Abstract:
A launchable land anchor having a tether, an anchor head housing a self-righting control module, a ground penetration device, a plurality of stability panels extending from a bottom portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a plurality of sensors disposed on said exterior surface of said stability panels. Embodiments according to the present invention allow for self-righting functionality and continuous monitoring of stability to ensure security of the anchoring and removing the need of an on-site operator to setup and monitor the land anchor.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/249,435 filed on 2 Nov. 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of anchors, in particular, a launchable tethered land anchoring system with distributed sensor technology to continuously assess reliability of the system. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0003]    Anchoring devices are designed to offset the weight of an object by connecting to it so that the object remains stationary. Anchors are well known in the art for securing a vessel to the seabed. Anchors may also be used on land to secure a large object. Kedge anchors, grapnels, and bridge supplemental sets are a few of the types of anchors known in the art for land anchoring. 
         [0004]    In the past, anchoring systems used on land required the use of on-site personnel to build and maintain the systems. Prior land anchors such as a bridge supplemental set required the use of a hammer element to secure the anchor to the ground. This hammer element requires an on-site person to engage the hammer. One problem associated with this personnel requirement is that in hazardous areas hit with a natural disaster or where there are active military operations, it is preferred to have systems that are autonomous so that fewer lives are at risk. 
         [0005]    A second problem is that, once built, the tethering module of such systems could break, risking destruction of the anchoring system and the object being anchored without any warning or notice. Other inventors have tried to create anchoring devices that ensure reliable anchoring without requiring personnel for launching the devices however those systems generally weigh a great deal and fail to give feedback on the reliability of the anchor. Accordingly, it would be an improvement in the art to provide a land anchor, which can be deployed autonomously and has an automated reliability feedback system ensuring the security of the anchor. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a launchable land anchor allows for autonomous deployment and maintains continuous stability because self-righting and reliability functionalities communicate the status of the land anchor to a remote operator via a power over tether. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following Detailed Description, taken together with the Drawings wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a laterally elevated view of one embodiment of the present invention prior to a deployment; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a lateral partial view of the present invention in a post-deployed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  provides a land anchor  100  in a pre-deployment mode comprising a power over tether  102  and a cylindrical casing  104  having a top end that is positioned below an anchor head  106 . An anchor head  106  can comprise a conical housing. In one embodiment of the invention the cylindrical casing  104  comprises a plurality of extendable panels  108  and  110  each capable of folding out from a top end portion  112  of the cylindrical casing  104 . In an alternate embodiment of the invention the extendable panels  108  and  110  slide out from the cylindrical casing  104 . The cylindrical casing  104  may comprise any metal, metal alloy, composite, or any commercially available material or combinations of material having sufficient impact absorption and weight. In an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sharply-pointed projections  112  and  114  extend laterally from the extendable panels. These sharply-pointed projections  112  and  114  may include fixed or deployable claws, spikes, prongs, or any other object that will allow the extendable panel to root into a ground surface area. In an alternate embodiment of the invention the sharply-pointed projections  112  and  114  additionally function as anti-rotation devices. Sensors are disposed throughout the cylindrical casing  104  and anchor head  106  to detect and confirm self-righting functionality and penetration into the ground surface area. 
         [0011]    In  FIG. 2 , the land anchor  100  is shown in a post-deployment mode in accordance to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention the anchor head  106  encapsulates a self-righting control module. The self-righting control module comprises a self-righting motor  202 , a drill translation motor  204 , and a motor controller  206 . A self-righting gear and chain set aids the self-righting motor in accomplishing self-righting functionality. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a stored energy device accomplishes the self-righting functionality in lieu of the self-righting motor  202  and self-righting gear and chain set. These stored energy devices include springs or compressed gas. The motor controller  206  comprises a motor controller circuit and motor controller logic. In an embodiment of the invention, the anchor head  106  is detachable from the anchor body. The anchor head  106  may be made of any commercially available impact absorbing material. 
         [0012]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the extendable panels  108  and  110  are self-righting and fold out from the top end portion of the cylindrical casing  104 . Each extendable panel  108  and  110 , in accordance with this embodiment, is mounted to a bottom connection point  208  of the cylindrical casing with a clevis mounting  210  allowing the extendable panel  108  and  110  to pivot around an axis that is tangential to the cylindrical casing  104 . Other hinge structures can be used instead of the clevis mounting to allow pivoting about a tangential axis. In this embodiment of the invention, each extendable panel  108  and  110  has an inner surface  212  and an outer surface  214 . A long strut  216  is centrally situated on the inner surface of each extendable panel  108  and  110 . This long strut  216  is connectively attached to a short strut  218 . In an embodiment of the invention, the long strut  216  and short strut  218  are both self-righting. 
         [0013]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the extendable panels  108  and  110  encase an anchor body  200  comprising inner structure of the land anchor  100 . A plurality of lead screws  220  and  222  connect an upper connection point of the anchor body  200  to the bottom connection point  208 . The short strut  218  is connectively attached to a self-righting collar  224  disposed around a middle section of the anchor body  200 . In an embodiment of the invention, the lead screws  220  and  222  thread the self-righting collar  224 . The lead screws  220  and  222  aid in self-righting and drill translation functions. A rotary percussive drill  226  is disposed in the anchor body  200  of the land anchor. The rotary percussive drill  226  may be any commercially available drill that can provide the necessary power to penetrate the ground surface area. While  FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment comprising a rotary percussive drill  226 , one knowledgeable in the art can appreciate that a rotary only or a percussive only drill may be used. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a pneumatic drill is disposed in the anchor body. In another embodiment of the invention explosives are used to add utility and speed of penetrating the ground surface area. A telescoping anchor shaft  228  connects the rotary percussive drill  226  to an arrowhead drill bit  230 . 
         [0014]    An embodiment comprises a ground penetration device disposed within said anchor body, wherein the ground penetration device comprises a drill; a drill translation gear; a drill chain set; and a drill bit  230 . A drill translation gear and chain set maintain weight on the arrowhead drill bit  230 . The drill translation gear is rotatably mounted within said anchor body. The drill chain set engages the drill translation gear. The drill translation gear engages the drill. While  FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment comprising an arrowhead drill bit  230 , one knowledgeable in the art can appreciate that any commercially available or custom made drill bit made to impact and penetrate the ground surface area may be used. The rotary percussive drill  226  may be powered by a battery  232  or by the power over tether  102 . Sensors are disposed within the anchor body  200  to detect and confirm self-righting functionality and penetration into the ground surface area. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment of the invention, the device uses separate motors to drive the self-righting, drill translation, and anchoring processes. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, these processes are accomplished by a single motor and gearing/chain set. 
         [0016]    During deployment, the land anchor is launched and autonomously self-rights normal to the terrain using sensors and the self-righting functionality. The land anchor uses its drilling functionality to penetrate the ground surface area. Sensors determine sufficient penetration into the ground surface area to secure a predetermined amount of holding force. Once the land anchor is secured, it sends a ready signal over the tether to an operator. The land anchor continues to monitor the security and reliability of the anchor. 
         [0017]    As referenced herein, the term “land” is used in its common, yet broad sense to include not only ground surface materials such as soil, sand, clay, rocks, stone, and ice but also any stationary objects that are suited for receiving and securing anchors according to various aspects of the invention. The term “land” may also include subaqueous soil and submerged soils such as sediment, sea bed, lake bed, river bed, silted areas, marches, and the like. 
         [0018]    While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Further embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.