US 11,724,804 B2
Aircraft coupling mechanism
Nathan Alexander Mills, Pleasanton, CA (US); Nitin Susendran, Pleasanton, CA (US); Monty Don Bruckman, II, Edgewood, NM (US); and Adam Bergamini, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by BELL TEXTRON INC., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/381,759.
Prior Publication US 2020/0324893 A1, Oct. 15, 2020
Int. Cl. B64C 37/02 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 37/02 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64C 2211/00 (2013.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A male part for coupling aircraft to one another, the male part comprising:
a wall forming a shaft, wherein the wall is directly connected to one of a forward end and an aft end of a fuselage of a first aircraft;
an attachment mechanism to regulate a mechanical engagement between the shaft on the male part and a female part directly connected one of a forward end and an aft end of a fuselage of a second aircraft while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are airborne, the female part is connected to the second aircraft such that the female part is neither extensible nor retractable relative to the second aircraft, the female part comprising a wall forming a cone around a cavity for guiding the shaft into the cavity, wherein the attachment mechanism is operable to switch between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and wherein
in the engaged position, the attachment mechanism initiates the mechanical engagement to rigidly attach the first aircraft and the second aircraft to one another such that the first and second aircraft are arranged end-to-end, and
in the disengaged position, the attachment mechanism discontinues the mechanical engagement to detach the first aircraft and the second aircraft from one another;
a first propeller shroud surrounding less than all of a first propeller of the first aircraft, the first propeller shroud including at least one first shroud coupling element;
a second propeller shroud separate and independent from the first propeller shroud surrounding less than all of a second propelier of the first aircraft, the second propelier shroud including at least one first shroud coupling element;
a third propeller shroud surrounding less than all of a first propeller of the second aircraft, the third propeller shroud including at least one second shroud coupling element;
a fourth propeller shroud separate and independent from the third propeller shroud surrounding less than all of a second propeller of the second aircraft, the fourth propeller shroud including at least one second shroud coupling element;
wherein in the engaged position, the first shroud coupling elements mate with the second shroud coupling elements.