The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
May. 28, 2019

Filed:

Dec. 02, 2016
Applicant:

Makani Technologies Llc, Alameda, CA (US);

Inventors:

Abhimanyu Belani, Mountain View, CA (US);

Elias Patten, Mountain View, CA (US);

Robert Nelson, Alameda, CA (US);

Brian Hachtmann, San Martin, CA (US);

Gabriel Murphy, Alameda, CA (US);

Assignee:

Makani Technologies LLC, Alameda, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F03D 5/00 (2006.01); B65H 54/28 (2006.01); B65H 57/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2006.01); B65H 57/14 (2006.01); B65H 57/24 (2006.01); B65H 57/26 (2006.01); B65H 75/44 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B65H 54/28 (2013.01); B64C 39/022 (2013.01); B65H 57/00 (2013.01); B65H 57/14 (2013.01); B65H 57/24 (2013.01); B65H 57/26 (2013.01); B65H 75/4407 (2013.01); B65H 75/4415 (2013.01); B65H 2701/34 (2013.01); F03D 5/00 (2013.01); F05B 2220/706 (2013.01); F05B 2240/917 (2013.01); F05B 2240/921 (2013.01); F05B 2240/923 (2013.01); Y02E 10/725 (2013.01); Y02P 70/30 (2015.11);
Abstract

A tether guide operable through a wide range of tether/fleeting angles while causing minimal wear and having a reduced size compared to a levelwind wheel. The tether guide may include a series of rollers approximating the curved shape and radius of levelwind wheel. The tether guide may include downward facing guide wings matched to a curved roller profile, but flaring out to capture and guide tether into rollers. Sensors may be included on the tether guide to provide information about tether location, including whether the tether is engaged in the tether guide.


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