Inflatable deployment apparatus for descent-restraint system for aerial vehicles

Abstract

A deployable lead line anchor point system for an aerodynamic decelerator on an aerial vehicle, the system including a housing that is structured to attach to the aerial vehicle and store the aerodynamic decelerator in a stored state prior to deployment, the housing including a base that is structured to removably mount the housing to the aerial vehicle, and an inflatable tube that is stored in the housing and configured to extend from the housing and deploy the aerodynamic decelerator away from the aerial vehicle in response to inflation of the inflatable tube, the inflatable tube having a first end with a fluid port, and a second end, the first end structured to connect to the housing and the second end having a connector structured to anchor the lead line on the aerodynamic decelerator to the inflatable tube, preventing entanglement of the decelerator with the aerial vehicle.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A deployable lead line anchor point system for an aerodynamic decelerator on an aerial vehicle, comprising:
 a housing that is structured to attach to the aerial vehicle and store the aerodynamic decelerator in a stored state prior to deployment, the housing including a base that is structured to removably mount the housing to the aerial vehicle; and   an inflatable tube that is stored in the housing and configured to extend from the housing and deploy the aerodynamic decelerator away from the aerial vehicle in response to inflation of the inflatable tube, the inflatable tube having a first end with a fluid port, and a second end, the first end structured to connect to the housing, and the second end having a connector structured to anchor the lead line on the aerodynamic decelerator to the inflatable tube.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a source of fluid coupled to the fluid port to selectively introduce fluid into the inflatable tube and inflate the inflatable tube to force the second end of the inflatable tube and the aerodynamic decelerator out of the housing and away from the aerial vehicle, wherein the inflatable tube and the lead line tethers the aerodynamic decelerator to the housing and positions the lead line anchor point away from the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is rigidly connected to the aerial vehicle and the first end of the inflatable tube is rigidly connected to the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the housing includes an interior base component and an exterior base component, the interior base component sized and shaped to fit inside the exterior base component and to provide a friction fit for the first end of the inflatable tube between the first and second base components to hold the first end of the inflatable tube to the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the first base component includes an aperture sized and shaped to provide fluid communication between the source of fluid and the inflatable tube. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the inflatable tube is structured to maintain pressurization after the inflatable tube is fully inflated to become a rigid member. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the aerodynamic decelerator is a parachute. 
     
     
         28 . An aerial vehicle, comprising:
 a body with at least one motor providing power to at least one rotor;   a descent restraint system that includes:
 a deployable decelerator having lead lines; 
 a housing structured to attach to the aerial vehicle and to store the decelerator in a stored state prior to deployment; 
 an inflatable tube that is stored in the housing and configured to extend therefrom to deploy the decelerator away from the aerial vehicle, the inflatable tube having a first end and a second end, the first end structured to connect to the housing and the second end having an anchor point that is structured to connect to the lead lines of the decelerator to the inflatable tube. 
   
     
     
         29 . The aerial vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the housing further includes a base that is structured to removably mount the housing to the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         30 . The aerial vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the housing is rigidly connected to the aerial vehicle and the first end of the inflatable tube is rigidly connected to the housing. 
     
     
         31 . The aerial vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the housing includes an interior base component and an exterior base component, the interior base component is sized and shaped to fit inside the exterior base component and to hold the first end of the inflatable tube between a portion of the interior base component and a portion of the exterior base component. 
     
     
         32 . The aerial vehicle of  claim 28 , further comprising: a descent detection system that is operable to detect an uncontrolled descent of the aerial vehicle and to output a detection signal indicating the uncontrolled descent; and
 a source of fluid that is electrically coupled to the descent detection system to receive the detection signal from the descent detection system, the source of fluid is further fluidly coupled to the first end of the inflatable tube to introduce fluid into the inflatable tube in response to receipt of the detection signal from the descent detection system to thereby inflate the inflatable tube and force the second end of the inflatable tube and the decelerator out of the housing and away from the aerial vehicle and position the anchor point of the decelerator lead lines away from the aerial vehicle and enable the decelerator to deploy without entangling the lead lines in the aerial vehicle, whereby the inflatable tube tethers the decelerator to the aerial vehicle via the housing.   
     
     
         33 . The aerial vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the inflatable tube is structured to maintain pressurization after the inflatable tube is fully inflated to become a rigid member. 
     
     
         34 . A deployable anchor point system for a decelerator on an aerial vehicle, the decelerator having a lead line, the system comprising:
 a housing that attaches to the aerial vehicle and is sized and shaped to store the decelerator;   an inflatable tube that is storable in the housing, the inflatable tube having a body with at least one sidewall, a proximal end that attaches to the housing, and a distal end, the inflatable tube sized and shaped to store inside the housing in response to deflation of the inflatable tube, the distal end having an exterior surface and an anchor point on the exterior surface that is structured to connect to the lead line of the decelerator, the inflatable tube structured to extend out of the housing and position the anchor point for the decelerator lead line away from the aerial vehicle in response to inflation of the inflatable tube, preventing entanglement of the decelerator with the aerial vehicle.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the inflatable tube remains inflated to become a rigid member that anchors the decelerator lead line away from the aerial vehicle after the distal end of the inflatable tube and the decelerator are forced out of the housing and the parachute canopy inflates. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the proximal end of the inflatable tube has a fluid port that forms a fluid connection point. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  further including a source of fluid that couples to the fluid port on the inflatable tube and selectively introduces fluid into the inflatable tube to inflate the inflatable tube and force the distal end of the inflatable tube, anchor point, and the attached decelerator out of the housing and away from the aerial vehicle, wherein the inflatable tube rigidly tethers the lead line of the decelerator to the aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the housing includes an interior base component and an exterior base component, the interior base component is sized and shaped to fit inside the exterior base component and to hold the first end of the inflatable tube between a portion of the interior base component and a portion of the exterior base component. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the housing further includes a base that removably mounts the housing to the aerial vehicle.