Package delivery systems and methods may include a bistable beam coupled to an aerial vehicle, a bistable hook coupled to an end of the bistable beam, and a package carried by the bistable hook. The bistable beam may move between a reeled position and an extended position, and the bistable hook may move between a closed position and an open position. In addition, the bistable beam may include frangible connections or portions. Further, release or disconnection of frangible connections or portions of the bistable beam, as well as operations of the bistable hook, may be effected by passive or active methods.

Package delivery systems and methods may include a bistable beam coupled to an aerial vehicle, a bistable hook coupled to an end of the bistable beam, and a package carried by the bistable hook. The bistable beam may move between a reeled position and an extended position, and the bistable hook may move between a closed position and an open position. In addition, the bistable beam may include frangible connections or portions. Further, release or disconnection of frangible connections or portions of the bistable beam, as well as operations of the bistable hook, may be effected by passive or active methods.

A double wire lip hook is provided. The double wire lip hook may be used for electrical power line work by helicopter or crane, in which closely spaced pairs of wires are used. The double wire lip hook may also be used for single wires and other lifting and pulling tasks. The example double wire lip hook has a geometry designed for high strength, maintaining a substantial cross-sectional area of metal or alloy throughout its profile. The double wire lip hook provides dual opposing hooks with wide throats cambered for wires. Dual tapers in a vertical shank member provide a large gape opening for each hook and keep loads on either side close to the vertical lifting axis for improved stability. Features such as one or more support ribs add to lifting strength and resistance to yield failure.

A double wire lip hook is provided. The double wire lip hook may be used for electrical power line work by helicopter or crane, in which closely spaced pairs of wires are used. The double wire lip hook may also be used for single wires and other lifting and pulling tasks. The example double wire lip hook has a geometry designed for high strength, maintaining a substantial cross-sectional area of metal or alloy throughout its profile. The double wire lip hook provides dual opposing hooks with wide throats cambered for wires. Dual tapers in a vertical shank member provide a large gape opening for each hook and keep loads on either side close to the vertical lifting axis for improved stability. Features such as one or more support ribs add to lifting strength and resistance to yield failure.

The present disclosure relates to laminated hook including a fastening system. The hook is formed by a plurality of plates laminated together with a mechanical fastening system. The fastening system utilized to laminate the plates together to form the laminated hook includes a bolt and a nut. According to certain aspects of the present teaching, the nut is a barrel nut. According to further aspects of the present teaching, the hook is a laminated ladle hook. A process for forming a laminated hook is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to laminated hook including a fastening system. The hook is formed by a plurality of plates laminated together with a mechanical fastening system. The fastening system utilized to laminate the plates together to form the laminated hook includes a bolt and a nut. According to certain aspects of the present teaching, the nut is a barrel nut. According to further aspects of the present teaching, the hook is a laminated ladle hook. A process for forming a laminated hook is also provided.

A payload coupling apparatus is provided that includes a housing having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a side wall positioned between the upper and lower portions, an attachment point on the housing adapted for attachment to a first end of a tether, a slot in the housing that extends downwardly towards a center of the housing thereby forming a hook or lip on the lower portion of the housing beneath the slot, a plurality of holes in the upper portion of the housing; and a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the housing. A method of retracting a payload coupling apparatus during UAV flight is also provided.

A method for handling a wind turbine component (20) is disclosed. The method includes providing a lifting system including a hoist cable (36) and an attachment assembly (38). The attachment assembly includes one or more removable ballast weights (48). The method includes positioning the attachment assembly near a working surface, removing at least some of the one or more ballast weights from the attachment assembly, and attaching a lifting tool (34) to the attachment assembly. The combined weight of the attachment assembly and the lifting tool is sufficiently greater than a threshold weight of the lifting system. The method further includes attaching a wind turbine component to the lifting tool and moving the wind turbine component using the lifting system. A lifting system is also disclosed. The lifting system includes a hoist cable, an attachment assembly, and a lifting tool. The combined weight of the attachment assembly and the lifting tool is sufficiently greater than a threshold weight of the lifting system.

A clamping device configured to handle large and fragile objects can include large jaws extended outside a smaller jaw support. The extended areas of the second jaw can be up to 4× of the jaw support, and can contain reinforced ridges configured so that a force applied from the second body portion to the second jaw spreads to the extended areas of the second jaw outside the second body portion, for example, to at least 80%. The clamping device can include an automatic locking mechanism for open and close the jaws from an operator far away from the clamping device.

A clamping device configured to handle large and fragile objects can include large jaws extended outside a smaller jaw support. The extended areas of the second jaw can be up to 4× of the jaw support, and can contain reinforced ridges configured so that a force applied from the second body portion to the second jaw spreads to the extended areas of the second jaw outside the second body portion, for example, to at least 80%. The clamping device can include an automatic locking mechanism for open and close the jaws from an operator far away from the clamping device.