US 11,912,437 B2
Universal payload manipulation tool with telescoping ring segment
James B. Grizzle, Oro Valley, AZ (US); Tanner P. Reznicek, Aurora, CO (US); and Cory M. Polivchak, Tucson, AZ (US)
Assigned to Raytheon Company, Tewksbury, MA (US)
Filed by Raytheon Company, Tewksbury, MA (US)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/089,475.
Prior Publication US 2022/0135250 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. B64F 1/32 (2006.01); B66F 9/16 (2006.01); B66F 9/18 (2006.01)
CPC B64F 1/32 (2013.01) [B66F 9/16 (2013.01); B66F 9/184 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
9. A universal tool for rotational manipulation of a payload, said tool comprising:
a lifting beam; and
first and second telescoping cradle assemblies positioned fore and aft on the lifting beam, each said telescoping cradle assembly comprising:
a lower cradle mounted on the lifting beam;
a telescoping cradle rotationally captured in the lower cradle, said telescoping cradle forming a portion of a circular ring;
a telescoping cradle locking mechanism for locking the telescoping cradle to the lower cradle;
a lower ring segment rotationally captured in the telescoping cradle;
a lower ring segment locking mechanism for locking the lower ring segment to the telescoping cradle;
a payload mount positioned on the lower ring segment for attaching the payload;
a detachable upper ring segment that attaches to the lower ring segment to form a complete ring;
a first drive mechanism configured to rotate the complete ring and payload mount over a first range of rotation of 360 degrees when the upper ring segment is attached and the ring locking mechanism is disengaged;
a second drive mechanism configured to rotate the telescoping cradle over a second range of rotation when the upper ring segment is detached, the telescoping cradle locking mechanism is disengaged and the lower ring segment locking mechanism is engaged; and
a third drive mechanism configured to rotate and extend the lower ring segment with respect to the telescoping cradle over a third range of rotation when the upper ring segment is detached, the telescoping cradle locking mechanism is engaged and the lower ring segment locking mechanism is disengaged,
wherein said second and third drive mechanisms together rotate the lower ring segment and the payload mount over a combined range of rotation that exceeds each of the second and third ranges of rotation.