IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,196,853
Granted Patent B2
US 8,196,853 · App. 12/779,494 · Granted Jun 12, 2012

Aerodynamically stabilized instrument platform

Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,196,853
App. No.
12/779,494
Granted
Jun 12, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A suspension apparatus for suspending instrumentation from an airborne platform may include a generally longitudinal boom having a payload end and a tail end. Yaw and pitch stabilizers may be disposed at the tail end of the boom. A mast that may be selectively translatable on the boom may connect the boom to a tether line of the airborne platform. The payload may be attached to the payload end of the boom. The mast may be positioned axially along the boom at the center of gravity of the combination of the payload, boom, pitch stabilizer, and yaw stabilizer.

Claims (31)

1. A suspension apparatus for suspending a payload from an airborne platform, comprising:

a boom having a longitudinal axis, a payload end, and a tail end;

a yaw stabilizer made of a rigid material and disposed at the tail end of the boom;

a pitch stabilizer made of a rigid material and disposed at the tail end of the boom;

a mast that is selectively translatable along the boom wherein, when the payload is attached to the payload end of the boom, the mast is positioned axially along the boom at a center of gravity of the combination of the payload, boom, pitch stabilizer, and yaw stabilizer; and

a suspension line fixed at one end to the mast and at another end to a tether of the airborne platform.

2. The suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the yaw stabilizer is fixed with respect to the boom.

3. The suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pitch stabilizer is fixed with respect to the boom.

4. The suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the yaw stabilizer is movable with respect to the boom.

5. The suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pitch stabilizer is movable with respect to the boom.

6. The suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the yaw stabilizer is substantially perpendicular to the pitch stabilizer.

7. The suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pitch stabilizer is symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the boom.

8. The suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the yaw stabilizer is symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the boom.

9. The suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the yaw stabilizer comprises planar surfaces and the pitch stabilizer comprises planar surfaces.

10. The suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the payload is attached to the payload end of the boom and the mast is positioned axially along the boom at the center of gravity of the combination of the payload, boom, pitch stabilizer, and yaw stabilizer.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

the suspension apparatus of claim 1 ;

the airborne platform including a tether extending from the airborne platform to a control point; and

a suspension line fixed at one end to the mast and at another end to the tether of the airborne platform.

12. The suspension apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the yaw stabilizer is fixed with respect to the boom.

13. The suspension apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the pitch stabilizer is fixed with respect to the boom.

14. The suspension apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the yaw stabilizer is movable with respect to the boom.

15. The suspension apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the pitch stabilizer is movable with respect to the boom.

16. The suspension apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the yaw stabilizer is substantially perpendicular to the pitch stabilizer.

17. A suspension apparatus for suspending a payload from an airborne platform, comprising:

a boom having a longitudinal axis, a payload end, and a tail end;

a yaw stabilizer comprising a planar, rigid material, the yaw stabilizer being disposed at the tail end of the boom and fixed with respect to the boom;

a pitch stabilizer comprising a planar, rigid material, the pitch stabilizer being disposed at the tail end of the boom forward of the yaw stabilizer and fixed with respect to the boom;

a mast that is selectively translatable along the boom wherein, when the payload is attached to the payload end of the boom, the mast is positioned axially along the boom at a center of gravity of the combination of the payload, boom, pitch stabilizer, and yaw stabilizer; and

a suspension line fixed at one end to the mast and at another end to a tether of the airborne platform.

18. The suspension apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the yaw stabilizer and the pitch stabilizer are each symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the boom.

Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110278393A1 · Nov 17, 2011