US-12623781-B1 - Payload container for unmanned aircraft and associated systems and methods

Abstract

A payload container includes a nose cone electronics hub assembly, a collar assembly, a canister assembly, and a grid fin system. The nose cone electronics hub assembly has a nose cone housing electronic components in support of flight and detonator systems. The collar assembly includes a collar coupling the nose cone electronics hub and canister together. A canister of the canister assembly houses separate parts when in a shipping configuration that can be attached to an exterior of the payload container in a deployment configuration. A fin assembly facilitates vertical descent of the payload container when dropped from an unmanned aircraft.

Inventors

• Timothy P. Dunnigan, Sr.
• Timothy P. Dunnigan, Jr.
• William D. Randall, Jr.
• Andrew Terry

Assignees

• CaptureTec, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231213

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A modular munition system, comprising: a nose cone electronics hub assembly housing electronic components; a canister assembly comprising a canister configured to selectively receive energetic material when the modular munition system is in a deployment configuration; one or more fragmentation inserts configured to fragment if, when the modular munition system is in the deployment configuration, the energetic material detonates; a fin system; a collar assembly coupling the nose cone electronics hub assembly to the canister assembly; wherein the canister assembly and the collar assembly house the one or more fragmentation inserts and the fin system when the modular munition system is in a shipping configuration.
2. 2 . The modular munition system of claim 1 , the fin system comprising one or more grid fins facilitating vertical descent for the modular munition system when dropped from an unmanned aircraft.
3. 3 . The modular munition system of claim 2 , the one or more grid fins comprising four grid fins.
4. 4 . The modular munition system of claim 3 , the canister defining a shipping container for at least the four grid fins.
5. 5 . The modular munition system of claim 4 , the electronic components comprising a power source situated within the nose cone electronics hub assembly.
6. 6 . The modular munition system of claim 5 , further comprising a cable gland assembly, wherein: the collar assembly comprises a collar defining a center hole; the one or more fragmentation inserts comprise a collar fragmentation insert; and the cable gland assembly suspends the collar fragmentation insert in a recess of a bayonet side of the collar.
7. 7 . The modular munition system of claim 6 , further comprising a fin cap retaining the fin system to the canister.
8. 8 . The modular munition system of claim 7 , further comprising a fin retaining plate situated between the fin cap and the fin system.
9. 9 . The modular munition system of claim 8 , further comprising a deployment D-ring pivotally coupled to the fin cap and pivotable between a position abutting a surface of the fin cap and another position extending distally from the fin cap.
10. 10 . The modular munition system of claim 9 , wherein: the collar fragmentation insert is selectively removable from the modular munition system; and the collar fragmentation insert comprises a plurality of ball bearings.
11. 11 . The modular munition system of claim 1 , further comprising: explosive material situated within the canister assembly; wherein the electronic components are configured to cause detonation of the explosive material at a predetermined altitude.
12. 12 . The modular munition system of claim 1 , further comprising explosive material situated in the canister assembly that is configured to detonate when the modular munition system impacts a solid object or the earth.
13. 13 . The modular munition system of claim 12 , the one or more fragmentation inserts comprising a canister fragmentation insert and a collar fragmentation insert configured to fully fragment the modular munition system when the explosive material detonates.
14. 14 . The modular munition system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fragmentation inserts comprise a fragmentation insert that is selectively removable from the canister assembly.
15. 15 . The modular munition system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fragmentation inserts comprise a collar fragmentation insert that is selectively detachable from the modular munition system.
16. 16 . The modular munition system of claim 15 , further comprising explosive material situated in the canister assembly, wherein the collar fragmentation insert is configured to directionally fragment the modular munition system when the explosive material detonates.
17. 17 . The modular munition system of claim 1 , further comprising a fin cap that is attachable to the canister assembly and one or more grid fins, wherein each grid fin of the one or more grid fins comprises a fin stem.
18. 18 . The modular munition system of claim 17 , further comprising a fin retaining plate and a threaded screw coupled to a closed end of the canister assembly, thereby sandwiching fin stems of the each grid fin and the fin retaining plate between the fin cap and the closed end of the canister assembly.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS This application claims priority and benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/432,781, filed Dec. 15, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. BACKGROUND Technical Field This disclosure relates generally to payload delivery containers, and more particularly to an airborne payload delivery container that can be released by an unmanned aircraft. Background Art Use of unmanned aircraft or “drones” is rapidly emerging as the predominant method of transporting and delivering various payloads. These drones are frequently used to carry objects efficiently from one location to another. In addition to being used by parcel delivery and retail service providers for delivering packages to consumers, unmanned aircraft are also used for more sophisticated practices such as dropping charges to fight wildfires, dropping technology used to locate missing persons, and even delivering crop enhancement and monitoring payloads in farming applications. Generally equipped with image capture devices and other sophisticated electronics, drones can provide the remote pilot with real-time images that can be used for investigative, surveilling, and reconnaissance purposes. Militaries use drones to deliver energized payloads in combat applications as well. While much attention is paid to the sophistication of the drone carrying a particular payload, little attention is paid to the payload itself. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an improved payload container and accompanying systems and methods that provide improved payload delivery operations; particularly in the areas of defense and demining. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom plan view of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 5 is a left side elevation view of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates a right-side elevation view of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 7 illustrates a front elevation view of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 8 illustrates a rear elevation view of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of a first portion of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 10 illustrates an exploded view of a second portion of one explanatory payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of one explanatory nose cone suitable for use in a payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 12 illustrates a front elevation view of one explanatory nose cone suitable for use in a payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 13 illustrates a right-side elevation view of one explanatory nose cone suitable for use in a payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 14 illustrates a bottom plan view of one explanatory nose cone suitable for use in a payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 15 illustrates a top plan view of one explanatory nose cone suitable for use in a payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of another explanatory nose cone suitable for use in a payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of one explanatory collar suitable for use in a payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 18 illustrates a bottom view of one explanatory collar suitable for use in a payload container in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 19 illustrates another perspective view of one explanatory collar suitable