payload  16  with no clearance or slop.