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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 07, 2002
Eric P. Young, Pasadena, CA (US);
John Reynolds, Stevenson Ranch, CA (US);
Brian Hershberger, Granada Hills, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A payload dispensing system for an aircraft is disclosed that includes a housing mounted to the aircraft. A hollow shaft is mounted to the housing having an open first end and a closed off second end with a hole therethrough. The payload includes an aperture having a first end on an external surface thereof and a second end in the interior therein. A wire cable releasably secures the payload to the housing such that the hollow shaft extends into the aperture of the payload. A compression spring is mounted at least partially within the hollow shaft, having a first end in contact with the second end of the hollow shaft and a second end in contact with the second end of the aperture within the payload, the spring having a compressed position when the hollow shaft is within the aperture in the payload and asserts a force tending to separate the payload from the aircraft. A cable cutter is used to cut the cable to release the payload from the housing, such that the spring forces the payload away from the aircraft and the hollow shaft guides the payload during separation.