IP Library Granted Patent US 8,297,172
Granted Patent B2
US 8,297,172 · App. 12/269,731 · Granted Oct 30, 2012

Unmanned air vehicle weapon adapter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,297,172
App. No.
12/269,731
Granted
Oct 30, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, an adapter for attaching a handheld firearm to an unmanned air vehicle comprises a mounting assembly configured for attachment to said firearm and to the unmanned air vehicle, and an actuation assembly comprising an actuation device configured to actuate a trigger of the handheld firearm.

Claims (34)

1. An adapter for attaching a handheld firearm to an unmanned air vehicle comprising:

a mounting assembly configured for attachment to said firearm and to said unmanned air vehicle; and

an actuation assembly comprising a first actuation device configured to actuate a trigger of said handheld firearm, a second actuation device configured to actuate a safety mechanism of said handheld firearm and a releasable link coupling between the second actuation device and the safety mechanism, said releasable link coupling arranged to release an attachment between said second actuation device and said safety mechanism upon application of a predetermined amount of torque.

2. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises a recoil isolation mechanism.

3. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises a first portion slidably engaged with a second portion.

4. The adapter of claim 3 , wherein said mounting assembly further comprises a biasing member.

5. The adapter of claim 4 , wherein said biasing member is positioned between the first portion and the second portion.

6. The adapter of claim 5 , further comprising a damper, wherein said biasing member and said damper are located on opposite sides of the first portion.

7. The adapter of claim 4 , wherein said biasing member forces said first portion to a nominal position.

8. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises a truss member fixedly attached to said handheld firearm.

9. The adapter of claim 8 , wherein said mounting assembly further comprises a support bracket, said truss member slidably engaged with said support bracket.

10. The adapter of claim 9 , further comprising a shaft, said shaft being slidably engaged with said support bracket or said truss member.

11. The adapter of claim 10 , wherein a longitudinal axis of said shaft is parallel to a longitudinal axis of a barrel of said handheld firearm.

12. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein said actuation assembly comprises a body configured to be supported by a body of said handheld firearm.

13. The adapter of claim 1 , said actuation assembly further comprising a locking mechanism configured to prevent actuation of said safety mechanism.

14. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein said actuation device comprises a servo motor.

15. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein a barrel axis of the handheld firearm passes through a center of gravity of the UAV.

16. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein said actuation assembly comprises a roller configured to contact said trigger.

17. An unmanned air vehicle comprising:

a structural framework;

a commercially available firearm designed to be fired by hand, the firearm comprising a trigger and a safety;

a mounting assembly, a first portion of said mounting assembly attached to said firearm, a second portion of said mounting assembly attached to said structural framework;

a first actuator configured to actuate said trigger;

a second actuator configured to actuate said safety; and

a releasable link coupling between the second actuation device and the safety mechanism, said releasable link coupling arranged to release an attachment between said second actuation device and said safety mechanism upon application of a predetermined amount of torque.

18. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 17 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises a recoil absorbing mechanism that isolates the structural framework from recoil forces generated by the firearm.

19. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 18 , wherein said mounting assembly only contacts a barrel of the firearm.

20. An unmanned air vehicle comprising:

a structural framework;

a firearm designed to be fired by hand, the firearm comprising a body, a trigger, a safety and a barrel;

a mounting assembly attaching said firearm to said structural framework, a first portion of said mounting assembly attached to said barrel of said firearm, a second portion of said mounting assembly attached to said structural framework, said mounting assembly comprising a recoil absorbing mechanism; and

a first actuator configured to actuate said trigger; a second actuator configured to actuate said safety; and a releasable link coupling between the second actuation device and the safety mechanism, said releasable link coupling arranged to release an attachment between said second actuation device and said safety mechanism upon application of a predetermined amount of torque; wherein

said mounting assembly only contacts the barrel of the firearm.

21. The unmanned air vehicle of claim 20 , wherein said firearm is a grenade launcher.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2021
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS LLC
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055215/0559 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2021
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS, INC.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 055191/0490 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 17, 2020
From: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054799/0623 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jun 6, 2018
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
Reel/Frame 046477/0874 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 14, 2017
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
To: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
Reel/Frame 043865/0372 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE CO.; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; AMMUNITION ACCESSORIES, INC.; ORBITAL ATK, INC. (F/K/A ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.)
Reel/Frame 036816/0624 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 30, 2015
From: ORBITAL ATK, INC.; ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 036732/0170 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 26, 2013
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; CALIBER COMPANY; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 031731/0281 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; AMMUNITION ACCESSORIES INC.; ATK COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION COMPANY INC.; ATK COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION HOLDINGS COMPANY; ATK LAUNCH SYSTEMS INC.; ATK SPACE SYSTEMS INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; EAGLE MAYAGUEZ, LLC; EAGLE NEW BEDFORD, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 025321/0291 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2008
From: NELSON, KENT C.; NASH, KENNETH; PHILPOT, DENNIS C.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 022003/0627 →